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I would like to receive Newsletter from MICHELIN Guide Save lists of your favorite restaurants & hotels Click here for the PDF version of the releaseARJEPLOG 2020 --  Magna’s roadmap to e-mobility includes technologies showcased in the all-new e4 technology demonstrator car debuting today during the company’s winter test-driving activities in northern Sweden The e4 showcases Magna’s eDrive systems in a pure EV format at a time when automakers are making and executing plans for decreasing CO2 emissions and meeting legislation requirements around the world The demo vehicle provides a new benchmark in efficiency and driving dynamics providing up to 120km more range than current production models The e4 technology demonstrator includes highly integrated PSM-type eDrive systems on the front and rear axle The unit on the front is equipped with a mechanical differential while the unit on the rear has a twin-clutch torque vectoring system The e4 is the latest example of Magna’s modular and scalable powertrain solutions as the mobility technology company helps automakers prepare for a future that emphasizes electrification Magna expects that global growth in e-mobility will include mild and micro hybrids high-voltage hybrids and electric vehicles “We are positioned to capitalize on the changing landscape with a strong product portfolio that covers various powertrain types,” said Tom Rucker “From reducing CO2 and supporting sustainability goals to delivering dynamic we can lead automakers through the powertrain transition with our modular and scalable powertrain configurations.” Callista Private Equity GmbH (Callista) has announced the acquisition of Carl Zeiss Automated Inspection GmbH from ZEISS Group by Callista Asset Management 27 GmbH The company has been part of the Zeiss Group since since December 2012 the company and its workforce of around 75 highly qualified employees specialize in the development and installation of automated inline measurement systems in the production lines of automotive OEMs The solutions enable customers to replace time-consuming and error-prone manual processes with more efficient and reliable quality controls the sensor technology used supports the digitalization of the production process and enables the creation of digital twins of each vehicle produced Project business and product business differ significantly ZEISS is consistently focusing on the latter the structures are to be more closely aligned with the needs of the company and its customers Parts of the sensors installed by the company will continue to be sourced from ZEISS the company will operate under the name ‘Newston Automated Solutions GmbH’ “The aim is to utilize and further expand Newston’s excellent market position The company’s well-filled order book provides a strong starting point for this” says Christopher Irion further fields of application are to be developed in the future For more information: www.callista-pe.de HOME PAGE LINK You can read this article in 2 minutesPölös Zsófia GLS Germany has introduced its first battery-electric lorry into regular long-haul operations The Volvo ‘FH Electric’ truck will become a permanent part of the GLS fleet in June 2024 This introduction follows GLS’s two-stage pilot programme focusing on the potential of battery-electric technology for longer distances The addition of this electric vehicle complements GLS’s existing fleet which already includes trucks powered by alternative fuels such as (bio)LNG more than 1,100 zero- and low-emission delivery vehicles are in daily use in more than 250 cities in Germany the battery-electric truck has covered more than 20,000 kilometres and transported approximately 150,000 parcels “We are driven by our desire to innovate and are constantly testing new technologies where they make sense The addition of the electric truck to our fleet is a testament to our progress towards sustainable long-distance transport,” said Jakob Nielsen The truck has a battery capacity of 540 kWh and can be fully charged in two hours using a standard fast charger It has a tested range of up to 350 kilometres under full load The vehicle is currently being used between the GLS sites in Kürnach Charging is integrated into the daily logistics operations at the Neuenstein site Agnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Journalist Trans.info | 6.05.2025 Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Fragrance on the Fly: Why Pocket Perfumes Are Perfect for Airplane TravelSponsored Article 6.05.2025 The automotive industry and its suppliers are part of a highly competitive market. To succeed in this market, increasingly efficient processes and reliable quality are essential. Magna Powertrain aims to achieve both through a high degree of digitalization. Spanning over 140,000 square meters Magna Powertrain's Neuenstein facility manufactures transmissions for various automotive corporations They utilize a digitalized shop floor to minimize unplanned downtime through predictive maintenance (Image: Olaf Gallas/Magna Powertrain) Magna is one of the world's largest automotive suppliers The company employs 179,000 people in 28 countries it maintains 343 production sites and 105 product development The company's history began over 65 years ago and today Magna claims to be a 42-billion-dollar business It has grown over the past 20 years both organizationally and through significant acquisitions one of the many fields of activity of the automotive supplier These powertrains for combustion engines as well as partial and fully electric vehicles are manufactured at the Neuenstein site in Baden-Württemberg Customers range from Audi to Ferrari and Xiaopeng In addition to the automotive industry's current major challenge of moving away from fossil fuels is also faced with the necessity of digital transformation This transformation importantly includes the integration of processes something the transmission specialist is well-acquainted with they approached it with Swabian pragmatism This decision was based on real challenges one of which was the high scrap rate of so-called build-to-print components Automotive suppliers understand these as parts manufactured based on precise specifications and drawings provided by a customer This approach ensures that the manufactured components fit precisely into complex systems such as automobile engines or car bodies The reason for the scrap was identified as the well-known but undesirable triad in automobile production abbreviated as NVH These refer to the noises and vibrations during the drive that are perceived negatively the focus was also on reducing production costs and enhancing quality creating more efficient processes to remain competitive The local managers recognized that the desired automatic quality control of components requires dynamic processes and therefore a move away from static specifications the first step involved establishing the connectivity between machines and IT systems necessary for all further stages of digitalization Alongside the technical challenges inherent in such retrofitting General Manager Operations at Magna Powertrain Foremost among these is the need to "bring people along," as Eichele puts it This means developing the readiness to engage with new technologies and approaches—from management to specialists on the shop floor the reality is that downtimes are not a viable option in this business solutions had to be sought and implemented in parallel with ongoing operations One of the specific technical solutions involved the implementation of a fully integrated Manufacturing Execution System (MES) The objective behind this was clear: to conduct all shop floor processes MES-based in the future Such a system not only enables real-time monitoring and control of manufacturing—thereby increasing transparency and efficiency—but also allows the supplier to quickly identify and eliminate bottlenecks and inefficiencies the MES improves product quality by technically supporting the traceability of materials and processes This is particularly important for the automotive industry exceptionally high quality standards and traceability are required production scheduling at Magna has also been MES-based The system captures real-time data from machines and personnel to create detailed production plans It takes into account the availability and capacity of resources ensuring that they are used as efficiently as possible It constantly monitors production progress By analyzing the data collected and reporting the results such a system enables continuous improvements and increases production efficiency "A closed loop is created from production planning to production execution and back to planning forming a control circuit," summarizes Markus Eichele This simplifies shop floor processes while simultaneously reducing system interfaces By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7/9, 97082 Würzburg, Germany, including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above including for example specialist journals and books events and fairs as well as event-related products and services print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters specialist webportals and e-learning offers In case my personal telephone number has also been collected it may be used for offers of aforementioned products for services of the companies mentioned above In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content In return for this free access to editorial content my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here Thus, the MES forms an important part of the technical foundation for two key approaches at Magna Powertrain, termed "Smart Quality" and "Smart Maintenance." And the results—a noticeable reduction in scrap, tool cost reduction, and higher machine availability—speak for themselves. However, beyond KPIs and directly measurable outcomes, this move seems to have paid off for the company as well, as the feedback from the shop floor is "consistently positive," according to the site manager. Senior Manager Production at Magna in Neuenstein explains the importance of large screens: The dashboards provide real-time insights into factory operations supplying valuable information to the people on the shop floor.(Image:Olaf Gallas/Magna Powertrain)It may also be due to the fact that in Neuenstein it feels like the employees working on the machines are genuinely being included in the digital transformation several large and visually striking monitors are noticeable continuously providing all sorts of information The data is automatedly processed in the background and the derived information is made available on the shop floor these digital dashboards replace 16,244 pages of paper per year equivalent to an annual CO2 saving of 85.9 kilograms and provide onsite employees with real-time insights into the production processes and energy consumption The goals are to reduce paper use and increase transparency across all levels in the facility This transparency consistently proves to be a success factor for employee acceptance of new technologies a fact that seems to hold true here as well Copyright © 2025 Vogel Communications Group