MANUFACTURING TECHNOLOGY

EarlyBirds Contribute to Manufacturing Innovation

EarlyBirds | March 08, 2022

EarlyBirds, the originator of the Open Innovation Ecosystem, published an article on how their organization might assist advanced manufacturing and production companies to close the innovation gap. By exploiting and deploying innovative technology across production sites, most businesses have been able to adjust to the enormous disruption created by the COVID-19 outbreak. Manufacturing and supply chain professionals must now step up their efforts to be competitive in today's market. Numerous reasons are escalating this demand for change.

To begin with, the need for change in advanced manufacturing and production is being fueled by new client demands and a shifting market environment. Second, the epidemic changed many aspects of people's lives, including their preferences for products and services. Third, climate change and the urgent requirement to achieve net-zero emissions compel businesses to drastically reinvent their production techniques to mitigate the catastrophic effects of global climate change. Finally, the digital transition is here to stay, and companies must innovate to thrive in it.

Consumers, the social order, and the status of the planet are posing new problems that require company executives to go beyond operations, productivity, and efficiency improvements. It entails capitalizing on their investments in sophisticated manufacturing to optimize existing operational models and develop and unlock whole new business models that produce and provide value to all stakeholders. This involves businesses and their consumers and their staff, the broader community, and the environment. EarlyBirds' founders noticed a gap in the market for enterprise-wide innovation services that may assist manufacturing and production organizations in rapidly resolving difficulties, seizing new possibilities, and adapting to the new world of business.

To assist businesses in closing this innovation gap, EarlyBirds developed two essential features. The first is their Open Innovation Ecosystem, which connects large corporations in need of innovative solutions with startups, scaleups, and mature businesses that can provide those answers. Along with this platform, which already records over 4 million creative trades, EarlyBirds launched its Explorer and Challenger innovation initiatives. These programs enable large corporations to leverage EarlyBirds' network of innovators and subject matter experts to offer the programs and outcomes their businesses require. If companies have enough money, they can even be taught how to run these programs independently or help adopt a hybrid strategy that includes their programs.

The Explorer Program is for companies that require innovation as a service to enhance their existing innovation initiatives or to perform innovation projects. By contrast, the Challenger Program is designed to address a single business or technological challenge at a time. It enables firms to identify innovators who meet their business, technical, commercial, and risk requirements. In addition, these programs assist early adopters of novel technologies in locating subject matter experts and independent advisors who can help them confidently resolve their difficulties. The Explorer and Challenger programs are particularly well-suited for addressing the drivers of change in today's economic climate and capitalizing on opportunities created by shifting customer demands, the establishment of Net Zero targets, and the relentless progress of digital transformation.

EarlyBirds launched the Open Innovation Ecosystem and the Explorer and Challenger programs to assist major corporations interested in implementing creative improvements to their operations in identifying innovative startups and subject matter experts who can help them accomplish that goal. Anyone who wants to learn more about EarlyBirds' work, whether they are an innovative startup, a company looking for new ways to solve problems, or a subject matter expert who wants to help many businesses, can contact the company or go to their website.

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The latest AGV forklift deployment cases, covering unmanned truck loading and unloading, transportation, stacking, and high rack putaway and picking scenarios.

Spotlight

The latest AGV forklift deployment cases, covering unmanned truck loading and unloading, transportation, stacking, and high rack putaway and picking scenarios.

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Barcodes Group’s New Autonomous Mobile Robotics Platform with Easy Integration Plugins

Barcodes, Inc. | March 09, 2023

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UltiMaker Launches the Method XL 3D Printer to Deliver Unrivaled Accuracy and Precision for Engineering Applications

PR Newswire | May 25, 2023

UltiMaker, a global leader in 3D printing, today announces the launch of Method XL, the ultimate 3D printing solution for engineering applications, offering precision printing with industrial-grade materials without compromising on part size. The UltiMaker® Method™ XL 3D printer is designed to deliver the accuracy and performance of industrial production alongside the flexibility and affordability of a desktop 3D printer. The latest printer release from UltiMaker's professional offering bridges the gap between desktop and industrial 3D printers by delivering a perfect fusion of accessibility and performance. With a spacious 305 mm x 305 mm x 320 mm build volume and a dimensional accuracy of ± 0.2 mm1, it allows customers to tackle ambitious projects—from functional prototyping to end-use parts. Method XL is engineered to create large, complex parts that are durable using industrial-grade materials like ABS-R and ABS Carbon Fiber. The heated chamber, which can reach up to 100°C, is designed to enable optimal results when printing with ABS, one of the most popular and challenging materials to successfully print on a desktop 3D printer due to its tendency to warp and deform. New to the Method series is Method XL's heated build plate, a bonus for customers who want an extra layer of security to avoid warping and layer adhesion issues. Both the heated build plate and the temperature-controlled heated build chamber combine to create a stable environment for printing accurate and strong parts of any size. "UltiMaker's mission is to grow the adoption of 3D printing in manufacturing. We saw that there was a lack of production-level industrial capabilities in more accessible and easy-to-use 3D printers," said Nadav Goshen, CEO at UltiMaker. "With Method XL, we believe we are bringing customers the best 3D printing solution in the market for engineering applications. Method XL is the only 3D printer in its price class with a heated chamber and heated build plate to print large and accurate parts with injection molding plastics like ABS. With the ability to print larger parts, customers can achieve greater output and efficiency, making Method XL an excellent choice for those looking to take their 3D printing to the next level." With its expansive build volume, high dimensional accuracy, heated build chamber and heated build plate, Method XL can print production plastics at a fraction of the cost of industrial machines and with the ease of desktop 3D printers. Combined with RapidRinse™, a fast-dissolving water-soluble support material, Method XL makes printing with ABS an even simpler and smoother process. RapidRinse enables one of the fastest support removals for complex FDM parts, resulting in a more refined surface finish. For a seamless CAD file to printed part workflow, Method XL syncs directly with CloudPrint™ software, allowing customers to easily upload, monitor, and track their print jobs from their web browser. Method XL expands the arena of possibilities, with compatibility with a wide range of industrial-grade materials through its open materials platform and the LABS Experimental Extruder. Materials currently available through the LABS program include Jabil SEBS, a soft material with flexible, rubber-like properties; Polymaker PolyMax™ PC, a polycarbonate material that combines strength, toughness, and heat resistance, and LEHVOSS PAHT 9891, a carbon fiber-reinforced nylon able to withstand high temperatures. Method XL also offers an external moisture-controlled material case, ensuring peak performance from professional-grade materials. The printer comes equipped with a HEPA filter and an activated carbon filter for safer 3D printing indoors. About UltiMaker UltiMaker is a global leader in 3D printing, focused on shaping the future of manufacturing and product development. With a wide range of cutting-edge 3D printing solutions, including the popular S and Method series, and an extensive portfolio of 3D printing materials, UltiMaker is paving the way for innovation across industries. As part of its dedication to advancing education, UltiMaker also offers the MakerBot sub-brand and Sketch series, providing one of the most comprehensive 3D printing ecosystems for classroom learning. With a focus on reliability, precision, and innovation, UltiMaker is empowering customers to push the boundaries of what's possible. Learn more at www.ultimaker.com.

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Siemens and Microsoft drive industrial productivity with generative artificial intelligence

Prnewswire | April 13, 2023

Siemens and Microsoft are harnessing the collaborative power of generative artificial intelligence (AI) to help industrial companies drive innovation and efficiency across the design, engineering, manufacturing and operational lifecycle of products. To enhance cross-functional collaboration, the companies are integrating Siemens' Teamcenter® software for product lifecycle management (PLM) with Microsoft's collaboration platform Teams and the language models in Azure OpenAI Service as well as other Azure AI capabilities. At Hannover Messe, the two technology leaders will demonstrate how generative AI can enhance factory automation and operations through AI-powered software development, problem reporting and visual quality inspection. "The integration of AI into technology platforms will profoundly change how we work and how every business operates," said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president, Cloud + AI, Microsoft. "With Siemens, we are bringing the power of AI to more industrial organizations, enabling them to simplify workflows, overcome silos and collaborate in more inclusive ways to accelerate customer-centric innovation." Connecting shop floor workers with teams across business functions through AI-powered collaborative apps With the new Teamcenter app for Microsoft Teams, anticipated later in 2023, the companies are enabling design engineers, frontline workers and teams across business functions to close feedback loops faster and solve challenges together. For example, service engineers or production operatives can use mobile devices to document and report product design or quality concerns using natural speech. Through Azure OpenAI Service, the app can parse that informal speech data, automatically creating a summarized report and routing it within Teamcenter to the appropriate design, engineering or manufacturing expert. To foster inclusion, workers can record their observations in their preferred languages which is then translated into the official company language with Microsoft Azure AI. Microsoft Teams provides user-friendly features like push notifications to simplify workflow approvals, reduce the time it takes to request design changes and speed up innovation cycles. The Teamcenter app for Microsoft Teams can enable millions of workers who do not have access to PLM tools today to impact the design and manufacturing process more easily as part of their existing workflows. Keeping factories running with AI-powered automation software engineering Siemens and Microsoft are also collaborating to help software developers and automation engineers accelerate the code generation for Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), the industrial computers that control most machines across the world's factories. 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