COLLABORATION WITH UNIVERSITIES

Collaboration with universities
and technology centers

TECNUN UNIVERSITY OF NAVARRA

High Speed Gear Chair

The University of Navarra, through Tecnun, has entered into an agreement with Sapa, called the “High-Speed Gear Chair,” to further study gears under high-speed conditions. This responds to the growing demand for electrification of civil and military vehicles, where transmission components now exceed 10,000 rpm, reaching approximately 20,000 rpm with electric motors. This increase in speed poses new challenges such as lubrication problems, greater power losses, and increased vibrations and centrifugal forces. The agreement includes designing and building a test bench for these gears, modeling and simulating their operating conditions, and conducting experimental tests.

Autonomous University of Madrid

Development of a 200 kW, 2-level, bidirectional AC/DC converter demonstrator

The collaboration proposal between SAPA and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) focuses on the development of a 200 kW, two-level bidirectional AC/DC converter for SAPA’s e-axle project. This converter will use SiC MOSFETs and operate at 50 kHz to drive a permanent magnet synchronous motor, also enabling regenerative braking.

Mondragón University

Demand Driven Adaptive Enterprise (DDAE) process management system

SAPA and Mondragón University are collaborating on the development of a demand-driven production system called “Demand Driven Adaptive Enterprise” (DDAE). This system is designed for the manufacture of propulsion systems (e-axles) in electric commercial vehicles, specifically trucks and buses weighing over 3 tons. One of the main challenges in the production of these vehicles is the uncertainty in demand and an unreliable supply chain due to the specialization of electronic components. The variability and uncertainty of demand, along with the globalization of supply, complicate the situation. The implementation of a DDAE system implies an innovative change in SAPA’s production and organization, encompassing the supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, and assembly, in addition to a high level of plant digitalization.

University of Jaén

SAPA University Chair at the University of Jaén

SAPA, in conjunction with Meachup, is launching the ‘SAPA’ University Chair at the University of Jaén (UJA). This chair was presented by the Rector of the UJA, Nicolás Ruiz Reyes, last Wednesday. The objective of this chair is to promote training, research, knowledge transfer, and innovation in the field of mechanical engineering, with a special focus on mechanical transmissions and their application in the defense industry and civil automotive mobility systems.

US Army Combat Capabilities Development Command - DEVCOM

Development of transmissions for next-generation tracked vehicles

SAPA Transmission has collaborated with the U.S. Army Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC) to develop next-generation transmission technology. This partnership has resulted in the creation of the ACT850 and ACT1000 transmission systems, designed for advanced combat vehicles. These transmissions are currently undergoing performance and reliability testing in several military vehicles, including the Bradley Fighting Vehicle and the M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer (Sapa transmission).