Explore the latest technology trends, career opportunities, and the people behind Schunk’s pioneering solutions

Electric buses are becoming standard in public transit systems across North America. As fleets continue to grow, transit agencies face increasing pressure to scale charging infrastructure that can keep vehicles running reliably throughout the day.  That is exactly what King County Metro is addressing in Seattle. The agency is currently expanding the charging infrastructure at its Tukwila Base depot with 123 inverted pantographs from Schunk Transit Systems. 

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, two 14.5 MWh Battery Electric Locomotives (BELs) from Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company, are now in regular operation. Charging is handled by four Schunk SLS 201 systems installed in parallel, providing up to 2.8 MW of total charging power. The installation brings megawatt-level charging into day-to-day heavy-haul rail service. 

Public transit electrification is accelerating across major metropolitan areas in North America. Transit agencies are investing in reliable, scalable electric bus charging infrastructure to support zero-emission operations while maintaining high service availability. A current reference project in Florida demonstrates how Schunk Smart Charging supports efficient pantograph charging for electric bus depots: the Miami-Dade Transit electric bus charging project. 

Improved range with the same battery, enhanced system robustness, and no reliance on critical raw materials – Schunk Mobility Carbon’s wet-running current transmission system for Externally Excited Synchronous Motors (EESMs) addresses key challenges in modern electric powertrain design.  The system, developed by a team at Schunk’s Bad Goisern site, is built to operate reliably in direct contact with cooling oil – a critical advantage for next-generation EVs. 

In industrial heat treatment—such as hardening, sintering, or brazing—energy consumption and process stability are critical performance factors. Workpiece carriers and charging systems significantly influence both. While traditional steel designs often hinder efficiency due to their weight and limited thermal resistance, carbon fiber-reinforced carbon (CFC) charging fixtures offer a proven way to reduce energy input and improve overall process performance.

The electrification of public transport is a decisive step toward greater sustainability. More and more cities are turning to electric buses to reduce emissions and improve air quality. But success depends on charging infrastructure that is fast, reliable, and future-ready—both in depots and at bus stops. This is where the new SLS 104 roof-mounted pantograph from Schunk Transit Systems comes into play. 

At Pier 400 in the Port of Los Angeles, one of the world’s busiest container terminals, a new high-performance charging system is now in daily use. In collaboration with Kalmar and APM Terminals, Schunk Transit Systems has implemented two Inverted Pantographs SLS201.401 to support the first fully electric straddle carriers in North America. The system enables automated, high-current charging (up to 1,200A)—ideal for demanding port environments with tight schedules and continuous operation. 

Parasitic shaft currents are among the most common causes of bearing damage in electric drive systems. Inadequate grounding can lead to costly failures – in rail transport, industrial production facilities, and electric mobility alike. The Schunk Group addresses this challenge with a comprehensive portfolio of grounding systems, ranging from traditional grounding contacts to innovative carbon-based solutions.

The Schunk Group is your innovative partner when it comes to metal injection molding (MIM) at the highest technological level. With over 100 years of material expertise and state-of-the-art MIM technology, we manufacture complex, precise, and series-ready metal components – tailored exactly to the requirements of your industry.

Electric vehicles are rapidly gaining momentum, increasing the demand for reliable and efficient technologies. Power modules play a pivotal role in this context, particularly in motor drives and battery charging systems. Dr. Jürgen Reinke, Head of Process Technology at Schunk Sonosystems, and Dr. Urs Bürgi, an expert in automation and precision at Infotech, explain the importance of these technologies and highlight innovations developed in collaboration with Infotech.

Electric buses are no longer a future scenario - they are increasingly defining the image of modern cities. For the transition to more sustainable and quieter local transport to succeed, not only are powerful vehicles needed, but also intelligent and efficient charging infrastructures. This is precisely where Schunk Smart Charging comes in: with innovative, fully automatic charging systems that maximise the availability of electric buses - without any manual operation or plugs.

For transport companies, winter not only brings frosty temperatures, but also a problem that causes costs and effort: icy overhead lines. A challenge that Dessauer Verkehrs GmbH also had to contend with. Holger Steuer, Head of Maintenance, explains how the company got to grips with the problem in a straightforward manner. The result: reliable tramway operation despite ice and snow.

We know from experience: Developers of high-performance motors for electric cars face an enormous challenge. Tomorrow's e-mobility requires efficient motors for higher drive dynamics and longer ranges. But how can the performance of electric motors be increased in what is sometimes the smallest installation space? Higher speeds are a key to success, but mean extreme stress for the components. Without a stable rotor bandage, machine failure would be inevitable. Read here why armor sleeves made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) are the way to efficient high-performance motors.

The arguments that electric vehicles are still too expensive, take too long to charge, have too short a range or always require a cable to be held for charging still deter many customers from buying an electric car. Similarly, the demands for more environmentally friendly mobility in the industrial sector also present companies with challenges. For example, for electric mobility to become an economically viable alternative for logistics companies, solutions are needed that not only ensure fast, reliable charging and long ranges, but can also be integrated into the depot in a space-saving way. Fortunately, the development of charging systems for electric vehicles is progressing rapidly. The range now includes not only manually operated charging systems, but also autonomous solutions.

Read on to find out which charging systems offer the most potential for which types of vehicles and how an underbody charging solution enables efficient and space-saving charging of passenger cars and e-trucks.

Many transport companies can tell you a thing or two about it: Suddenly, metros or trains are at a standstill due to damaged engine or transmission bearings. Such breakdowns are not only annoying, but above all expensive. The cause are often vagrant shaft voltages that discharge in the bearings and cause lasting damage. Shaft grounding systems made of infiltrated carbon fibers can provide a remedy, reliably dissipating voltages and protecting against bearing damage.

When the 2:45 p.m. ferry arrived on the Isle of Wight on November 19, 2020, a very special passenger disembarked: the first of a total of five trains for the completely refurbished fleet of the modernized Island Line. The trains thus continue the Island Line‘s long-standing tradition of using refurbished and rebuilt London Underground equipment. Adrian Handley, Sales and Marketing Director of Sabre Rail, the UK's leading independent specialist in the overhaul of rail systems and components, shares the challenges the vehicle manufacturer faced in order to be able to operate the trains on the island and the solution that was developed together with Schunk.   (Image below: The first Island Line Class 484 train arrives at Wightlinks Fishbourne ferry terminal. © James123pilbeam, license.)