CNN Business
The BMW group plant in Regensburg, Germany, manufactured approximately 320,000 vehicles in 2018. BMW says its use of technologies — from robotics to 3D printing to smart data analytics — meant it was able to cut the time needed to deploy new applications by 80% and reduce quality issues by 5%.

Equispheres, a metal additive manufacturing powder manufacturer, has received $8 million from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) to scale its material production capacity over the next two years.

Compressor Tech 2
The Timken Co. announced that renovations are complete and new services are operational at the Philadelphia Gear Southeast Regional gear repair facility in Birmingham, Ala. The expansion project included an isolated assembly bay, the addition of a retractable paint booth and a large industrial parts washer, all designed to facilitate a “clean assembly” environment.

Automation World
As data is being produced at an exponential rate, it can be close to impossible for organizations to keep up. Asking the right questions in how to utilize the right data can help your organization grow in the digital environment.

Connecticut Magazine
The noise inside the advanced-manufacturing technology center holds steady in the early afternoon at Connecticut's Houstonic Community College on a recent weekday, a medium hum. With a few milling machines, lathes and an assortment of other equipment running, I might have expected a din too loud to talk comfortably. Instead, normal voices work fine in the well-lit room.

Sometimes, if you want to see the most interesting stuff at a trade show, you ‘ve got to look past the curtain drops and flagship machines and dig a little deeper. This was the case with Xerox at last year’s Formnext where, through the company rightfully focused the spotlight on its newly acquired metal 3D printing technology, arguably one of the more interesting developments was a nozzle concept presented with a little less fanfare. It was also true of EOS, an additive manufacturing industry leader with comfortably one of the biggest presences on the show floor, which amidst impressive developments around smart factor floors, debuted a new technology with benefits that are very much in the details.

Packaging Strategies
NORD Gear Corporation, a leader in drive technology, is in the midst of two large expansion projects as demand for its industrial gear reducers, motors and variable frequency drives continues to grow. In addition to the previously announced 86,000 square-foot expansion to its U.S. headquarters in Waunakee, Wisconsin, the company is doubling the space of its satellite facility in Charlotte, North Carolina.

3D Printing Industry
3D Printing Industry asked 100 additive manufacturing leaders to identify how 3D printing will develop during the next ten years. In our article last week, we took a look at the near term trends in 3D printing to watch for 2020. This new article draws on insights from additive manufacturing experts across the globe to understand where our industry is heading.

Japan Today
Major Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co has teamed up with Thai state-backed oil firm PTT Public Co. to launch a joint venture for artificial intelligence and robotics technologies in line with the Thai government’s initiative to promote an innovation-based economy.

Today’s Motor Vehicles
Motorcoach provider ABC Cos., the U.S. distributer of Van Hool buses, is partnering with Colorado-based Lightning Systems to develop its zero-emission electric drivetrains. The companies will launch an electric vehicle (EV) powertrain repower of Van Hool models, including a T2145 highline touring coach and TDX high-capacity double-deck coach.

Manufacturing.net 
German auto giant Daimler reportedly cut its 2020 production goal for its Mercedes-Benz electric SUV in half due to issues with its supply of battery cells. Reuters, citing a report from a German business publication, reported that the company sold about 7,000 of its EQC compact SUV in 2019 after initially hoping to produce about 25,000 in its first full year. The automaker also reduced its goal for 2020 EQC production from 60,000 to 30,000.

Gain a basic understanding of steel and its properties. Learn to make use of steel properties in an application and understand the potential that different steel and heat treatment options can offer. Explore how performance of the material depends on how the steel is produced.

Manufacturing.net
Google’s self-driving technology affiliate this week announced plans to significantly broaden its testing of autonomous vehicles in the western U.S.

Morning Star 
Factory activity in Texas picked up in January, suggesting a stronger output growth than last month, according to a new report about the state’s industrial sector from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.

Aerospace Manufacturing
Tooling expert Walter GB is using a replaceable front end for its modular M4258 porcupine milling cutter for shoulder and face milling to combine the cost-effective benefits of rigid milling with those of indexable inserts.

AutoEvolution
It’s been years since General Motors was rumored to bring out an electric pickup, but last year, Mary Barra confirmed the inevitable. At least one e-truck is happening, and there’s even the possibility that the GMC brand will revive the Hummer as an e-truck.

Nikkei Asian Review
Hyundai Motor Group is remapping its growth strategy by expanding in India amid diminished prospects in the Chinese market. Hyundai, which is No. 2 in terms of market share in India, will leverage its competitive advantage to try to close the gap with market leader Maruti Suzuki India, and is set to increase manufacturing capacity in the country above 1 million vehicles this year.

Gear Solutions
Due to the complexity of spiral bevel gear machining, the cutting tools can be a significant cost of gear manufacturing. Unlike the price of the material, which is fixed by the market, the cost of tooling and subsequent re-grinding can be lowered through reducing tool wear and increasing tool life. Current methods for making these improvements include costly trial-and-error techniques. These can be expensive, time consuming, and may require use of production equipment, disrupting work-flow and product delivery.

Join more than 300 of your industry peers at the Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa at Lake Buena Vista, Florida, March 19-21. Come to the one meeting where you can gather resources to grow every aspect of your company while staying up to date on the latest happening in the gear and bearing industries. Oh, and we tend to have some fun along the way!