Council backs electric car factory
The City Council in Downey, California, has approved an agreement aimed at bringing an electric car assembly plant to the Los Angeles suburb, says The Associated Press.
The council voted unanimously to approve an agreement with the owner of the Downey Studios lot to broker a lease deal with Tesla Motors. The plant would employ up to 1 500 people at the site of a former NASA manufacturing plant.
The San Carlos-based carmaker has been looking for a location to build its next-generation Model S sedan, which could travel as far as 300 miles on a charge. The car is slated to go into production in late 2011 with a base price of $57 400.
3D Systems acquires AdvaTech
3D Systems, a 3D printing, rapid prototyping and manufacturing solutions provider, has acquired the assets of AdvaTech Manufacturing, a manufacturing services provider to the aerospace and defence industries, states CNNMoney.
James Butler, owner of AdvaTech, joined 3D Systems as director of its 3Dproparts Selective Laser Sintering Manufacturing operations.
“We are pleased to add a reputable certified aerospace and defence manufacturer of AdvaTech's calibre to our expanding 3Dproparts service," said Abe Reichental, president and CEO of 3D Systems.
Innovation to boost RFID integration
Researchers have developed a new non-destructive process to equip metallic components with RFID chips during the operating process, according to New Electronics. Previously, this has not been possible due to the extreme production temperatures.
Developers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing and Advanced Materials are utilising the 'rapid manufacturing method'. This involves a machine producing a component based on a 3D CAD model and building it layer by layer directly from a computer.
The laser melts off areas of each metal powder layer that are intended to be solid. The building platform is then lowered and the process restarts until the component is completed. Fraunhofer scientists claim they can control this process in a manner that allows the RFID to be installed and completely encased by the material.
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