Oerlikon Group

High-Strength Al-Based Alloys Being Developed for Aerospace and Automotive

A global technology group, an industrial gases company, an additive and design company, and an engineering university in Germany have entered into a research partnership with the end goal of supporting the aerospace and automotive industries through their research and development of aluminum based-alloys.

Oerlikon, a global technology group, entered into a research partnership with Linde, an industrial gases company, GE Additive, an additive and design company, and the Technical University of Munich (TUM), a leading German university in engineering, to conduct additive manufacturing (AM) research with the aim of developing new high-strength, lightweight aluminum-based alloys that can serve the safety and weight reduction needs of the aerospace and automotive industries.

Dr. Marcus Giglmaier,
Project Manager for
the AM Institute

This collaboration seeks to address the challenge of aluminum AM. “There are significant challenges during the AM of aluminum alloys because the temperatures reached in the melt pool create an extreme environment that leads to evaporation losses of alloying elements that have comparatively low boiling temperatures — such as magnesium,” said Dr. Marcus Giglmaier, project manager for the Additive Manufacturing Institute and research funding manager. “Additionally, the cooling rates of more than 1 million °C per second, create high stresses during the solidification process, which can cause micro cracks in the solid material.”

The project draws on the strengths of each of its members. Oerlikon’s experience in powder and material science will contribute to the development of the novel material; Linde’s technology and expertise in gas atmosphere control and evaporation suppression during the AM process – including the processing of aluminum-based alloys – overcomes impurities within the print chamber, which will help manufacturers achieve optimal 3D-printing conditions; GE Additive will assist in the collaboration; and, for its part, the Institute of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (AER) at TUM will be able to provide a detailed understanding of the physical phenomena taking place during the AM process using numerical simulations.

 

From left to right: Dr Sven Hicken (Business Unit Head, Oerlikon AM), Prof Thomas Hofmann (President, TUM), Jason Oliver (President and CEO, GE Additive), Dr Wolfgang Dierker (CEO, GE Germany), Dr Christoph Laumen (Executive Director R&D, Linde AG), Prof Michael Suess (Chairman of the Board of Directors, Oerlikon Group), Dr Christian Haecker (Head of Industrialisation, Oerlikon AM), Dr Andreas Lessmann (Managing Director, GE Additive Germany GmbH, Senior Leader, Legal Operations), Dr Christian Bruch (Executive Vice President & CEO, Linde Engineering), Andreas Rohregger (Head of Global Properties, GE Additive), Dr Alice Beck (Deputy Director, TUM ForTe) (Courtesy Oerlikon)

 

 

 

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Drive Systems Acquisition Extends Electrification Capabilities

A worldwide supplier of drivetrain, sealing, and thermal-management technologies, based in Maumee, Ohio, recently announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Drive Systems segment of a leading global technology and engineering group providing solutions and services for surfaces and drive technologies in diverse industries, including aerospace, automotive, tooling, energy, and general industries.

Dana Incorporated’s acquisition of the Drive Systems segment of the Oerlikon Group, including the Graziano and Fairfield brands, expands the company’s capabilities in electrification, including:

  • extending Dana’s current technology portfolio, especially in the area of high-precision helical gears for the light- and commercial-vehicle markets, as well as planetary hub drives for wheeled and tracked vehicles in the off-highway market;
  • growing Dana’s electronic controls capability for transmissions and drivelines through the acquisition of VOCIS, a wholly owned business of Oerlikon Drive Systems, and further expanding its motors technologies through Ashwoods Electric Motors;
  • increasing Dana’s product offerings that support vehicle electrification in each of Dana’s end markets – light vehicle, commercial vehicle, and off-highway;
  • optimizing Dana’s global manufacturing presence to be closer to customers in key growth markets such as China and India, as well as the United States;
  • and adding four research and development facilities to Dana’s extensive network of technology centers, as well as 12 facilities to the company’s global manufacturing footprint.

    James Kamsickas, president and CEO of Dana

“Dana’s acquisition of the Drive Systems segment of Oerlikon enables us to support our customers’ shift toward vehicle electrification across nearly every vehicle architecture in the light vehicle, commercial vehicle, and off-highway segments,” said James Kamsickas, president and chief executive officer of Dana.  “The Drive Systems business’ highly talented team is also strategically positioned to give our customers access to critical manufacturing capabilities in key growth markets, such as India, China, and the United States.”

The Drive Systems business serves a global roster of original-equipment manufacturers with a portfolio of high-tech products that can be found in a wide range of applications for operating machinery and equipment used in agriculture, construction, energy, mining, on-road transportation, and high-performance sports cars.

Selected customers include, but are not limited to AGCO, Ashok Leyland, Aston Martin, BMW, Caterpillar, CNH, Daimler, John Deere, Ferrari, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, MAN, McLaren, Oshkosh, SANY, Scania, Terex, Volkswagen, and AB Volvo.

 

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