Browse Topic: Supply chain management
Researchers at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory are using advanced manufacturing techniques to revitalize the domestic production of very large metal parts that weigh at least 10,000 pounds each and are necessary for a variety of industries, including clean energy.
Sensors are used everywhere — from smartphones and wearable devices to industrial systems and logistics. But traditional sensors often rely on rigid components and batteries, limiting their applications in soft systems. To address this, researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, have developed a smarter alternative. Using a paper-folding technique in combination with a triboelectric nanogenerator, they created a novel energy-harvesting sensor with promising potential for next-generation soft devices.
September is unofficially known in the industry as a key forecasting month. It's when several suppliers lock in their revenue forecasts for the next year. As we approach 2026, there are still several balls in the air with respect to the trajectory of the light vehicle market. Looming U.S. tariffs, negative economic and geo-political shifts, and the impact of changes to U.S. vehicle emission legislation have all brought with them a cloud of uncertainty that hovers over the industry. An industry that requires greater planning clarity, not less. Let's start with the tariffs. As of this writing, the major vehicle and parts importers outside of North America have agreed to 15% U.S. tariffs for vehicles and parts. In the case of Japan and the European Union, this is 12.5 percentage points higher than 2024 levels. In the case of South Korea, it's 15 points more, as there was a free trade agreement in force. While these framework agreements drive some level of certainty, the final details
Counterfeiting of refrigerants has seen a dramatic rise over the past decades. This rise can be partially attributed to global restrictions placed on production and use of refrigerants by the 1987 Montreal Protocol, the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and the 2016 Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol [1, 2]. These protocols and the amendment regulate the gradual phase-out and strict regulations on the use of refrigerants with high Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) and high Global Warming Potential (GWP). These protocols require that older refrigerants be replaced with more environmentally friendly products and necessitate redesigned, updated, or replaced equipment to operate efficiently with these new refrigerants.
Bosch bolstered its 3D printing capabilities when it added a new metal 3D printer at its Nuremberg, Germany, plant earlier this year. The NXG XII 600 metal 3D printer from Nikon SLM Solutions met the supplier's need - the need for speed - as well as the non-Top Gun-related precision, flexibility and energy efficiency when manufacturing complex metal parts for its in-house and third-party customers. The Nuremberg plant invested nearly six million euros in the center, including the purchase and installation of the new metal 3D printer. Bosch claims to be the first Tier 1 automotive supplier in Europe to have a facility in this performance class.
Suppliers are learning several new and unwelcome lessons as the dynamics surrounding U.S. light vehicle trade and emissions legislation quickly shifts. Two major issues are at play here. As the industry continues to feel the impact of reduced or eliminated battery electric vehicle incentives in several North American and European jurisdictions and governments are retrenching on light vehicle emissions legislation - OEMs are questioning the size of the near- and mid-term market. Similarly, as of this writing, the saga surrounding future vehicle and parts tariffs between the U.S. and its major automotive trading partners continues. This unfortunate combination has driven OEMs to delay, extend and rescope future product programs. This jams a stick in the financial spokes of the supply base. Some context is in order. Like clockwork, in the highly competitive global light vehicle market, our industry was trained to expect a regular cadence for product renewals and product cycles. The
Warehouse logistics increasingly rely on automation in the form of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), scanners, complex conveyors, and fleet management systems for seamless operation, but it’s the ubiquitous, century-old pallet that remains the critical support system. Make no mistake, if even one of those thousands of pallets is defective, it can create havoc in the warehouse.
Engineering precision is an art of nuance — especially when it comes to selecting the right bearing for medical devices. What begins as a straightforward specification process quickly becomes a complex yet familiar puzzle of competing requirements. Oftentimes, engineers discover that a bearing’s performance extends beyond its basic dimensional specs, involving considerations of material properties, system integration and supply chain dynamics.
Low-Cost Mobile Hydrogen Refuelling Stations: A Cost-Effective Solution for India's Sustainable Transportation” The likely depletion of fossil fuel reserves in the next fifty years and growing environmental concerns caused by petroleum fuel-based vehicles highlight the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. India, a developing country, requires a significant amount of energy to sustain its growth, most of which is imported. Hydrogen is one of the cleanest fuels and offers sustainable pathways to a low-carbon future. The government of India has already launched a Green Hydrogen mission and has set up a very ambitious target for 2030. However, the absence of adequate refueling infrastructure is a significant blockade to India's widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles. The mobile hydrogen refueling station (MHRS) is a flexible system that enables lower initial capital costs than fixed hydrogen refueling stations and allows for the gradual build-up of hydrogen mobility fleets
While new sustainability efforts aim to curb the carbon footprint of the commercial vehicle industry, old methods continue to be among the most effective. Sustainability has been among the hottest topics for the commercial vehicle industry over the past decade. OEMs, suppliers and various governmental agencies across the globe are touting new advances in clean powertrain tech that reduces the industry's dependence on fossil fuel while also considering the complete carbon footprint of the vehicle from cradle to grave. Though these initiatives have their merits, there are old-school methods of reducing the environmental impact of keeping the world moving. Remanufacturing is decidedly not the sexiest of methods for promoting the concept of sustainability. But recycling existing materials and components is a proven tactic for reducing waste and energy consumption.
April saw two major tradeshows take place, playing host to numerous advanced vehicle and technology reveals from global OEMs and suppliers - some of which are detailed in these pages. Bauma in Munich, Germany, a leading trade fair for the construction and mining vehicle industries, saw around 600,000 visitors from more than 200 countries and regions, as well as over 3,600 exhibitors from 57 nations. Billed as the largest advanced CV technology show, ACT Expo engaged more than 12,000 stakeholders from at least 54 countries, including over 2,700 fleet operators. But just as present as the technology itself at these shows was the ongoing uncertainty stemming from the Trump administration's volatile trade policy announced on April 2 involving steep tariffs that have been adjusted frequently in the ensuing weeks.
Machine builders are under intense pressure to keep engineering time in line with shorter delivery schedules and materials, assembly, and inventory cost considerations. Machine builders are also striving to make equipment smaller, lighter, higher-performing and easier for their customers to maintain. While functionally integrated products have been available for a long time, they are more vital today than ever for machine builders and end users to improve processes and products. And there are more options available to provide solutions.
Much has been written about the challenging operating environment within the North American automotive ecosystem. Suppliers and OEMs alike were never trained in business school or past experiences for the erratic trade and legislative environment that they face today. Since late 2019 and a multi-week strike by the UAW against GM, there has been calamity after calamity impacting our industry. These include the impact of COVID on supply and demand, chip availability, labor shortages, inflation impacts and erratic trade actions that have all suppressed revenue and profits. There is one obvious dynamic impacting the industry: the lack of a stable, expected trade environment is critical to our long-term viability.
Items per page:
50
1 – 50 of 15741