ZF Expands Global IT Centre in India

Scania At MINExpo International

  

As part of its Refresh India four-point strategy, ZF will further tap into region India’s vast IT talent pool with the objective of expanding its Global IT Centre in Pune, Hyderabad, and Chennai focusing on the IT Product, Services & Digital Innovations team to support digitalisation within the group globally. The Indian IT team will play a critical role to help accelerate the Group’s digital initiatives through advanced Artificial Intelligence Machine Learning, Analytics, Industry 4.0, Blockchain as well as Cloud technologies, the company said in a release.  

ZF Commercial Vehicle Solutions (CVS) has been leveraging the IT talents in India for its IT Product, Services and Digital Innovation competence for several years. With the setup of a dedicated organisation focusing on Digital and IT Innovations in Chennai in 2018, the team in India has successfully delivered more than 230 Digital Robotic Process Automation BoTs, supporting various functions and areas of business ranging from Supply Chain, Quality, Sourcing & Purchasing, Human Resources, Finance, Product Engineering and Business Development, the release said.  

ZF now plans to expand its workforce across its three IT centres. A huge focus on skills and capabilities leveraged from these IT centres will befor Global Enterprise transformations across Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data, Mobile Applications, Blockchain and Cybersecurity etc. 

Dr. Juergen Sturm, CIO, ZF, said, “ZF as a leader in building solutions for a Next Generation Mobility offers exciting opportunities for digital talents. We would like to take a leap forward scaling up the skills and capabilities both for the Region India as well as globally for ZF. Further expansion and leveraging of the Global IT Centers will play an important role to accelerate our group initiatives in digitalisation.”  

Dr. Milan Kumar, IT Responsible for Region India at ZF, said, “Technology is the backbone of any business and ZF has always been at the forefront of technological advancement that has benefited the mobility ecosystem. Given the vast IT talent pool in India with proven innovation power, the expansion of ZF’s Global IT Center, the Product, Services & Digital Innovation team here will be an important building block in the future to transform ZF into a Digital Enterprise.” (MT)

Toyota Joins Daimler Truck And Volvo Group For Equal Shareholding In Cellcentric

Daimler - Toyota - Volvo Group - Cellcentric

Daimler Truck, the Volvo Group, Cellcentric, and Toyota Motor Corporation have signed a binding agreement for Toyota to join Cellcentric as an equal partner and shareholder. Under the terms of the deal, each owner will hold a one-third stake in the joint venture.

The binding contract follows a non-binding agreement signed in March. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end-2026 or early-2027 and remains subject to regulatory approvals.

Through the partnership, the companies intend to expand Cellcentric’s technological lead, industrial scale and competitiveness in fuel cell systems for heavy-duty commercial applications. The partners also plan to work with industry associations and entities across the hydrogen value chain to support hydrogen supply and infrastructure development.

Cellcentric will continue to operate as an independent company, supplying heavy-duty on-road and off-road transport, as well as applications such as coaches, stationary power generation, rail and heavy off-highway equipment.

Daimler Truck, the Volvo Group and Toyota Motor Corporation will continue to compete independently across all other business areas.

InfiMotion Launches Geely 16-in-1 Intelligent Electric Drive System

Geely - InfiMotion

InfiMotion hosted the launch event for the Geely 16-in-1 intelligent electric drive system at its headquarters in Wuxi on July 16. The electric drive system is scheduled for debut in the Geely Galaxy TT series.

The company operates research and development (R&D) centres in Wuxi, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hangzhou and Gothenburg, supported by a testing facility featuring a 30,000 rpm motor test bench and five production bases in China. InfiMotion supplies electric drive solutions to automotive brands including Geely, Volvo and Jaguar Land Rover.

Joe, CEO of InfiMotion, highlighted InfiMotion’s global R&D footprint spanning Wuxi, Shanghai, Ningbo, Hangzhou and Gothenburg, Sweden. More than 1,000 engineers, including over 100 specialists in Sweden, work collaboratively through a cloud‑based development platform, enabling synchronised hardware, software and algorithm development across continents.

“Global collaboration is not simply about working across different locations – it is about moving at the same pace. Our development process is built around real‑world global driving conditions, from sustained high‑speed operation on Germany’s unrestricted highways, to sub‑zero cold starts in the Nordic region, and continuous high‑load performance in Southeast Asia’s hot and humid climate,” said Joe. 

Epson Intros Expanded Robotics Portfolio At Automation Expo Mumbai 2026

Epson Intros Expanded Robotics Portfolio At Automation Expo Mumbai 2026

Epson, a global leader in SCARA robot manufacturing, has unveiled its next-generation industrial robotics portfolio at Automation Expo Mumbai 2026. The newly introduced lineup features the high-end CX-A Series 6-axis robots, the LS-C Series SCARA robots, the RC+ 8.0 programming software and the advanced SafeSense safety technology, all designed to address diverse manufacturing applications such as pick-and-place, precision assembly, parts transfer and material handling.

The new offerings significantly expand Epson’s existing industrial robotics family, which already includes the 6-axis C-Series and SCARA T-Series and LS-Series models with payloads ranging from 3 to 20 kilogrammes. With the addition of the CX-A and LS-C Series, manufacturers across various sectors can achieve heightened productivity, flexibility and operational efficiency. The CX-A Series is engineered for complex tasks with a payload capacity of up to seven kilogrammes and a reach of 900 millimetres, available in IP67, cleanroom and ESD variants, while the LS-C Series provides a compact SCARA platform with a 50-kilogramme payload, a 1,000-millimetre reach and cycle times as fast as 0.298 seconds.

Complementing the hardware, the RC+ 8.0 software offers an integrated environment for programming, simulation and system management, facilitating faster automation deployment with support for Visual Studio and C++ development. Additional efficiency features include enhanced diagnostics, OPC UA, GUI builder and safety functions, alongside co-creation tools like Library Builder and RC+ Extension. Meanwhile, the SafeSense technology promotes safer human-robot collaboration by incorporating Safety Limited Speed and Safety Limited Position functions, which can potentially reduce the need for extensive safety fencing and thereby increase operational flexibility.

With over four decades of industrial robotics expertise and more than 200,000 robotic arms deployed globally, Epson continues to drive operational excellence for businesses. Attendees at Automation Expo Mumbai 2026 have the opportunity to view live demonstrations of these solutions and consult with Epson specialists about transforming their manufacturing operations.

Siva Kumar, Sr General Manager – Sales and Marketing, Epson India, said, "India is rapidly emerging as a global manufacturing hub, and automation will play a pivotal role in shaping its future. With our new industrial robot lineup and RC+ 8.0 platform, Epson is delivering the speed, precision and intelligence manufacturers need to compete in an increasingly dynamic marketplace. We remain committed to enabling businesses to accelerate automation adoption and build smarter, more agile and globally competitive manufacturing operations."

Hyundai Motor India Foundation Launches Samarth UnnATi Start-Up Programme

Hyundai India Foundation

The Hyundai Motor India Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of Hyundai Motor India, has launched Samarth UnnATi in association with the AssisTech Foundation in Gurugram.

The initiative provides grant support of INR 7.5 million to assist startups developing assistive technology solutions for persons with disabilities. It focuses on capacity building, mentorship, investor linkages and market access.

Gopalakrishnan C S, Trustee, Hyundai Motor India Foundation, said, “At Hyundai, we believe that accessibility and innovation are powerful enablers of inclusion and progress. Through ‘Samarth by Hyundai’, we are committed to creating opportunities that empower persons with disabilities to participate more independently and confidently in society. The Samarth UnnATi – AT start-up scaleup program is an important step towards strengthening Assistive Technology ecosystem by supporting innovators who are developing impactful solutions to address real-world accessibility challenges. Through our partnership with AssisTech Foundation, we aim to accelerate the adoption of assistive technologies and help build a more inclusive society.”

Prateek Madhav, CEO and Co-Founder, AssisTech Foundation (ATF), said, “By 2050, the need for assistive products in the global population is estimated to increase to 3.5 billion (UNICEF Global Report on Assistive Technology). To reach this breadth, innovation cannot be a standalone phenomenon. It must be nurtured, deployed at scale and reach the people who need it the most. Samarth UnnATi is the engine that drives this, bringing together these largely disparate efforts toward a more cohesive approach.”