Partnership
Assembly Line
A Fork in the Road: Walmart Bets on Associates, Automation
After a 16-month proof of concept, I’m proud to announce Walmart is taking another step into the future, rolling 19 autonomous forklifts across four high-tech DCs, with the potential for more as we evaluate the benefits to our associates and operations. As our facility has worked with Fox Robotics, the developer of the autonomous forklifts, we’ve learned a lot. But I can sum it up easily: Automation isn’t just good for business – it’s good for our associates too.
Here’s how they work together: Trucks arrive at our DC, and they need to be unloaded. Queue the forklifts. Using AI-powered machine vision and dynamic planning, the forklifts safely and accurately unload pallets and ferry them to be inducted into the automated storage and retrieval system, which catalogues and stores our goods. And the associate? They’re the most important part.
Associates are being trained to operate the FoxBot autonomous forklift, designed to fully automate the warehouse loading dock. And so far, it’s working. That’s why Walmart invested growth capital for a minority stake in Fox Robotics, demonstrating a multi-year commitment to the company and its technology.
Universal Robots Expands Partnership with MathWorks by Joining Connections Program
Universal Robots, the Danish collaborative robot (cobot) company, has further strengthened its partnership with MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software, by joining the Mathworks Connections Program. The program supports organizations that develop and distribute complementary, commercially available products, training, and consulting based on MATLAB® and Simulink®. Last year, MathWorks became a UR+ partner within the Universal Robots ecosystem, consisting of more than 300+ approved developer companies creating products for the UR platform.
BlackBerry Announces Collaboration with AMD to Advance Foundational Precision and Control for Robotics Industry
BlackBerry Limited announced a collaboration with AMD designed to revolutionize next-generation robotic systems by enabling new levels of low latency and jitter, and repeatable determinism. Together, the companies will address the critical need for ‘hard’ real-time capabilities in robotics-focused hardware with an affordable and powerful platform that delivers enhanced performance, reliability, and scalability for robotic systems in industrial and healthcare.
The platform combines BlackBerry® QNX® expertise in real-time foundational software solutions and the QNX® Software Development Platform (SDP) with heterogeneous hardware solutions powered by the AMD Kria™ K26 SOM that features both Arm® and FPGA programmable logic-based architecture. With Kria, an Arm® sub-system can power the advanced capabilities of the QNX microkernel real-time operating system (RTOS) while allowing users to run low latency, deterministic functions on the programable logic of the AMD Kria KR260 robotics starter kit.
3D Spark signs three-year breakthrough deal with Alstom
Alstom, the world’s second-largest railway technology company, alongside 3D Spark, an innovator in B2B manufacturing and procurement software, announced a three-year extension of their partnership. This extension indicates an expansion of a collaboration that has already realized more than 15 million euros in cost savings, an impressive 2,600-month cut in lead times, and an 86% decrease in procurement efforts, setting new standards in rail sector manufacturing and procurement.
The partnership highlights how advanced algorithms and AI-driven tools can significantly enhance efficiency in part manufacturing and procurement. With 3D Spark’s solution integrated, Alstom advanced its “Design To Print” initiative, empowering over 170 users to identify swiftly and effectively the cheapest, fastest, and most sustainable production options.
Doral, a Leading Global Renewables Developer, Announces Strategic Green Hydrogen Agreement with Verdagy
Verdagy, a green hydrogen electrolysis company with over a decade of technology and product development experience, announced today a strategic agreement with Doral, a leading renewable energy developer, in which Verdagy will supply green hydrogen electrolysis systems to Doral through 2030. The agreement is global with a focus on green hydrogen projects Doral is developing in Europe, United States, Australia and the Middle East.
This partnership is imperative to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen; society has recognized green hydrogen as the most attractive solution to reduce 25 percent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by decarbonizing difficult-to-abate sectors such as fertilizers, oil and gas, mining, transport and steel.
Agility Robotics and Manhattan Associates Partner to Bring AI-Powered Humanoid Robots into the Warehouse
Agility Robotics, creator of the market-leading bipedal Mobile Manipulation Robot (MMR) Digit, announced a partnership with Manhattan Associates, the global leader in supply chain commerce. This industry-first partnership marks a significant step forward for customers across a wide array of industries looking to integrate multi-purpose bipedal robots, like Digit, into their existing warehouse workflows.
As part of the partnership, Agility will join the Manhattan Value Partner (MVP) program for trusted partners, and the Manhattan Automation Network for warehouse automation solution providers. Manhattan and Agility will work together to integrate Digit and Agility Arc, Agility’s cloud automation platform for managing fleets of Digits, with the Manhattan Active Warehouse Management solution. Agility is the first humanoid robotics provider to join both the MVP and the Manhattan Automation Network.
AVEVA and Databricks Forge Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate Industrial AI Outcomes and Enable a Connected Industrial Ecosystem
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, and Databricks, the Data and AI company and inventor of the data lakehouse, proudly announce a strategic partnership aimed at reshaping the future of industrial software through an open, secure, and governed approach to data and AI. This collaboration will drive a closer integration between AVEVA Connect, AVEVA’s industrial intelligence platform, and the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform.
The partnership will act as a catalyst for AVEVA’s vision of a connected industrial ecosystem by enabling seamless and secure sharing of data amongst different industry applications and community stakeholders, orchestrated by AVEVA Connect. An open approach for industry collaboration and secure, cross-platform data sharing, powered by Databricks’ Delta Sharing, will help mutual customers in manufacturing, energy, consumer packaged goods and pharmaceutical sectors to identify new sources of value and gain flexibility in industrial processes, without compromising on security and governance.
NEURA Robotics and OMRON forge strategic alliance to revolutionize the manufacturing industry with cognitive robots
NEURA Robotics, a global pioneer in cognitive robotics, and Omron Robotics and Safety Technologies Inc., a global leader in industrial robotics and automation, are excited to announce their strategic partnership. This partnership aims to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by introducing cognitive robots into factory automation, leveraging advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and safety.
MODEC secures FEED for Shell’s Gato do Mato FPSO project in Brazil
MODEC Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been successful in securing the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) system for Shell do Brasil Ltda (“Shell”) on the Gato do Mato development, offshore Brazil.
Gato do Mato FPSO will be moored at a water depth of approximately 2,000m, some 250km off the coast of Brazil. MODEC will be responsible for the design of the hull and all related topsides facilities for the FPSO, which is projected to be moored by a SOFEC Spread Mooring system. The produced stabilized crude will be stored in the FPSO tanks and the oil will be offloaded to shuttle tankers to go to market.
Shell and Verdagy to Collaborate on Renewable Hydrogen Projects
Verdagy, a renewable hydrogen electrolysis company with over a decade of technology and product development experience, announced today that Shell provided technical endorsement of Verdagy’s eDynamic® electrolyzers. This major step qualifies Verdagy as a supplier in its upcoming green hydrogen projects. Verdagy worked with the Shell team to successfully complete a rigorous “HAZOP” (safety) review along with a detailed Design and Technology Development Review of Verdagy’s electrolyzers, as necessary and important steps to commercial adoption within Shell.
Welcome to the Purdue Polytechnic Smart Learning Factory
Flightradar24 and Airbus strengthen collaboration with renewed partnership
With a global network of ADS-B receivers and unparalleled attention to quality, Sweden-based Flightradar24 has a well-established track record of providing accurate, reliable flight data and renowned flight tracking solutions that enable wide-ranging industry insights. In combination with their own unique data points, the Airbus team leverage Flightradar24’s data services to build smart solutions that elevate internal decision-making platforms and enhance the commercial operations of their customers.
Flightradar24 and its real-time flight tracking data is a key asset feeding into the digital solutions offered by Airbus to its customers worldwide. Multi-sourced real-time flight position data is one of the pillars to provide airlines, aircraft lessors and lessees and all other aviation stakeholders advanced digital solutions, which will allow them to excel in their mission. Skywise Core users can leverage these solutions covering their fleet right from their private spaces where they can include it in their custom reports and analysis supporting them in operating Airbus products more efficiently and sustainably. Moving to a long lasting partnership with Flightradar24 confirms Airbus’ commitment to its customers to provide advanced real-time solutions to boost their operations and business.
Nucor Signs Agreement with Mercedes-Benz To Supply Econiq™-RE
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) announced that it has signed an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to supply Econiq™-RE for Mercedes-Benz models produced at their Tuscaloosa, AL manufacturing plant. Since its inception in 2022, Econiq™ has led the global steel industry in certifying low-embodied carbon materials. By using Econiq™-RE, an evolutionary category of Econiq™ that certifies Nucor steel or steel products made with 100% renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced to less than half that of extractive blast furnace-based steel production (Scopes 1, 2 & 3).
Google, Microsoft, and Nucor announce a new initiative to aggregate demand to scale the adoption of advanced clean electricity technologies
Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, and Nucor Corporation announced they will work together across the electricity ecosystem to develop new business models and aggregate their demand for advanced clean electricity technologies. These models will be designed to accelerate the development of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) and early commercial projects, including advanced nuclear, next-generation geothermal, clean hydrogen, long-duration energy storage (LDES) and others.
The companies will initially focus on proving out the demand aggregation and procurement model through advanced technology pilot projects in the United States. The companies will pilot a project delivery framework focused on three enabling levers for early commercial projects: signing offtake agreements for technologies that are still early on the cost curve, bringing a clear customer voice to policymakers and other stakeholders on broader long-term ecosystem improvements, and developing new enabling tariff structures in partnership with energy providers and utilities.
ABB signs agreement to support major Power-to-X green hydrogen project in the US
ABB is collaborating with Green Hydrogen International (GHI) on a project to develop a major green hydrogen facility in south Texas, United States. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ABB’s automation, electrification and digital technology will be assessed for deployment at GHI’s Hydrogen City project. The Power-to-X facility will use solar and onshore wind energy to power a 2.2 GW electrolyzer plant to produce 280,000 tons of green hydrogen per year, which will be turned into one million tons of green ammonia annually.
The project will utilize underground salt cavern storage, which is seen as an efficient way to store large volumes of hydrogen onshore1. The planned storage of up to 24,000 tons of green hydrogen will help balance out the intermittency of the renewable energy sources powering the operation and allow for a lower levelized cost of hydrogen.
Rockwell Automation to Increase Scale and Scope of AI in Manufacturing with NVIDIA
Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, announced it is collaborating with NVIDIA to accelerate a next-generation industrial architecture. Rockwell will further integrate NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud application programming interfaces (APIs) with Emulate3D by Rockwell Automation, bringing users data interoperability, live collaboration, and physically based visualization for designing, building, and operating industrial-scale digital twins of production systems.
The lack of labor force and a need for more efficiency are driving huge demand for intelligent automation and robotics in manufacturing and logistics. By developing on the NVIDIA robotics platform for edge AI, Rockwell is helping to bring AMRs - through its recent acquisition of OTTO Motors - and process automation applications to industrial customers.
ANYbotics and YCL Technology Announce Partnership in Taiwan
ANYbotics and YCL Technology are joining forces in Taiwan to transform industrial inspection. This partnership capitalizes on YCL’s local knowledge and industry relationships, allowing ANYbotics to meet the unique needs of Taiwanese industrial facilities. By integrating ANYbotics’ advanced robotic inspection solutions, the collaboration enhances safety, predictive maintenance, and production optimization. YCL Technology’s expertise in solution integration further ensures successful robot deployment and integration, marking a transformative shift in automating local industrial inspection.
Siemens Teamcenter X Powered by NVIDIA Omniverse APIs
SAP and NVIDIA to Accelerate Generative AI Adoption Across Enterprise Applications Powering Global Industries
SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) announced a partnership expansion focused on accelerating enterprise customers’ ability to harness the transformative power of data and generative AI across SAP’s portfolio of cloud solutions and applications.
The companies are collaborating to build and deliver SAP Business AI, including scalable, business-specific generative AI capabilities inside the Joule® copilot from SAP and across SAP’s portfolio of cloud solutions and applications – all of which are underpinned by the SAP generative AI hub. The generative AI hub facilitates relevant, reliable and responsible business AI and provides instant access to a broad range of large language models (LLMs).
Ducati chooses TESISQUARE® for the end-to-end digitalisation of its Supply Chain
Ducati Motor Holding, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer based in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, and TESISQUARE®, the leading Italian company in the creation of digital supply chain solutions, have launched an innovative long-term project designed to deliver end-to-end visibility of the supply chain through the implementation of the TESISQUARE Platform.
The partnership is part of Ducati’s digital innovation programme to make its procurement and logistics processes more efficient and innovative, working from the principle that technology and digitalisation can improve the transport ecosystem. In the initial phase of the project, Ducati and TESISQUARE® implemented the Delivery Schedule and Inbound Management modules for publishing delivery plans with direct suppliers, currently numbering around 300, and managing shipment advice notes. The subsequent phase involved the launch of a pilot based on RFID and IoT technologies to monitor the 2,500 vehicles in the company’s fleet and track motorcycles in real time. This offers enormous benefits for control process automation on operations, from planning of deliveries and despatches to management of anomalies and delays through pro-active alerts.
Mazak Joins the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute as Collaborative Partner
Continuing its leadership role in secure digital connectivity and Industry 4.0 manufacturing, Mazak has joined major cybersecurity research universities and enterprises throughout the country as a collaborative partner with the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII).
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, CyManII brings together the nation’s foremost manufacturers and research institutions along with the Oak Ridge, Sandia and Idaho national laboratories to drive innovation in digital infrastructure and security for advanced manufacturing, supply chains and workforce development.
Mazak’s advances in cybersecurity protection include its SmartBox technology, which secures machines connected to a network by isolating them from unwanted connections while retaining the ability to collect read-only data for Industry 4.0 manufacturing.
Walmart and unspun Collaborate on 3D Fabric Weaving Technology
Walmart, the world’s leading omnichannel retailer, today announced a pilot project with unspun, a pioneering fashion tech company using the world’s first 3D weaving technology, a collaboration that, if successful, could help reduce the environmental impact of garment production, offer a more sustainable process for meeting apparel demand and support the companies’ shared commitment to shift more textile manufacturing back to the U.S. Out of its micro factory in Oakland, California, unspun’s first-of-its-kind technology promises to more quickly and efficiently transform yarn into garments.
In the pilot project, the two companies will explore how unspun’s 3D weaving machines can be used to make workwear style pants under a Walmart house brand. With 3D weaving, yarn is spun directly into completed garments. This is an innovative and new approach to garment manufacturing. Traditionally, yarn is woven into one-dimensional fabrics, which are then cut and assembled into garments – creating waste and taking significant time and multiple manufacturing steps. The 3D weaving process is different from commonly known 3D printing, which creates a physical object from a digital design by laying down thin layers of liquid or powdered plastic, metal or cement.
Easily integrate Machine Vision into production with apps from the Industrial Edge Ecosystem
Quality control is critical in modern industry. Machine vision makes it less error-prone, time-consuming, and costly. By adding offerings from industry leaders Basler and MVTec to the Siemens Industrial Edge ecosystem, new scalable machine vision solutions can be efficiently and seamlessly integrated into production automation.
One-Stop Shop for Machine Vision: Teledyne Technologies and Edmund Optics Partnership
HP and DyeMansion formalize strategic collaboration
HP is set to market DyeMansion’s post-processing workflows as a preferred solution for customers to achieve large-scale production of final parts. As part of the newly formalized collaboration, the companies will focus on delivering high-quality, scalable, and eco-friendly additive manufacturing solutions.
The collaboration brings together HP’s advanced 3D printing technology and DyeMansion’s innovative post-processing workflows. Together, the companies will tackle joint market analysis and provide end-to-end solutions that seamlessly integrate into users’ operations – unlocking new applications and offering mutual support and advice.
LG Collaborates With SVT Robotics to Accelerate the Deployment of Autonomous Mobile Robots
LG Business Solutions USA is collaborating with SVT Robotics, a leading software provider that empowers IT teams to seamlessly integrate, monitor, and scale automation, to deploy LG’s new CLOi CarryBot autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in U.S. warehouse environments. By leveraging the SOFTBOT® Platform from SVT Robotics, prebuilt integrations easily enable the LG CLOi CarryBot AMRs to connect to virtually any warehouse management solution.
LG’s CLOi CarryBot, offers warehouses a powerful, easy-to-use solution that can move up to 1.2 meters per second with 18 hours of runtime and a 6-hour charge time. Up to 100 CarryBots can operate in unison, enabling use in organizations and spaces of any size and complexity. A convenient, intuitive 9.2-inch color touchscreen provides info and control options.
Salt X and ABB expand collaboration for electrification of emission-intensive industries
ABB and Sweden-based greentech company Salt X have signed an agreement to enable the further development of technologies in the Electric Arc Calcination (EAC) process. ABB will also become a minority shareholder in Salt X.
The two companies are known for their expertise in electrifying emission-intensive industries, including in the production of cement and quicklime, highly sought after materials in modern construction and process industries. Today, manufacturers are dependent on fossil fuels for high-temperature heating, up to 900 degrees Celsius, and have no realistic alternative.
Under the new agreement, Salt X will further develop its innovative Electric Arc Calciner (EAC), a technology that makes it possible to reach several thousand degrees Celsius. The electric plasma solution reinvents industrial calcination – the process used to heat materials to high temperatures – and replaces fossil-driven heating with renewable electricity while capturing the CO2 emissions released. ABB will contribute with control and electrical systems for the EAC, creating a strong joint offering to the market. The collaboration aims to accelerate the commercialization of Salt X’s electrification and carbon separation technology.
LG Energy, Qualcomm to develop battery management system
South Korea’s LG Energy Solution Ltd., the world’s second-largest electric vehicle battery maker, announced on Sunday that it will develop a battery management system (BMS) for future electric vehicles (EVs) with the US-based Qualcomm. The company aims to improve the BMS’s accuracy by integrating Qualcomm’s technology into the system, which was previously based on less sophisticated software.
LG Energy Solution will incorporate specific functionalities of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis into the BMS diagnostic software.
Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. Selects Velo3D's Metal Additive Manufacturing Solution To Revolutionize the Supply Chain for the U.S. Navy
Velo3D, Inc. (NYSE: VLD), announced Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. (BPMI) has selected a fully integrated metal additive manufacturing solution from the company to produce parts for the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. The Sapphire XC large format printer, calibrated for stainless steel 415, will be operated by ATI (NYSE: ATI) at its new additive manufacturing facility outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Earlier this year, BPMI awarded a contract to ATI to support development of highly engineered part solutions for advanced manufacturing methods including metal additive manufacturing. The partners will use the printer to produce parts previously produced through casting, reducing lead times for mission critical parts, and streamlining their supply chain.
Army Selects Anduril and Palantir to Deliver TITAN Deep Sensing Capability for Long Range Fires
Anduril Industries announced that the company is part of the team selected by the Army to develop and manufacture the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) ground station system, the Army’s next-generation deep-sensing capability. The industry-defining team, led by Palantir Technologies, is made up of the nation’s leading traditional and non-traditional contractors. Under the partnership, Anduril will spearhead hardware design, development, and scaled manufacturing across 10 TITAN vehicles.
During the previous Competitive Prototyping Phase, Anduril spearheaded the design and manufacturing of a full working prototype vehicle. That prototype underwent rigorous testing during a five-month evaluation period to assess the system’s technical performance and usability across a series of test events replicating relevant operational scenarios. Those soldier touchpoints involved a combination of manned, overhead, and ground based ISR platforms spanning joint service technologies, validating system performance in fusing sensor data from disparate sources at the tactical edge.
HP Unveils Disruptive New Material for 3D Polymers Production
At the annual AMUG (Additive Manufacturing User Group) Conference, HP Inc. will showcase parts using a new material qualified for its industrial 3D polymers solutions. Developed with Arkema, the new PA 12 S material sets the standard for surface aesthetics, while reducing costs for customers using HP’s Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D printing solutions. The reach of this pioneering material will soon expand, as it is set to become available for the Jet Fusion 5600 Series later this spring, broadening its application across HP’s suite of polymer 3D printing solutions.
The introduction of PA 12 S, enabled by Arkema, is set to revolutionize the industry by reducing variable costs per part and significantly lowering the total cost of ownership. This material, in conjunction with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, offers an optimized production process that streamlines post-processing steps, saving time and further reducing costs. These advancements enable manufacturers to produce parts more efficiently while maintaining high quality and sustainability standards.
Customers including Accel Digital Solutions, Decathlon, Erpro Group, and Materialise developing production 3D parts across industries with HP’s industrial solutions, software, and materials.
H&M Group and Vargas Holding launch Syre, a new venture to scale textile-to-textile recycled polyester
The co-founded venture, also backed by TPG Rise Climate, aims to rapidly scale textile-to-textile recycling of polyester and contribute to a more sustainable textile industry. H&M Group has secured an offtake agreement with Syre worth a total of USD 600 million over seven years, covering a significant share of H&M Group’s long-term need for recycled polyester, which is currently primarily sourced from rPET bottle-to-textile.
Through Syre, H&M Group aims to contribute to a meaningful shift in the industry by moving away from virgin polyester and the current industry standard bottle-to-textile recycling, known as recycled polyester (rPET), towards a closed loop alternative.
H&M Group has also strengthened its recycled material ambition – an important part of the strategy to decouple growth from virgin resource use. H&M Group’s overarching material ambition is to have 100 percent of materials to be either recycled or sourced in a more sustainable way by 2030, with the subgoal of 30 percent recycled materials by 2025. As the company is moving closer to achieving the target of 30 percent recycled materials by 2025, the ambition is to now aim for 50 percent recycled by 2030.
RoboDK and Comau partner to offer improved Robotic Simulation and Offline Programming
RoboDK, a pioneer in the world of robotics simulation and offline programming, announces its strategic partnership with Comau, a global leader in advanced automation solutions and robot manufacturer. The latest version of Comau Roboshop Next Gen software seamlessly integrates with RoboDK, making simulation more advanced.
This collaboration solidifies RoboDK’s presence in the OEM market, marking a significant step as an embedded solution. Comau users can now enjoy the benefits of RoboDK directly due to RoboDK’s integration into Comau’s Roboshop Next Gen software suite. This integration allows users to easily simulate and program robots using advanced CAD to path features, import 3D Models, detect collisions, integrate with external axes such as turntables and linear rails, support multiple robot cells in the same project, improved integration with CAD/CAM software and use advanced simulation features such as conveyors and grippers. This allows Comau robot programmers to easily use Comau robots for advanced manufacturing applications such as robot machining or 3D printing.
Barilla Achieves 80% Visibility into Ocean and Over-the-Road Shipments with FourKites
Barilla, the world leader in pasta production, announced today that it has achieved 80% visibility into the entire lifecycle of its ocean and road shipments, thanks to leading supply chain visibility provider FourKites®. The end-to-end transparency offered by FourKites allows Barilla to see exactly where its goods are anywhere in the supply chain, as well as when they’ll arrive at their final destination. In the face of military conflict in the Red Sea, disruptive weather events and supply shortages, this comprehensive visibility is critical for Barilla to achieve a resilient supply chain that ensures products get to customers in the most efficient way and with the best service.
Ocean shipments are an important part of Barilla’s logistics operation and equal about 10% of its market. Barilla started its collaboration with FourKites by using the company’s OTR visibility and then expanded coverage to include visibility into all its ocean shipments.
Price Industries casts eyes on four-year, AI-enabled partnership
Price has now teamed up with a pair of Manitoba companies to design an artificial intelligence-enabled manufacturing execution system (MES) that will take advantage of efficiency technologies that do not currently exist in the market today.
Along with Mode40 (a manufacturing software design shop out of Steinbach) and Innovair (a Winnipeg distributor of robotics equipment for the manufacturing industry), Price is working on the project partially funded by NGen, the country’s advanced manufacturing supercluster. Called “Discrete Manufacturing Assembly Transformation,” the four-year project is expected to be transformational for Price.
Desktop Metal and Evonik Expand Partnership, Announce Qualification of Photopolymer on Large Format Additive Manufacturing 2.0 Systems for High-Performance, High-Temperature Products
Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM), a global leader in Additive Manufacturing 2.0 technologies for mass production, and Evonik, a leading materials provider in 3D printing technology based in Germany, announced their expanded collaboration on photopolymer and materials development with the qualification of INFINAM® ST 6100 L on the ETEC Xtreme 8K and the Pro XL.
The properties offered by INFINAM® ST 6100 L make the material ideal for 3D printed production of molds, models, and tooling, as well as end-use parts in the aerospace, automotive, or electronics industries. Additionally, tools or parts 3D printed in INFINAM® ST 6100 can deliver very precise features and a smooth surface finish, especially when paired with the crisp 65 μm resolution offered on the ETEC Pro XL. Parts printed in this material can also be machined and polished, in addition to other post-processing techniques.
Snowflake Ventures Invests in Landing AI, Boosting Visual AI in the Data Cloud
Snowflake and Landing AI are already partners, and we’re excited to announce today that we are deepening our relationship with an investment in Landing AI. Through this next phase of partnership, customers will be able to leverage Landing AI’s computer vision capabilities natively on Snowflake via Snowpark Container Services and Snowflake Native Apps. This will enable the building of powerful, custom-built computer vision solutions that process images and videos at scale, all within the secure, governed boundary of the Data Cloud.
Michelin North America, Inc. Selects Cosmo Tech for Supply Chain Simulation
Cosmo Tech announces it has been selected by Michelin North America, Inc. to help improve its supply chain simulation and optimize operations. The overall aim of bringing onboard Cosmo Tech’s solution is to help supply chain and marketing managers anticipate the impact of variable demand and predict the future state of Michelin’s complex supply chain, with the objective of improving supply chain agility and efficiency.
Tenstorrent RISC-V and Chiplet Technology Selected to Build the Future of AI in Japan
Tenstorrent is pleased to announce a multi-tiered partnership deal with Japan’s Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC), which selected Tenstorrent’s world-class RISC-V and Chiplet IP for its all-new edge 2nm AI Accelerator. In addition to the IP licensing portion of this deal, Tenstorrent will work with LSTC as a collaborative innovation partner to co-design the chip that will redefine AI performance in Japan.
Under this project, Tenstorrent will also work with Rapidus Corporation, a newly founded Japanese semiconductor company that will develop state-of-the-art logic semiconductor technologies with an ambitious goal to achieve the world’s best cycle time reduction services. Rapidus is planning to serve not only for wafer processing but also advanced packaging to meet the customer’s specific needs through maximizing the effectiveness of the total manufacturing process. Their strategy is well aligned with Tenstorrent’s direction.
LyondellBasell Selects Emerson to Modernize Automation Technology at Olefins Production Plants
Global software and technology leader Emerson has been selected by multinational chemical company LyondellBasell to modernize control systems and software at its Wesseling complex in Germany. The implementation of advanced automation technology will help to enhance operation of an ethylene cracker and butadiene production plant. Emerson digital tools and project engineering services will help to ensure a smooth transition during the planned plant shutdown in 2024.
The Wesseling site is LyondellBasell‘s largest manufacturing facility in Europe. As part of a global modernization program, LyondellBasell is standardizing its control system technology. Emerson was selected for the project after demonstrating that it could implement all hardware and software upgrades during the two-week turnaround period.
Toyota Material Handling transforms production operations with Ericsson Private 5G
Toyota Material Handling’s major production complex in Columbus, Indiana, U.S., is enjoying increased productivity, faster deliveries to customers and boosted employee morale since the operational launch of a private 5G network at the facility, designed and installed by Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and channel partner, STEP.
Toyota Material Handling management reported the benefits following the decision to replace on-site Wi-Fi solutions with Ericsson private 5G products and solutions, including the indoor-connectivity-focused Radio Dot System. Business-critical operations at the almost 200,000 square feet warehouse are now run exclusively over the on-site 5G private network leveraging CBRS spectrum, with no disruptions or connectivity loss reported since its operational launch in November of 2023.
Capgemini to acquire Unity’s Digital Twin Professional Services arm to accelerate enterprises’ digital transformation through real-time 3D technology
Capgemini and Unity (NYSE: U), the world’s leading platform for creating and growing real-time 3D (RT3D) content, announced an expansion of their strategic alliance that will see Capgemini take on Unity’s Digital Twin Professional Services arm. Per the agreement, Unity’s Digital Twin Professional Services team will join and embed within Capgemini, forming one of the largest pools of Unity enterprise developers in the world. The transaction will accelerate the iteration and implementation of the market leading real-time 3D (RT3D) visualization software for the industrial application of digital twins. It will allow end users to envision, understand, and interact with physical systems – a key enabler for intelligent industry. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.
NTT DATA and Schneider Electric Join Forces to Drive AI Innovation at the Edge
NTT DATA, a global leader in IT infrastructure and services, and Schneider Electric, a pioneer in digital transformation for energy management and automation, have unveiled a first-of-a-kind co-innovation that empowers enterprises to harness the power of edge computing. The strategic partnership introduces a unique solution that seamlessly integrates Edge, Private 5G, IOT, and Modular Data Centers, providing unparalleled connectivity and supports the computational demands of Generative AI applications deployed at the edge.
The joint offering combines NTT DATA’s Edge as a Service, which includes fully managed Edge to Cloud, Private 5G, and IoT capabilities, with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure, a modular data center that fuses OT solutions with the latest in IT technologies. This powerful combination enables companies to maximize energy efficiency and meet the demands of compute-intensive tasks such as machine vision, predictive maintenance, and other AI inferencing applications at the edge.
Cognitive robotics for advanced automated inspection
Comau and Leonardo are working together to develop and test a powerful, self-adaptive robotic solution to autonomously inspect helicopter blades measuring up to 7 meters. The smart inspection solution has been developed as a joint pilot project and was tested on-site in Anagni, Italy, over the past year. The system may now move to another site to deliver enhanced capabilities for MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services.
Leveraging a combination of cognitive robotics, advanced vision systems and artificial intelligence, the solution autonomously performs tapping tests and multispectral surface inspection along the non-linear blade, to measure and verify the structural integrity with a granularity exceeding thousands of points. More importantly, robotized inspection ensures 100% accuracy within the self-adaptive process and allows operators to upskill their positions while enjoying better safety and well-being compared to the initial repetitive and labor-intensive process. Furthermore, the move from manual to robotic automation will let Leonardo leverage the full benefits of process engineering compared to a manual operation in which experience is often passed between technicians in a non-standard way.
Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE) and Gideon enter strategic cooperation for new automated solutions
By implementing Gideon’s AI-powered autonomy software stack on Toyota vehicles, the market will get solution to some of the unsolved automation problems through significantly shortened project implementation timelines, focusing primarily on collaborative case picking for retail order fulfilment and autonomous truck unloading and loading.
Ansys, Intel Foundry Collaborate on Multiphysics Analysis Solution for EMIB 2.5D Assembly Technology
Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) and Intel Foundry collaborated to provide multiphysics signoff solutions for Intel’s innovative 2.5D chip assembly technology, which uses EMIB technology to connect the die flexibly and without the need for through-silicon vias (TSVs). Ansys’ accurate simulation engines deliver higher speeds, lower power consumption, and greater reliability in advanced silicon systems for artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, autonomous driving, and graphic processing.
Kawasaki Robotics partners with Olis Robotics to offer remote monitoring and control of its industrial robots
Olis Robotics, a leader in the remote error recovery for industrial robots, announces a new partnership with Kawasaki Robotics Inc., a leading supplier of industrial robots and automation systems, to offer their customers the ability to restart production faster, reduce troubleshooting and downtime costs by up to 90%, and gain access to expert support quickly.
At Kawasaki’s booth #C5475 at MODEX 2024 in Atlanta, GA, March 11 - 14, Kawasaki and Olis Robotics will showcase their partnership by joining forces with CRG Automation, a Louisville, KY-based integration house. The partners will demonstrate a state-of-the-art robotic corner board system, integrated with a mixed palletizing and depalletizing cell, featuring a Kawasaki RS007L robot, that automates placing corner boards on pallets being wrapped, ensuring overall load stability.
AMD + Ansys – Together We Advance
Wipro and IBM Expand Partnership to Offer New AI Services and Support to Clients
Wipro Enterprise AI-Ready Platform is born out of an expanded multi-year partnership between Wipro and IBM. The expanded partnership brings together the technology and industry expertise of Wipro with leading hybrid cloud and AI innovation from IBM and aims to build joint solutions that help advance the implementation of robust, reliable, integrated, and enterprise-ready AI solutions.
“This expanded partnership with IBM combines our deep contextual cloud, AI, and industry expertise with IBM’s leading AI innovation capabilities,” said Jo Debecker, Managing Partner & Global Head, Wipro FullStride Cloud. “The solutions we are creating as part of this partnership will help enterprises achieve new levels of flexibility when building their own enterprise-specific AI ecosystems. Our goal is to make AI consumption as efficient, agile, reliable, and sustainable as possible—ultimately, helping advance the adoption of enterprise-level AI.”
As part of the partnership, Wipro and IBM are jointly funding the IBM TechHub@Wipro solution, which is designed to drive and support joint client pursuits through a centralized group of subject matter experts, engineers, assets, and processes. The IBM TechHub@Wipro will include a watsonx Center of Excellence, which will focus on infusing IBM’s watsonx capabilities across Wipro’s offerings.
Manz and Siemens team up to electrify battery production
Verusen Joins AWS ISV Accelerate Program
Verusen, the industry leader driving MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) optimization and collaboration, today announced that it has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Program, a co-sell program for AWS Partners that provides software solutions that run on or integrate with AWS.
AWS customers can access Verusen’s game-changing AI solution for optimizing MRO within the AWS Marketplace. Verusen’s listing in the AWS Marketplace allows customers to streamline the purchasing and managing Verusen’s MRO optimization platform product offerings within their AWS respective Marketplace accounts.
Hawk Ridge Systems and DyeMansion Forge New Partnership to Bring End-Use Parts to Market
Hawk Ridge Systems and DyeMansion form a strategic partnership to bring more high-quality 3D printing post-processing solutions to multi jet fusion (MJF) customers, additive manufacturers and sustainability creators. Together, the companies will continue to develop an innovative future in additive manufacturing worldwide. Hawk Ridge Systems’ integrated-solution portfolio will now include the complete Print-to-Product workflow with the products — Powershot C, Powershot S, DM60 and Powerfuse S.
Panasonic Energy Partners with NOVONIX for Sustainable Synthetic Graphite Supply in EV Battery Production
Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group Company, announced it has signed a binding off-take agreement with the leading battery materials and technology company NOVONIX Limited (“NOVONIX”; Queensland, Australia) for the supply of synthetic graphite, the main component of the anodes of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). In line with Panasonic Energy’s Medium- to Long-term Strategy to strengthen its North America-focused supply chain and reduce its environmental impact, the synthetic graphite will be utilized by Panasonic Energy’s EV battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S., with shipments scheduled to start in 2025 from NOVONIX’s facility in Tennessee.
The new One Off Robotics Cell, powered by Meltio and made in the USA
One Off Robotics and Meltio are teaming up to develop a breakthrough, ready-to-use additive manufacturing workcell. This system includes high-touch customer service and comprehensive support to assist end users in any industry.
The US-based company, One Off Robotics, is one of Meltio’s key partners in supporting wire-laser metal 3D printing in the USA. Their new turn-key system can be quickly and easily deployed into any factory environment.
The One Off Robotics Cell uses standard welding wire and produces parts that are consistent, spatter-free, and clean. The robot and positioner are installed on a self-supporting platform inside a custom, laser-safe enclosure, which ensures safe operation and quick installation. The system package includes the robot, W-LMD system, two-axis positioner, Meltio machine vision laser alignment tool, welding camera, and safety enclosure.
Airbus awards landmark aerospace order for A220 aircraft doors to Bengaluru-based Dynamatic Technologies
Giving a significant push to the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ vision, Airbus has awarded a contract for the manufacturing and assembly of its A220 Family aircraft doors to Bengaluru-based Dynamatic Technologies.
This is one of the largest aerospace export contracts to India. The contract will support the ramp-up of the A220 programme by creating additional capacity to the currently existing source. Under the agreement, Dynamatic will manufacture and assemble the cargo, passenger and service doors along with the over-wing emergency exit doors for the A220 family aircraft (eight doors per aircraft). The doors contract includes the manufacturing of detailed parts components, which will create downstream opportunities for the other Indian suppliers.
Bollegraaf and Greyparrot Forge Strategic AI Partnership to Transform Global Waste Management Industry
Bollegraaf, the world’s largest builder of recycling plants, has entered into a strategic partnership with Greyparrot, a pioneer in AI waste analytics, to transform global waste management. As part of the agreement, Bollegraaf will transfer its AI vision business to Greyparrot and also make a cash investment, for a total value of $12.8M, in Greyparrot, obtaining a non-controlling stake in the company. It will also serve as a worldwide distributor and strategic partner for Greyparrot’s Analyzer, which currently provides 100% visibility into waste streams at recycling plants across 14 countries using AI camera systems.
The deal includes Greyparrot acquiring Bollegraaf’s vision-based computing intellectual property (IP) and esteemed AI development team. Greyparrot will also open its first office in mainland Europe in the Netherlands.
With this groundbreaking partnership, both companies aim to retrofit thousands of existing Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Plastics Recovery Facilities (PRFs) with advanced AI capabilities to significantly boost recycling rates and quantify material emissions. The collaboration will bring forth revolutionary smart recycling plants that are fully automated and agile, unlocking new value in waste streams while diverting millions of tonnes of waste away from landfills, oceans, and incinerators. In a development set to transform waste management, this marks a momentous acceleration in the global shift from a linear to a circular economy. Together, Greyparrot and Bollegraaf commit to developing further products that combine the strengths of both companies to make the vision of fully automated and intelligent sorting facilities a reality.
Tompkins Solutions Partners with Soft Robotics to Deliver Revolutionary AI-Enabled Technology to the Logistics Industry
Tompkins Solutions, a leading supply chain consulting and material handling integration firm, announced a strategic partnership with Soft Robotics, a leading provider of innovative robotic automation solutions. This collaboration will deliver cutting-edge AI-powered robotics to logistics operations worldwide, enabling them to address ongoing supply chain issues and optimize order fulfillment.
Fluor’s Econamine FG PlusSM Carbon Capture Technology Selected to Reduce CO2 Emissions at Chevron Facility
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that Chevron New Energies has signed a license agreement with Fluor to use its proprietary Econamine FG PlusSM carbon capture technology to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at Chevron’s Eastridge Cogeneration facility in Kern County, California.
When installed, Fluor’s carbon capture solution is expected to reduce the Eastridge facility’s carbon emissions by approximately 95%. As part of the licensing agreement, Fluor will develop a process design package, supply proprietary equipment and provide technical support services throughout various stages of the project.
EY collaborates with Dell Technologies to launch EY Edge Technologies Lab to help accelerate the value of data
The EY organization announces the launch of the EY Edge Technologies Lab (“Lab”), an initiative focused on bringing the power of edge ecosystem technologies to the forefront of the digital transformation journey. The Lab intends to revolutionize the way organizations experience and envision their business outcomes and data strategy by helping create real-time industry-specific use cases and prototypes for edge-centric solutions, seamlessly integrating the technology into business operations.
With an initial focus on manufacturing, life sciences, healthcare, consumer products, and utilities, the Lab can bridge the gap between data transformation and management by helping create edge-centric use cases, like deploying an IoT solution for a client’s manufacturing process.
Photoneo 3D sensors integrated into TM Robot Ecosystem
As of November 2023, you can seamlessly use Techman Robot with Photoneo best-in-class 3D sensors for various 3D vision-guided robotic applications such as bin picking or depalletization. Techman Robot developed a Depalletization solution that relies on high-quality 3D data from Photoneo cutting-edge 3D camera MotionCam-3D Color. This flexible Depalletization solution includes an agile Techman collaborative robot and Photoneo’s flagship 3D vision device.
ABB Robotics and Mettler-Toledo International Inc. join forces to accelerate global adoption of flexible lab automation
ABB Robotics and METTLER TOLEDO, a global supplier of precision instruments and services, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to offer an innovative solution that seamlessly integrates ABB’s robots with LabX™, METTLER TOLEDO’s laboratory instrument management software.
With the collaboration, METTLER TOLEDO’s LabX software will seamlessly integrate into ABB’s OmniCore ™ robot controllers, enabling LabX to orchestrate robotic lab workflows. By combining the flexibility, ease-of-use and precision of ABB robots with the secure data capture, method control and instrument management of LabX, customers can increase lab productivity, reduce system complexity, fulfill data quality, and safety and regulatory requirements. This also relieves scientists and lab technicians of mundane, repetitive tasks; eliminating common errors; and optimizing productivity – providing lab professionals additional time to pursue higher-value activities, such as data analytics.
Flexxbotics Announces Robot Compatibility with Okuma Machine Tools
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Okuma CNC machines. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with Okuma equipment achieve higher yields, greater throughput and increased profit per part.
Robot compatibility is enabled by Flexxbotics for all different Okuma machine types including lathes, multi-tasking, machining centers, 5-axis, double columns, grinders and hybrid. Flexxbotics is compatible with the full line of Okuma controllers including OSP-P100/200/300 series and the next-generation OSP-P500 CNC control.
Supernova to Drive New VLM 3D Printing Technology, A Strategic Spin-Off by BCN3D
VLM, or Viscous Lithography Manufacturing, is a completely different 3D printing process that doesn’t use a vat of resin, as most resin processes do. Instead VLM uses a transparent film to carry a single layer of resin to the build chamber. This process repeats to build entire objects. The advantage is that VLM can produce objects using vastly thicker resins, hence the “viscous” in the process name. They say the resins can be up to 100X more viscous than typical 3D print resins.
The benefit comes from the ability to infuse different additives into the resin that could not be used by non-viscous processes. This has opened up a very wide range of possible materials, which BCN3D could exploit in the future. VLM sounds very promising, yet it is utterly different from their traditional FFF process. The process is different, the materials are very different, the applications are different, and therefore the customers will be different. Because of this divergence from the FFF trajectory, BCN3D has decided to spin off their VLM business into an entirely new and separate entity, Supernova.
GA-ASI Demonstrates Release of A2LE from MQ-20 Avenger UAS
GA-ASI’s design and engineering team partnered with Divergent Technologies, Inc. for the A2LE vehicle design and build, matching GA-ASI’s aircraft design expertise with the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS™) to support rapid, low-cost manufacturing of the demonstration vehicle.
The demonstration vehicle airframe was 100 percent additively manufactured and was designed to meet the captive carriage and ejection loads of the jet-powered aircraft with internal weapons bays. The topology-optimized AM structure was validated via proof and pit ejection testing prior to the flight demonstration. The demonstration highlighted the design efficiencies that can be realized when AM is incorporated early in the design process and throughout the vehicle. It was also a key step in validating the AM process and material properties for incorporation in future systems to be employed by both manned and unmanned platforms.
GKN Aerospace collaborates with Northrop Grumman on SMART Demo rocket test motor
GKN Aerospace selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) to provide advanced technology for the full-scale static test fire of NGC’s new SMART Demo. GKN Aerospace’s support included additive manufacturing (AM) technology from its new Global Technology Centre in Fort Worth, Texas. Large-scale laser metal deposition with wire (LMD-w) process optimises product weight, ensures efficient use of high-cost alloys and significantly reduces lead times
Cirba Solutions and EcoPro Innovating the Closed-Loop Circular Battery Economy
Cirba Solutions, the premiere battery recycling and battery materials company, is collaborating with EcoPro Co Ltd (“EcoPro”), a global leader in lithium-ion battery cathode materials, under a signed Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to enhance innovative elements of the lithium-ion battery recycling business.
This strategic alliance brings together key leaders in the market focused on a circular battery supply chain. EcoPro will leverage Cirba Solutions recycled materials to produce precursor cathode active material (PCAM) and cathode active material (CAM). PCAM and CAM production is critical to support the growing demand for electric vehicle batteries and requires increased use of recycled content. Cirba Solutions’ expansive logistics and collection networks, along with a diversified processing footprint, also are key aspects of this alliance.
Honeywell To Drive Distribution Center Efficiency And Enhanced Storage Capacity Through Collaboration With Hai Robotics
Honeywell announced it will team up with Hai Robotics to deliver flexible, high-density storage and retrieval solutions to distribution centers (DCs). The alliance couples Hai’s innovative robotics technology with Honeywell’s Momentum Warehouse Execution Software, enhanced cybersecurity capabilities and experience integrating robotics solutions. Additionally, it supports Honeywell’s portfolio alignment to three compelling megatrends: automation, the future of aviation and energy transition.
Hai Robotics solutions integrate with Honeywell’s Momentum Warehouse Execution Software, enabling DC operators to analyze real-time operating information across a DC and prioritize and redirect work as it is performed by both robotic systems and people, allowing for reduced costs and greater customer service levels.
New Scale Robotics Brings Automated Gauging to FANUC America’s CRX Collaborative Robots
New Scale Robotics announces a new partnership with FANUC Americas as an Authorized Systems Integrator (ASI). This new relationship expands the FANUC system’s capabilities by enabling the automation of manual gauging processes, helping manufacturers eliminate bottlenecks and improve productivity. By automating tedious manual gauging tasks, New Scale’s Q-Span® systems improve measurement consistency, repeatability, and throughput while eliminating data entry errors. Working together, FANUC’s CRX robot with New Scale Robotics’ Q-Span system help high-mix, small-batch manufacturers to improve throughput, process control, and yield.
Siemens brings secure thermal digital twin technology to the electronics supply chain
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that it is bringing an innovative approach for sharing accurate thermal models of integrated circuit (IC) packages to the electronics supply chain. The main advantages are protecting intellectual property, enhancing supply chain collaboration and accuracy of models for steady state and transient thermal analysis to enhance design studies.
MediaTek Inc., a global fabless semiconductor company and market leader in developing innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile, home entertainment, connectivity and Internet of Things (IoT) products, has taken advantage of Simcenter Flotherm to drive efficiency in its collaboration with customers. “Embeddable BCI-ROM is a great way to share our thermal models with our customers. It has several key features: easy generation, confidentiality, low error rate, and suitability for steady-state and transient applications,” said Jimmy Lin, Technical Manager, MediaTek Inc.
Lumus and SCHOTT Strengthen Manufacturing Partnership to Meet the Growing Global Market Demand for Optical AR Glasses
Lumus, the pioneering developer of reflective waveguide technology for augmented reality (AR) eyewear, announced today that it is expanding its five-year long partnership with SCHOTT, international technology group and manufacturer of high-tech materials and optics including SCHOTT RealView® high-index wafers and reflective waveguides, to meet the growing worldwide demand for optical AR glasses.
In the first phase of the five-year partnership, SCHOTT established a sampling line in Malaysia, where it successfully developed the processing and metrology capabilities to provide customers with prototypes and better understand their manufacturing requirements. In the second phase, SCHOTT focused on developing the equipment and processing platform to meet the stringent requirements of industrial manufacturing for these customers. The engine of this processing platform is Lumus’s new Z-lens reflective waveguide architecture that’s designed to meet the imminent customer demand for AR glasses.
🇯🇵 Japan's NTT, Intel to collaborate on cutting-edge chips using optical tech
Japanese telecom carrier NTT will develop technologies to mass-produce next-generation semiconductors that drastically reduce power consumption by utilizing optical technology, in partnership with U.S. chipmaker Intel and other semiconductor companies. SK Hynix of South Korea is also expected to participate in the initiative, which eyes countering China by cooperating in research and development of cutting-edge strategic technologies. The Japanese government will provide about 45 billion yen ($305 million) in support.
Cognite and ANYbotics Driving Innovation Within AI Robotics And Safe Operations
Cognite, a globally recognized leader in industrial software, and ANYbotics, a globally leading robotics company specializing in the development of advanced four-legged robots for industrial inspection, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) where they will enter a non-exclusive collaboration aimed at delivering cutting-edge products and services to global customers. The parties seek to leverage the unique strengths of both companies to offer customers an integrated robotics inspection solution, enabling unmanned operations by providing real-time autonomous data collection in industries such as Oil & Gas, Power & Utilities, Chemicals, and Metals.
ANYbotics’ autonomous robotic inspection, driven by an automated end-to-end workflow, and Cognite’s specialized industrial DataOps platform, Cognite Data Fusion®, complement each other seamlessly and will fuel AI robotics innovation and deployment across current and prospective customers to improve the safety of operations and reduce operational expenditures.
Intel and UMC Announce New Foundry Collaboration
Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TWSE: 2303) (“UMC”), a leading global semiconductor foundry, announced that they will collaborate on the development of a 12-nanometer semiconductor process platform to address high-growth markets such as mobile, communication infrastructure and networking. The long-term agreement brings together Intel’s at-scale U.S. manufacturing capacity and UMC’s extensive foundry experience on mature nodes to enable an expanded process portfolio. It also offers global customers greater choice in their sourcing decisions with access to a more geographically diversified and resilient supply chain.
Accenture and Mujin Establish Joint Venture to Bring AI and Robotics to the Manufacturing and Logistics Industries
Accenture and Mujin, a leader in intelligent robotics for manufacturing, logistics and supply chain operations, have established Accenture Alpha Automation, a joint venture for the manufacturing and logistics industries. Accenture Alpha Automation will help companies automate their management infrastructure with data-driven solutions that seamlessly combine data from manufacturing and logistics operations with management data. The joint venture is 70% owned by Accenture and 30% by Mujin.
The joint venture will combine Mujin’s experience in industrial robotics and automation with expertise from Accenture’s digital engineering and manufacturing service, Industry X. Accenture Alpha Automation’s solutions will integrate previously disconnected operational data from manufacturing and logistics sites with business management data, such as the company-wide supply chain status, financial information and market information. Accenture and Mujin will bring these solutions to clients to help them make faster, better decisions and hyper-automate their manufacturing and logistics processes.
Jacobi Robotics and Formic Team Up to Rapidly Configure Robotic Cells Using AI
Jacobi Robotics, a new company pioneering AI-driven motion planning for robot systems, and Formic, a leading robotics-as-a-service provider accelerating the adoption of automation across American manufacturing, today unveiled a strategic partnership to bring high-performance AI-powered robotics to manufacturers. Jacobi’s technology empowers robot solution providers like Formic to program and deploy the next wave of automation technology in less than one day compared to one month with existing tools, setting a new benchmark for operational efficiency.
The Jacobi-Formic alliance initially targets robotic palletizers that stack cases onto pallets for storage or shipment. More than $400 billion worth of American trade is exported annually on pallets. But the physically demanding task of manual palletizing ranks as the leading cause of worker compensation claims in the manufacturing sector. This challenge, coupled with a daunting labor shortage, drives the growing demand and deployment of robotic palletizers.
$100M partnership between U.S. Army, University of Michigan fuels automotive research
An automotive research partnership between University of Michigan and the U.S. Army was extended for $100 million for five more years, university officials said Wednesday. The research doubles the federal government’s financial investment in the university’s Automotive Research Center, officials said Jan. 24. The research center launched in 1994 with federal assistance, and its partnership with the Army runs through 2028, officials said.
Deloitte and UiPath Expand Strategic Alliance with New SAP Delivery Framework to Accelerate Clients’ Business Transformation
Deloitte and UiPath (NYSE: PATH) today announced an alliance expansion to accelerate the transformation of their clients’ businesses through a new focus on bringing AI-powered Intelligent Automation solutions to SAP implementations and operations. The expansion will serve as a catalyst to develop an innovative AI-led delivery methodology and new solutions for autonomous business operations, accelerating their joint clients’ SAP S/4HANA® transformation goals. As a part of this expansion, UiPath and Deloitte will create a first-of-its-kind co-innovation market collaboration, combining Deloitte’s SAP implementation skillset and deep AI talent pool with UiPath’s AI and automation technology.
Mitsubishi Electric, HACARUS to Expand AI Visual-inspection Business
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and HACARUS Corporation announced today that they have agreed to expand their collaboration in the development of AI-based visual-inspection applications for manufacturing. As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi Electric will take an equity stake in HACARUS.
The strategic partnership will leverage the resources and technologies of both companies to increase synergies aimed at maximizing mutual technological and business potential. By leveraging HACARUS’ expertise, Mitsubishi Electric expects to accelerate its development and provision of integrated and automated AI-based visual-inspection solutions that will enable customers to improve manufacturing quality and overall productivity. For HACARUS, the collaboration will provide access to Mitsubishi Electric’s extensive sales infrastructure in Japan and overseas.
HACARUS Check is a visual-inspection solution equipped with a unique, compact AI. In addition to AI development, HACARUS also specializes in integrating AI with various factory automation (FA) devices. In December 2023, Mitsubishi Electric released MELSOFT VIXIO, an AI-based visual-inspection software equipped with the company’s proprietary Maisart AI technology to automate visual-inspection processes for improved manufacturing quality and to address the problem of Japan’s shrinking labor force.
Yokogawa and TIM Solution Ink Global Partnership to Offer 8D Digital Twin to Customers
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces that it has entered into a partnership with TIM Solution and will act as a global value-added reseller for this company’s 8D* digital twin platform. The addition of TIM Solution’s digital twin platform will complement Yokogawa’s existing digital twin portfolio, covering a broader spectrum of asset lifecycle solutions from design and engineering to operation and maintenance, thereby improving the intelligence of industrial sites. Through this agreement, Yokogawa will be able to manage implementation, integration, and support for TIM Solution’s digital twin platform. The partnership will help strengthen Yokogawa’s capabilities as a global digital transformation (DX) integrator while expanding the provision of TIM Solution’s digital twin platform in the global market.
TIM Solution’s digital twin platform is offered as a PaaS. Functioning as a universal digital twin platform, it can be applied in various fields to enhance manufacturing processes by integrating and simulating data from oil & gas, shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive, and other industries with respect to IT/OT and engineering technology. It is a specialized digital platform that, when coupled with Yokogawa asset management offerings such as OpreX Asset Health Insights, can provide customers with a single platform for the access and utilization of company-wide data. TIM Solution’s digital twin platform can also be placed on top of Yokogawa’s OT process digital twin offerings, providing an even more holistic view of asset data.
8D digital twin: A digital twin platform that adopts an eight-dimensional approach (document, drawing, spatial, real time, cost, maintenance, sustainability, safety) to the integration of data.
Figure announces commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing to bring general purpose robots into automotive production
Figure, a California-based company developing autonomous humanoid robots, announced that it has signed a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC to deploy general purpose robots in automotive manufacturing environments.
Under the agreement, BMW Manufacturing and Figure will pursue a milestone-based approach. In the first phase, Figure will identify initial use cases to apply the Figure robots in automotive production. Once the first phase has been completed, the Figure robots will begin staged deployment at BMW’s manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Microsoft and Cognite extend partnership to build industrial data operations platform on Microsoft Fabric and Azure OpenAI Service
Long-time partners Microsoft and Cognite have successfully delivered digital transformation value to industrial customers in energy, industrial carbon management, manufacturing, and renewables globally. In a landmark new collaboration, Cognite and Microsoft are excited to announce an expansion of their strategic partnership to bring enterprise data operations to the generative AI era, from the shop floor all the way to the top floor. For the first time, enterprise and industrial—information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and engineering technology (ET)—converge for data operations and AI value.
Smart factory deployment with Schneider Electric & Cognex machine vision
Toyota Motor Corporation Collaborates with READY Robotics to Introduce Sim-to-Real Robotic Programming in Industrial Manufacturing Using NVIDIA Omniverse
READY Robotics, a pioneer in operating systems for automation and robotics, is collaborating with Toyota Motor Corporation and NVIDIA to bring a significant leap forward in industrial robotics. Toyota will employ READY ForgeOS in tandem with NVIDIA Isaac Sim, a robotics simulator developed on NVIDIA Omniverse, to build a state-of-the-art simulated robotic programming environment for its aluminum hot forging production lines.
This groundbreaking collaboration is set to enhance safety and efficiency in Toyota’s manufacturing processes. Typically, programming robotic systems for forging necessitates that the metal parts remain hot during programming, presenting significant safety challenges. By integrating NVIDIA Isaac Sim — an extensible application developed on the Omniverse platform for simulating, developing and testing robots — with ForgeOS, programming can now be accomplished seamlessly in a simulated environment, eliminating the risks associated with hot parts.
KIRCHHOFF Automotive and H2 Green Steel in €130 million deal for supply near zero emissions steel
Global supplier to the automotive industry, KIRCHHOFF Automotive, signs 7-year agreement with H2 Green Steel for the delivery of near zero emissions steel from Boden.
KIRCHHOFF Automotive works ambitiously with sustainability, including its supply chain where steel is the main component in its products, accounting for circa 50% of its material purchases. 90% of its carbon footprint is currently determined by the use of conventionally produced steel and aluminum. Based on orders for upcoming generations of vehicles from international car manufacturers, KIRCHHOFF Automotive sees that the demand for safe and sustainable body-in-white parts will increase strongly in the coming years.
The order from KIRCHHOFF Automotive will see deliveries of green steel from H2 Green Steel’s Boden plant starting 2027, to KIRCHHOFF Automotive’s plants across Europe.
John Deere, Meet Elon Musk: SpaceX Satellites to Link Farm Giant’s Equipment
Deere said it would tap SpaceX’s satellite fleet to propel the tractor maker’s digital farming push and help automate planting and harvesting in remote locations. The world’s largest farm machinery manufacturer signed a deal with SpaceX’s Starlink business to connect tractors, seed planters, crop sprayers and other equipment in areas that lack adequate internet service, allowing them to use Deere’s digital products.
Closing the loop“ with innovative hardware and software concepts
“Initially, we were looking for a control technology manufacturer with whom we could flexibly shape our future and who offered total solutions. KEBA was not on the radar at first, but after some research, including discussions with business partners, the perfect win-win situation crystallized due to the good references, the similar size, and the possibility to access development on a partnership level,” Martin Kienbauer, Head of Automation at EREMA, explains the beginning of the cooperation. “It was quite a good fit, and so we started the discussion and saw the first results relatively quickly.” EREMA wanted to build completely new hardware and no longer just “parameterize” the software but really program it, develop its own architecture, have more freedom and bring its own creativity into the development of the software concepts.
The implemented concepts are based on the KEBA Kemro X automation platform, in a decentralized hardware concept, their focus is on the systematic construction of a modular machine architecture. The idea is to replace a central control with several compact controls from the scalable KeControl C5 control family in order to establish more flexibility for customer requirements. Optional peripheral units can either operate independently or be seamlessly integrated into an overall EREMA system. Modern software structures of the Kemro X platform and state-of-the-art technologies such as OPC UA Pub/Sub support this solution approach. Future-proof technology and programming, openness to developing own services at the control level, and integration into the EREMA Bluport portal - the EdgeDevice solution - are also essential components of the architecture.
Siemens and Voltaiq collaborate to optimize battery manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced its collaboration with Voltaiq to accelerate battery manufacturing, by combining their strengths to offer unparalleled capabilities for battery manufacturing-focused companies. This collaboration aims to bring together the production-proven capabilities of both Siemens’ Insights Hub™ and Voltaiq’s Enterprise Battery Intelligence™ (EBI), customers can gain access to unparalleled capability specific to battery-domain companies to help rapidly scale operations smoothly, from initial testing to full-scale production lines.
CNH and HD Hyundai announce joint innovation program for the construction sector at CES
The CE Innovation Lab will be dedicated to exploring innovation opportunities in the construction sector. The team, comprised of both CNH and HDX construction specialists, will study emerging technology trends, map new and evolving customer needs and identify prospects for portfolio enhancements and further growth. Their work together will advance the development and widespread adoption of new technologies, such as automation and Artificial Intelligence.
Further to this, the parties will mutually benefit from each other’s distinctive technological capabilities. HDX will supply CNH with their patented AAVM+ (Advanced Around View Monitoring Plus) 360-degree camera and radar system delivering enhanced safety. CNH will supply HDX with Global Navigation Satellite System technologies through its Hemisphere brand.
BASF and Stena Recycling partner in recycling of electric vehicle batteries in Europe
BASF, a global battery materials producer and battery recycler, and Stena Recycling, one of Europe’s leading recycling companies, offering comprehensive solutions in recycling and circular services, have entered into a black mass purchase agreement. This agreement is part of a broader collaboration envisaged by BASF and Stena Recycling with the goal of setting up a battery recycling value chain for the European electric vehicle battery market.
Valiant TMS and Realtime Robotics Partner to Reduce a Customer's Cycle Time by 17% and Cut Programming Time in Half
Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that Valiant TMS, a full-service Industry 4.0 system integrator, has partnered with the company to apply its innovative Optimization-as-a-Service solution to customers’ manufacturing operations.
The combination of Valiant TMS’ years of manufacturing industry expertise with Realtime Robotics’ proprietary optimization software and experienced robotics engineering insights presents customers with an easy way to improve the efficiency and productivity of their automation operations. Realtime’s solution rapidly generates and tests hundreds of thousands of potential robot paths, determining the best motion sequences based on target sequences, robot reach, and other customer-desired parameters.
In fact, in a recently completed multi-robot application, Valiant TMS used Realtime’s optimization solution to design motion plans with more efficient motion paths, better interlocks, and a faster execution time, ultimately reducing a customer’s robot cycle time by 17% and cutting robot programming time in half.
Siemens delivers innovations in immersive engineering and artificial intelligence to enable the industrial metaverse
Siemens and Sony Corporation (Sony) are partnering to introduce a new solution that combines the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software with Sony’s new spatial content creation system, featuring the XR head-mounted display with high-quality 4K OLED Microdisplays and controllers for intuitive interaction with 3D objects.
In addition, Siemens and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are strengthening their partnership and making it easier for businesses of all sizes and industries to build and scale generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Siemens is integrating Amazon Bedrock - a service that offers a choice of high-performing foundation models from leading AI companies via a single API, along with security, privacy, and responsible AI capabilities - with Mendix, the leading low-code platform that is part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio.
Autonomous operations: The key to sustainably capitalizing on FPSO market growth
Yinson’s partnership with AVEVA, named Project Polaris, aims to combine our industry and technology expertise with its in-depth knowledge of the industry and FPSOs. Project Polaris is an integrated asset management solution consisting of AVEVA™ Asset Strategy Optimization, AVEVA™ Predictive Analytics, AVEVA™ BI Gateway, AVEVA™ Unified Operations Center, and AVEVA™ Work Tasks used in conjunction with existing solutions including AVEVA™ PI System™. It’s designed to improve the overall operations, maintenance, and reliability of the FPSO assets and drive toward sustainable, autonomous operations.
Using a unified operations center that provides a common user experience across the organization, Project Polaris is already helping Yinson overcome business challenges. From visualization to predictive analytics, Project Polaris integrates with existing applications and is scalable, allowing the solution to continue to gain value while reaching goals for 15 unique use cases. By monitoring asset reliability and efficiency, users can understand asset health and performance to make data-driven decisions that optimize operations, reduce unplanned downtime to zero, prevent failures, and maximize production through effective asset lifecycle management.
Arch Systems Announces Strategic Collaboration with Jabil for Global Electronics Manufacturing Data and Analytics Solution
Arch®, the leading provider of machine data and analytics for manufacturing, is pleased to announce its three-year strategic collaboration with Jabil Inc., a leading global manufacturing solutions provider. The agreement, effective from September 1, 2023, to September 1, 2026, solidifies a long-term international collaboration between the two industry leaders.
Jabil selected Arch Systems for its unrivaled expertise in manufacturing data, offering a seamless solution that adds key functionality and enhances critical points within Jabil’s internal system. The strategic collaboration spans four continents, twelve countries, and several hundred production lines front-to-back, from surface mount technology (SMT) through backend assembly and test.
HD Hyundai, Google Cloud team up to accelerate generative AI innovation
HD Hyundai and Google Cloud have formed a strategic partnership to use the US firm’s multimodal AI model Gemini, unveiled earlier this month, across the Korean company’s core businesses, including shipbuilding, heavy machinery and energy. Under the partnership, Google Cloud will provide HD Hyundai with enterprise tools such as the Vertex AI platform to develop industry-specific AI applications. Starting in January 2024, HD Hyundai and Google Cloud will develop various AI solutions tailored to industry-specific needs and cultivate AI experts at the Korean conglomerate.
Mitsubishi Corporation and Amogy with SK Innovation join forces to unlock the potential of Amogy's ammonia cracking technology in Japan and South Korea
Mitsubishi Corporation and Amogy are excited to announce a strategic partnership that will focus on accelerating the adoption of Amogy’s ammonia-to-power and ammonia cracking technology in large-scale hydrogen carrier applications in East Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea.
The joint study set to commence in December 2023 with SK Innovation, will first assess a large-scale deployment of Amogy’s technology, including analysis of costs across the value chain, and explore opportunities for market expansion across the ammonia and hydrogen supply chain. Upon the completion of the initial phase, three companies are looking to explore joint pilot opportunities in the strategic regions.
Flexxbotics Provides Robot Compatibility with Nakamura-Tome Machine Tools
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Nakamura-Tome machinery and equipment. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with Nakamura-Tome machine tools achieve higher yields, greater throughput and increased profit per part.
Flexxbotics’ patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables robots to securely connect and communicate with Nakamura-Tome machinery in the smart factory to provide more powerful, flexible and open robot connectivity than previously possible.
Smart robotic automation solutions from ABB to support sustainability targets for Volvo Cars
ABB announced the strengthening of its long-standing partnership with Volvo Cars to supply more than 1,300 robots and functional packages to build the next generation of electric vehicles. This will support the Swedish car manufacturer to achieve its ambitious sustainability targets.
This agreement includes functional packages covering various production tasks, from spot-welding, riveting, and dispensing to flow drilling and ultrasonic weld inspection. Each package is a ready-to-use, customer-proven combination of hardware, software and services and will be implemented at Volvo Cars’ facilities in Torslanda, Sweden and Daqing, China. Alongside the hardware and functional packages, ABB’s latest range of OmniCore robot controllers will help to deliver energy savings of up to 20 percent at sites due to their highly efficient power electronics and use of regenerative braking within the robot.
IHI, Gentari sign MoU to develop global green ammonia value chain and commercial demonstration of ammonia-powered gas turbine
IHI Corporation (IHI), a Japanese engineering company, and Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PETRONAS’ clean energy arm Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the two parties deepening their collaboration to further develop the hydrogen industry.
Under this MoU, IHI and Gentari will jointly explore the establishment of a global green ammonia value chain which spans the production, transportation, storage and utilization of green ammonia in Asia Pacific and other areas of mutual interest. Additionally, the parties will also explore progressing the commercial utilization of IM270, a fully ammonia-powered gas turbine, developed by IHI with support from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Anticipating commencement by 2026, this commercial demonstration could potentially be the world’s first fully ammonia-powered gas turbine to be deployed.
Infineon, POLYN to Collaborate on Advanced Tire Monitoring Products
POLYN Technology, a fabless semiconductor company supplying application-specific Neuromorphic Analog Signal Processing (NASP) technology and products, and Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX), the global leader in automotive semiconductors, today announced a collaboration in next-generation tire monitoring products.
POLYN is a market leader in neuromorphic analog signal processing and offers Neuromorphic Front-End (NFE) chips for innovative IoT products utilizing on-sensor data processing. As a result of the two companies’ collaboration, Infineon will provide new generation TPMS sensors with tire vibration signal detection, leveraging POLYN’s NFE for vibration data pre-processing at the sensor.
Realtime Robotics and HLS Partner to Rapidly Optimize Manufacturing
Following the release of its Optimization-as-a-Service (OaaS) solution, Realtime Robotics has announced a partnership with integrated engineering solutions mogul HLS Engineering Group. Realtime will combine its well-orchestrated robotic motion control expertise with HLS’ engineering know-how to enhance the OaaS solution. Through virtual modeling, automated robot path generation, and evaluation, manufacturers can use the OaaS solution to implement robot path changes without disrupting existing processes.
Rockwell Automation and Michelin strengthen their collaboration in the digitalization of manufacturing
Rockwell Automation, Inc (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced it has strengthened its collaboration with Michelin, the French multinational tire manufacturing company, focusing on digital innovation across Michelin’s manufacturing processes.
This collaboration between Michelin and Rockwell Automation is comprehensive, covering multiple aspects of digital transformation. Joint efforts in prototyping and testing will validate the feasibility and effectiveness of new ideas, and enhance the efficiency of R&D initiatives, laying the groundwork for ongoing co-innovation and co-development.
Flexxbotics Announces Robot Compatibility with HURCO® CNC Machines & Automation Solutions
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full line of HURCO machinery including 5-axis machining centers, 3-axis machining centers, portal machining centers, horizontal machining centers, and turning centers. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with HURCO equipment achieve higher yields, greater throughput and increased profit per part.
Flexxbotics’ patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables robots to securely connect and communicate with HURCO machinery in the smart factory to provide more powerful, flexible and open robot connectivity than previously possible. Flexxbotics is compatible with HURCO’s MAX®5 CNC control system used on HURCO machines including the TM/X Series and VM/X Series.
TeamViewer to drive smart factory innovation with strategic investments in manufacturing analytics and IoT
TeamViewer, a leading global provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, today announced strategic investments in two pioneering companies for smart factory solutions: Sight Machine and Cybus. With a total investment of a low double-digit million EUR amount, the company is strengthening its commitment to the digital transformation of industrial working environments and the convergence of Information and Operation Technology (IT & OT).
DNP Develops Photomask Process for 3nm EUV Lithography
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has successfully developed a photomask manufacturing process capable of accommodating the 3-nanometer (10-9 meter) lithography process that supports Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography, the cutting-edge process for semiconductor manufacturing. Through joint development with partners, such as imec, DNP will continue to develop more advanced photomasks capable of supporting processes finer than 3nm and even beyond 2nm.
Materialise, Proponent, and Stirling Dynamics Sign Letter of Intent to Provide Certified 3D-Printed Cabin Solutions
Materialise NV (NASDAQ:MTLS), a global pioneer in 3D printing solutions and services, Proponent, the largest independent aerospace distributor, and Stirling Dynamics, an EASA 21.J-certified Aerospace Design Organization, have announced the signing of a letter of intent (LOI) aimed at providing certified cabin solutions for aircraft.
Stirling Dynamics, an Expleo company, strengthens an existing partnership between Materialise and Proponent that was formed in 2021. By combining their unique forces, the three companies can support the aerospace aftermarket with the design, production, and distribution of certified 3D-printed cabin solutions. As an aerospace-approved Design Organization (DOA), Stirling Dynamics develops improved, certified designs for 3D-printed interior cabin parts and provides complete aircraft documentation and installation instructions.
Together, Materialise, Proponent, and Stirling Dynamics aim to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing for cabin parts. Through the identification and design of smart 3D-printed solutions for OEMs, airlines, and MROs, this partnership seeks to give airline customers the possibility to easily leverage the unique manufacturing benefits 3D printing offers.
Breakthrough Digital Lithography Technology From Applied Materials and Ushio to Enable More Powerful Computing Systems for the AI Era
Applied Materials, Inc. and Ushio, Inc. announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the industry’s roadmap for heterogeneous integration (HI) of chiplets into 3D packages. The companies are jointly bringing to market the first digital lithography system specifically designed for patterning the advanced substrates needed in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era of computing.
The new DLT system is the only lithography technology that can achieve the resolution necessary for advanced substrate applications while delivering throughput levels required for high-volume production. With the ability to pattern less than 2-micron line widths, the system enables the highest area density for chiplet architectures on any substrate, including wafers or large panels made of glass or organic materials. The DLT system is uniquely designed to solve unpredictable substrate warpage issues and achieve overlay accuracy. Production systems have already been shipped to multiple customers, and 2-micron patterning has been demonstrated on glass and other advanced package substrates.
GreyOrange and Hai Robotics Dynamic Partnership Advances Automated Robotic Fulfillment
GreyOrange Inc., a global leader in automated robotic fulfillment and inventory optimization software, and Hai Robotics, a global leader in Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), elevate their strategic partnership, resulting in customer competitive advantages. Together, after more than two years of partnership, GreyOrange software and Hai Robotics hardware yield increased throughput, storage density and agility, resulting in accelerated customer operations and growth.
The two companies have come together to create a uniquely advanced offering for warehouses and distribution centers around the globe. GreyOrange’s fulfillment orchestration platform, GreyMatter™, utilizes its Multi-Agent Orchestration (MAO) capabilities to connect and run both Hai’s Tote to Person AMRs and GreyOrange’s Rack to Person AMRs on a single grid – unifying complex or cross-functional operations throughout a facility for streamlined operations.
Audi drives the future of manufacturing
The production of the Audi e-tron GT illustrates what’s possible in this new paradigm. It went from design to production in record time — without a physical prototype.
Virtual reality prototypes are just the beginning. Thousands of assets in the Böllinger Höfe plant operate under the aegis of Audi’s Edge Cloud 4 Production (EC4P), with critical networking and security support from Cisco. And by connecting “brownfield” legacy hardware — that is, existing devices like cameras, robots, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and field busses — the transformation did not demand a complete factory overhaul. It did, however, benefit from the efforts of Cisco’s Customer Experience team to bring the vision to life.
“Audi and Cisco shared the vision of getting rid of the compute hardware from the shop floor and virtualizing it,” Loeser concluded. “That’s one of the big reasons why we are actually deploying this today.
Mitsubishi Electric and TXOne Networks to Cooperate in Mutual Expansion of OT Security Businesses
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and TXOne Networks Inc. announced today that they have signed a long-term cooperation agreement covering technology development and marketing, aiming at expanding the operational-technology (OT) security businesses of both companies.
OT and industrial control systems in manufacturing sites are often operated in closed environments, with IT and OT systems separated from each other. However, the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation (DX) is enabling convergence between these two domains. As a result, cyberattacks targeting manufacturing sites in industries such as semiconductors and automobiles have increased, leading to production disruptions and highlighting the growing need for more robust security measures in factories.
Through their new collaboration, the two companies aim to create innovative new value in OT security by combining Mitsubishi Electric’s assessment, maintenance and operation services as well as control equipment and systems with TXOne’s OT security products. The new OT security solutions are expected to improve manufacturing productivity, efficiency and safety as well as security levels throughout the supply chains of various industries.
Panasonic and Sila Sign Agreement for Titan Silicon, Sila’s anode material to deliver enhanced battery performance for EVs
Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group Company, and Sila, a next-generation battery materials company, today announced the signing of a commercial agreement for Sila’s high-performance nano-composite silicon anode, Titan SiliconTM. The high energy density battery from Panasonic is expected to enable automakers to deliver unmatched EV performance, dramatically increasing vehicle range and reducing charge times. Sila’s anode materials, to be produced in the company’s plant in Moses Lake, WA, will be optimized for Panasonic’s next-generation lithium-ion batteries.
Sila was the first to bring next-generation anode materials to market with the launch of Titan Silicon in the WHOOP 4.0 in 2021. In 2022, the company was the first next-generation battery materials company to sign a supply agreement with a global auto manufacturer, Mercedes Benz. And today, Sila partners with the world’s leading cell manufacturer to redefine what’s possible for EV range and charge times.
Emerson Chosen as Automation Partner For Korea's Largest EV Lithium-Ion Battery Recycler
Global automation technology and software leader Emerson (NYSE: EMR) has been selected by Korea’s SungEel HiTech Co., Ltd., a specialist in lithium-ion battery recycling, to provide advanced automation solutions in support of sustainable production and operational efficiency goals at the newest of three lithium-ion recycling plants located at SungEel’s Hydro Center complex in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.
Through the combination of Emerson’s process automation technology and SungEel HiTech’s unique battery recycling methods, the collaboration aims to establish a robust resource cycle that will help enable a more stable supply of battery materials for electric vehicles in pursuit of bolstering the world’s overall production capacity.
Trimble to Provide Advanced Positioning Systems to Sabanto for Enhanced Autonomous Tractor Performance
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) and Sabanto have announced the integration of Trimble BX992 Dual Antenna GNSS receivers with Trimble CenterPoint® RTX into Sabanto’s autonomy solutions. Trimble will act as Sabanto’s key autonomous technology provider, delivering high-accuracy positioning to its fleet.
ROHM and Toshiba Agree to Collaborate in Manufacturing Power Devices
A plan by ROHM Co., Ltd. (“ROHM”) and Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (“Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage”) to collaborate in the manufacture and increased volume production of power devices has been recognized and will be supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a measure supporting the Japanese Government’s target of secure and stable semiconductor supply. ROHM and Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage will respectively make intensive investments in silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) power devices, effectively enhance their supply capabilities, and complementally utilize other party’s production capacity.
ROHM has already announced its participation in the privatization of Toshiba, but this investment did not serve as the starting point for manufacturing collaboration between the two companies. Under intensifying international competition in the semiconductor industry, ROHM and Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage have been considering collaboration in the power device business for some time, and that resulted in the joint application.
JGC and Yokogawa Team up to Develop Lunar Plant Control System That Will Support Ultra-remote Communications
JGC Corporation and Yokogawa Electric Corporation announce the signing of an agreement on November 15 to jointly develop a control system that will support the ultra-remote communications required for the operation of plants on the lunar surface.
The construction of such a system, which will be located at a ground station and integrate the communications, process control, and operation monitoring for a plant on the lunar surface, will need to take into account constraints such as the communication delay between the earth and the moon. This joint development will make use of JGC’s know-how of energy plant control/operations and knowledge gained through the conduct of lunar plant studies, and Yokogawa’s remote monitoring and control technology. The two companies plan to quickly move ahead with the design and construction of experimental equipment that can simulate these delays, then complete by the end of 2024 a study that will identify an optimal solution for a control system that will be capable of handling ultra-remote communications.
Siemens and Intel to collaborate on advanced semiconductor manufacturing
Siemens AG, a leading technology company, and Intel Corporation, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on driving digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing. The companies will focus on advancing future manufacturing efforts, evolving factory operations and cybersecurity, and supporting a resilient global industry ecosystem.
The MoU identifies key areas of collaboration to explore a variety of initiatives, including optimizing energy management and addressing carbon footprints across the value chain. For instance, the collaboration will explore use of “digital twins” of complex, highly capital-intensive manufacturing facilities to standardize solutions where every percentage of efficiency gained is meaningful.
The collaboration will also explore minimizing energy use through advanced modeling of natural resources and environmental footprints across the value chain. To gain more information on product-related emissions, Intel will explore product and supply chain related modeling solutions with Siemens that drive data-based insights and help the industry accelerate progress in reducing its collective footprint.
UVeye Partners with Hypertec to Mass-produce AI Vehicle Inspection Systems in North America
UVeye, a leading technology company specializing in computer vision and artificial intelligence for the development of automated drive-through inspection systems for vehicles, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Hypertec, a global leader in state-of-the-art sustainable technology solutions.
This collaborative effort will kickstart mass production of UVeye’s innovative systems in response to the growing demand from a diverse range of automotive industry players, including car dealerships, car auctions, and fleets. Production will take place at Hypertec’s facilities located in Plainfield, Indiana, and Montréal, Canada, solidifying the alignment between cutting-edge technology and sustainable innovation.
Japan's TDK Corp to manufacture iPhone battery cells in India
Japanese electronic parts maker TDK Corp will manufacture lithium ion (li-ion) battery cells for Apple iPhones in India. TDK will set up a manufacturing facility in the northern state of Haryana, creating several thousand new jobs, Deputy Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on social media platform X. Cells manufactured at the facility will be supplied to Apple’s li-ion battery assembler Sunwoda Electronics, the report added.
Siemens and Intel to collaborate on advanced semiconductor manufacturing
Siemens AG, a leading technology company, and Intel Corporation, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on driving digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing. The companies will focus on advancing future manufacturing efforts, evolving factory operations and cybersecurity, and supporting a resilient global industry ecosystem.
Siemens and Intel to collaborate to advance semiconductor manufacturing production efficiency and sustainability across scopes 1-3 of the value chain Semiconductors are crucial for the global economy and for lowering carbon footprints across economies by enabling sustainable solutions Intel and Siemens will leverage their respective portfolios of cutting edge IoT solutions, along with Siemens automation solutions to enhance semiconductor manufacturing efficiency and sustainability
Flexxbotics Announces Robot Compatibility with Mazak Advanced Technology Solutions
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Mazak CNC machines and automation equipment. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with Mazak advanced technology solutions achieve greater throughput, higher yields and increased profit per part.
Robot compatibility is enabled by Flexxbotics for all different Mazak machine types including multi-tasking, hybrid multi-tasking, 5-axis, milling, turning, laser processing and automation. Flexxbotics is compatible with the full line of Mazak MAZATROL controllers including its next generation AI-powered SmoothAi, SmoothEz, SmoothX, SmoothG and SmoothC.
In addition to compatibility with Mazak MAZATROL controllers Flexxbotics is compatible with a wide range of open standard protocols including OPC/UA, MTConnect, Modbus-TCP, TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, and DeviceNet along with FOCAS2/FOCAS, MELSEC, Profibus/Profinet and other proprietary controllers and interfacing protocols.
Accenture Expands Partnership with SAP to Help Clients Establish Responsible and Resilient Supply Chains
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) announced it will collaborate with SAP SE to help organizations reinvent their supply chains with a comprehensive supply chain nerve center that can reduce risk, enhance visibility and support sustainability goals. Additionally, Accenture and SAP plan to co-develop new capabilities for the SAP® Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain (SAP IBP) solution to help further enhance an organization’s ability to quickly and cost-effectively respond to changes in supply, demand and inventory.
Using cloud, data, artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics, the supply chain nerve centerprovides n-tier transparency, allowing organizations to identify risks beyond tier one and tier two suppliers by giving deeper visibility into their network of suppliers and subcontractors. It turns data into actionable insights and improves decision-making by sensing factors such as whether suppliers align with an organization’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals.
Yokogawa and FPT Software Ink Global Partnership to Advance DX Solution Offerings
Specifically, FPT Software will strengthen Yokogawa’s IT capabilities by providing support in the areas of application development, system maintenance, infrastructure deployment, infrastructure operation, and the offering of software as a service. Yokogawa will leverage its solid foundation of OT know-how and experience to support FPT Software in applying its technologies to the field, while continuously enhancing its own DX-related solutions and services. As a result, the customers of both companies will be able to experience a broader array of enhanced and differentiated DX services that make combined use of OT and IT.
RICOH 3D for Healthcare partners with Materialise to broaden access to 3D-printed patient-specific solutions
Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced at the RSNA Assembly and Annual Meeting, a partnership with Materialise that will provide software solutions to support RICOH 3D for Healthcare, a HIPAA-compliant, ISO 13485 certified 3D medical manufacturing center for the development, design and production of 3D-printed anatomic models in both their centralized medical device manufacturing facility, as well as in Ricoh’s Point of Care facilities. Through the partnership, Ricoh will now be able to drive more personalized healthcare solutions and make it simple to create or expand on-site Point of Care centers.
Kraft Heinz introduces first 100% recyclable ketchup cap with help from Berry Global
The launch by Kraft Heinz Company of its first 100% recyclable cap for its famous squeezy ketchup bottle demonstrates the collaborative achievement utilizing the innovative design and manufacturing capabilities of Berry Global in supporting retail brands with a move towards more sustainable packaging solutions.
The project has been eight years, 45 prototypes and more than 185,000 hours in development, to ensure the optimum balance between functionality and sustainability. Berry was involved through the design and production process, from concept to the creation of the series tools in Berry’s in-house tool shop, as well as the development of the assembly equipment for industrial production.
IHI and Vopak sign MOU for joint study on low-carbon ammonia terminal development and operation
IHI Corporation (IHI) and Royal Vopak (Vopak) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore the development and operation of efficient, high value-added ammonia terminals in Japan. IHI and Vopak will furthermore assess a collaboration outside of Japan.
The collaboration focusses on large-scale ammonia storage terminals, strategically positioned for the economical distribution of ammonia. Ammonia plays an important role as a fuel for reducing carbon emissions from thermal power generation and as a hydrogen carrier, both in Japan and abroad. In addition, the study will examine the possibility of streamlining the operation of ammonia terminals to enhance price competitiveness, as well as the conversion and supply of various hydrogen derivatives.
Supernal and Korean Air Announce Strategic Partnership to Spur Development of Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles and Operational Ecosystem
Supernal LLC – Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company – announced today a strategic partnership with Korean Air to help accelerate the design of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle and the development of the AAM ecosystem in Korea. The collaboration adds to a growing list of Supernal partnerships that are advancing its mission to make AAM an efficient and reliable option for everyday transportation needs.
The companies will engage in a variety of activities as part of the partnership, including exchanging technical data and jointly participating in workshops and programs to help develop an AAM ecosystem that will support safe eVTOL operations. As part of the agreement, Korean Air will provide insights about Korean-market requirements and AAM aircraft specifications, informing Supernal’s product and market development strategies. The companies will also explore ways to effectively test the operation of Supernal’s eVTOL vehicle and AAM infrastructure networks.
Rapidus and Tenstorrent Partner to Accelerate Development of AI Edge Device Domain Based on 2nm Logic
Rapidus Corporation, a company involved in the research, development, design, manufacture, and sales of advanced logic semiconductors, today announced an agreement with Tenstorrent Inc., a next-generation computing company building computers for AI, to jointly develop semiconductor IP (design assets) in the field of AI edge devices based on 2nm logic semiconductors.
In addition to its AI processors and servers, Tenstorrent built and owns the world’s most performant RISC-V CPU IP and licenses that technology to its customers around the world. Through this technological partnership with Rapidus, Tenstorrent will accelerate the development of cutting-edge devices to meet the needs of the ever-evolving digital society.
Rapidus, University of Tokyo plan 1-nm chip tech with French partner
Japanese chipmaker Rapidus and the University of Tokyo are partnering with French research institute Leti to jointly develop basic technology for designing chips using technology in the 1-nanometer range, Nikkei has learned. The partners will begin actively exchanging staff and sharing technology as early as next year. Leti will contribute its expertise in chip components to build an infrastructure for supplying 1-nm products.
Toyota and Redwood Materials Agree to Battery Recycling, Materials Procurement
Progressing closer to the goal of battery ecosystem circularity, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and Redwood Materials announce an expanded recycling agreement that aims to create pathways for automotive batteries used in Toyota’s electrified vehicles that have reached the end of their life. The plan also includes an agreement for Toyota to source Cathode Active Material (CAM) and Anode copper foil from Redwood’s recycling activities for Toyota’s future, new automotive battery production. The agreement builds on the collaboration with Redwood announced last year for battery collection and recycling of Toyota’s hybrid and battery electric vehicle batteries.
Toyota’s automotive battery recycling needs are expected to grow substantially in the coming years as more of its electrified vehicles, such as first-generation Prius models introduced more than 20 years ago, reach the end of their lifecycle. With a large amount of Toyota’s retiring fleet of electrified vehicles being in California, Redwood’s Nevada recycling facility will support Toyota’s North American supply chain, which will improve sustainability, and help to enhance operational improvements across the TMNA enterprise for a closed-loop battery ecosystem. Toyota’s battery lifecycle ecosystem is forecast to include the recycling, remanufacturing and repurposing of the nearly five million operating units, building toward Toyota’s ultimate goals of carbon neutrality for its global operations by 2035 and carbon neutrality for its vehicles by 2050.
Why CP Kelco chose to partner with Tractian
Center For Deep Learning In Electronics Manufacturing: Bringing Deep Learning To Production For Photomask Manufacturing
Five years later, CDLe has completed its mission by graduating more than 20 students from the alliance members and completing 30 DL projects, many of which are headed to or already in production. This contrasts with the opinion of industry luminaries in the 2023 annual eBeam Initiative survey in which only 22% of respondents thought that DL would be used in production in any stage of production mask making by 2023. CDLe and its participants have had more success with DL than the industry at large because of their approach: using digital twins to bridge the data gap that keeps DL prototypes from moving to production use and following a “recipe for DL success” that includes executive commitment, dedicated computing resources, and DL and domain experts.
Dyndrite Partners with AMFG to Streamline Production with Automated Nesting.
Dyndrite is partnering with AMFG to leverage our award-winning automated workflow software to enable the automated 3D nesting of CAD files, streamlining their pre-production process. Commenting on the successful integration of the project, Sven Hinrichs, Head of Technology Consulting, AMFG, stated; “As a leading automation solution, we recognize the transformative power of Dyndrite’s automated nesting and build preparation capabilities for additive manufacturing. The efficiency gains brought about by Dyndrite’s cutting-edge technology have revolutionized our workflow, allowing our customers to optimize material usage, reduce production time, and ultimately deliver superior results to our clients. Dyndrite’s commitment to advancing the additive manufacturing landscape aligns seamlessly with our goal of providing innovative and cost-effective solutions. Together, we’re shaping the future of manufacturing by harnessing the full potential of automation in the additive process.”
TOPPAN Holdings Strengthens Collaborative Network in the Decorative Surfacing Materials Business with Vietnam’s JOYFUL
TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) entered into a capital and business alliance agreement with JOYFUL Co., Ltd., a Vietnamese printer of decorative surfacing materials, in July 2023 to drive global development of the decorative surfacing materials business. After receiving approval from the Vietnamese authorities in October, the two companies are launching full-scale collaboration, including sales and marketing activities, in November.
Schneider Electric partners with ArcelorMittal on low-carbon steel to reduce the environmental impact of its products
ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company, and Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced today a partnership whereby ArcelorMittal will supply Schneider Electric with XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for its electrical cabinets and enclosures.
Produced at ArcelorMittal’s site in Sestao, Spain, XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is made using a very high proportion of recycled steel in an electric arc furnace, powered with 100% renewable electricity. This results in CO₂ emissions which are close to 70% lower than the same product made without XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel.
ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel will be used by Schneider Electric to manufacture the new PanelSeT SFN floor-standing enclosures built to protect large electrical panels for industrial automation, power distribution and electronic applications. As these enclosures are built to withstand tough operating environments, the XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is also coated with Magnelis®, a metallic coating offering high corrosion protection.
Simulation Helps Rockwell Automation Accelerate Digital Transformation
LG's robot to be used in facility diagnosis of POSCO's steel mill
LG Electronics’ AI-based self-driving robots can be widely used for facility diagnosis at hazardous worksites in the future, the company said Wednesday, after completing a two-day demonstration of unmanned facility management using its robot at POSCO’s Gwangyang steel plant. LG said the robot completed its facility management mission in the electrical room of the steel plant in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, on Monday and Tuesday.
This demonstration project was carried out as part of a business agreement between LG Electronics and POSCO Holdings. In May, the two companies signed a business agreement for the development of technologies in the fields of robots, AI and 5G networks, and conducted the first stage of a demonstration in July to control the driving of a semi-autonomous robot.
“We equipped the robot with cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. The robot uses the information acquired from the sensors to recognize its surroundings more accurately,” LG said. “It has a high recognition rate even in low-light environments such as basements or places where safety fences are installed around equipment. If it detects abnormal temperatures in various equipment in the electrical room using the temperature information obtained from its thermal imaging camera, it will take a picture and send an alert to the control room.”
Aveva and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
ABB Case Study SUS Japan 2023
Flexxbotics Delivers Robot Compatibility with Haas Automation CNC Machines and Equipment
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Haas Automation machine tools including vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes, and rotary tables, as well as, five-axis and specialty machines. With Flexxbotics, next generation machining environments running robotics with Haas Automation equipment achieve greater throughput, higher yields and increased profit per part.
Flexxbotics’ patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables robots to securely connect and communicate with Haas Automation equipment in the smart factory to provide more powerful, flexible and open connectivity than previously possible. Flexxbotics compatibility includes the Haas Next Generation Control, as well as, Haas Serial and I/O for interfacing to both current and older models.
Autodesk & Cadence: Partnering to Unlock Smarter Product Design and Fuel Innovation
Traditionally, printed circuit board (PCB) designers using Cadence Design Systems tools operated in a silo, isolated from the mechanical design team working with tools like Autodesk Fusion. Teams would play a game of digital ping-pong, tossing files over the virtual wall, hoping everything gets noticed in the right place, at the right time, and by the right people.
This week at Autodesk University, we were excited to announce our new partnership with Cadence Design Systems, the leader in electronic systems design tools, which aims to bridge this gap between electronic and mechanical design teams. The integration connects specialized Cadence PCB technologies directly with Autodesk Fusion, advancing its powerful CAD, CAM, and PCB design capabilities to streamline ECAD to MCAD workflows and transform smart product design.
Together, the partnership brings cloud-based integration between Fusion and Cadence Allegro X and OrCAD X. The integrated solution is another example of Autodesk’s commitment to an open ecosystem and to improve collaboration across electronics and mechanical design teams.
AI for industry: Schaeffler and Siemens bring Industrial Copilot to shopfloor
To support engineers with various automation tasks, the AI-powered assistant is connected to Siemens’ engineering framework Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal via the open API TIA Portal Openness. The Industrial Copilot helps Schaeffler’s automation engineers to generate code faster for programmable logic controllers (PLC), the devices that control most machines throughout the world’s factories. Engineering teams can significantly reduce time, effort, and the probability of errors by generating PLC code through natural language inputs.
Siemens Industrial Copilot has access to all relevant documentation, guidelines and manuals to assist shopfloor workers with identifying possible errors. These capabilities enable maintenance teams to identify errors and generate step-by-step solutions more quickly. This will help to significantly reduce machine downtime, make industrial companies more efficient and thus support sustainability efforts.
“They listened to everything we asked for.” – How Toyota helped shape the Stratasys F3300 FDM 3D printer
In the building of the F3300, Stratasys started from scratch rather than riff off the architecture of past FDM systems, integrating a tool changer that allows the user to deploy one of four extruders at a time. Tools can be changed within around 14 seconds, giving the user more flexibility in scenarios of extruder redundancy – one extruder can pick up the slack of another that has broken down – while also allowing them to print multiple colours in one part and even incorporate two different resolutions too. That latter feature was one Stratasys had been looking to achieve from the very beginning.
Stratasys went to the industrial leader in tool changer manufacture, ATI, and commissioned the company to build a custom product for the F3300. Since Stratasys expects users to do multiple tool changes in a build, they needed repeatability, reliability, and accuracy in the XY dimensions.
Per Martin, Stratasys’ tool changer is delivering on the promise. Martin works in Toyota’s TILT Lab and is responsible for delivering tooling, jigs, and fixture applications to his colleagues on the production lines. Around 5,000 cars come off these production lines every day, with Toyota harnessing FDM technology to produce manufacturing aids in materials such as PA12 CF and ULTEM 9085. Martin estimates the F3300 to be between 46-50% faster while maintaining the same resolution and accuracy as the F900.
EOS and Volkmann Partner to Provide Fully-Automated Industrial 3D Printing Powder Handling Solution
VOLKMANN and EOS today announced a scalable, closed-loop metal powder handling solution for users of the EOS M 290, EOS M 400 and EOS M 300 series additive manufacturing (AM) systems. Offered directly from EOS, the handling and processing of metal AM materials can now be managed through a holistic powder handling approach – for both pre- and post-processing – from initial powder preparation to a closed, fully-automatic powder circuit.
Closed powder circuits can be created with up to six (6) 3D printers in one production cell with fully automatic powder handling. The scaling of such systems can be done gradually, incorporating existing printers. The user benefits from this partnership through a holistic system for 3D printing and powder handling from a single source – from project planning to end-use application.
Schneider Electric and Compass Datacenters Expand Partnership with $3 Billion Multi-Year Data Center Technology Agreement
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced at its Capital Markets Day meeting with investors a $3 billion multi-year agreement with Compass Datacenters. The agreement extends the companies’ existing relationship that integrates their respective supply chains to manufacture and deliver prefabricated modular data center solutions.
Since the inception of the initial agreement between the companies, Schneider Electric has manufactured and delivered about 150 modular data center solutions to Compass from its West Chester, OH operation. As demand for more data center solutions increase, the 110,000 square-foot Red Oak, TX operation—which the companies jointly announced in the summer—will also be used to support projected growth.
Lummus and Citroniq Announce Licensing and Engineering Agreements for Green Polypropylene Plants
Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, and Citroniq Chemicals announced that the two companies have signed licensing and engineering agreements for green polypropylene plants in the U.S. The first plant, scheduled for completion in 2027, will produce 400kta of bio-polypropylene and will be first in North America with this production capability.
In April 2023, Lummus and Citroniq formed a partnership to develop four green polypropylene plants in North America using Lummus’ Verdene™ polypropylene technology suite. The licensing and engineering agreements announced are for the first of the four plants.
The Verdene suite includes four Lummus technologies: ethanol to ethylene technology, dimer technology, olefins conversion technology and polypropylene technology. Lummus is the only technology provider able to supply all the proven, low energy technologies to produce renewable green polypropylene from biogenic ethanol.
Xometry Leverages Google Cloud To Accelerate The Digitization Of Manufacturing Globally
Xometry, the global AI-powered marketplace connecting enterprise buyers with suppliers of manufacturing services, today announced a partnership with Google Cloud to leverage Vertex AI to help accelerate the deployment of new auto-quote methods and models within Xometry’s AI-powered Instant Quoting Engine. Using Vertex AI, Xometry will accelerate the deployment of its instant-quoting and fulfillment capabilities to encompass the broadest and most comprehensive set of manufacturing technologies. As a result, Vertex AI will help Xometry expand the markets it serves for custom manufacturing and further advance the digitization of manufacturing globally.
RIKEN and imec sign Memorandum of Cooperation
RIKEN and imec signed a Memorandum of Cooperation pledging to explore R&D collaboration opportunities, and exchange knowledge through the organization of joint lectures, seminars and symposia. As a part of this initiative, it is developing the elemental technologies necessary for the development of next-generation semiconductors and pioneering the science of prediction in a wide range of fields, including life sciences, through AI and mathematics.
Nokia Bell Labs and Aramco announce R&D collaboration to support priority industries
Nokia’s research arm, Nokia Bell Labs and Aramco, the world’s largest energy company, have signed a non-binding R&D collaboration agreement to support Industry 4.0/4IR digital use-case creation and proof of concept development for priority industrial sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Building on the vision of the recently launched Aramco Digital Company, this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is envisioned to accelerate digital transformation within the Kingdom, the Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) region and globally. The collaboration seeks to leverage cutting-edge research and technologies from both companies to advance digital use-cases for a diverse range of industries, including oil and gas, utilities, mining, manufacturing and logistics.
China Unicom and Huawei Help Exquisite Automotive Deploy a Commercial 5G-Advanced Flexible Production Line
Recently, China Unicom and Huawei began to help the Baoding Automation Technology Branch of Exquisite Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. (“EA”) deploy a commercial 5G-Advanced flexible production line that features ultra-high reliability and ultra-low latency.
At Great Wall Motor’s factory in Baoding, Hebei, 5G-Advanced equipment is being used in the car roof production line. Traditional industrial control relies on wired networks to realize the serial connection and control of terminal equipment. However, after a certain period of operations, wire abrasion in mobile application scenarios, such as robot arms, slide units, and swiveling tables, often results in production interruptions, causing an average of about 60 hours of downtime a year.
HP and Materialise Partner to Drive Volume 3D Printing
As an HP preferred partner, Materialise will provide the industry with an end-to-end manufacturing solution that is integrated with an additive technology that is designed for productivity and scale — MJF and Metal Jet systems. As part of this partnership, HP will help customers identify meaningful use cases for the software platform, as well as showcase the solution at HP demo facilities and public events.
The seamless connectivity between HP AM technology and Materialise CO-AM enables users to create workflows that improve traceability, quality control, and machine utilization. Optimized 3D print job management allows production leads to track planned and actual printer activities and optimize machine time. To ensure continuous production, real-time machine monitoring provides operators and engineers with critical process data, including build status, material usage, and machine sensor data. This data can be collected and stored in log files of 3D-printed jobs to enhance traceability and quality control. In addition to their 3D printers, Metal Jet users can connect process-relevant HP machinery to the CO-AM platform, such as the Powder Management Station, Curing Station, and Powder Removal Station. This integration allows Metal Jet users to streamline the post-processing of metal parts within the manufacturing process.
HP partners with Elnik, GKN and Sandvik on Metal Jet
HP is focusing on further advancing and developing all aspects of its Metal Jet technology and, ahead of the Formnext show in Frankfurt, where the AM industry as a whole comes together to set the stage for the coming year, the company is presenting deals that are expected to improve various key aspects of the end-to-end metal binder jetting process. These include three key partnerships. The first is with Sandvik, one of the first companies to embrace metal binder jetting through partnerships with both ExOne (Desktop Metal) and GE Additive, on material development. Another one is with GKN Additive, a leading metal AM service that has been working with HP on Metal Jet from the get-go, on tooling and also material innovation (as GKN is also a provider of metal powders). And the third one is with Elnik, a leading manufacturer of furnaces for part sintering, to fine-tune this key aspect of metal binder jetting post-processing.
Mitsubishi Electric and Visual Components Form JV for 3D Simulators
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO:6503) announced today that it will partner with Visual Components headquartered in Espoo, Finland in a joint venture company, named ME Industrial Simulation Software Corporation, to develop and sell 3D simulators for manufacturing applications. Mitsubishi Electric and Visual Components will hold 70% and 30% stakes respectively in the company, which will begin operating on November 1.
Through the new company, Mitsubishi Electric plans to enhance its digital twin platform for circular digital-engineering business solutions. Visual Components’ software is compatible with Mitsubishi Electric’s factory-automation (FA) products thanks to standard functions for connecting with PLCs and robots as well as interfaces for expanding the functionality of 3D simulators. By combining Mitsubishi Electric’s advanced control technology and manufacturing expertise with Visual Components’ technology, the JV is expected to further strengthen the functionality and services of Mitsubishi Electric’s “MELSOFT Gemini” 3D simulator, which customers use to overcome labor shortages, improve productivity and upgrade the quality of their manufacturing.
The JV’s development base in Finland will enable it to fully leverage Visual Components’ development expertise in order to verify device control using 3D simulators, upgrade design efficiencies through control-logic generation, and improve productivity through the utilization of extensive manufacturing data. Furthermore, the customized-solution capabilities of Visual Components’ sales engineers will enable Mitsubishi Electric’s FA Systems business to better meet the diverse manufacturing needs of customers, particularly in Japan and other Asian markets where Mitsubishi Electric’s presence is particularly strong.
Arkema announces new partnerships with industry leaders to design the next generation of 3D printed materials and solutions
Arkema collaborates with industry leaders including EOS, HP and Stratasys, to continue offering customers more sustainable, high-performance materials for additive manufacturing. This is particularly true of its bio-sourced Rilsan® Polyamide 11, for which the Group recently announced a further reduction in the carbon footprint of all its grades globally. This initiative represents an improvement of around 70% compared to traditional polyamide resins produced using fossil-based raw materials and conventional energy sources.
Solugen and ADM Announce Strategic Partnership
Solugen, a rapidly scaling climate technology company that is reimagining the chemistry of everyday life, and ADM (NYSE:ADM), a global leader in sustainable solutions, today announced a strategic partnership to scale a range of innovative, plant-based specialty chemicals and bio-based building block molecules in a new manufacturing facility in Marshall, Minnesota.
Under the terms of the agreement, Solugen will build a new 500,000-square-foot biomanufacturing facility adjacent to ADM’s existing corn complex in Marshall. The facility will utilize ADM-provided dextrose to scale its current line of lower-carbon organic acids and develop new, innovative molecules to replace existing fossil fuel-based materials.
Rockwell Automation and Microsoft Expand Partnership to Leverage Generative AI Capabilities for Enhanced Productivity and Faster Time-to-Market
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK) and Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ: MSFT) today announced an extension of their longstanding relationship to accelerate industrial automation design and development through generative artificial intelligence (AI). The companies are combining technologies to empower the workforce and accelerate time-to-market for customers building industrial automation systems. The first outcome of this collaboration will add Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service into FactoryTalk® Design Studio™ to deliver industry-first capabilities accelerating time-to-market for their customers building industrial automation systems.
Fluor Awarded FEED Contract for World’s First Industrial-Scale Sodium-Ion Battery Production Facility
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that its Advanced Technologies & Life Sciences business line has been selected by Altris AB to provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) services for the world’s first industrial-scale sodium-ion battery production facility in Sandviken, Sweden. Fluor recognized the undisclosed contract value in the third quarter of 2023.
Altris is a Swedish sodium-ion battery maker that develops cathodes, electrolytes, battery cells and the industrialization process for these products. Sodium-ion batteries are inherently safe and easy to recycle because they are mainly comprised of salt, wood, iron and air.
CESMII welcomes FactoryEye, a division of Magic Software
The Clean Energy Smart Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CESMII) welcomed FactoryEye, a division of Magic Software, into its membership. CESMII is a government funded non-profit organization dedicated to supporting small and mid-sized manufacturing facilities to create a more competitive manufacturing environment in the United States. CESMII has recognized FactoryEye as an important addition to its mission to increase manufacturing productivity, global competitiveness and reinvestment.
AVEVA continues to drive digital transformation and sustainability for industrial customers through collaboration with Microsoft
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has expanded its strategic collaboration with Microsoft to further strengthen both companies’ data integration platforms to better prepare customers to incorporate AI in key industries across the world.
The agreement will see an even closer synergy between industrial cloud platform AVEVA Connect and data analytics solution Microsoft Fabric, which is currently in public preview. They are designed to streamline the process of collecting, transforming, and unifying data from various sources. They help gather data from different parts of an organization’s operations, including manufacturing processes, supply chains, and other relevant systems. These platforms offer tools for data cleansing, transformation, and enrichment, making the data more consistent and useful for downstream applications and preparing data to power AI capabilities.
Fanuc and Volvo Cars sign deal to transform automotive manufacturing with sustainable robotics
Fanuc, the world’s leading manufacturer of industrial robots, has entered into a global contract with Volvo Cars, in a move to boost sustainability in the automotive manufacturing sector, according to Fanuc. The partnership outlines an extensive robot supply program, aimed at optimising production processes in Volvo’s manufacturing facilities worldwide. The collaboration further plays a crucial role in supporting Volvo’s ambitious sustainability goals.
Sasol Chemicals and Solugen will evaluate effectiveness of sustainable ingredients in care chemicals applications
Sasol Chemicals will evaluate the effectiveness of Solugen’s proprietary products, blends and derivatives in its household, personal care, and industrial and institutional cleaning surfactant formulations, initially focusing on chelating agents.
Solugen’s bio-based ingredients are high-performing and cost-competitive materials used in detergents, cleaning products, and personal care products. Solugen manufactures these ingredients at its Bioforge facility in Houston, which uses a first-of-its-kind chemienzymatic process to convert plant-derived substances into essential materials that traditionally relied on fossil fuels – all with no or low emissions and waste.
NVIDIA Partners With Foxconn to Build Factories and Systems for the AI Industrial Revolution
Foxconn will integrate NVIDIA technology to develop a new class of data centers powering a wide range of applications — including digitalization of manufacturing and inspection workflows, development of AI-powered electric vehicle and robotics platforms, and a growing number of language-based generative AI services.
Working closely with NVIDIA, Foxconn is expected to build a large number of systems based on NVIDIA CPUs, GPUs and networking for its global customer base, which is looking to create and operate their own AI factories, optimized with NVIDIA AI Enterprise software. Among the key NVIDIA technologies Foxconn is using to create these custom designs are NVIDIA HGX™ reference designs featuring eight NVIDIA H100 Tensor Core GPUs per system, NVIDIA GH200 Superchips, NVIDIA OVX™ reference designs and NVIDIA networking. With these systems, Foxconn customers can leverage NVIDIA accelerated computing to deliver generative AI services as well as use simulation to speed up the training of autonomous machines, including industrial robots and self-driving cars.
Titomic wins aerospace 3D spray printing repair and coating contract
Additive manufacturer Titomic has won an order from aircraft maker Airbus Group to supply cold spray additive manufacturing, repairs and maintenance equipment. The cold spray additive manufacturing process – also known as cold spray 3D printing – will allow Airbus to fabricate freestanding parts or to build features on to existing aircraft components, The $645,000 contract sees cold spray systems for unique coatings and repairs installed on Airbus’ sites, while another system will be installed at Titomic’s European facility.
NavVis and Siemens Smart Infrastructure bring spatial digital twin capabilities to Siemens Building X
NavVis, an innovator in reality capture and digital factory solutions, and Siemens Smart Infrastructure have collaborated to integrate accurate as-is 3D data and an immersive 3D experience to Siemens’ latest scalable digital building platform Building X™. “We are excited to enable the Siemens Building X open platform with NavVis technology. We firmly believe that accurate as-is 3D data at scale and immersive interaction with this data is critically important to make the vision of smart buildings a reality,” says Dr. Felix Reinshagen, CEO and Co-Founder at NavVis.
Industrial AI-Enabled Machine Tool Spindle Health Prognostics Has Been Transformed To Commercialized Value In Partnership With Mazak In Florence, KY.
In a significant collaboration with Mazak, based in Florence, KY, the AI-driven prognostics for machine tool spindle health developed at the Industrial AI center has transitioned from a research concept to a commercial asset. This partnership not only underscores the practical applications of the center’s research but also emphasizes the transformative potential of AI in the industrial domain.
Idemitsu and Toyota Announce Beginning of Cooperation toward Mass Production of All-Solid-State Batteries for BEVs
Idemitsu Kosan Co.,Ltd. (Idemitsu) and Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) announced today that they have entered into an agreement to work together in developing mass production technology of solid electrolytes, improving productivity and establishment a supply chain, to achieve the mass production of all-solid-state batteries for battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Through this collaboration, the two companies, which lead the world in the fields including material development relating to all-solid-state batteries, seek to ensure the successful commercialization of all-solid-state batteries in 2027-28―as announced at the Toyota Technical Workshop in June 2023―followed by full-scale mass production.
Novelis signs an agreement to extend collaboration with Airbus
Novelis, a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider and world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, announced today that it has renewed its contract with Airbus. The contract extends a successful, cooperative relationship spanning more than 30 years. Novelis will supply Airbus with plates and sheets, as well as wingskins especially for the A320 aircraft family. Wingskins are particularly demanding products that require pre-machining for long components and special alloys to accommodate the most demanding aircraft industry standards.
Highly automated manufacturing environment to enhance the customer’s production efficiency
Comau has implemented a high-performance turnkey solution to automate manufacturing of NIO’s next-generation electric drive systems. The multi-faceted project also ensures fast and reliable co-line production for the electric vehicle manufacturer’s third-gen induction and permanent magnet motors, both of which are integral parts of its proprietary electric drive systems (EDS). The comprehensive solution includes primary lines such as e-motor assembly lines, gearbox manufacturing and inverter assembly lines, as well as EOL (End of Line) testing processes. It is designed to support a large-scale annual production capacity of 1 million units, to be used within NIO’s electric sedans, coupes and SUVs, as well as select models of its sub-brand ALPS.
Flexxbotics Partners with Applied Automation to Expand Presence in North America
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced it has expanded its partner network with Applied Automation, a leading value-added distributor and technical solutions provider.
Flexxbotics workcell digitalization is the backbone of the Smart Factory delivering autonomous process control for next generation machining environments utilizing robotics. The SaaS/hybrid solutions are specifically designed to enable robot-driven manufacturing at scale. Flexxbotics breakthrough innovation, the unique FlexxCORE™ technology, seamlessly connects and coordinates robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people.
Zebra Technologies Demonstrates Generative AI on Devices Powered by Qualcomm
Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), a leading digital solution provider enabling businesses to intelligently connect data, assets, and people has successfully demonstrated a Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) large language model (LLM) running on Zebra handheld mobile computers and tablets without needing connectivity to the cloud.
This breakthrough empowers Zebra partners and customers to unlock exciting productivity gains that will shape the future of work across industries from retail to warehouse and logistics to hospitality and healthcare. On-device execution of GenAI LLMs has the potential to empower front-line workers with new capabilities so they can deliver new outcomes for their end customers.
On-device AI can offer additional personalisation as well as enhanced privacy and security as data remains on the device. It also drives faster performance and lower costs as GenAI searches on the cloud can be expensive. A whitepaper published by Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. suggests that GenAI-based search cost per query is estimated to increase by ten times compared to traditional search methods. By removing the need to utilise the cloud, costs can be reduced.
Zebra’s TC53/TC58 and TC73/TC78 mobile computers and ET6x Series tablets powered by Qualcomm Technologies – together with Zebra’s asset visibility and intelligent automation solutions – deliver elevated data insight, analysis and recommendations, problem solving, planning and creativity. Front-line workers can utilise a smaller on-device model, even in rural, built-up and underground working environments where connection to the cloud may not be possible. Alternatively, users may switch to a cloud-based app or web browser GenAI tool via Zebra’s Wi-Fi 6/6E and 5G enabled devices.
ABB and Altilium sign agreement to work on battery industry recycling projects
ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreement with UK-based clean technology group Altilium to jointly explore how the integration of automation, electrification and digital technologies in plants across Europe can support the scaling up of battery materials recycling. Altilium is developing green processing technologies and building infrastructure at scale for the recycling of metals and electric vehicle (EV) battery waste, with the aim of ensuring a domestic supply chain of low-carbon battery materials for the automotive industry.
thyssenkrupp selects Samotics to increase reliability of its steel manufacturing process
thyssenkrupp Steel installed Samotics’ SAM4 Health solution as part of a proof-of-value pilot, initially monitoring 100 critical conveyor rolls at its Duisburg plant in Germany—Europe’s biggest steelmaking site. In the first few months of the pilot, the system detected multiple critical faults at an early stage including mechanical unbalance and bearing degradation. This enabled thyssenkrupp Steel to replace the affected machines before they failed, preventing significant unplanned downtime and its associated costs. After the initial success of the pilot project, thyssenkrupp extended the use of the SAM4 Health system and integrated it into its maintenance process.
John Deere and Yara partner to increase fertilization efficiency
John Deere and Yara have joined forces to launch a partnership that will combine Yara’s agronomic expertise with John Deere’s precision technology and advanced machinery. The partnership will enable farmers to increase yields and optimize fertilizer use, helping them contribute to the ambition of the European Union’s Farm to Fork Strategy.
AI camera steers ships away from collisions in fog and darkness
Japanese trading company Marubeni is partnering with Israeli startup Orca AI to equip ships with artificial intelligence cameras that aid visibility in fog or darkness to reduce collisions. Orca AI’s camera system, dubbed SeaPod, has accumulated over 20 million nautical miles worth of marine visual data – equivalent to 4,200 transpacific trips between Japan and Los Angeles. The AI analyzes the big data from the footage, as well as from other parameters such as weather-related delays, to improve situational awareness of potential collisions.
Rockwell Automation Partners with Everactive, Increasing Customer Productivity and Sustainability
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, is pleased to announce its partnership with Santa Clara, California-based Everactive, a leader in wireless and batteryless condition-monitoring solutions for industrial customers.
Everactive’s solutions will complement Rockwell Automation’s Dynamix product line, which will be ideal for Rockwell customers seeking actionable insights from their rotating equipment assets, without the concern of interruption from having to replace batteries in the process. The integrated system will provide data to Rockwell’s FactoryTalk® MaintenanceSuite for asset monitoring, condition-based monitoring, and predictive maintenance programs, enabling maintenance teams to reduce asset-related downtime, decrease production cost and lower labor costs.
LS ELECTRIC and Sight Machine Collaborate to Build AI-Based Big Data Analytics Platform for Manufacturing and Energy
LS ELECTRIC announced on September 18 that it has signed an MOU with Sight Machine to build an AI-based intelligent manufacturing and energy big data analysis platform at LS ELECTRIC Cheongju, Chungbuk, Korea. With this MOU, the two companies plan to conduct extensive collaboration in the field of integrated platforms aimed at the ESG market, including verification and analysis of manufacturing-energy big data connectivity using Sight Machine’s Manufacturing Data Platform, prediction of AI-based manufacturing process equipment control values, and construction of big data analysis platforms to help companies achieve smart manufacturing and power efficiency in the production process.
Toray and Honda Start Jointly Validating Chemical Nylon 6 Recycling for Automotive Applications
Toray Industries, Inc., announced today it signed an agreement with Honda Motor Co., Ltd., to jointly develop a chemical recycling technology for glass-fiber reinforced nylon 6 parts recovered from end-of-life vehicles. The two have begun verifying this technology, which entails depolymerizing with subcritical water (see note) and regenerating the materials as caprolactam, a raw monomer.
Partnership between BASF and Nanotech Energy will enable production of lithium-ion batteries
BASF, a globally leading battery materials producer, and Nanotech Energy, a worldwide leader in the field of graphene-based energy storage products, have agreed to partner to significantly reduce the CO2 footprint of Nanotech’s lithium-ion batteries for the North American market. The agreement aims to close the loop for lithium-ion batteries in North America, with BASF producing cathode active materials from recycled metals in Battle Creek, Michigan, for the usage in lithium-ion battery cells produced by Nanotech Energy. Feeding recycled metals into the production of new lithium-ion batteries can reduce the CO2 impact of batteries by about 25 percent compared to the use of primary metals from mines.
H2 Green Steel collaborates with Volvo Group for supply of near zero emissions steel
As commercial vehicles increasingly run on electrified solutions, reducing the emissions when the product is in use, the environmental footprint from the supply network and production becomes increasingly important. Since steel is one of the main input materials in the manufacturing of trucks, buses and construction machines, a shift towards green steel is a vital element for Volvo Group’s continued journey towards decarbonization. The long-term supply agreement placed from Volvo Group is for green steel from H2 Green Steel’s new plant in Boden in Northern Sweden. Start of production is planned for end of 2025. Deliveries to Volvo Group will start mid-2026.
🦾 Fabric teams with Maersk on Dallas robotic warehouse
Israeli robotics warehouse developer Fabric and logistics giant A.P. Moller - Maersk (Maersk) are setting up a 3,500-square-meter automated-fulfillment center in Dallas, Texas. The new facility, which will be powered by Fabric’s advanced robotic and software technology, features an AI-driven, automated e-commerce fulfillment solution in an urban environment that maximizes warehouse productivity while minimizing real estate footprint requirements.
Cadence Design Is Working With Renesas To Build The World’s First LLM Tool For Up-Front Chip Design
Cadence has been aggressively rolling out reinforcement learning-based tools to help chip design teams accelerate the processes of digital design, debugging, verification, PCB layout, and multi-physics optimization. Customers have been eating it up, especially the physical design optimizer “Cerebrus” and the underlying cross-platform consolidated database, “JedAI.”
Now, the company has focused on the most challenging part of designing a chip: defining the specs and creating the first clean version of the design that drives the rest of the entire workflow. Renesas and Cadence have collaborated to develop a novel approach to address the up-front design work by leveraging LLMs, significantly reducing the time and effort from specification to final design. The chip design verification, debugging, and implementation phases remain the same today. They call this accelerating “Correct by Construction” design methodology.
Using an LLM, the team can demonstrate interrogating the plan for compliance with specifications and other design and project documents, in areas such as IP connections for data, control, and test, and other requirements specified in the IP and chip level specifications. These steps of cleaning the design code can take individual engineers and the team weeks of design time and hundreds of meetings to reduce the number of bugs they encounter during the simulation and implementation stages of the project. By using an LLM, Cadence hopes to significantly streamline this process.
OSARO and FANUC America Collaborate to Enhance Capabilities of Robotic Warehouse Automation Solutions
OSARO®, a global leader in machine-learning-enabled robotics for e-commerce, is partnering with FANUC America, the leading supplier of CNCs, robotics and ROBOMACHINEs, to expand the capabilities of FANUC’s robotic automation solutions optimized for warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment. The two companies will collaborate on go-to-market strategies, commencing with the installation of an advanced piece-picking demonstration robot at FANUC’s Innovation Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
OSARO and FANUC America Collaborate to Enhance Capabilities of Robotic Warehouse Automation Solutions
OSARO®, a global leader in machine-learning-enabled robotics for e-commerce, is partnering with FANUC America, the leading supplier of CNCs, robotics and ROBOMACHINEs, to expand the capabilities of FANUC’s robotic automation solutions optimized for warehousing and e-commerce fulfillment. The two companies will collaborate on go-to-market strategies, commencing with the installation of an advanced piece-picking demonstration robot at FANUC’s Innovation Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan.
Honeywell And Arbin Instruments Team Up To Revolutionize Large Scale Lithium-Ion Battery Manufacturing
Honeywell today enhanced its Battery Manufacturing Excellence Platform (MXP) for lithium-ion battery manufacturers and gigafactories through a collaboration with Arbin Instruments to integrate an advanced autonomous formation system. This solution addresses battery manufacturers’ need to increase throughput of battery cells while reducing floor space and saving energy costs.
Accelera by Cummins, Daimler Truck and PACCAR form a joint venture to advance battery cell production in the United States
Accelera by Cummins, the zero-emissions business unit of Cummins Inc. , Daimler Trucks & Buses and PACCAR are partnering to accelerate and localize battery cell production and the battery supply chain in the United States. The planned joint venture will manufacture battery cells for electric commercial vehicles and industrial applications, creating highly desirable U.S. manufacturing jobs in the growing clean technology sector. Total investment is expected to be in the range of $2-3 billion for the 21-gigawatt hour (GWh) factory.
Intel Foundry Services and Tower Semiconductor Announce New US Foundry Agreement
Intel Foundry Services (IFS) and Tower Semiconductor (Nasdaq: TSEM), a leading foundry for analog semiconductor solutions, today announced an agreement where Intel will provide foundry services and 300mm manufacturing capacity to help Tower serve its customers globally. Under the agreement, Tower will utilize Intel’s advanced manufacturing facility in New Mexico. Tower will invest up to $300 million to acquire and own equipment and other fixed assets to be installed in the New Mexico facility, providing a new capacity corridor of over 600,000 photo layers per month for Tower’s future growth, enabling capacity to support forecasted customer demand for 300mm advanced analog processing.
🧠🚜 Driverless in the field: Agriculture companies Krone and Lemken rely on software from Apex.AI for autonomous farming machines
Apex.AI, a company that develops safety-certified software for mobility and autonomous applications, announced today a joint product development project for commercial-ready autonomous farming systems with Krone, a manufacturer of agricultural machinery and precision agricultural technology, and Lemken, a company that manufactures innovative machines for tillage, sowing and sustainable plant care. The ‘Combined Powers’ concept vehicle, which was developed by Krone and Lemken, is an autonomous drive unit that acts as a smart system that can plow, cultivate, sow, mow, turn and swath. The companies are now transitioning the concept carrier vehicle from the prototype stage to series production by leveraging Apex.AI’s Software Development Kit (SDK), consisting of Apex.Grace and Apex.Ida.
Broadcom’s transformation journey with Google Cloud
Since the migration to Google Cloud, we’ve eliminated 165 software test labs and saved 50% on costs by hosting most of our work on the cloud instead of relying on dedicated hardware running in Broadcom data centers.
Our collaboration with Google Cloud has also enabled Broadcom to deliver new product features faster while keeping products up to date and free of technical debt. This is a major competitive boon. Adopting Google Cloud as a scalable platform for product development, we now deliver rapid elasticity when catering to increased spikes in requests for products that can reach up to a million requests per second. Equally important, it’s helped us keep the platform secure to protect our customers’ workload and data.
Prior to migrating, Broadcom operated 50-plus data centers globally. The plan was to replace all 50-plus data centers in six months—which we did. It was crucial that we got this right because the workloads were time-sensitive and customer-sensitive, and any glitch could have a huge impact on customers.
📊 Simplify and Accelerate IoT Data-Driven Innovation
Databricks is thrilled to announce strategic partnerships to deliver specialized expertise and unparalleled value to the industry. These partnerships allow companies to simplify access to complex datasets, generate actionable insights and accelerate the time to value with the Lakehouse platform.
Seeq, a global leader in advanced analytics for the process manufacturing industries, delivers self-service, enterprise SaaS solutions to accelerate critical insights and action from historically unused data. Sight Machine enables real-time data-driven operations for manufacturers to achieve breakthrough performance by continuously improving profitability, productivity, and sustainability. Kobai delivers unparalleled semantic capabilities to unify operational and enterprise data and empowers all users to make better decisions and drive operational excellence. Companies across the Fortune 500 leverage Plotly’s powerful interactive analytics and visualization tools to build and scale production-grade data apps quickly and easily.
Cognex Brings Scanning Expertise to OSARO Partners Alliance
OSARO®, a global leader in machine-learning-enabled robotics for e-commerce, has welcomed Cognex Corporation (NASDAQ: CGNX), the leader in industrial machine vision, into the OSARO Partners Alliance, an ecosystem of expertise aimed at delivering optimal automation solutions to customers. By integrating Cognex DataMan fixed-mount, image-based barcode readers into the OSARO Robotic Bagging System, OSARO solved a difficult technical challenge for Zenni Optical.
The system demonstrated compelling ROI for one of the world’s top eyeglass retailers by solving an ongoing challenge. Zenni’s signature translucent blue eyeglass cases had stymied scanners from several OEMs that were unable to read barcodes through the plastic cases. OSARO vetted several suppliers before selecting Cognex DataMan readers, which achieved 99% accuracy and read rates, while increasing throughput by 80%.
Novo hires Thermo Fisher as second manufacturer for Wegovy weight-loss drug
Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO) has hired Thermo Fisher (TMO.N) as its second contract manufacturer for its hugely popular weight-loss drug Wegovy, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters. Thermo is doing the filling of the Wegovy injection pens at its factory in Greenville, North Carolina, the source said, declining to be named because the information is confidential.
🖨️ EOS North America and 3YOURMIND Launch Rapid Part Identifier Program
EOS North America’s Additive Minds team and 3YOURMIND have partnered to accelerate additive manufacturing (AM) adoption through their Rapid Part Identifier program. Now, organizations can benefit from the rapid part screening of 2D and 3D files, augmented by AM engineering expertise to create a holistic industrial 3D printing strategy. This new partnership agreement helps quickly scale part identification for AM, supported by the strategy and engineering required to achieve successful production.
🦾 Doosan Robotics to develop GPT-based collaborative robots
Doosan Robotics, a subsidiary of South Korea’s Doosan Group specializing in robot solutions, is venturing into the development of collaborative robot solutions using AI-based GPT (generative pre-trained transformer) technology to enhance its software capabilities.
Doosan Robotics announced it has entered into a business agreement with Microsoft and Doosan Digital Innovation to develop a GPT-based robot control system” utilizing Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service. Azure OpenAI provides cloud services that include cutting-edge open AI systems, including GPT.
Doosan Robotics plans to apply GPT to its collaborative robots, enabling them to autonomously correct errors and perform tasks. Once the solution is developed, programming time will be reduced, leading to improved operational efficiency and utility.
🖥️ ABB invests in edge-to-cloud platform innovator Pratexo
ABB is investing in a strategic partnership with Pratexo, an edge-to-cloud acceleration platform company. The partnership involves a minority investment in Pratexo through ABB’s venture capital unit, ABB Technology Ventures (ATV). Financial details of the investment were not disclosed.
The collaboration with Pratexo will help ABB’s customers deploy edge-based networks and solution architectures that provide real time insights, with the added benefits of reduced cloud data transfer volumes, improved data privacy and security, and the ability to run even when not connected to the internet.
Petrobras, Japanese partner work on carbon capture at offshore rigs
Japanese chemicals company Kureha will partner with Brazilian state energy group Petrobras to develop a new way to capture carbon dioxide from offshore oil fields. Kureha will start developing a new catalyst to be used in a carbon capturing device this fiscal year at its research facility in northeastern Japan, in a joint effort with the Hokkaido-based Kitami Institute of Technology. It plans to build a small-scale prototype of the device in fiscal 2024.
Kureha is looking to capture carbon from the methane and turn it into a powder that is easily shipped. The powder can be used to produce carbon nanotubes, a material used in lithium-ion batteries, electronic devices and auto parts.
BYD and Huawei build smart factories together
BYD has chosen Huawei to help it build a 10Gbps network based on Huawei’s High-Quality 10 Gbps CloudCampus solution. This network features ultra-fast access, superb experience, simplified architecture, and simplified O&M.
In production scenarios, an increasing number of BYD’s R&D and production systems rely on high-bandwidth networks. For example, R&D simulation generates huge HD rendering workloads, which requires transmission of huge volumes of data between cloud servers and local terminals. In addition, simulation and rendering synchronization raises requirements for low network latency.
ABB and Samsung Engineering to collaborate on gas analyzers for Saudi Arabia’s energy industries
ABB has signed a framework agreement with Samsung Engineering in Saudi Arabia to collaborate in engineering and procurement activities in the Kingdom. With this agreement, ABB becomes a single-source vendor for gas analyzer system integration for Samsung in Saudi Arabia.
Together, the two companies plan to explore business opportunities and provide complete analytical solutions to the Saudi oil & gas market. Effective measurement of gas quality is key to safety and reliability, decreasing the environmental footprint and increasing profitability of the production process. ABB’s solutions support the most demanding applications.
ABB expands partnership with Northvolt to electrify the world’s largest battery recycling facility
ABB and Northvolt are further strengthening their long-standing collaboration in the field of green batteries, an increasingly critical part in the ongoing energy transition. Since 2017, ABB has already delivered key electrification and automation equipment to power Northvolt Ett gigafactory for lithium-ion batteries in Sweden. This partnership is now being expanded to include battery recycling with ABB providing process electrification to power the world’s largest battery recycling facility, Revolt Ett, being established by Northvolt in Skellefteå, northern Sweden. Financial details were not disclosed. The order was booked in the first quarter of 2023.
IBM Consulting Collaborates with Microsoft to Help Companies Accelerate Adoption of Generative AI
IBM (NYSE: IBM) is expanding its collaboration with Microsoft to help joint clients accelerate the deployment of generative AI - and deliver a new offering that will provide clients with the expertise and technology they need to innovate their business processes and scale generative AI effectively. IBM Consulting, in collaboration with Microsoft, will focus on helping clients to implement and scale Azure OpenAI Service. The new IBM Consulting Azure OpenAI Service offering, which is available on Azure Marketplace, is a fully managed AI service that allows developers and data scientists to apply powerful large language models, including their GPT and Codex series. It aims to help businesses define an adoption strategy and an initial set of specific and value-add generative AI use cases.
🔋 Mitra Chem Announces First Close of $60 Million Series B Round Led by GM
Mitra Future Technologies Inc. (“Mitra Chem”), a leading innovator in North American production of lithium-ion battery materials, announced the completion of a $40 million first close of $60 million Series B funding round led by GM. The investment will fuel Mitra Chem’s mission to develop, deploy and commercialize U.S.-made iron-based cathode materials in an effort to enable mass-market electrification for electric vehicles, energy storage solutions, and beyond.
As part of the partnership with GM, Mitra Chem will develop iron-based cathode active materials (CAM) like lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) to power affordable and accessible EV batteries compatible with GM’s EV propulsion architecture, the Ultium Platform. GM’s funding will enable Mitra Chem to scale its current R&D and pilot operations to expedite bringing their battery materials to market.
Top aluminum producer and recycler Novelis to increase uptime following ABB modernization
Novelis Inc., a leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider and the world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, is working with ABB to upgrade its third-party drives and controls system as part of a brownfield modernization project at its hot rolling mill in Oswego, New York, USA.
To futureproof the mill, ABB is replacing obsolete and outdated equipment with new switchgears, transformers, medium voltage drives, medium voltage synchronous motors, motor control centers and auxiliary controls, all integrated with the facility’s existing non-ABB control system. This will support Novelis’ ambitions for increased power capacity and reliability. Commissioning of the upgrade is expected by the end of 2023.
Heidelberg Materials North America and MHI Are Working Toward First Full-Scale Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Solution for Cement Industry
Heidelberg Materials announced today that Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has delivered and installed a compact CO2 pilot capture system “CO2MPACTTM” at its cement plant in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Through a partnership between Heidelberg Materials, the Government of Canada and the Government of Alberta, the facility is expected to become the first full-scale carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) solution for the cement industry globally. The new facility, which Heidelberg Materials anticipates being operational by late 2026, will capture more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually from its Edmonton cement plant and the combined heat and power facility that is integrated with the capture process.
Intel and Synopsys Expand Partnership to Enable Leading IP on Intel Advanced Process Nodes
Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) and Synopsys (Nasdaq: SNPS) announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to expand the companies’ long-standing IP (intellectual property) and EDA (electronic design automation) strategic partnership with the development of a portfolio of IP on Intel 3 and Intel 18A for Intel’s foundry customers. The availability of key IP on Intel advanced process nodes will create a more robust offering for new and existing Intel Foundry Services (IFS) customers.
As part of the transaction, Synopsys will enable a range of its standardized interface IP portfolio on Intel’s leading-edge process technologies. As a result, Intel’s foundry customers will gain access to industry-leading IPs built on Intel advanced process technologies and be able to accelerate design execution and project schedules for system-on-chips (SoCs).
Geely and Baidu partnered to establish new EV company JIDU in 2021.
On August 9, Chinese automaker Geely and tech giant Baidu jointly established an automotive technology company with a registered capital of RMB 10 million ($1.38 million). Geely and Baidu’s wholly-owned subsidiaries hold 65% and 35% stakes in the new company, respectively. Currently, neither Geely nor Baidu has disclosed the development direction of their new joint venture, but the newly established company’s business scope comprises sales of new energy vehicles, operations of EV charging infrastructure, and sales of batteries and digital technology services according to the publicly available information on corporate data site Tianyancha
♻️ Amcor, Mondelēz International and Licella partner to promote circular economy
Leaders in the packaging value chain have today joined forces to further advance a circular economy for plastic packaging in Australia. Amcor (NYSE: AMCR, ASX: AMC), a global leader in developing and producing responsible packaging solutions, and Mondelēz International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MDLZ), the company with iconic snack brands Cadbury, The Natural Confectionery Company, Pascall and others, are investing in advanced recycling technology pioneer Licella in an important step towards ending plastic waste.
The investments announced today will help Licella progress construction of one of the first advanced recycling facilities in Australia. Licella will use its innovative Catalytic Hydrothermal Reactor (Cat-HTR™) technology to recycle end-of-life plastic back into a crude oil substitute suitable to produce new food-grade plastic packaging.
H2 Green Steel in 1.5 billion Euro agreement with ZF
H2 Green Steel has signed a 7-year binding agreement with ZF, one of the biggest suppliers to the automotive industry globally. Deliveries of near zero emissions steel are set to begin in 2026. ZF directly and indirectly processes around 2.5 million tonnes of steel per year worldwide. This agreement covers a significant share of ZF’s yearly steel volumes, making it strategically important in the company’s efforts to decarbonize its operations.
H2 Green Steel signs agreements with Rio Tinto for direct reduction iron ore pellets and hot briquetted iron
H2 Green Steel is partnering with Rio Tinto, a leading global metals and mining company, for the supply of direct reduction iron ore pellet for its green steel production in Sweden. The two companies have signed a multi-year supply agreement for direct reduction iron ore pellets (DR Pellets) from Rio Tinto’s Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) which will account for a significant part of the iron ore supply to H2 Green Steel’s flagship plant in Boden, Sweden. Additionally, the companies have signed an agreement whereby Rio Tinto will purchase and on-sell a part of the surplus low-carbon hot briquetted iron (HBI) produced by H2 Green Steel during the ramp-up of its steelmaking capacity.
H2 Green Steel and Vale in agreement for the supply of direct reduction iron ore pellets
In a multi-year agreement, Vale will supply H2 Green Steel with iron ore pellets as input material for its steel mill in Boden. Vale is a Brazilian mining company and the world’s largest supplier of direct reduction pellets. Iron ore in pelletized form is, along with green hydrogen from H2 Green Steel’s own electrolyzer facility, critical input materials for the green direct reduced iron (DRI) production which will be used to make near-zero emissions steel in the steel plant in Boden. The process of direct reduction of iron ore using green hydrogen and a fully electrified process achieves a CO2 reduction of up to 95 percent compared to the conventional steel making process using coal and coke in a blast furnace.
EnergyHub and Tesla to support the Northeast's largest battery virtual power plant
Tesla, Inc. and EnergyHub, the industry’s most experienced provider of distributed energy management systems (DERMS), have collaborated to enable ConnectedSolutions program enrollment via the Tesla app. The new in-app experience makes joining utility programs frictionless for electricity customers in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island who enroll in ConnectedSolutions, EnergyHub’s largest bring-your-own-battery demand response program. The program links batteries to create a virtual power plant (VPP) that can be used to curb peak demand for electricity and to provide additional grid services.
Tesla Powerwall owners who participate in the ConnectedSolutions program can earn for every kilowatt of benefit they provide to the grid—up to $1,500 per year depending on the size of the battery and the state where they live. Using the new in-app experience, customers can easily enroll in the program and see the entire event including how much energy they are providing, and understand how that results in earnings from their utility.
Spirit AeroSystems, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Create Strategic Partnership
Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. today announced a strategic agreement with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, which is managed by University of Tennessee Battelle, for the development of applications hypersonic travel and aircraft of tomorrow.
Spirit and Oak Ridge National Laboratory will jointly focus on scalable, efficient manufacturing of advanced material solutions in the commercial, defense and space aerostructure markets. They will collaboratively explore advances in high temperature in-situ process monitoring techniques and predictive modeling capability for microstructure-based performance and certification of carbon and ceramic composites as well as additively manufactured alloys. In addition, research teams will study various processing techniques for materials that can withstand extreme heat and harsh environments, including the scaling up of a thermal protection system for aerospace platforms.
🧫 Ginkgo Bioworks Announces Collaboration with Merck to Improve Biologic Manufacturing
Ginkgo Bioworks (NYSE: DNA), which is building the leading platform for cell programming and biosecurity, today announced a new collaboration with Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, focused on improving biologic manufacturing.
Ginkgo will apply its expertise and capabilities in cell engineering, ultra high-throughput multiplexed screening, protein characterization and process optimization to improve production efficiency and increase yields. Under the terms of the collaboration, Ginkgo is eligible to receive, in aggregate, up to $490 million in upfront research fees, research milestone fees, option license payments and commercial milestone payments.
Toshiba Digital Solutions Partners with Aras to Accelerate Digital Transformation in Manufacturing
Aras, which provides the most powerful low-code application platform to design, build and operate complex products, announced its partnership with Toshiba Digital Solutions, a subsidiary of Toshiba Corporation. Toshiba Digital Solutions will distribute Aras Innovator to other Toshiba group companies and customers. This announcement aligns with the partner agreement announced by Toshiba Digital Solutions on April 20, 2023. Aras Innovator will integrate with Toshiba’s Meister, an IoT solution for the manufacturing sector that’s used to collect data and connect with factories to help companies reap the benefits of digital twin technology.
o9 Solutions Announces Partnership with MangoGem S.A. to Optimize Supply Chain Planning and Scheduling
o9 Solutions, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, today announced a new business alliance with MangoGem S.A., a software company for real-time automated advanced optimization of operations through AI-powered planning and scheduling. The partnership enables o9 clients to benefit from a single solution that drives integrated business planning and scheduling processes directly on the o9 platform, ultimately optimizing their operations and decision-making capabilities.
MangoGem offers AI-powered optimization software with highly sophisticated and innovative algorithms for production planning and scheduling for manufacturers. Through this partnership, the MangoGem versatile enterprise modeling with innovative solvers will be fully integrated into o9‘s AI-powered Digital Brain platform’, creating a unique opportunity for manufacturers across industries for supply chain and operations optimization.
SLM Solutions Announces Strategic Channel Partnership with Walter Meier in Switzerland
This new partnership aims to leverage the innovative potential of additive manufacturing, further broadening the horizons of parts production within Switzerland’s robust manufacturing sector. Walter Meier’s extensive experience in the industry, coupled with SLM Solutions’ cutting-edge 3D printing technology, will unlock new applications and design possibilities across a range of sectors, including watchmaking, medical technology, aerospace, mechanical engineering, and the automotive industry.
Advantech Partners with Leading Robotics Engine Platform MOV.AI to Accelerate Autonomous Mobile Robot Development
Advantech, a leading provider of industrial computing platforms, is pleased to announce its partnership with MOV.AI, a mobile robotics software solutions provider. The goal of this collaboration is to streamline the creation of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) by providing robot manufacturers and integrators access to both cutting-edge industrial computing technology and a powerful software platform for building, deploying, and running intelligent robots.
Advantech’s rugged hardware can be integrated with MOV.AI’s Robotics Engine Platform™, making it easier to develop and deploy Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) for businesses. This collaboration provides a solution to address the growing need for faster time-to-value, flexibility, improved efficiency, and higher productivity in manufacturing and logistics.
SoftBank Group and Symbotic Establish New Warehouse-as-a-Service Joint Venture
SoftBank Group Corp. (TSE: 9984, “SoftBank”) and Symbotic Inc. (Nasdaq: SYM), a leader in A.I.-powered automation technology for the supply chain, today announced the establishment of GreenBox Systems LLC (“GreenBox”), a new joint venture to address the more than $5001 billion annual warehouse-as-a-service market opportunity. Concurrently, Symbotic also announced an approximately $7.5 billion new customer contract with GreenBox, who will be the exclusive provider of Symbotic systems in the warehouse-as-a-service market, and will make supply chain services available to customers.
SoftBank and Symbotic own 65% and 35% of GreenBox, respectively, with the joint venture established today. GreenBox will initially be funded with $100 million of capital contributed pro rata by Symbotic and SoftBank to fund operating expenses and initial system purchases. After Symbotic’s initial $35 million pro rata capital contribution, the contract is expected to be accretive to Symbotic’s annual free cash flow (net of capital contributions).
The Supply Chain Vulnerability Scan from Cosmo Tech is now Available on the SAP® Store
Cosmo Tech announced that its Supply Chain Vulnerability Scan is now available on the SAP® Store, the online marketplace for SAP and partner offerings. This AI-Simulation add-on integrates with SAP Integrated Business Planning software and delivers supply chain resilience at all levels of planning to customers.
Cosmo Tech is teaming with Accenture, its preferred global systems integrator, to bring the Supply Chain Vulnerability Scan to SAP Integrated Business Planning customers globally for improved supply chain resilience.
Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing: Tackling data accessibility in manufacturing alongside partners
I’m very excited about all the updates being shared at Microsoft Inspire 2023, particularly about the announcement of the new AI Cloud Partner Program (MACPP) and the additional offerings and benefits this brings for partners. Under the MACPP, I’m thrilled to announce that we will be including manufacturing partner solutions through new independent software vendor (ISV) designations.
This designation represents our commitment to bringing the best partner solutions to our customers and provides a way for customers to identify proven partner solutions aligned with the Microsoft Cloud and our industry clouds. The designation validates that our partners’ solutions meet the high standards of data accessibility specific to the manufacturing industry.
onsemi and BorgWarner Expand Strategic Collaboration for Silicon Carbide Worth Over $1 Billion in Lifetime Value
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON), a leader in intelligent power and sensing technologies, and BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE: BWA), a global product leader in delivering innovative and sustainable mobility solutions, today announced the two companies are expanding their strategic collaboration for silicon carbide (SiC), making the total agreement worth over $1 billion in lifetime value. BorgWarner plans to integrate onsemi EliteSiC 1200 V and 750 V power devices into its VIPER power modules. The EliteSiC devices join a broad portfolio of onsemi products that are part of the long-standing strategic relationship between the two companies.
Expanded Partnership To Develop Functional Chemicals with Sumitomo Chemical
A new program with Sumitomo Chemical to develop functional chemicals with synthetic biology and expand upon our existing biomanufacturing partnership.
As part of this latest project, we plan to utilize our strain design technology to develop a microbial strain and related fermentation process to produce the target molecule. Sumitomo Chemical will develop the manufacturing process and its scale-up for commercialization. By mass-producing the functional chemicals through microbial fermentation instead of traditional fossil fuel-based chemical synthesis, together we aim to provide products with a lower carbon footprint that contribute toward a carbon-neutral society.
o9 Solutions Expands Partnership with Genpact to Deliver Planning-as-a-Service Leveraging Generative AI
Genpact (NYSE: G), a global professional services firm focused on delivering outcomes that transform businesses, today announced it is expanding its partnership with o9 Solutions, a leading enterprise artificial intelligence (AI) software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, to help companies navigate ongoing supply chain disruptions by leveraging generative AI.
This service harnesses the power of o9’s Digital Brain platform as well as its advanced network planning modelling capabilities. Offered as a subscription, the planning-as-a-service offering provides a flexible engagement model that enhances a company’s return on investment in its digital transformation initiatives. This is particularly beneficial as enterprises navigate the challenges of volatile macroeconomic pressures in today’s market.
3D Systems & Oerlikon Enter Collaboration Agreement to Scale, Accelerate Metal Additive Manufacturing
3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) and Oerlikon AM announced the companies have entered a collaboration agreement to further scale metal additive manufacturing. Combining both organizations’ deep process and applications expertise with 3D Systems’ Direct Metal Printing platform and Oerlikon AM’s surface engineering capabilities will enable a faster path to market for applications in high-criticality industries such as semiconductor and aerospace. As part of this agreement, Oerlikon AM is acquiring its fourth 3D Systems DMP Factory 500 system, the first Oerlikon AM is adding in the U.S., to be part of the manufacturing workflow in its North Carolina facility. This will help expand Oerlikon’s end-to-end supply chain solution for high-precision, complex aluminum components for the U.S. market.
Schneider Electric Partners with Intel and Applied Materials to Help Decarbonize the Semiconductor Value Chain with New Catalyze Program
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today launched Catalyze, a new partnership program aimed at accelerating access to renewable energy across the global semiconductor value chain.
Unveiled during SEMICON West 2023, Catalyze is a first-of-its kind program of collaboration among key semiconductor and technology industry leaders to address the supply chain emissions within their industry. The program joins other Schneider Electric supply chain partnership initiatives that seek to leverage the power of supply chain cohorts, including the Energize program for the pharmaceutical industry, and Walmart’s Gigaton PPA program.
Athinia™ expands partnerships to include Tokyo Electron for real-time collaborative analytics of semiconductor fab equipment performance
Athinia™ announced that its industry-wide many-to-many data ecosystem to accelerate digital transformation and further enable cutting-edge AI is being adopted by more organizations globally. Tokyo Electron Limited (TEL;TYO:8035), a leading capital equipment manufacturer of cutting-edge semiconductor production equipment and technical service will use Athinia™ as a key solution to accelerate its digital and cloud transformation.
By granting access to limitless analytics capabilities, including sophisticated AI and machine learning frameworks, the Athinia™ platform enables the participants in the semiconductor industry to differentiate based on quality, performance, and time to market. Feedback is provided in real time. Powered by Palantir, the platform allows users to structure and analyze data from disparate sources, generate powerful insights, and support operational decisions, all while helping to ensure that sensitive data is processed in accordance with applicable data privacy rules, regulations, and norms.
proteanTecs and Teradyne Partner to Bring Machine Learning-driven Telemetry to SoC Testing
proteanTecs, a global leader of deep data analytics for advanced electronics, and Teradyne (NASDAQ:TER), a leading supplier of automated test solutions, announced their strategic partnership to enhance semiconductor test and debug processes for advanced system-on-chips (SoCs). By connecting proteanTecs’ on-chip agent data and analytics software with Teradyne’s test programs, customers benefit from a new level of device visibility where they need it most — on the tester, for inline and real-time decisions.
Renesas and Wolfspeed Sign 10 Year Silicon Carbide Wafer Supply Agreement
Renesas Electronics Corporation (TSE:6723, “Renesas”), a premier supplier of advanced semiconductor solutions, and Wolfspeed, Inc. (NYSE: WOLF, “Wolfspeed”), the global leader in silicon carbide technology, today announced the execution of a wafer supply agreement and $2 billion (USD) deposit by Renesas to secure a 10 year supply commitment of silicon carbide bare and epitaxial wafers from Wolfspeed. The supply of high-quality silicon carbide wafers from Wolfspeed will pave the way for Renesas to scale production of silicon carbide power semiconductors starting in 2025. The signing ceremony of the agreement was held at Renesas’ headquarters in Tokyo between Hidetoshi Shibata, President and CEO of Renesas, and Gregg Lowe, President and CEO of Wolfspeed.
Helping Evonik Scale Digital Transformation
Digital Foundation — through standardizing data availability and connectivity, the team can achieve digitalization projects much faster (more than twice as fast as before) and with lower investment because they avoid repeated data connectivity costs and allow the experts to focus on continuous improvement. Thanks to Unify’s governance capabilities, Evonik uncovered hidden data issues including faulty sensors and misclassified work orders.
Avery Dennison and Texaid Collaborate on Textile Recycling Ahead of EU Rule Changes
Getting a jump on changes in the European Union’s textile waste regulations, digital identification specialist Avery Dennison has announced a collaboration with Texaid, specialists in collecting, sorting, repairing, reselling and recycling used textiles.
The two companies aim to improve traceability of garments through sorting and recycling using Avery Dennison’s Atma.io connected product cloud platform. It carries vital fiber information that will facilitate Texaid’s processing of the apparel into the appropriate resale or recycling channels.
SLB and Quorum Software Introduce Digital Solution to Optimize and Accelerate Field Development Planning
SLB (NYSE: SLB) and Quorum Software have introduced a joint digital planning solution, which leverages Quorum’s Planning Space business planning and petroleum economics offering within the FDPlan™ agile field development planning solution from SLB.
The integrated solution enables automatic evaluation of project economics and enhances collaboration to cut the time required for field development planning by up to 50%. This allows customers to analyze a broader range of development scenarios and make better global investment decisions, faster.
Imec and ASML sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support semiconductor research and sustainable innovation in Europe
Imec, a leading research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, and ASML Holding N.V. (ASML), a leading supplier to the semiconductor industry, today announce that they intend to intensify their collaboration in the next phase of developing a state-of-the-art high-numerical aperture (High-NA) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography pilot line at imec.
The pilot line is intended to help the industries using semiconductor technologies to understand the opportunities that advanced semiconductor technology can bring and have access to a prototyping platform that will support their innovations. The collaboration between imec, ASML and other partners will enable the exploration of novel semiconductor applications, the potential development of sustainable, leading-edge manufacturing solutions for chip makers and end users, as well as the development of advanced holistic patterning flows in collaboration with the equipment and material ecosystem.
Comau and Fincantieri present MR4WELD
Comau and Fincantieri, two Italian world leaders in their respective markets, present the first result of their joint collaboration at Automatica: MR4Weld (Mobile Robot for Welding) mobile robot, an innovative outdoor automation solution to improve quality, performance and well-being during labor-intensive welding activities.
The companies have also renewed their strategic agreement to apply technology, digitalization, and innovation within cutting-edge, mobile robotic solutions that will increase production speed and worker well-being, by automating traditionally manual processes.
Considered a new paradigm in bringing automation beyond the factory floor, the MR4Weld mobile robot is being tested and will be subsequently used within Fincantieri shipyards to autonomously weld steel structures, with a possible 3-fold increase compared to a manual process. It features a high-payload, 6-axis articulated robot fitted with a welding torch that is installed on a tracked undercarriage and equipped with an integrated vision system to autonomously identify welding joints. More importantly, it guarantees better welding quality while reducing ergonomic risks, helping the transformation of the shipbuilding production process by ensuring greater flexibility and improved safety in addition to lower overall costs.
Micropsi Industries’ AI-Powered Robot Controller Is Now Hardware Agnostic
Micropsi Industries’ artificial intelligence-powered robot control software MIRAI, which helps automate complex tasks too difficult or costly to automate with traditional programming, will soon be accessible for all robot users. Previously compatible exclusively with Universal Robots and FANUC robots, MIRAI will be available for KUKA robots in early Q4, followed by other collaborative robots (cobots) and industrial robots as requested.
Using AI, MIRAI generates robot movements directly and in real time. Robot skills (or specific tasks) are trained, not programmed, in a few days through human demonstration, without users needing programming or AI knowledge. To start, the robot is repeatedly shown both a task and the environment with the help of a camera that is typically mounted on the robot’s wrist. The recorded movements are then transformed into a skill capable of handling variances and dynamic environmental conditions.
🧠🦾 Intrinsic and Siemens collaborate to accelerate the integration of AI-based robotics and automation technology
Intrinsic, an Alphabet company, and Siemens have teamed up to explore integrations and interfaces between Intrinsic’s robotics software, which is designed for easy use of AI-based capabilities, and Siemens Digital Industries with their open and interoperable portfolio for automating and operating industrial production.
Currently, the development and runtime environments for AI-based robotics and automation components differ significantly in their development paradigms and make integration cumbersome. For example, deploying advanced robotic capabilities such as pose estimation, robot manipulation or automated path planning are complex processes that typically require teams of domain experts to operationalize. The two companies intend to investigate new methods to seamlessly bridge the gaps between robotics, automation engineering and IT development.
L&T Technology Services extends relationship with PTC to offer digital manufacturing solutions for aerospace and defense sector
L&T Technology Services Limited (BSE: 540115, NSE: LTTS), India’s leading pure-play engineering services company, today announced an extension of its relationship with PTC to engineer future ready solutions for the aerospace, defense and transportation sectors. The parties will leverage PTC’s Windchill® product lifecycle management and product data management (PLM/PDM) application to cater to players in Aerospace & Defense segments and support them with a digital thread from the design to the manufacturing stages.
Intrinsic and Siemens collaborate to accelerate the integration of AI-based robotics and automation technology
Intrinsic, an Alphabet company, and Siemens have teamed up to explore integrations and interfaces between Intrinsic’s robotics software, which is designed for easy use of AI-based capabilities, and Siemens Digital Industries with their open and interoperable portfolio for automating and operating industrial production.
Celanese and Mitsui Sign Definitive Agreement to Form Nutrinova, a Food Ingredients Joint Venture
Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global chemical and specialty materials company, and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to form a Food Ingredients joint venture under the name Nutrinova. Celanese will contribute the assets, technology and employees of its Food Ingredients business while retaining a 30 percent stake in the joint venture. Mitsui will acquire the remaining 70 percent stake at a purchase price of $472.5 million, representing an enterprise valuation of approximately 15 times 2022 EBITDA. The parties expect to close the transaction in the second half of 2023, pending regulatory approvals.
The Nutrinova joint venture builds upon the existing long-term strategic partnership between the two companies. The agreement combines the technology, product portfolio and backward integration of the Celanese Food Ingredients business with Mitsui’s long-standing positions across the food value chain in Asia and other regions. Additionally, Celanese will continue to meet the full acetyls raw material needs of the Nutrinova JV under a long-term supply agreement.
Airbus and STMicroelectronics collaborate on power electronics for aircraft electrification
Airbus, a global pioneer in the aerospace industry, and STMicroelectronics (NYSE:STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, have signed an agreement to cooperate on power electronics Research & Development to support more efficient and lighter power electronics, essential for future hybrid-powered aircraft and full-electric urban air vehicles.
The collaboration builds on evaluations already conducted by both companies to explore the benefits of wide bandgap semiconductor materials for aircraft electrification. Wide bandgap semiconductors like Silicon Carbide (SiC) and Gallium Nitride (GaN) have superior electrical properties compared with traditional semiconductors like silicon. They enable the development of smaller, lighter and more efficient high-performance electronic devices and systems, particularly in applications requiring high power, high frequency, or high-temperature operations.
umati has new partner Yaskawa Europe GmbH
It is in Yaskawa’s DNA to focus on partnership. In robotics, this is completely normal and has been practised for a long time. After all, a robot always works together with other devices. And the better an interface works, the easier it is to set up and the more precise or reliable it is, the better the overall result and thus customer satisfaction. For us, umati is an opportunity to be at the forefront of establishing standard interfaces and to make it easier for all partners or users of umati to use our robots.
Cargill and H2 Green Steel sign multi-year offtake contract to supply near zero-emission steel
Cargill (Cargill Metals) has entered into a multi-year agreement with Swedish industrial startup H2 Green Steel for the supply of green steel. The agreement aims to accelerate global ferrous supply chain decarbonization. Cargill Metals connects different parts of the ferrous supply chain, from iron ore mining to steel mills around the world. The company is committed to delivering on its sustainability goals through a variety of initiatives, including partnerships that develop cleaner products with lower CO2-footprint. The agreement with H2 Green Steel is an example of such a partnership where Cargill will help its customers meet sustainability and climate goals with a sustainable and responsible supply of products.
🤝 Anduril Industries and Hadrian Announce Strategic Partnership
Defense technology company Anduril Industries and Hadrian, a leader in advanced manufacturing, have announced a strategic partnership in which Hadrian will supply and manufacture precision parts for Anduril’s suite of autonomous systems.
Through the Anduril-Hadrian strategic partnership, Anduril will accelerate its production of key components and precision parts at scale, leveraging Hadrian’s proprietary design excellence and manufacturing competencies to reduce cost and lead time. Hadrian’s automated, software-first approach will provide Anduril with higher flexibility and improved scalability not seen with traditional defense manufacturing.
ABB and China Telecom unveil joint digitalization and industrial IoT lab
ABB and China Telecom unveil a joint digitalization and industrial IoT laboratory in Hangzhou, China. The collaboration between ABB Measurement & Analytics China Technology Center and China Telecom’s Internet of Things subsidiary E Surfing IoT will focus on developing end-to-end industrial IoT solutions for industrial companies based in China.
As part of the collaboration, ABB and E Surfing IoT will explore avenues for technology integration and industrial application of new technologies as well as new directions for next-generation industrial IoT solutions. The two teams will focus on comprehensive digital solutions that incorporate ABB sensor technology, China Telecom’s 5G network, industrial IoT and connectivity technology, as well as cloud computing.
Eaton collaborates with FMX to enable smart predictive electrical maintenance for commercial, industrial customers
Intelligent power management company Eaton is collaborating with leading facilities and maintenance management solutions provider FMX to help industrial customers implement preventive maintenance programs in their facilities. The Eaton and FMX smart maintenance solution enables customers to automatically react to predictive maintenance data from electrical equipment to simplify maintenance and boost productivity. The solution supports power system health by combining intelligent equipment monitoring and analytics with automated scheduling, management and reporting.
The Eaton and FMX smart maintenance solution is in early deployment at Eaton’s manufacturing facility in Beaver, Pennsylvania, and is yielding valuable maintenance insights that save time and reduce costs.
🤝 Hexagon collaborates with NVIDIA to transform industrial digital twin solution
Hexagon AB, the global leader in digital reality solutions combining sensor, software and autonomous solutions technologies, announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to enable industrial digital twin solutions that unite reality capture, manufacturing twins, AI, simulation and visualisation to deliver real-time comparison to real-world models.
The collaboration will connect industry-leading technologies from Hexagon and NVIDIA to enable seamless, multi-user workflows through a unified view for factory planning and design, as well as process quality optimisation and operations. As part of the collaboration, Hexagon’s HxDR reality capture platform and Nexus manufacturing platform will be connected to NVIDIA Omniverse, a platform for developing and operating industrial metaverse applications, based on the Universal Scene Description (USD) framework. The connected platforms provide complementary technologies that enable customers to advance manufacturing for digital factories and accelerate the power of digital twins for intelligent cities, construction and infrastructure.
🤝 Samsung Electronics Signs Net Zero Home Cooperation Partnership With SolarEdge
Samsung Electronics today announced that it has signed a partnership with SolarEdge, the global leader in residential solar and storage solutions, to expand its coverage of the Net Zero Home ecosystem.
Integrating with SolarEdge Home, SolarEdge’s smart energy ecosystem, SmartThings Energy offers users new ways to optimize energy consumption and lower their home’s energy bills. It provides one-stop support, from monitoring a household’s photovoltaic (PV) generation and battery status at a glance to optimize energy consumption and save energy with its AI Energy Mode. The SolarEdge ecosystem has expanded to include Samsung’s wide range of smart energy technologies, including heat pumps to power more devices with clean solar energy, together providing visibility on appliances’ impact on household energy consumption.
Lockheed Martin And GlobalFoundries Collaborate To Advance Innovation And Resiliency Of Chips For National Security
Lockheed Martin (NYSE LMT) and GlobalFoundries (Nasdaq GFS) (GF) announced a strategic collaboration to advance U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and innovation and to increase the security, reliability and resiliency of domestic supply chains for national security systems. This collaboration will enable Lockheed Martin to more quickly and affordably produce secure solutions that increase the competitiveness and national security of the United States.
The companies will leverage GF’s differentiated technology and trusted manufacturing practices to increase anti-fragility in microelectronics systems and supply chains. The collaboration will explore critical needs in semiconductor innovation and secure manufacturing across a range of advanced and next-generation chip technologies, including 3D heterogeneous integration for optimized chip packaging that improves performance; silicon photonics for low-power and high-speed data transport; and gallium nitride on silicon to help chips work at higher temperatures. The companies will also work to develop a chiplet ecosystem to produce chips more rapidly and affordably.
The collaboration between Lockheed Martin and GF directly supports the CHIPS and Science Act’s objectives of increasing traceability, provenance, and onshore production of critical semiconductor technologies to strengthen national and economic security and domestic supply chains.
✈️ GE nears deal with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics to co-manufacture fighter jet engines
General Electric is in final discussions to cement a partnership with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. to co-manufacture jet engines in the country, CNBC has learned. The engines would be used utilized in fighter jets for India, the people said.
The deal, expected to be signed either before or during a visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Washington, D.C., later this month, would give the Indian aerospace company access to GE’s highly coveted F414 engine, according to two people familiar with the deal who requested anonymity to discuss not-yet-public details.
🚙🔌 General Motors Doubles Down on Commitment to a Unified Charging Standard and Expands Charging Access to Tesla Supercharger Network
General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) announced today a collaboration with Tesla to integrate the North American Charging Standard (NACS) connector design into its EVs beginning in 2025. Additionally, the collaboration will expand access to charging for GM EV drivers at 12,000 Tesla Superchargers, and growing, throughout North America. This agreement complements GM’s ongoing investments in charging, reinforcing the company’s focus on expanding charging access across home, workplace, and public spaces and builds on the more than 134,000 chargers available to GM EV drivers today through the company’s Ultium Charge 360 initiative and mobile apps.
The Tesla Supercharger Network will be open to GM EV drivers starting in 2024 and will initially require the use of an adapter. Beginning in 2025, the first GM EVs will be built with a NACS inlet for direct access to Tesla Superchargers without an adapter. In the future, GM will make adapters available for drivers of NACS-enabled vehicles to allow charging on CCS-capable fast charge stations.
🤝 PTC and Rockwell Automation Extend Relationship with Focus on IoT and Augmented Reality for Manufacturing
PTC (NASDAQ PTC) and Rockwell Automation (NYSE ROK) today announced an extension of their relationship, focused on the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) and augmented reality (AR) software by manufacturing companies. Rockwell Automation will continue to resell PTC’s ThingWorx® IoT software, including the Digital Performance Management (DPM)™ manufacturing solution, and Vuforia® AR software to new and existing customers across discrete and process manufacturing verticals. Customers will continue to benefit from both companies’ resources, technologies, and industry expertise.
🔋🏭 Palantir and Panasonic Energy of North America sign multi-year agreement
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE PLTR) (“Palantir”) and Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group Company, a global leader in high-quality lithium-ion batteries, today announced a multi-year partnership to deliver an operations “Smart Factory” for the Panasonic Energy of North America (“PENA”) facility in Sparks, Nevada. The company has selected Palantir’s Foundry to help integrate edge sensors across factory lines, introduce automated efficiencies and enable operational users on factory floors to leverage connected operations. The agreement expands Palantir’s signature platform including artificial intelligence and edge capabilities in the manufacturing space.
Driven by Foundry and informed by PENA’s expertise, the “Smart Factory” will be utilized across the entirety of the information technology and operational organization within PENA. Using Foundry, the system will guide operational decision-making in their existing Nevada factory as well as the new facility in De Soto, Kansas starting in 2025. This strategic partnership is intended to provide the battery leader with the ability to quickly generate meaningful cost savings and increase return on investment once implemented.
Mercedes-Benz and H2 Green Steel announce agreements in both Europe and North America
Mercedes-Benz and H2 Green Steel have signed a binding agreement for the delivery of about 50.000 tonnes of green steel to the car maker’s European production annually. In a pioneer move Mercedes-Benz has also signed a memorandum of understanding with H2 Green Steel for the potential supply of green steel produced in North America.
In addition to a sustainable production of green steel, Mercedes-Benz has a strong commitment to circularity and the two companies will create a closed-loop recycling of scrap steel to the Boden plant. The partnership also includes H2 Green Steel being able to leverage Mercedes-Benz extensive knowledge and expertise in supply chain human rights.
🦾 Xaba and Rolleri Partner to Develop a Cognitive Autonomous Cobot Workcell
Xaba, developers of xCognition, the first AI-driven robotics and CNC machine controller, today announced a collaboration with Rolleri Holding SpA focused on the development of a cognitive, autonomous collaborative robot (cobot) workcell for welding operations in manufacturing. The collaboration enables the integration of xCognition with Rolleri Robotic cobots.
To showcase the benefits of xCognition, Xaba and Rolleri recently completed ISO 9283 tests in Xaba’s robotic lab. A FARO Vantage Laser Tracker System was used to acquire all data needed to train the xCognition machine learning model and to validate trajectory accuracy improvements. The successfully completed tests showed 10 times performance improvements in absolute positioning and trajectory accuracy, and five times improvements in relative positioning and trajectory accuracy. As a follow up to the initial tests, Xaba and Rolleri will be undertaking Tig and Laser welding tests to further validate welding quality improvements such as improved accuracy and repeatability.
🧠 Terrot Adds AI-Upgrade to New Machines with Smartex
Terrot and Smartex.ai are pleased to announce a first-of-its-kind, strategic partnership in which German textile engineering meets proven Artificial Intelligence. As the industry moves towards smart machines that both produce a wide variety of fabrics quickly as well as automate previously manual tasks, such as quality control and data collection, Terrot has strategically adapted its machine production process to ensure all new Terrot and Pilotelli Open-Width machines will be “Smartex-ready”. Smartex-ready means that new Terrot and Pilotelli machine customers can now easily upgrade their machines to add Smartex CORE to take advantage of AI-enabled, automated quality control and gain real-time insights into their machine performance.