MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
Infinite Electronics, Inc. | January 20, 2023
On January 19, 2023, Infinite Electronics, Inc., the leading global supplier of electronic components, announced the acquisition of Bulgin Ltd, a UK-based developer and manufacturer of connectors and related components for harsh-environment applications. Equistone Partners Europe, a renowned European mid-market private equity firm, was the previous owner of Bulgin.
Bulgin has over a century of expertise designing, developing, and producing IP66, IP67, IP68, and IP69K severe environment connectivity solutions for customers in various industries. Bulgin is focused on bespoke services and custom capabilities, as well as fast prototyping and a Rapid Response Team (RRT) to meet customers' urgent needs. Since Equistone acquired the company in 2019, Bulgin has expanded dramatically, opening a new site in Tunis, Tunisia, as well as new headquarters in Cambridge, UK.
Bulgin has over 600 distributor locations across 60 countries and six continents. It employs 680 people worldwide, including its headquarters in the United Kingdom, businesses in Tunisia and Santa Fe Springs, California, as well as a foothold in the Asia-Pacific region.
This acquisition expands Infinite Electronics' presence in Europe. It follows the company's announcement of entering a definitive agreement to acquire Cable Connectivity Group (CCG) from Torqx Capital Partners and TKH Group NV, a leading producer and distributor of specialty cables and cable connectivity solutions. These acquisitions are prominent milestones in Infinite Electronics' six-year rapid growth. These slew of acquisitions are the latest milestones in Infinite Electronics' aggressive expansion over the last six years.
About Infinite Electronics, Inc.
Based in Irvine, California, Infinite Electronics is a leading global electrical component supplier, meeting engineers' urgent needs through a family of well-known and trusted brands. It offers a diverse range of components, assemblies, and wired/wireless connectivity solutions and serves the aerospace/defense, industrial, government, consumer electronics, instrumentation, medical and telecommunications markets. Infinite's brands include Pasternack, Fairview Microwave, L-com, MilesTek, Aiconics, KP Performance Antennas, PolyPhaser, Transtector, RadioWaves, ShowMe Cables, Integra Optics, INC Installs and NavePoint. By working quickly to supply goods, solutions, and real-time support to its clients, its brands help move the world's innovators forward.
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DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
Bright Machines | January 25, 2023
On January 24, 2023, Bright Machines, a leader in intelligent, software-defined manufacturing, and Viridi Parente, Inc., a leading developer of safe, resilient, point-of-use battery storage technology, announced that Viridi has chosen Bright Machines to transform the company's U.S. electric battery manufacturing facility digitally. Bright Machines Microfactories, the company's full-stack assembly automation solution, modernizes production by integrating data and AI. This gives Viridi new capability to fulfill the growing demand for its zero-carbon emission energy battery solutions.
Viridi manufactures battery energy storage systems in Buffalo, New York. Bright Machines will play a key role in the assembly of Viridi's stationary lithium-ion battery pack system modules, which are developed and tested to be fail-safe for installation in industrial, commercial, and residential settings. Companies like Viridi and Bright Machines are fueling the United States' re-emergence as a global manufacturing powerhouse.
Bright Machines will assist Viridi in automating the assembly of its clean, sustainable power sources, which will replace century-old distributed energy platforms, including fossil fuel, lead-acid batteries, and other outmoded technologies. Additionally, Viridi will implement more sustainable practices by utilizing Bright Machines' intelligent automation solution, which evaluates production areas to determine the appropriate material requirements to reduce fault rates.
Viridi will also be able to decrease overproduction and instead produce-to-order depending on local market demand as its facility is near the end consumer. This will result in reduced landfill and an overall reduction in Viridi's carbon footprint.
The only option to reduce costs, emissions, and geopolitical risks while satisfying U.S. battery and electrification demand is to localize the production of crucial battery components. Intelligent assembly automation from Bright Machines enables rapid product evolution at a low cost while minimizing time to market. In addition, the trend toward closer-to-home production promotes jobs in the United States and allows businesses to progress their sustainability efforts through local and regional supply chains.
About Bright Machines
Founded in 2018, Bright Machines is a leading technology firm that offers an innovative approach to software-defined, intelligent manufacturing. It uses machine learning, computer vision, 3D simulation, and adaptive robotics to alter production's flexibility, scalability, and economics fundamentally. Bright Machines runs R&D facilities in the United States and Israel, with additional field operations in the United States, Mexico, China, and Poland, and it employs more than 500 people globally. It has been recognized as a "Technology Pioneer" by the World Economic Forum and one of "America's Most Promising Artificial Intelligence Companies" by Forbes in 2019.
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MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY
Matterport | February 01, 2023
Leading spatial data firm, Matterport,Inc., recently announced the selection of its 3D capture technology and Digital Twin Platform by John Deere. The implementation allow remote management of over 60 John Deere’s facilities spread across South America, North America, Asia and Europe via a virtual operation center. The company’s platform will create digital replicas of John Deere’s manufacturing facilities, allowing teams to collaborate, plan the site changes, and track progress.
To enhance site operations, John Deere will take 4K resolution digital twins with spatial accuracy using Matterport's Pro2 and Pro3 cameras. Employees at John Deere can remotely access any facility's digital twin using Matterport's digital twin technology in order to track materials and assets, keep an eye on vehicles, and integrate real-time IoT data streams. Within the digital twin, real-time collaboration increases productivity while lowering the need for expensive site visits.
Jay Remley, Matterport’s Chief Revenue Officer, said, “We’re proud to support John Deere on their journey to reinvent manufacturing operations.” He further added, “For global businesses with facilities spread across several regions and time zones, the ability to remotely optimize each space based on its own unique parameters is a critical unlock for operations management. Our digital twin platform enables companies to reap real productivity gains and cost savings by digitizing their operations for more efficient maintenance, remote monitoring and improved decision making.”
(Source - GlobeNewswire)
About Matterport
Matterport is leading spatial data solutions provider. The solutions are targeted at indexing and digitizing the built environment. Using a digital twin, enterprises can transform their built spaces into immersive, accurate digital twins to create, plan, comprehend, operate and promote any environment with Matterport’s proprietary 3D data platform. The spatial computing platform helps convert build structures into data, using every location and enhancing the overall value.
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