By SEMA Editors
High-performance driveline manufacturer Mark Williams Enterprises (MWE)
has officially expanded into the electric vehicle (EV) market. MWE has developed a new stub axle assembly for the popular IDM-190 power module from EV and hybrid propulsion system maker Cascadia Motion, a division of BorgWarner. The product uses the popular Series 15 constant velocity joint (commonly referred to as a "Porsche 930" CV joint).
"We see the Cascade high torque power unit being the choice of many independent EV builders and have developed this rugged assembly to facilitate its use," said MWE president Mark Williams.
Manufactured from a 300M alloy steel forging and heat-treated to more than 300,000-psi tensile strength, the unit is double shot-peened. All exposed surfaces are given a Cerakote ceramic gray coating for rust protection. The stub shaft features a recess to protect the housing seal from debris and road hazards.
SPAL Automotive Announces New Manufacturing, Office Facility in Ankeny, Iowa
SPAL Automotive--the designer and manufacturer of high-quality electric fans, blowers and fluid pumps for vehicles and equipment--has announced plans to construct a state-of-the-art manufacturing and office facility in Ankeny, Iowa.
SPAL USA, the North American subsidiary of SPAL Automotive Srl, has been providing products from Italy since 1989. The company's newly planned facility will join its current sales and distribution center in a 40,000-sq.-ft. facility in Ankeny.
Plans for the new facility--which will help produce cooling fans for a new electric vehicle platform for a major US automaker--include green energy power from enhanced insulation, existing renewable electricity and solar panel technology. Construction is expected to begin this year, with the first of three possible stages set for completion in early 2025.
"We have always set the highest standards. We are convinced that quality, innovation and service have been, are, and always will be the main cornerstones of our history and culture. Using these cornerstones, SPAL has established its credibility over the years, presenting itself as an ideal partner for designing, manufacturing and marketing engine bay cooling and vehicle cab ventilation solutions for all means of transport," said Alessandro Spaggiari, president of SPAL Automotive Srl.
WeatherTech Extends Naming Rights of Laguna Seca
The Monterey County Board of Supervisors has approved a five-year extension for WeatherTech to continue as the naming rights partner of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, which is owned by the County of Monterey in California.
The new agreement--reported to be $1 million per year--will extend through June 30, 2028. WeatherTech became the title sponsor in July 2018 for its initial five-year involvement.
"The WeatherTech team's enthusiasm for motorsports and our community is unmatched," said John Narigi, president and general manager of WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca.
The announcement comes as WeatherTech Raceway nears completion on several projects, including the new Start/Finish bridge, site and drainage work, and the historical track's repaving. The grand reopening will be held Friday, July 7, during the MotoAmerica Superbike SpeedFest.