Manufacturing Technology
PR Newswire | September 27, 2023
Rockwell Automation, Inc., the world's largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced the successful one-year implementation of the Plex Manufacturing Execution System (MES) at BIC, a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers, at its plant in Bizerte, Tunisia.
BIC's primary business drivers for digitalization and transformation are the standardization of production processes and integration across machines, people, and business layers. Plex MES was selected for its broad functional scope and technical capabilities, with cloud-based Software as a Service solution offering comprehensive support to BIC's standardization process.
Malte Dieckelmann, Vice President of Enterprise Software Sales, EMEA, explains, "Our collaboration with BIC marks a major milestone in digitally transforming its manufacturing operations. By leveraging Plex MES, BIC can transition to a more efficient, standardized, and paperless system. This development not only improves operations but also aligns with our shared focus on innovation and efficiency."
The deployment of Plex MES began in 2020 with a pilot project at BIC's production facility in Bizerte, Tunisia. The Plex MES system offers live reporting, enabling real-time visibility, automation of data collection, and tracking of production KPIs. The benefits of this project include improved inventory control, waste reduction, reduced error from manual processing, and overall equipment efficiency (OEE). It has also allowed for the automation of production integration, a significant change for people on the shop floor.
Rogelio Demay, Senior Manager Information Technology Manufacturing, at BIC, states: "Our journey towards digital transformation is fundamentally about integrating people and technology to improve operations. The shift from a paper-based system to Plex MES has been a tremendous step towards self-sufficiency, enabling us to react swiftly to issues, drive continuous improvement, and ultimately enhance efficiency."
Plex MES also serves as a foundation for BIC's broader Smart Manufacturing Initiative, including the integration of additional elements within the factory to help shift from a paper-based system to Plex MES and support self-sufficiency with a 360-degree view of the factory floor.
Rockwell Automation has been a key partner in this initiative, supporting BIC's vision of connecting operational technologies and the IoT world, bridging the gap between these two spheres and seamlessly integrating them into the company's operations to provide one single source of truth for manufacturing data.
Demay adds, "We value our past while embracing innovation, with a focus on breaking down silos to integrate technology and people. We believe our people are the first factor for success and integrating MES with daily routines is our way forward to improve operational efficiency."
BIC is poised to continue this digital transformation beyond the Bizerte plant and Dafni Vakasi, Smart Manufacturing Manager at BIC described how this approach will be applied across the other BIC factories in Athens, Manaus, and Mexico with the Plex MES solution playing a major role in the journey. The expansion will also deliver benefits beyond BIC's factory walls, helping to integrate suppliers on one side and delivery on the other to fully realize the goals of Industry 4.0, including driving actionable insights from data to empower decisions. With Rockwell Automation's support, BIC's journey is set to revolutionize its operations and establish a new standard in the manufacturing industry.
About Rockwell Automation
Rockwell Automation, Inc., is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 28,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com.
About BIC
A world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers, BIC brings simplicity and joy to everyday Life. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable, essential products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as BIC Kids™, BIC FlexTM, BodyMark by BICTM, Cello®, Djeep, Lucky Stationery, Rocketbook, Soleil®, Tipp-Ex®, Us. TM, Wite-Out®, Inkbox and more. In 2022, BIC Net Sales were 2,233.9 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris"," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP.
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Additive Manufacturing
Business Wire | October 04, 2023
Desktop Metal, Inc., a global leader in additive manufacturing technologies for mass production, today announced the launch of Live Monitor™ — a software application that provides useful real-time data from printing systems to improve efficiency and management of one printing system or a full fleet.
Part of the Live Suite™ package of exclusive software offerings from Desktop Metal, Live Monitor provides easy access to system data from any web browser at any time. The new offering has helpful dashboards to manage a fleet or drill down on printer or furnace performance in ways that assist capacity planning, maintenance management, and more. Real-time information includes job and event status, time reporting, and consumable usage, among other key metrics.
“At Desktop Metal, we’re committed to driving additive manufacturing into production, and Live Monitor is a vital tool for managing a single productive printing system, such as a Shop System and Furnace, or an entire fleet,” said Ric Fulop, Founder and CEO of Desktop Metal. “Our goal is to help users improve their Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) to optimize their utilization and scale their business with ease.”
Italy-based Aidro, a pioneer in the volume production of next-generation hydraulic and fluid power systems through metal AM and traditional manufacturing technologies, has been a beta tester of Live Monitor for its Desktop Metal Shop System and Furnace for the past year.
“Live Monitor is an essential tool for keeping the most important process variables under control and giving customers with critical parts, such as those in the energy industry, visibility and traceability of AM part production,” said Valeria Tirelli, President and CEO of Aidro, a subsidiary of Desktop Metal. Aidro will be exhibiting at ADIPEC, a global energy industry event, to be held in Abu Dhabi today through Oct. 5 in Booth M1 of the Manufacturing and Industrialization Hall. “The variables are visible, customizable, and recordable and this is the basis for having a qualified process. Thanks also to this tool, DNV has awarded Aidro AM manufacturer certification in accordance with the DNV-ST-B203 standard. Compared to other systems, Live Monitor can be customized in a simple and efficient way depending on the specific needs of the user.”
An optional add-on feature in Live Suite, Live Monitor will be offered to users of the Studio, Shop, and Production System printers, along with Desktop Metal branded furnaces. The feature will also be rolled out in the future to users of other Desktop Metal and Team DM equipment sold under the ExOne, Desktop Health, and ETEC brands.
About Desktop Metal
Desktop Metal is driving Additive Manufacturing 2.0, a new era of on-demand, digital mass production of industrial, medical, and consumer products. Our innovative 3D printers, materials, and software deliver the speed, cost, and part quality required for this transformation. We’re the original inventors and world leaders of the 3D printing methods we believe will empower this shift, binder jetting and digital light processing. Today, our systems print metal, polymer, sand and other ceramics, as well as foam and recycled wood. Manufacturers use our technology worldwide to save time and money, reduce waste, increase flexibility, and produce designs that solve the world’s toughest problems and enable once-impossible innovations.
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Robotics and Automation
Shapeways | September 25, 2023
Shapeways Holdings, a prominent player in the digital manufacturing industry, has announced substantial growth in its multi-million-dollar automotive sector, particularly in the electric vehicle (EV) segment. The company's Enterprise Manufacturing Solutions division has secured a contract valued at over a quarter of a million dollars, reinforcing Shapeways' commitment to the EV and automotive industries.
According to MarketsandMarkets Research, the electric vehicle market is projected to reach $951.9 billion by 2030, with significant growth in the commercial EV sector.
The growth and expansion are taking place within the automotive and electric vehicle sectors on a global scale. Shapeways has secured a contract worth over $250,000, highlighting its continued expansion in the automotive and EV industries. It is focused on manufacturing high-performance parts for electric vehicles, aligning with the industry's shift toward sustainability. The company’s Enterprise Manufacturing Solutions division specializes in providing advanced manufacturing solutions to various industries, including automotive. The company's recent contract underscores its dedication to supporting sustainable transportation by manufacturing critical components for commercial, large-scale electric delivery vehicles.
GM of Enterprise Manufacturing Solutions at Shapeways, Aidan O’Sullivan, remarked,
“We share our clients' vision for the production of quality, high-performance parts, and this commitment becomes more visible in our growing portfolio within the EV sector.”
[Source: GlobeNewswire]
Shapeways is capitalizing on the growing demand for electric vehicles and aims to play a vital role in manufacturing essential components for this burgeoning market. The company's expertise in enterprise-level manufacturing and advanced technologies positions it as a key player in the automotive, medical, robotics, and other sectors. The electric vehicle market is experiencing rapid growth, and Shapeways is actively contributing to this industry by manufacturing critical parts for electric delivery vehicles.
Sales Director, Automotive Vertical at Shapeways, John Tenbusch, remarked,
“This new contract underscores our dedication to advancing sustainable transportation. Through partnerships with key industry leaders, we're ensuring, our technological capabilities translate to real-world impact."
[Source: GlobeNewswire]
About Shapeways
Shapeways is a global leader in digital manufacturing, where it seamlessly merges additive and traditional technologies with proprietary software solutions tailored for manufacturers and their clientele. This strategic approach serves to reduce costs and enhance supply chain efficiency. Collaborating with a multitude of companies involved in industrial sectors such as automotive, medical, transportation, aerospace, and defense, Shapeways assists in expanding their operations tackling intricate product development challenges.
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