Magnetics Business & Technology - May/June 2023 - 42

INDUSTRY NEWS
Stellantis Plans $155 Million Investment in 3
Indiana Plants to Support North American
Electrification Goals
will be needed even as the market transitions
to an electrified future, " said Mark
Stewart, Stellantis North America COO.
Since 2020, Stellantis has invested nearly
$3.3 billion in Indiana to support its transition
to electrification. This includes recent
announcements of $643 million to produce
a new engine for conventional and PHEV
applications, a next generation eight-speed
transmission and a gigafactory joint venture
with Samsung SDI.
One of the world's leading automakers,
Stellantis produces numerous brands inMark
Stewart, COO
of Stellantis North
America
cluding Abarth, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroen, Dodge, DS Automobiles,
Fiat, Jeep, Lancia, Maserati, Opel, Peugeot, Ram, Vauxhall,
Free2move and Leasys.
For more info, see www.stellantis.com.
Stellantis has announced from its headquarters in Amsterdam that
it will invest a total of $155 million in three Kokomo, Indiana, plants
to produce new electric drive modules that will help power future
electric vehicles assembled in North America and support the goal
of 50% battery electric sales in the U.S. by 2030.
With more than 25 battery electric vehicle (BEV) launches planned
in the U.S. between now and 2030, the Kokomo-built e-drive modules
(EDM) will be integrated into vehicles designed on the STLA
Large and STLA Frame platforms. Offering an all-in-one solution
for electric vehicle powertrains, the EDM consists of three main
components - the permanent-magnet electric motor, power electronics
and transmission - that are combined into a single module to
deliver improved performance and range at a competitive cost. The
optimized efficiency of the new EDM will help each platform achieve
driving range up to 500 miles.
Carlos Tavares, CEO of
Stellantis
" While we continue our successful transition
to a decarbonized future in our
European operations, we are now setting
those same foundational elements for
the North American market, " said Carlos
Tavares, Stellantis CEO. " By combining the
benefits of the EDM with our new BEVcentric
platforms and innovative battery
technologies, we will offer our customers a
variety of electric vehicles with unparalleled
performance and range at more affordable
prices. And with our in-house manufacturing
capabilities and expertise, we will do it
with greater flexibility and efficiency. "
Investments will be made at the Indiana Transmission, Kokomo
Transmission and Kokomo Casting Plants. The gearbox cover will
be cast at Kokomo Casting and machined at Kokomo Transmission.
Gear machining and final assembly will be at the Indiana Transmission
Plant. Production is expected to start in the third quarter of
2024, following retooling.
" With more than 7,000 employees in Indiana, these investments will
leverage the core manufacturing competencies of the local workforce
in the areas of casting, machining and assembly, all of which
42 Magnetics Business & Technology * May/June 2023
Douglas Electrical Components, a manufacturer of custom hermetic
connectivity solutions including hermetic seals for magnetic bearings,
has opened a second manufacturing site in Randolph, New
Jersey. The expansion is the result of the company's continued
growth in a variety of markets and industries.
" This expansion is a strategic investment in our future and commitment
to our customers, " said Ed Douglas, president. The new site
is located in the same industrial complex as its current 29,000 sq ft
facility and adds 6,400 sq ft more space. The company also has a
manufacturing facility in Massachusetts through the July acquisition
of Electronic Products which operates out of a 26,500 sq ft plant,
making hermetic glass-to-metal and ceramic seal microelectronic
packaging.
Magnetic bearing chilling compressors have been a growth market
in recent years for their energy efficiency and performance attributes.
Compared to traditional compressors, however, they require
additional signal connections and robust power connections. A
typical magnetic bearing for a chiller compressor can have up to 40
sensors to feed position, speed, voltage, current and temperature
data back to the controller. It will also need a 50 to 750 Amp power
connection for the electromagnets. A traditional compressor, by
contrast, might have only one or two sensors.
www.MagneticsMag.com
Douglas Electrical Adds Second
Manufacturing Facility
http://www.stellantis.com http://www.MagneticsMag.com
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