Digital Transformation
GlobeNewswire | October 18, 2023
NVIDIA today announced that it is collaborating with Hon Hai Technology Group (Foxconn) to accelerate 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.
Announced in a fireside chat with NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang and Foxconn Chairman and CEO Young Liu at Hon Hai Tech Day, in Taipei, the collaboration starts with the creation of AI factories — an NVIDIA® GPU computing infrastructure specially built for processing, refining and transforming vast amounts of data into valuable AI models and tokens — based on the NVIDIA accelerated computing platform, including the latest NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper™ Superchip and NVIDIA AI Enterprise software.
Foxconn is also developing its smart solution platforms based on NVIDIA technologies:
Foxconn Smart EV will be built onNVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion™ 9, a next-generation platform for autonomous automotive fleets, powered byNVIDIA DRIVE Thor™, its future automotive systems-on-a-chip.
Foxconn Smart Manufacturing robotic systems will be built on the NVIDIA Isaac™ autonomous mobile robot platform.
Foxconn Smart City will incorporate the NVIDIA Metropolis intelligent video analytics platform.
Most importantly, NVIDIA and Foxconn are building these factories together. We will be helping the whole industry move much faster into the new AI era, said Foxconn Chairman and CEO Young Liu.
“A new type of manufacturing has emerged — the production of intelligence. And the data centers that produce it are AI factories,” said Huang. “Foxconn, the world’s largest manufacturer, has the expertise and scale to build AI factories globally. We are delighted to expand our decade-long partnership with Foxconn to accelerate the AI industrial revolution.”
Enabling Foxconn Customers to Build AI Data Factories
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.
Foxconn Eyes Potential AI Factory
In addition to equipping its customers with NVIDIA technology-powered AI factories, Foxconn is eyeing its own that will tap into the NVIDIA Omniverse™ platform and Isaac and Metropolis frameworks to meet the strict production and quality standards of the electronics industry.
Advances in edge AI and simulation are enabling deployment of autonomous mobile robots that can travel several miles a day and industrial robots for assembling components, applying coatings, packaging and performing quality inspections.
An AI factory with these NVIDIA platforms can give Foxconn the ability to accomplish AI training and inference, enhance factory workflows and run simulations in the virtual world before deployment in the physical world. Simulating the entire robotics and automation pipeline from end to end provides Foxconn with a path to operational efficiency gains, saving time and costs.
Developing Safe, AI-Powered EVs
Foxconn will also deliver a range of NVIDIA DRIVE™ solutions to global automakers, serving as a tier-one manufacturer of NVIDIA DRIVE Orin™-based electronic control units (ECUs) today and scaling to NVIDIA DRIVE Thor-based ECUs in the future.
As a contract manufacturer, Foxconn will offer highly automated and autonomous, AI-rich EVs featuring the upcoming NVIDIA DRIVE Hyperion 9 platform, which includes DRIVE Thor and a state-of-the-art sensor architecture. This will enable Foxconn and its automotive customers to realize a new era of functionally safe and secure software-defined cars.
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Manufacturing Technology
Business Wire | October 23, 2023
Masonite International Corporation today announced that its U.S. subsidiary has acquired Fleetwood Aluminum Products, LLC (“Fleetwood”), for $285 million in cash.
Fleetwood is a leading designer and manufacturer of premium, aluminum-framed glass door and window solutions for luxury homes. Their products include multi-slide and pocket glass patio doors, pivot and hinged glass entry doors, and folding glass door wall systems, as well as accompanying premium window products. The company’s exceptionally high-quality product offerings are fully customizable and feature modern designs, sleek hardware, and precision locking and rolling systems. Supporting their focus on innovation, Fleetwood has extensive in-house design, engineering and testing capabilities and holds several patents and trademarks for products with energy-saving and weather-resistant features.
“Fleetwood has an outstanding reputation for product leadership, manufacturing excellence and modern designs for luxury residential applications,” said Howard Heckes, President and CEO of Masonite. “Their stunning door and window systems create a blend of indoor/outdoor living, showcasing natural light, style, security and energy efficiency, while adding exceptional beauty and flexibility to the home. Our companies share a common focus on improving life and living for homeowners, and we are thrilled to welcome the Fleetwood employees and partners into the Masonite family. This is the second acquisition we have completed in 2023 as part of our Doors That Do MoreTM strategy to expand our product portfolio and address new and non-traditional segments of the market with innovative and differentiated door systems.”
A family-owned business since 1961, Fleetwood is headquartered in Corona, CA, and operates a 200,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility with approximately 350 total employees. Fleetwood products are sold through a network of over 200 exclusive dealers that partner with homebuilders and architects to offer their industry-leading products to homeowners throughout North America. Additional information about Fleetwood can be found at www.fleetwoodusa.com.
Fleetwood is expected to contribute approximately $150 million of incremental full-year revenue to Masonite in 2024. Net of expected tax benefits attributable to the acquisition, the purchase price would equate to approximately $255 million, equivalent to approximately 7 times Fleetwood’s anticipated 2024 EBITDA. The transaction was funded with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under Masonite’s ABL credit facility.
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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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