The COVID-19 pandemic continues to affect societies and operations around the globe. FPT Industrial, the global powertrain brand of CNH Industrial, has endeavored to mitigate these effects throughout its manufacturing and commercial network by abiding by the health and safety regulations set forth in the different international markets in which it operates. Currently the demand for industrial powertrains remains strong as the providing of essential equipment is something the world depends on to keep moving.
With around 28 million units produced, the CDC system is one of the most widely used electronic chassis systems for passenger cars. In order to provide workshops with the best possible support for maintenance work on vehicles with CDC dampers, ZF Aftermarket is expanding its offering in this area. The extended product range includes Sachs CDC spare parts for mid-size and compact cars, in conjunction with many new additions from the luxury class. These high-tech shock absorbers offer an attractive opportunity for workshops as there are currently no low-quality replacement parts available.
Thorough testing is paramount to the safety and reliability of the batteries that power electric vehicles. However, the lab tests conducted to date have been anything but realistic. Fraunhofer researchers have developed a new type of testing environment that combines physical components with mathematical simulations of vehicles. This setup is the first to enable lab trials under real-world conditions.
STMicroelectronics has released three functional-safety packages that simplify development of safety-critical industrial, medical, consumer and automotive products based on STM32 and STM8 microcontrollers and microprocessors.
A consortium formed by Knorr-Bremse, the global market leader for braking and other rail and commercial vehicle systems, and John von Neumann University in Kecskemét, Hungary, has successfully completed a joint 27-month research project. The focus of the project was on alternative raw materials – particularly polymer and rubber materials – and technologies for use in the commercial vehicle industry. The research findings will feed into Knorr-Bremse's research and development strategy and activities in the long term.
In the prestigious Automotive Brand Contest 2020 design competition, Vitesco Technologies has scooped not one award for its all-new brand identity but two: The company was named a winner in both the “Brand Design” and “Digital” categories. In October 2019, the Powertrain division of Continental AG became an independent company under a new name. Since then, with an entirely new brand and its own brand values, Vitesco Technologies has been pursuing a sustainable strategy centered on electrified drivetrains.
Plastic in cars reduces their weight. Currently, however, camshaft modules, which are a key component of powertrains, are still being made from aluminum. Now a research team from the Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT, in collaboration with their partners, has succeeded in manufacturing a camshaft module from fiber-reinforced thermoset polymers. This lightweight design element helps lower engine weight and reduces assembly costs. It is currently available as a functional demonstrator.