July/August 2020

THEGOVERNMENTHAS investing £73.5m in ten projects to develop cutting-edge technologies for the next generation of electric vehicles (EVs), including high-efficiency axial- flux electric motors and power electronics. The funding will help the automotive sector’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by safeguarding more than 14,000 UK research and manufacturing jobs. It will also enable the production of more low-emission cars, commercial vehicles and components in the UK. The successful projects were chosen by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC), which aims to maintain the UK as a centre of excellence for the r&d of low-carbon vehicle technologies. “Not only will this funding ensure automotive companies can play their part in keeping us on the path to net zero emissions by 2050, it will also support thousands of jobs and be a welcome step towards the industry’s economic recovery,”said business minister Nadhim Zahawi, announcing the investment. In one of the projects (called Revo), the Northumbrian motor developer and manufacturer AvidTechnology is leading a project with Warwick University and the Welding Institute to develop and deliver a next-generation axial-flux motor, and a manufacturing process for producing lighter, more efficient EV powertrains of the future. The project will embed motor simulation and design and volume manufacturing, with the newmanufacturing process capable of producing up to 100,000 motors a year on a line at Avid’s Cramlington site. In a second collaborative r&d project, a consortium led by Sheffield-based Magnetic Systems Technology (Magtec) will develop technologies for producing traction motors for the commercial vehicle market. The consortium – including Dennis Eagle, Paneltex, VoltaTrucks and Angel Trains – will ensure that the manufacturing processes are repeatable and robust. The ManufacturingTechnology Centre (MTC) and the AdvancedManufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) at the University of Sheffield will contribute their expertise on innovative manufacturing processes and assembly methods. A third project (called Hi-Vibes), led by Jaguar Land Rover , will deliver pioneering power electronics to support JLR’s growing portfolio of electrified products. Working with academics from the University of Nottingham and industry partners Lyra Electronics and Pektron , the project will create integrated power electronics for future JLR battery electric vehicles, with the aim of achieving significant cost, weight and packaging benefits. In a separate project (called Zeus), JLR will work with Delta Motorsport, Marelli Automotive Systems and UKBIC to develop a prototype hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. The aim is to deliver a zero-tailpipe-emissions fuel cell SUV concept with a long range, towing and off- road capabilities, and good low-temperature performance. Other companies benefitting from the £73.5m funding include Ford, BMW Motorsport, Cummins Turbo Technologies, McLaren and the London ElectricVehicle Company , which manufactures electric taxis. Over an initial ten-year lifespan, the Advanced Propulsion Centre has a goal of cutting CO 2 emissions from the UK automotive sector by 50 million tonnes. It will facilitate the relationship between the UK government and companies leading UK-based projects aimed at advancing low-carbon automotive technologies. July/August 2020 www.drivesncontrols.com 10 n NEWS £73.5m scheme will develop technologies for future EVs ROCKWELL AUTOMATION IS restructuring to simplify its operations and accelerate profitable growth. Announcing this as part of the company’s third-quarter results – which revealed a 16.3% drop in sales compared to 2019 – chairman and CEO Blake Moret said that the new structure “better aligns us with the evolving needs of our customers”. From the start of the next fiscal year, Rockwell will have three operating segments: Intelligent Devices; Software & Control; and Lifecycle Services.“These new segments will simplify our structure around essential offerings,”Moret explained,“leverage our sharpened industry focus, and add software talent, which will play a larger role. “We are confident that this model will enable us to provide even more value,”he added.“Nobody is better positioned to bring information technology (IT) and industrial operational technology (OT) together than Rockwell and our partners. “This change builds on our success and accelerates our progress to bring the Connected Enterprise to life,”Moret continued.“It’s the right time to make these changes, as we strengthen the resilience of our business model.” n The Intelligent Devices business will include drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to- order products. n The Software and Control business will include control and visualisation software and hardware, information software, and network and security infrastructure. n The Lifecycle Services business will include consulting, professional and maintenance services, as well as the Sensia joint venture with Schlumberger. Currently, Rockwell is split into its Control Products & Solutions business with 2019 sales of $3.7bn and Architecture & Software with sales of $3bn. It expects the new Intelligent Devices business to account for about half of future sales (worth around $3.3bn), with Software & Control generating sales worth $1.8bn and Lifecycle Services producing $1.6bn. About two thirds (67%) of Rockwell’s 2019 sales came from products, with 22% from solutions and 11% from services. Moret reported that while Rockwell is “managing well”in the Covid-19 environment, he added that“thousands of employees continue to work under very difficult conditions, including the temporary pay cuts we implemented in May. These actions were necessary to better align our costs to current business conditions while preserving jobs, and we intend to reverse them by the end of December, hopefully sooner.” Rockwell restructures to simplify its operations and boost growth AvidTechnology already has an expertise in designing and building axial-flux electric motors