MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
Hon Hai | August 10, 2022
Hon Hai Technology Group (“Foxconn”)(TWSE:2317) today announced the signing of a contract manufacturing agreement (CMA) with Zimeno Inc. DBA Monarch Tractor (“Monarch Tractor”) to build next-generation agricultural equipment and battery packs at the Foxconn Ohio facility.
“Leveraging Foxconn’s manufacturing strengths, world-wide network of industry leaders and supply partners, and our new partnership with Monarch Tractor, Foxconn is positioned and eager to contribute to the ongoing and future success of Monarch Tractor, its products and its customers, This partnership reflects Foxconn’s growing center of gravity for autonomous electric vehicle production and the potential that can emerge from forward-thinking collaborations.”
-Young Liu, Chairman of Hon Hai Technology Group.
Full-rate production of Monarch Tractor’s MK-V Series is scheduled to begin Q1 2023 at the Foxconn Ohio facility, an approximately 6.2 million square foot campus of scalable production space. This will follow production of Monarch’s Founder Series in Q4 of 2022 at Monarch Tractor’s Livermore, California, manufacturing facility.
"Creating the industry's most advanced tractor demands a manufacturing partner with the experience to quickly scale and execute with precision, Foxconn is an EMS leader whose manufacturing and solutions are world-renowned. We are proud to partner with Foxconn and work together to transform the future of farming."
-Praveen Penmetsa, Co-Founder & CEO of Monarch Tractor.
In May 2022, Foxconn assumed manufacturing operations at its Ohio facility after completing an Asset Purchase Agreement (“APA”) with Lordstown Motors Corp. (Nasdaq:“RIDE”). The agreement with Monarch Tractor is the first contract manufacturing engagement by Foxconn following the closing of the APA. It embodies the Foxconn vision to expand its contract manufacturing in the EV market. The agreement also continues the transformation of Foxconn capabilities in the Mahoning Valley.
About Hon Hai:
Established in 1974 in Taiwan, Hon Hai Technology Group (“Foxconn”) (2317: Taiwan) is the world’s largest electronics manufacturer. Hon Hai is also the leading technological solution provider, and it continuously leverages its expertise in software and hardware to integrate its unique manufacturing systems with emerging technologies. Hon Hai has expanded its capabilities into the development of electric vehicles, digital health, and robotics, and three key technologies – new-generation communications technology, AI, and semiconductors – which are key to driving its long-term growth strategy. In addition to maximizing value-creation for customers who include many of the world’s leading technology companies, Hon Hai is also dedicated to championing environmental sustainability in the manufacturing process and serving as a best-practices model for global enterprises. To learn more, visit www.honhai.com.
About Monarch Tractor:
Monarch Tractor is working to utilize 21st-century technology to empower farmers by enabling profitable implementation of regenerative, sustainable and organic practices. Monarch Tractor, the world’s first fully electric, driver optional, smart tractor, enhances farmer’s existing operations, alleviating labor shortages, and maximizing yields. Monarch is committed to elevating farming practices to enable clean, efficient, and economically viable solutions for today’s farmers and the generations of farmers to come. With cutting-edge technology, global reach, and an experienced team, Monarch is delivering meaningful change for the future of farming
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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
3D Systems | August 09, 2022
Today, 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced that it has entered an agreement to acquire dp polar GmbH, the German-based designer and manufacturer of the industry’s first additive manufacturing system designed for true high-speed mass production of customized components. Central to dp polar’s patented continuous printing process is a large-scale, segmented, rotating print platform that eliminates the start/stop operations of virtually all additive manufacturing platforms. Traditional printers operate on a Cartesian Coordinate system in which the print head moves sequentially from point to point throughout component production. With dp polar’s technology and patented polar coordinate control, the print heads remain stationary above the rotating platform, providing a continuous print process. This approach not only dramatically speeds component production but also minimizes wear and vibration associated with traditional print head motion. With this modular approach, the rotating platform can be mated with a variety of printing technologies and can even accommodate pick-and-place robotic systems that can embed electronics or other features into the body of the component as it is printed. With this acquisition, 3D Systems will leverage its industry-leading polymer materials portfolio as well as Oqton’s software technology to bring true high-speed, mass production additive manufacturing to a breadth of industries including aerospace, automotive, foundries, consumer goods, and healthcare.
“This acquisition is the next step in executing on our investment strategy to provide our customers with an industry-leading additive manufacturing solutions portfolio to address their critical applications challenges, dp polar has designed a very unique system that provides true high-volume production. The ability to print a broad range of materials, alongside the printer’s modular design that enables multiple processes in one high-speed platform not only increases productivity by orders of magnitude but also reduces the total cost of ownership. Particularly impressive is the level of machine intelligence embedded in the platform’s operating system, which enables continuous operation across the large, rotating print platform. This unique capability is central to the exceptional throughput, economics, and versatility of dp polar’s 3D printing system. By combining our renowned polymer materials portfolio with this first-to-market high-speed production technology, I believe we’ll affect a monumental shift in production workflows for high-value applications in industrial and healthcare markets.”
-Dr. Jeffrey Graves, president and CEO, 3D Systems.
The printing process designed by dp polar allows for simultaneous application of different materials to precisely define the desired performance properties in components – such as elasticity, hardness, temperature resistance, or coloring – with high precision. The high-speed additive manufacturing solution can integrate pre-processing, production, and post-processing elements, and seamlessly connects with ERP systems. This enables end-to-end traceability and quality assurance which is vital for applications in highly regulated markets such as aerospace and healthcare.
“As the founder of dp polar GmbH, I am very excited about the unique opportunity to work with a leading provider of highly professional 3D printing systems, The synergy that results from the combination of our two companies is particularly valuable: the mass production solutions meet a range of industrially mature AM materials. With additive manufacturing, the industry is now getting the chance for real mass production for the first time.”
-Hans Mathea, CEO, CTO and founder, dp polar GmbH.
About 3D Systems:
More than 35 years ago, 3D Systems brought the innovation of 3D printing to the manufacturing industry. Today, as the leading additive manufacturing solutions partner, we bring innovation, performance, and reliability to every interaction - empowering our customers to create products and business models never before possible. Thanks to our unique offering of hardware, software, materials, and services, each application-specific solution is powered by the expertise of our application engineers who collaborate with customers to transform how they deliver their products and services. 3D Systems’ solutions address a variety of advanced applications in healthcare and industrial markets such as medical and dental, aerospace & defense, automotive, and durable goods.
About dp polar:
Founded in 2014, dp polar is a dynamic, rapidly growing, technology-oriented company based closed to Karlsruhe/Germany. We design, develop and deliver 3D printing systems for additive mass manufacturing for industrial and healthcare applications. Using our patented High-Speed Rotative AM Process (HSR), we achieve unprecedented industrial AM productivity. We offer a comprehensive solution to automate and productively integrate additive manufacturing into the validatable end-to-end overall process. The complete documentation guarantees continuous traceability. Track-and-trace coding ensures the finished print object is forgery-proof at highest quality standard. Everything we do, we believe in challenging the status quo. We believe in thinking differently.
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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY,INDUSTRIAL 4.0
Embraer | July 01, 2022
Embraer has signed a contract with Toyota do Brasil to incorporate Toyota Production System (TPS) principles and concepts into its manufacturing operations. The initiative aims to reduce waste, improve operational efficiency, and generate more value for stakeholders.
During the first phase of this collaboration, a team of Toyota Brazil TPS specialists will immerse themselves in Embraer's daily operations to evaluate and suggest improvements for the company's main manufacturing area at the Ozires Silva Unit in So José dos Campos, So Paulo.
"Bringing Toyota to execute this work reinforces Embraer's commitment to focus on business excellence and sustainable growth, It will be an excellent opportunity to exchange knowledge and accelerate the usage of the Lean philosophy in the production systems, while strengthening practices already conducted by the Embraer Enterprise Excellence Program, the P3E."
-Francisco Gomes Neto, CEO of Embraer
Embraer has used the Lean philosophy as a business strategy to spread P3E principles, concepts, and practices since 2007. This program is in charge of leading transformations in an integrated manner, paving the way for the entire company to take significant steps toward improving its processes. This excellence system prioritizes safety first, quality always, and on-time delivery at the lowest possible cost.
Embraer, a reference in the concept of Industry 4.0, has made enormous progress at the forefront of manufacturing technologies with digital, integrated, and low environmental impact factories, with continuous process improvement and technology adaptation for people and operations. The company's goal is to become carbon neutral by 2022 and to have 100 percent of energy in Brazilian operations come from renewable sources by 2024.
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