According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), more than 72,130 wind turbines and 210,000 blades were deployed as of July 2022. The DOE expects up to 9,000 blades to be retired annually through 2026, and up to 20,000 will be retired annually by 2040. Blade waste could reach up to 370,000 tons per year…
DigiKey launches Season 3 of its “Farm Different” video series
DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, has launched season 3 of its “Farm Different” video series, sponsored by Analog Devices, Inc. (ADI) and Amphenol Industrial. Season 3 features three episodes that provide a look into the future of farming to…
Beckhoff looking to AI advancements at Hannover Messe
At the official Press Preview for the 2024 Hannover Messe tradeshow this week, Dr. Fabian Bause, Product Manager, Beckhoff Automation GmbH & Co. KG was the keynote speaker, discussing how AI in automation is something that will affect the entire manufacturing process. Bause noted that AI is simply a tool that can be used to…
Hannover Messe focusing on AI’s impact for 2024 trade fair
This year’s Hannover Messe trade fair (said to be the world’s largest industrial trade show) takes place from April 22-26 in this northern German city, and some may say the outlook for manufacturing is uncertain. For sure, in his opening remarks, Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairperson of the Managing Board, Deutsche Messe AG listed many reasons…
Siemens Digital Industries and Voltaiq optimize battery manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software and Voltaiq combine their strengths to offer unparalleled capabilities for battery manufacturing-focused companies. This collaboration aims to bring together the production-proven capabilities of both Siemens’ Insights Hub and Voltaiq’s Enterprise Battery Intelligence (EBI), customers can gain access to unparalleled capability specific to battery-domain companies to help rapidly scale operations smoothly, from…
Thinking outside the bus
I love learning about engineering colleagues who are innovating in new ways — people who are rethinking problems that seem to be up against the proverbial brick wall. Take the current issues with renewable energy. While strides have been made in many areas of solar and wind, the daily (or hourly) variability of these technologies…
Get ready to innovate at Advantech’s World Partner Conference
Advantech is hosting the 2023 Industrial-IoT World Partner Conference, Oct. 26–28 in Taipei, Taiwan. The IoT technology company hosts numerous partner events so that experts from around the globe can congregate, explore the latest tech, and discuss the future. Design World is attending the upcoming Industrial-IoT conference to gain insights on trends and innovations for…
What impact will EVs have on vehicle architecture?
By Jody Muelaner A vehicle’s architecture describes its key elements, especially how they are laid out and connected to each other. Traditionally, the focus has been on the mechanical architecture; the chassis and frame, powertrain, body, fuel system, and interior layout. Early electric vehicles (EVs) changed internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle architecture as little as…
Taking the electric leap
According to AAPEX, adoption of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in the U.S. has increased substantially in recent years — they accounted for 6% of new vehicle registrations in 2022 and are forecast to reach 56% of vehicles sold in 2035 and 81% in 2045. This would translate to 19% of the U.S. fleet being BEVs…
What’s stalling energy storage system production in 2023?
Jabil announced the findings of its 2023 global survey of energy storage and battery solution providers. The results reveal a steady expansion in the production of energy storage systems (ESS) to ensure a consistent energy supply while increasing power grid stability. Amid intensifying global energy demands, 88% of the survey participants are struggling to scale…
ABB helps iconic Maid of the Mist boats go green
Anyone who’s visited Niagara Falls in the summer has surely watched the famed Maid of the Mist boats ply the waters of the Niagara Gorge. These sightseeing tour vessels, which appear tiny from above, seem to get perilously close to the thundering water from both the American and Canadian falls, crashing down roughly 180 feet.…
Danfoss to power all North American facilities with solar
With an eye toward achieving its global decarbonization goals, Danfoss North America recently signed a power purchase agreement with CIG Capital, a U.S.-based project financing firm, to purchase about 75 MW of solar power from a solar farm in Texas, starting in 2025. The initial agreement term is 12 years, allowing Danfoss to fully replace…
Global carbon capture capacity to rise sixfold by 2030
According to research company BloombergNEF’s (BNEF) newly released 2022 Carbon capture, usage, and storage (CCUS) Market Outlook, the global capacity for carbon capture in 2030 is set to increase sixfold from today’s level, to 279 million tons of CO2 captured per year. Drastic growth in the market has led to a 44% increase in expected…
Siemens Digital Industries Software on sustainable product design
By Eryn Devola — Vice President of Sustainability for Siemens Digital Industries Design has always been a balance of performance, cost, and quality. But these metrics do not take the full, lifetime environmental impact of a product into account. Sustainability must be added to ensure every impact of a product is addressed in even the…
Digital-transformation sustainability: Waste minimization and energy savings
Nearly two thirds of all energy created globally for commercial, transportation, industrial, and residential use is lost to inefficiency and waste. For operations aiming to achieve carbon-neutral status (or just higher profitability through energy conservation) preventing the loss of energy is at once immediately possible and commendable. After all, Energy Information Administration analysis indicates that…
Working to electrify existing buses and coaches
Saietta Group plc, specialists in high-tech advanced e-mobility propulsion, is intensifying an important overhaul operation to transform existing high polluting diesel-engine-powered buses and coaches into clean, sustainable, and zero-emission vehicles. Through its RetroMotion division, the company is working to offer fleet operators an economical and effective solution to ‘electrify’ existing buses and coaches. A real-world…
ABB taking action to fight climate change
As concern continues to grow with the advancing effects of climate change, ABB is championing a proactive energy efficiency movement to educate U.S. industrial leaders about the challenges that contribute to energy wastage and environmental sustainability. By joining ABB in this endeavor, U.S. businesses have an opportunity to collectively reduce energy consumption, significantly slow the…
HMS presents communication solutions for Battery Energy Storage Systems
HMS Networks is now presenting several communication solutions for the rapidly expanding battery market. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) require communication capabilities to connect to batteries and peripheral components, communicate with the power grid, monitor systems remotely, and much more. Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) may be one of the keys to solving the energy…
Even pillow block bearings are getting environmental
Biomimicry has long been a great shortcut for designers looking for strong, creative designs. The new igubal pillow block from igus is based on the design principles of a tree and provides an alternative to classic cast iron housings. Flattened radii ensure maximum resistance to mechanical stresses. The bionic shaped housings, made with high-performance materials…
Unrealistic expectations for PHEVs
Teschler on Topic Leland Teschler • Executive Editor [email protected] On Twitter @ DW_LeeTeschler The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, also known as COP26, recently convened in Scotland. Perhaps unsurprising to cynics, soon after COP26 came an analysis from the Washington Post that found a significant gap between the amount of greenhouse gases countries say…
The end of the old plastic bottle?
Eckes-Granini is making its packaging portfolio even more environmentally friendly with the help of the KHS Group. Since May, its one-liter hohes C juice bottle has consisted entirely of recycled plastic (rPET). KHS’ Bottles & Shapes experts in Hamburg were responsible for optimization of the bottle. The new containers will continue to be produced on…
Material testing for lithium-ion batteries
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies has expanded its material testing capabilities to include performance and compatibility evaluations of the rubber, elastomers and thermoplastics used to seal and safely maintain lithium-ion batteries. The company has installed sophisticated equipment and adopted new testing protocols in its Plymouth, Mich., Central Laboratory that will provide conclusive data on which materials optimally…
How precision metrology is putting electric vehicles in gear
Not only are electric vehicles (EVs) more prevalent on the roads, but many automotive companies are announcing plans for EVs to dominate their product portfolios. As the shift from internal combustion (IC) to electric continues, the number of drivetrain components will dramatically lessen. So how does that impact the gear components necessary to convert the…
Heilind Electronics now stocking Molex disposable Thin-Film Battery
Heilind Electronics, a leading global distributor of electronic components and authorized global distributor for Molex, has expanded its selection of electronic component solutions with the company’s disposable thin-film battery. The thin-film batteries are zinc-carbon primary cells (Zn anode/MnO2 cathode) that nominally deliver either 1.5 or 3.0 volts. Typical applications include single-use or disposable sensing and…
Seals help in hydrogen production via electrolysis
By providing seals for electrolyzers, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies is contributing to sustainable hydrogen production based on solar and wind power. The seals are designed for automated production, enabling a rapid buildup of high manufacturing capacities. The global production capacity for green hydrogen could increase to more than 250 gigawatts by 2030, according to a study…