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Axalta recently announced Dr. Carmen Flosbach and Dr. Michael Koerner have been elevated to Axalta Fellow, the highest honor that a scientist or engineer can earn within Axalta’s Technology function.

Through individual and collaborative contributions, Axalta Fellows have delivered commercial success with cutting-edge technologies and have had a strategic impact on Axalta’s businesses.

Flosbach has been a catalyst for innovation throughout her 30plus year career. As a leading expert in resin synthesis, she has delivered multiple new polymers for various different chemistry types including acrylic, aspartate, polycarbonate, polyester and polyurethane.

Koerner is Axalta’s technical expert in waterborne coatings and rheology and has spent 34 years with Axalta. He holds numerous patents and his innovations in waterborne technology have led to, or enhanced, waterborne coating technologies at Axalta.

Source: Axalta Ford on July 27 announced Romulus, MI, will be the home of its new global battery center of excellence— Ford Ion Park—which is accelerating the company’s research and development of battery and battery cell technology, including future battery manufacturing.

“Ford already is delivering on our plan to lead the electric revolution with strong new vehicles including Mustang Mach-E, 2022 E-Transit available late 2021 and the 2022 F-150 Lightning available from spring next year,” said Anand Sankaran, Ford Ion Park director. “The new lab will help Ford speed up the battery development process to deliver even more capable, affordable batteries and is part of Ford’s renewed commitment to making Michigan a centerpiece of its focus on EVs.”

A new collaborative learning lab opening next year, Ford Ion Park represents $100 million of Ford’s $185 million investment in developing, testing and building vehicle battery cells and cell arrays. It is part of the company’s $30 billion investment in electrification by 2025 and a renewed commitment to making Michigan a centerpiece of its focus on EVs.

In 2010, Ford committed to making Michigan its center of excellence for electric vehicles and chose the lab’s Romulus location with collaboration and expedited tech sharing in mind. The company has committed to assemble its all-new, all-electric Ford F-150 Lightning, with foreign and domestics parts, at the Rouge Electric Vehicle Center in Dearborn, MI, adding 500 direct jobs with the support of the Good Jobs for Michigan Program. Ford also repositioned its half-century-old Van Dyke Transmission Plant in May, renaming it the Van Dyke Electric Powertrain Center and expanding its production line to produce electric motors and electric transaxles for hybrid and fully electric vehicles, retaining a total of 225 Michigan jobs.

“Ford’s investment in battery research and development in Romulus will support hundreds of good-paying jobs, attract innovative talent to Michigan, and help us continue leading the world in advanced mobility and manufacturing,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “Ford is an American icon that has left its mark on the world over a century, and with the research that will take place at Ford Ion Park, they will shape the next century while reducing emissions and accelerating electrification.”

“We are thankful for the support of the MEDC and the Michigan Strategic Fund in helping establish Ford Ion Park in Romulus,” said Sankaran.

Ford will refurbish an existing 270,000-square foot facility to house up to 200 engineers and include world-class pilot-scale equipment for electrode, cell and array design and manufacturing engineering and innovation. The lab will use stateof-the-art technology to pilot new manufacturing techniques that will allow Ford to research and quickly scale breakthrough battery cell designs with novel materials as part of its plan to vertically integrates battery cells and batteries.

From mines to recycling, the Ford Ion Park team is working with experts across the company, including experts at Ford’s previously announced Battery Benchmarking and Test Laboratory, Ford Customer Service Division, plus key suppliers and partners.

Source: Ford

Karl Chevrolet Automotive Training Center at DMACC in Iowa Holds Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

With the cutting of a racing-themed black-and-white checkered ribbon, the Karl Chevrolet Automotive Training Center at the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) was officially opened.

The new facility, located on the DMACC Ankeny (IA) Campus, was named after Carl and Penny Moyer for their $1 million dollar donation to the Center.

“The DMACC Automotive program has been good for not only us, but for all dealers in Iowa,” Carl Moyer said. “With the industry growth today it is great to have such an amazing facility and program in our area to help us and be part of our future. Penny and I are thankful that we are able leave a legacy to such a great college that will serve our state and youth for years to come!”

The Moyer gift spearheaded the renovation and expansion of the more than 60,000-square foot facility, adding 22 more vehicle work bays, new classrooms, a student lounge, a conference center and a state-of-the-art showroom. In addition, nine classrooms in the existing facility were renovated.

“This is part of our ongoing mission to be among the national leaders in education and training, enabling DMACC to offer countless opportunities for our students to find employment in the evolving, high-tech world of automotive technology,” said DMACC President Rob Denson. “Our students receive an outstanding experience here, and our students are workready when they graduate.”

Denson said DMACC has established local and national industry partnerships, including those with General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, Mercedes, Honda, Subaru and Toyota and, most recently, the Ganassi Racing Team. DMACC Automotive Technology Program Chair Jerry Burns said this renovation and expansion is exciting for the entire automotive industry.

“This space has the look and feel of an automotive dealership and repair facility giving students a great learning experience and preparing them for employment in the automotive repair field,” Burns said.