Partnership
Assembly Line
CELUS Partners with Edge Impulse to Revolutionize AI-Driven Electronics Design
CELUS, the leading provider of AI-powered electronics design automation solutions for developers, engineers, and component suppliers, and Edge Impulse, the leading platform for building, optimizing and deploying machine learning models and algorithms to edge devices, announced a strategic partnership aimed at transforming the landscape of electronics design and development.
The collaboration brings together the AI-assisted, CELUS Design Platform with Edge Impulse’s advanced ML development platform. The combination of the two companies’ technologies streamlines the design process, enhances efficiencies, and accelerates the time to market of innovative electronic products.
Comau delivers a highly flexible assembly solution for JMC Ford’s high-end pickup manufacturing
Comau has designed and deployed a flexible and comprehensive Body-In-White (BIW) manufacturing solution for JMC Ford to produce high-end pickup trucks at the Xiaolan plant in China’s Jiangxi province. The project established a highly versatile production line capable of accommodating various models and configurations, including JMC Ford’s new pickup truck brand Da Dao (Avenue) and Ford’s first pickup truck model introduced in the Chinese market, the Ranger. The fully scalable, state-of-the-art solution delivers a 100% automation rate while ensuring the vehicle quality and performance JMC Ford is known for, positioning JMC Ford to better address the growing demand for diversified and personalized products.
Comau’s body-in-white welding solution improves welding accuracy and stability, thus ensuring the final product’s structural integrity and safety. The solution also optimizes production processes and includes the adoption of advanced automation technologies to enhance production efficiency, reduce cycle times and increase output. And by incorporating both the welding and tightening guns within an integrated system. Comau was able to minimize the need for frequent tool changes. The solution also leverages advanced vision inspection technology for better quality control and allows JMC Ford to reduce their equipment investment and maintenance costs.
CELUS Collaborates with Renesas to Elevate Electronics Design Innovation
CELUS announced that it has integrated cutting-edge solutions and Winning Combination reference designs by Renesas into the CELUS Design Platform’s expansive database. These solutions have been developed in collaboration with Renesas.
The CELUS Design Platform revolutionizes electronics design by transforming technical requirements into schematic prototypes in less than an hour, radically accelerating the electronics design process. This collaboration enriches the CELUS Design Platform with an extensive range of Renesas CUBOs and featured projects, enabling electronic designers to access, evaluate and implement Renesas’ advanced semiconductor solutions with unparalleled ease. These CUBOs, digital datasheets containing schematics, BoMs, footprints and more, are designed to streamline product discovery, component selection and the overall design process, fostering innovation and efficiency in electronics design projects.
ZEISS to license CREAL's technology to create a digital vision care platform
CREAL announces a license agreement with ZEISS with the aim to create a digitized vision care platform that hopes to revolutionize the current vision diagnostic and treatment procedures. By leveraging CREAL’s light field display technology, ZEISS will bring to market devices that allow for the digital examination of eye conditions as well as virtual simulation of classic ophthalmic lenses, contact lenses, and the like. Ultimately, the partnership should help bring century-old vision test procedures into the 21st century, finally enabling fast, cost-effective and above all user-friendly diagnostic procedures.
Litmus Edge Unlocks Industrial Data Potential With New AWS IoT SiteWise Integration
Litmus, a leading industrial dataops company announced a new integration with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) that enables industrial customers to unlock a wider range of equipment data and drive actionable business insights. By seamlessly integrating Litmus Edge with AWS IoT SiteWise, customers can more easily collect, organize, process, and monitor equipment data on-premises. This offering seamlessly integrates with their current infrastructure, providing advanced data analytics and enabling real-time industrial data operations and management at scale. This collaboration helps manufacturers streamline data handling, boost operational efficiency, reduce downtime, and enhance decision-making. The integration also eases deployment, providing a scalable, robust solution that drives significant value and innovation.
Palantir and bp Agree to 5-Year Strategic Relationship With New AI Capabilities
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE:PLTR) and bp (NYSE:BP) have announced an enterprise agreement that will extend their strategic relationship and introduce new artificial intelligence capabilities with Palantir’s AIP software.
The new contract will build on a decade of deep collaboration that has created a firm foundation for bp’s oil and gas production operations, using Palantir’s industry-leading software. Since 2014, Palantir software has been deployed widely by bp to support its oil and gas production operations, from offshore oil platforms in the North Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, to the Khazzan gas fields in Oman.
Palantir’s AIP software will assist bp to safely and reliably harness large language models (LLMs) to improve and accelerate human decision-making with suggested courses of action based on automated analysis of the underlying data.
FedEx Announces Expansion of FedEx Fulfillment With Nimble Alliance
FedEx Corporation (NYSE: FDX) announced a strategic alliance and investment with Nimble, an AI robotics and autonomous e-commerce fulfillment technology company, to scale FedEx Fulfillment with their fully autonomous 3PL model. To support this alliance, FedEx has made a strategic investment in Nimble.
“We’re thrilled to be engaging in this multifaceted alliance with a logistics industry leader like FedEx to pioneer and scale autonomous fulfillment,” said Simon Kalouche, founder and CEO of Nimble. “This collaboration will help enable FedEx to leverage Nimble’s fast and cost-effective fulfillment centers, powered by our next-generation intelligent general purpose warehouse robots and AI technology.”
Shin-Etsu beats Apple's operating margin with commodity-grade PVC
Shin-Etsu Chemical has ridden a highly efficient polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic business to achieve an operating profit margin greater than Apple’s, overcoming stiff competition in a commodity market and market volatility caused by Chinese overproduction with a diligent sales team.
The plant’s strength lies in achieving low costs via integrated production starting from raw materials, which consist of chlorine and ethylene derived from petroleum and natural gas. When the plant started operations in 2008, the process of electrolyzing locally mined rock salt to produce chlorine was done in-house.
Most Japanese companies outsource construction in the U.S. to engineering firms and general contractors, which can make quick adjustments difficult and cause delays. Shin-Etsu handles engineering in-house to launch factories in the shortest amount of time possible.
The company carefully examines information collected by sales representatives, such as which competitors are having procurement issues or which markets are slowing down or heating up, and works to find customers willing to buy as much PVC as possible for as high a price as possible.
EOS integrates Oqton Build Quality for simulation and inspection of metal 3D printing
Automation software provider Oqton has announced the integration of its Build Quality suite with EOS software platform EOSCONNECT Core. According to Oqton, the tool has the potential to enable the production of high-quality parts and improved process repeatability for metal 3D printing.
Oqton Build Quality is an AI-powered solution for metal powder bed printers that evaluates build performance across manufacturing workflows to prevent, detect and potentially correct anomalies and defects.
Oqton claims the integration of this solution with EOS software will enable full end-to-end traceability of additively manufactured parts to help EOS customers meet demanding quality assurance standards. Additionally, it can potentially help lower production costs by reducing material use and minimizing scrap.
Samsara Eco and NILIT Team up to Build World-First Nylon 6,6 Recycling Facility
Samsara Eco, the enviro-tech innovator and NILIT, the world’s leader in the production of nylon 6,6 for apparel, have announced plans to explore investment and construction of a nylon 6,6 textile-to-textile recycled polymer production site in South East Asia to help close the loop on nylon 6,6.
Roughly 4 million tonnes of nylon 6,6 is created every year, it is one of the most widely used fibers in the performance apparel and fashion industries. However, it is notoriously difficult to recycle and when blended with other fibres like spandex, it increases the challenge. Together, Samsara Eco and NILIT are seeking to address this issue head-on.
Aiming to be operational by late 2026, the anticipated facility will be uniquely capable of recycling textile waste, producing high-quality recycled nylon 6,6 polymers, for textile brands and manufacturers to seamlessly use in their existing supply chains to create new textile fabrics, infinitely.
Mighty Buildings to use Honeywell technology to 3D print homes
Mighty Buildings, a 3D printing construction technology provider, is set to use Honeywell Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) as a key component in the material it uses to build 3D printed homes. Honeywell’s low-global warming potential (GWP) technology will replace traditional foam insulation – helping Mighty Buildings reduce emissions and produce strong, energy-efficient building panels. Honeywell offers aerospace, building automation, performance materials and technologies, and safety and productivity solutions, and this collaboration is the alignment of its portfolio to three powerful megatrends, including the energy transition.
The 3D printed panels developed using Solstice LBA will be manufactured at Mighty Buildings’ production facility in Monterrey, Mexico. The facility currently has capacity to print enough panels for two homes per day, and Mighty Building’s total construction time for a 3D printed home is often less than a week. Once complete, these homes require less energy for heating and cooling than those built with other commonly used blowing agents due to Solstice LBA’s ability to provide better thermal insulation.
Serica Energy Partners with OpenText to Fuel Operational Excellence
OpenText™ (NASDAQ: OTEX) announced that Serica Energy, an independent British upstream oil and gas company with operations centered on the UK North Sea, has selected OpenText Content Cloud™ and OpenText Extended ECM for Engineering™ as strategic solutions to efficiently control engineering information, work processes, and risk across the lifecycle of projects and operations, while accelerating operational efficiencies.
Serica Energy is one of the top ten oil and gas producing companies in the UK, making a vital contribution to the country’s security of energy supply. By adopting OpenText’s cloud-based content management solutions, Serica Energy will boost productivity and optimize processes, while complying with health, safety, security and environmental requirements – enabling the organization to expand and diversify its portfolio, maximize asset value, and play its part in the energy transition.
Hitachi Rail chooses ROBOZE for its pioneering additive technology for railway spare parts
ROBOZE, a global leader in additive manufacturing for high-performance materials, is proud to announce its collaboration with Hitachi Rail, a pioneer in the railway sector. Hitachi Rail has chosen the ROBOZE ARGO 500 solution to operate in its high-tech factory in Naples, in Italy, and its new digital, state-of-the-art rail factory in Washington County, Maryland. The solution enables Hitachi Rail to implement industrial 3D printing technology, using materials such as ULTEM™ 9085 and Carbon PEEK for the production of spare parts for its trains.
The railway industry constantly faces the challenge of availability and costs associated with the production of spare parts. ROBOZE’s additive manufacturing technology offers a concrete solution to this problem, enabling faster and more cost-effective production compared to traditional machining methods. With the implementation of the ARGO 500 solution, Hitachi Rail can now replace traditionally machined metal parts, significantly reducing costs and delivery times.
The collaboration between Hitachi Rail and ROBOZE extends beyond the mere supply of machines. Hitachi Rail will also benefit from the engineering services and consulting provided by ROBOZE’s expert teams, both in the United States and Italy, ensuring continuous and highly specialized support.
ADM and Farmers Business Network® Launch Gradable Joint Venture to Accelerate Adoption of Regenerative and Sustainable Ag Practices
Farmers Business Network (FBN®) and ADM (NYSE: ADM) announced that they have launched a joint venture, Gradable, creating a new company to expand the Gradable technology platform and enable more farmers and buyers to confidently pursue and derive value from grain produced using sustainable and regenerative practices.
First introduced in 2020, the Gradable platform tracks sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices and outcomes, making it easier for farmers to earn financial rewards. For grain buyers, Gradable provides reliable farm-level data, allowing them to easily identify and purchase grain that helps them meet growing customer demand for sustainably produced products.
SICK and Endress+Hauser sign strategic partnership
German sensor company SICK and the Swiss measurement and automation technology specialist Endress+Hauser have agreed on a strategic partnership. Endress+Hauser will take over worldwide sales and service of SICK’s process analyzers and gas flowmeters, with a joint venture to be established for their production and further development. The aim of the partnership is to provide customers with even better support in increasing their efficiency and sustainability.
SICK and Endress+Hauser signed a joint memorandum of understanding for a strategic partnership in October 2023. Since then, the project has been examined and plans for implementing the cooperation have been drawn up. Following approval by the respective supervisory bodies, representatives of both companies have now signed a corresponding agreement. The closing of the transaction is planned for the turn of the year 2024/2025 and is subject to approval by antitrust authorities.
GM Signs Landmark Solar Power Deal for Three Assembly Plants
As part of an ongoing push around renewable energy, we’re announcing a 15-year renewable energy purchase agreement with NorthStar Clean Energy for three GM assembly plants.
NorthStar’s Newport Solar project in Newport, Arkansas, will support the electricity needs of GM’s Lansing Delta Township Assembly and Lansing Grand River Assembly in Michigan, and the Wentzville Assembly site in Missouri by adding renewable energy directly to the grid we source from. The Newport project has a capacity of 180 megawatts. NorthStar Clean Energy is a unit of CMS Energy.
Hadrian and Dirac Announce Partnership to Drive A New Paradigm For American Defense: Model-Based Manufacturing
Dirac, the leader in assembly automation software, and Hadrian, the advanced manufacturing company building the factories of the future, announced a partnership that will enable aerospace and defense companies to more easily tackle the challenge of manufacturing, assembly, and production at scale. The integration will create a first-of-its-kind enterprise platform for “model-based manufacturing,” a new digital twin-inspired paradigm that brings real-world manufacturability context and tribal knowledge earlier into the design process. This platform is user-agnostic, enabling any aerospace and defense company to accelerate all parts of the manufacturing lifecycle, from prototyping to large-scale production and assembly.
By harnessing the power of robotics, artificial intelligence, and precision engineering, Hadrian’s factories already produce complex machined components for a host of commercial and defense customers. Dirac’s flagship product, BuildOS, automatically generates precise assembly work instructions directly from CAD files, enabling companies to quickly transition from design to production. Together, Hadrian’s production platform will integrate with Dirac’s to make a powerful model-based manufacturing platform any aerospace and defense company can use to supercharge its production.
As part of this partnership, Dirac and Hadrian will continue to enhance BuildOS’s capabilities, developing new features to support even more complex assembly processes, and integrating real-time data analytics to optimize production. Hadrian will continue to expand its factory automation platform, exploring new technologies and methodologies that can be integrated with Dirac’s software to further strengthen America’s industrial base.
Augmentir Collaborates with Zebra Technologies to Bring AI-Powered Connected Work to the Industrial Frontline Workforce
Augmentir, the provider of an innovative Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based connected worker solution, announced a collaboration with Zebra Technologies, joining the Zebra PartnerConnect program with an integrated workforce productivity software solution that is compatible with Zebra enterprise and touch mobile computers.
Augmentir’s industry-leading connected worker platform enables digital collaboration, skills management, and work execution across the manufacturing value chain. The platform runs natively on Zebra devices running the Android operating system, and harnesses the power of AI to digitize and optimize frontline work across a range of use cases, including autonomous and preventive maintenance, quality, safety, and operations. Momentum is building across the manufacturing industry, with more than 80% of manufacturing transformation leaders deploying a wide range of emerging technologies to connect and improve frontline operations. This paves the way for a new digital landscape enabling frontline workers in new and innovative ways.
Komatsu and ABB collaborate through open electrification platform
Komatsu and ABB have signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement to jointly develop and bring to market integrated solutions that will help move net zero emissions for heavy industrial machinery a step closer to reality. The two global leaders will leverage industry expertise and equipment in a bid to create world-class interoperability, ranging from renewable energy generation to fully electrified mining equipment for customers, through an open platform.
The global mining industry remains responsible for up to seven percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to strategy and management consultancy McKinsey & Co.1, with a large volume attributed to diesel-driven vehicle movements in open-pit and underground mines. It’s widely recognized that decarbonization of mobile mining equipment is needed to help mine operators achieve their greenhouse gas reduction targets. ABB and Komatsu’s collaboration is geared towards reducing diesel consumption and ultimately eliminating it through the electrification of mine operations.
Palantir and Microsoft Partner to Deliver Enhanced Analytics and AI Services to Classified Networks for Critical National Security Operations
Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) and Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) announce a significant advancement in their partnership to bring some of the most sophisticated and secure cloud, AI, and analytics capabilities to the U.S. Defense and Intelligence Community. This is a first-of-its-kind, integrated suite of technology that will allow critical national security missions to operationalize Microsoft’s best-in-class Large Language Models (LLMs) via Azure OpenAI (AOAI) Service within Palantir’s AI Platform (AIP) in Microsoft’s government and classified cloud environments.
This integrated solution of Microsoft’s Azure cloud compute and powerful language models (GPT-4 and others) with Palantir’s Foundry data integration and ontology capabilities, and AIP’s use case building capabilities will help enable operators to safely and responsibly build AI-driven operational workloads across Defense and Intelligence verticals — from logistics, to contracting, to prioritization and action planning, and more. Availability of the services is subject to completion of authorization and accreditation by appropriate government agencies.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Taiwan Fertilizer Sign MoU for Joint Study on Developing Fuel Ammonia Value Chain in Taiwan
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Taiwan Fertilizer Co., Ltd. (TFC) to conduct a joint pre-feasibility study that will explore the establishment of an ammonia value chain in Taiwan. This is in support of Taiwan’s “2050 Net-Zero Emissions” goal.
Under this MoU, MHI and TFC will assess facilities and economic feasibility of the fuel ammonia value chain, including ammonia receiving, storage, handling, and delivery to power plants, as well as using ammonia as a fuel for power generation. Through this study, both companies aim to lay a strong foundation for a robust ammonia value chain in Taiwan.
Unusual Machines Adopts HP's Multi Jet Fusion 3D Printing for Drone Parts Manufacturing
Unusual Machines, has adopted HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 3D printing technology for the production of drone components, particularly for FPV (First-Person View) drones, known for their demanding performance and durability requirements.
Unusual Machines partnered with HP 3D Printing to determine the best components for the introduction of their MJF production process. The first commercial product using this technology at scale is the SkyLite one of Rotor Riot’s top-selling platforms. Notably, Unusual Machines’ adoption of HP’s MJF technology will support domestic manufacturing efforts, with all MJF parts being produced by Forecast3D domestically in the United States. This aligns with Unusual Machines’ mission to ensure quality and promote United States industry growth.
HP’s Multi Jet Fusion technology offers significant advantages in producing intricate designs with robust strength and durability, ideal for the exacting requirements of FPV drone operations. In an environment where agility and rapid response to design changes are crucial, MJF excels by enabling the simultaneous manufacturing of multiple parts with superior finishes. Extensive testing confirmed that TPU materials, available via HP’s 3D printing technology, are the optimal choice for drone production due to their exceptional resilience, ensuring that these remain virtually indestructible even in the event of a crash. Moreover, MJF technology provides cost savings in production while also enhancing product quality.
J.B. Hunt, Bridgestone and Kodiak Surpass 50,000 Autonomous Long-Haul Trucking Miles In Delivery Collaboration
J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (NASDAQ: JBHT), one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, Bridgestone Americas (Bridgestone), a global leader in premium tires and sustainable mobility solutions, and Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leading autonomous trucking company, celebrated a successful ongoing weekly delivery collaboration that has surpassed 50,000 autonomous long-haul trucking miles, incorporating Kodiak autonomous trucks to ship Bridgestone passenger car tires between South Carolina and Dallas. Since launching in January, the autonomous route has been driven with no accidents and achieved 100% on-time pick-up and delivery, and the companies have expanded the collaboration to include additional weekly deliveries along the route.
Utilizing Kodiak’s hub-to-hub autonomous delivery model, the long-haul stretch of the route from Atlanta to Dallas - approximately 750 miles and 16 hours - is completed using Kodiak autonomous driving technology, which is fitted with Bridgestone M719 drive tires and R213 steer tires. J.B. Hunt transports the trailers to and from Bridgestone facilities and Kodiak hubs. The companies leverage J.B. Hunt 360box®, a fluid network of 14,000-plus company trailers, to secure capacity for the return trip from Dallas, preventing empty miles and improving route efficiency.
Xage Security and Yokogawa Engineering Asia Announce Strategic Partnership to Advance Zero Trust Security for Autonomous Industrial Operations
Xage Security, a global leader in zero trust access and protection, and Yokogawa Engineering Asia Pte Ltd have announced a strategic partnership. This collaboration aims to provide zero trust access, protection, and data exchange for next-generation autonomous industrial operations. It marks a significant step towards evolving from industrial automation to autonomy while ensuring high cybersecurity standards and human and ecological safety.
Together, Xage and Yokogawa are creating solutions that integrate the Xage Fabric for enhanced security, expediting the transformation of industrial plants into secure, fully autonomous operations. This means facilities will operate without human interaction, while possessing human-like learning and adaptive capabilities. In this ideal state, the facility and its integrated supply chain and industry partners function autonomously.
Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi Motors sign MOU on strategic partnership
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd. and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation announced that the three companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly discuss a framework for further intelligence and electrification of automobiles based on the agreement signed by Nissan and Honda on March 15.
Nissan and Honda are working to further accelerate initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality and a zero-traffic-accident society. In anticipation of collaboration in areas such as environmental technologies, electrification technologies, and software development, discussions are being conducted on a broad scope.
To accelerate this process, it is essential to create new value by integrating the technologies and knowledge cultivated by each company, and to improve business efficiencies. The participation of Mitsubishi Motors in the areas of potential collaboration considered and discussed by Nissan and Honda will not only add new knowledge and strengths but will also provide further synergies that can only be generated by the three companies, as well as new business opportunities.
Uber and BYD Partner to Accelerate Global EV Transition
Uber Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: UBER) and BYD Co. Ltd. announced a multi-year strategic partnership designed to bring 100,000 new BYD electric vehicles onto the Uber platform across key global markets. Beginning first in Europe and Latin America, the partnership is expected to offer drivers access to best-in-class pricing and financing for BYD vehicles on the Uber platform, and will expand to include markets across the Middle East, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
To support drivers going electric, the companies’ joint efforts may also include discounts on charging, vehicle maintenance, or insurance, as well as financing and lease offers, based on what works best for drivers in a given market. The two companies will also collaborate on future BYD autonomous-capable vehicles to be deployed on the Uber platform. As the largest on-demand mobility and delivery platform in the world, Uber is well-positioned to bring autonomous vehicle technology to a global audience at scale.
China's Baosteel to boost investment in steel plate in Saudi to $1 billion
China’s biggest listed steelmaker, Baoshan Iron and Steel Co, said on Thursday that it will more than double its investment in a steel plate joint venture in Saudi Arabia to $1 billion from around $437.5 million previously.
Baosteel, a subsidiary of the world’s largest steelmaker China Baowu Steel Group, signed agreements in May with Saudi Aramco and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) to build a steel plate manufacturing joint venture.
Baosteel holds 50% in the joint venture, while Saudi Aramco and PIF will take 25% stake each.
Heliene and Premier Energies, India – Announce Joint Venture to Build a U.S.-Based Solar Cell Manufacturing Facility
Heliene, Inc., a customer-first provider of North American-made solar PV modules, and Premier Energies, India’s 2nd largest solar cell manufacturing company, have announced their joint plan for a US based joint venture to create a solar cell manufacturing facility in the U.S. Under the terms of a recently-executed agreement, the new facility will produce an annual aggregate capacity of 1 GW NTyp cells to supply Heliene’s U.S. cell requirement as well as Premier’s.
With this joint venture and new cell plant, the Companies are investing in the growing U.S. solar industry and capitalizing on important incentives and tax credits for domestic clean energy manufacturing introduced under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022.
This joint venture builds on a longstanding partnership between Heliene and Premier Energies and a shared commitment to providing solar customers and developers with long-term, highly bankable, reliable and sustainable products. Heliene currently sources solar cells from PEPPL’s Hyderabad facility for use in module manufacturing at its Mountain Iron, MN location.
Molten Industries Leads Strategic Partnership With U. S. Steel and CPFD Software to Pioneer Carbon-Neutral Steel Production
Molten Industries will spearhead a collaborative effort with United States Steel Corporation (NYSE: X) and CPFD Software to design, build, and test a pilot-scale system aimed at eliminating carbon emissions from iron reduction under a U.S. Department of Energy grant.
The $5.4M grant, awarded and funded through the DOE’s Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office and Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, will catalyze the groundbreaking project focused on carbon-neutral steel production while creating good-paying jobs and building a stronger, more competitive U.S. industrial sector. The project’s main objective is to demonstrate the integration of methane-pyrolysis-driven hydrogen production with a pilot direct reduced iron (DRI) shaft furnace at Molten’s facility. Anticipated outcomes include significant energy, carbon intensity, and cost reductions—a pivotal stride toward sustainable steel production.
Atlas Energy Solutions and Kodiak Announce Agreement For Autonomous Trucking Technology
Atlas Energy Solutions Inc. (NYSE: AESI) and Kodiak Robotics, Inc. announced that the two companies have entered into an agreement whereby Kodiak will outfit new Atlas high-capacity trucks with Kodiak’s autonomous driving technology.
The two companies have already completed their first driverless delivery of frac sand in West Texas’s Permian Basin. The 21-mile delivery transported Atlas’s high-quality frac sand from an Atlas depot to a wellsite with no one inside the cab.
The companies also announced that Atlas has placed an order for Kodiak-equipped driverless trucks that will deliver frac sand across the Permian Basin’s existing infrastructure of private lease roads. Early next year, Atlas plans to launch commercial operations using its first two trucks equipped with the Kodiak Driver, Kodiak’s industry-leading autonomous system.
Under the agreement, Kodiak will provide its technology to Atlas via a driver-as-a-service licensing agreement. Atlas will own the trucks, and Kodiak will provide the Kodiak Driver’s fully-redundant, platform-agnostic, hardware and software stack designed for scalable driverless deployment. Kodiak will also provide operational support services, including remote monitoring from its operations center in Lancaster, Texas.
Losant and ZEDEDA Partner to Deliver Scalable Edge and IoT Infrastructure
Organizations across industries are recognizing the immense potential of IoT and edge applications to enhance efficiency, drive innovation, and create new revenue streams. However, harnessing this potential often involves navigating a unique set of challenges. Integrating and orchestrating data from a wide array of devices and systems, often spread across diverse locations, is a complex task that can strain resources. Developing and deploying applications tailored for edge environments demands specialized skills and can lead to prolonged development cycles. Additionally, managing the security, reliability, and performance of edge devices in remote and unpredictable settings often requires sophisticated solutions. The distributed nature of edge computing also amplifies security concerns, necessitating robust measures to protect against unauthorized access, data breaches, and device tampering.
A new partnership between Losant and ZEDEDA aims to simplify this journey by offering a comprehensive, end-to-end solution that is poised to reshape the way businesses approach edge computing and IoT implementations. This collaboration unites Losant’s Enterprise IoT Platform, renowned for its low-code application development environment, with ZEDEDA’s open edge orchestration and management solution, creating a powerful synergy that addresses the challenges of managing complex workflows in distributed environments.
The Losant and ZEDEDA partnership delivers a comprehensive solution that addresses the key challenges of edge computing and IoT implementations. By combining Losant’s user-friendly application development platform with ZEDEDA’s robust edge orchestration capabilities, this joint solution offers a range of benefits that streamline data management, accelerate application deployment, simplify device management, ensure scalability, and enhance security across the entire IoT ecosystem.
Siemens and BAE Systems sign five-year agreement to collaborate to accelerate digital innovation
Siemens and BAE Systems have announced an agreement that will see the two businesses collaborate on innovation in engineering and manufacturing technologies embracing digital transformation, whilst leveraging digital capabilities throughout program lifecycles.
The five-year agreement is designed to explore and develop a strategic blueprint for engineering of the future and factory of the future capabilities across design and manufacturing disciplines within BAE Systems. This builds on and exploits the recent deployment of Siemens’ NX™ software for product engineering and Teamcenter® software for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), from the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software. Edge computing solutions and technology validation have also been successfully used across multiple catapult and technology centres.
Through the agreement, Siemens Digital Industries and BAE Systems commit to working together regionally and internationally in the fields of Sustainability, Industrial Digitalisation, and Supply Chain Modernisation, to develop a framework to accelerate the commercial application benefits to BAE Systems within technology exploitation and adaptation.
onsemi Selected to Power Volkswagen Group’s Next-Generation Electric Vehicles
onsemi (Nasdaq: ON) announced it has signed a multi-year deal with Volkswagen Group to be the primary supplier of a complete power box solution as part of its next-generation traction inverter for its Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). The solution features silicon carbide-based technologies in an integrated module that can scale across all power levels – from high power to low power traction inverters to be compatible for all vehicle categories.
Based on the EliteSiC M3e MOSFETs, onsemi’s unique power box solution can handle more power in a smaller package which significantly reduces energy losses. The inclusion of three integrated half-bridge modules mounted on a cooling channel will further improve system efficiency by ensuring heat is effectively managed from the semiconductor to the coolant encasement. This leads to better performance, improved heat control, and increased efficiency, allowing EVs to drive further on a single charge. By using this integrated solution, Volkswagen Group will be able to easily transition to future EliteSiC-based platforms and remain at the forefront of EV innovation.
AI Autonomous Manufacturing Alliance Launched to Transform Korean Manufacturing Landscape
The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy held the “AI Autonomous Manufacturing Alliance Launch Ceremony”’ on July 22, marking a significant milestone in the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the manufacturing sector. The event, attended by Minister Lee Chang-yang and over 250 representatives from industry, academia, and research institutions, showcased the collaborative efforts to revolutionize productivity, safety, and environmental sustainability in manufacturing.
At the launch ceremony, industry-leading companies such as Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, DN Solutions, POSCO, EcoPro, GS Caltex, KAI, and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries presented their strategies for spreading AI autonomous manufacturing within their sectors. These strategies aim to significantly improve productivity and quality through AI and to extend AI across the entire value chain, including partner companies. By monitoring equipment and processes in real-time and analyzing data with AI, these companies plan to establish production systems that optimize work schedules and resource allocation, while also reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Toray Partners with Elevated Materials to Repurpose Carbon Fiber Prepreg Waste, Advancing Sustainability Efforts
Toray Composite Materials America, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of carbon fiber and prepreg materials, announces the execution of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) adding Elevated Materials as a provider of repurposing services for its Tacoma, Washington facility. Under the three-year agreement, Elevated Materials will repurpose Toray scrap prepreg materials, including slit-edge and full-width prepreg sheets.
The agreement between the two companies is a testament to their shared commitment to prioritize sustainable solutions in response to the planet’s growing environmental challenges. Their focused efforts aim to make a positive ecological impact by reducing waste, conserving resources, and decreasing pollution.
TRUMPF and SiMa.ai agree on strategic partnership for lasers with artificial intelligence
TRUMPF and SiMa.ai, the software-centric, embedded edge machine learning system-on-chip company, signed a partnership to develop lasers with artificial intelligence (AI). The goal is to equip several laser systems of TRUMPF with AI technology in the near future. This includes systems for welding, cutting and marking, as well as powder metal 3D printers. Both companies bring their respective expertise to the collaboration: TRUMPF, its laser application expertise, and SiMa.ai, its machine learning system on chip (MLSoC) technology.
The joint collaboration intends to accelerate complex material processing. The powerful, compact and energy-efficient AI chips will be integrated directly into the laser systems. The AI-optimized sensor technology can monitor the quality of the laser welding process in real time and evaluate more than 3,000 images per second. In electric car production, for example, the real-time quality inspection during laser welding with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to replace separate and complex testing procedures. Moreover, battery manufacturers will be able to increase the quality of their production in real time and reduce the reject rate which could ultimately lower the price of electric cars for consumers.
A. O. Smith to Acquire Pureit, a Leading Water Purification Business in South Asia
Global water technology company A. O. Smith Corporation (NYSE: AOS) announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Pureit from Unilever. Pureit offers a broad range of residential water purification solutions and has annual sales of approximately USD $60 million, primarily in India. The purchase price will be approximately USD $120 million in cash, subject to customary adjustments. The Company expects to complete the acquisition of Pureit by the end of 2024 and does not expect the acquisition to have a material impact on earnings in the first year.
Southwest Airlines Signs Memorandum of Understanding With Archer Aviation to Develop Operational Concepts for Air Taxi Network
Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and Archer Aviation Inc. (NYSE: ACHR) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop operational plans for electric air taxi networks utilizing Archer’s eVTOL aircraft at California airports where Southwest® operates. Archer Aviation is a leading manufacturer of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
Southwest and Archer intend to collaborate on a concept of operations that lays the foundation for integrated electric air taxi networks that would support California airports and the surrounding communities that Southwest serves. This collaboration will include partnering with Southwest employees and respective unions, including SWAPA, to maintain and improve efficient operations. This is a key step toward potentially offering Southwest customers an airport transport service that saves time by streamlining the door-to-door passenger journey.
PowerCo and QuantumScape Announce Landmark Agreement to Industrialize Solid-State Batteries
Volkswagen Group’s battery company PowerCo and QuantumScape (NYSE: QS) announced they have entered into a groundbreaking agreement to industrialize QuantumScape’s next-generation solid-state lithium-metal battery technology. Upon satisfactory technical progress and certain royalty payments, QuantumScape will grant PowerCo the license to mass produce battery cells based on QuantumScape’s technology platform.
Under the non-exclusive license, PowerCo can manufacture up to 40 gigawatt-hours (GWh) per year using QuantumScape’s technology with the option to expand up to 80 GWh annually, enough to outfit approximately one million vehicles per year. The companies believe this high-touch engagement represents the fastest way to achieve gigawatt-hour-scale production of solid-state technology to meet the growing global demand for better electric vehicle batteries. The agreement supersedes an earlier joint venture between the Volkswagen Group and QuantumScape to co-manufacture batteries.
The agreement creates a highly collaborative partnership that amplifies the companies’ core competencies – QuantumScape’s cutting-edge technology and PowerCo’s global capabilities in industrialization and manufacturing facilities. It will feature a combined workforce initiative to accelerate the industrialization of QuantumScape’s technology. A large, dedicated scale-up team, composed of experts from both companies, will execute on the industrialization activities.
Colorado School of Mines Wins OEDIT Proof of Concept Award in Partnership with Utility Global
Utility Global, the company pioneering the eXERO™ technology platform optimized to decarbonize hard-to-abate industry sectors, today announced that Colorado School of Mines, in partnership with Utility Global, has secured a $150,000 proof of concept award from the State of Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade for a proposal submitted by Dr. Neal Sullivan entitled “Hydrogen production and CO2 utilization with eXERO ceramics.” This grant will significantly accelerate the advancement and commercialization of Utility Global’s eXERO technology and create multiple jobs between Colorado School of Mines and the Utility Global Advanced Technology Center just outside Denver, further accelerating growth of the Center and commercialization of eXERO technology.
The eXERO (Electroless Coupled Exchange Reduction Oxidation) technology platform simplifies the electrolysis process by eliminating the need for electrical connects and external circuitry in the reactor – a new “green” paradigm. Without the requirement for electricity, the platform eliminates the entire electrical infrastructure from renewable source through to the electrolyzer and the reactor internals – allowing the platform to process dilute offgas streams into H2 in a single reactor and thereby decarbonize existing infrastructure and processes.
Samsung SDI to ink $726 mn ESS deal with NextEra Energy
Samsung SDI Co., the world’s sixth-largest electric vehicle cell maker, is set to provide batteries for energy storage systems (ESS) to NextEra Energy Inc., a major US clean energy company, in a 1 trillion won ($726 million) deal.
The South Korean battery maker is expected to secure recovery momentum in the ESS market amid sustained weakness in the EV sector on sluggish demand while aiming to bite into the market share of major Chinese players hurt by the US government’s policies to rein in their expansion. Samsung SDI is in final talks with NextEra Energy to supply 6.3 gigawatt hours (GWh) of ESS batteries, about 11.5% of the total ESG capacity of 55 GWh in North America last year.
BMW TechWorks Romania: BMW Group and NTT DATA accelerate digital transformation with new IT hub
The BMW Group is expanding its global network of IT and software hubs with the opening of a new location in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. In cooperation with NTT DATA, BMW TechWorks Romania will become the hub for European IT and software projects and will accelerate the company’s digital transformation.
The joint venture will more than double its workforce to 250 developers by the end of the year. In the long term, the aim is to reach a four-digit number of employees in order to consistently expand the BMW Group’s global software expertise. The dynamic growth path is also reflected in ambitious business goals: the aim is to achieve double-digit million turnover by the end of the year.
Mineral Transfers Its AI Technology To Driscoll
Mineral, a company dedicated to applying AI in agriculture, is transitioning into integrating its technologies directly into leading agribusinesses. This announcement, made by Elliott Grant, the company’s Founder and CEO, marks a significant shift in the company’s trajectory.
One significant collaboration has been with Driscoll’s, the world’s leading berry company. “Driscoll’s is the first agribusiness to receive Mineral technology,” Grant noted. Together, they developed AI tools for crop phenotyping, yield forecasting, quality inspections, and reducing food waste. These technologies are now integrated into Driscoll’s systems to support their sustainability efforts.
How Leading Manufacturers Achieved Measurable Impact with aPriori and PTC
Visual SLAM – Production flows
Rivian and Volkswagen Group Announce Plans for Joint Venture to Create Industry-Leading Vehicle Software Technology and for Strategic Investment by Volkswagen
Rivian Automotive and Volkswagen Group have announced their intention to form an equally controlled and owned joint venture (JV) to create next-generation electrical architecture and best-in-class software technology.
The partnership is anticipated to accelerate the development of software for Rivian and Volkswagen Group. It is expected to allow both companies to combine their complementary strengths and lower cost per vehicle by increasing scale and speeding up innovation globally. Rivian’s proven in-market zonal hardware design and integrated technology platform are expected to serve as the foundation for future SDV development in the JV that will be applied to both companies’ vehicles. Rivian plans to contribute its electrical architecture expertise and is expected to license existing intellectual property rights to the joint venture.
Solus to supply copper foil for AI accelerators to Nvidia
Solus Advanced Materials, a South Korean copper foil supplier, will provide copper foil for AI accelerators to Nvidia, a leading company in artificial intelligence (AI) chips. It will supply its high-end hyper very low profile (HVLP) copper foil to Doosan Electronics BG, a copper-clad laminate (CCL) manufacturer. Solus Advanced Materials’ HVLP copper foil is expected to be used in Nvidia’s next-generation AI accelerators, scheduled for release this year.
Alcoa Announces Agreement on Industrial-Scale Demonstration of ELYSIS™ Carbon-Free Smelting Technology
Alcoa Corporation announced further progress on ELYSIS technology with Rio Tinto’s plans to launch the first industrial-scale demonstration of the breakthrough technology, which eliminates all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the traditional smelting process and produces oxygen as a byproduct.
Established in 2018, ELYSIS is a technology partnership between Alcoa and Rio Tinto to advance technology first developed at the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) outside of Pittsburgh. Rio Tinto’s demonstration project will occur at Arvida in Quebec, Canada, and includes 10 ELYSIS smelting pots operating at 100 kiloamperes (kA), a size similar to those operating at smaller-scale commercial smelters.
GXO signs industry-first multi-year agreement with Agility Robotics
GXO Logistics, Inc., the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, and Agility Robotics, creator of the leading bipedal Mobile Manipulation Robot (MMR) Digit®, announced that they have signed a multi-year agreement to begin deploying Digit in GXO’s logistics operations. This agreement, which follows a proof-of-concept pilot in late 2023, is both the industry’s first formal commercial deployment of humanoid robots and first Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) deployment of humanoid robots.
As part of the RaaS agreement, GXO is deploying Digit robots and Agility Arc™, Agility’s cloud automation platform for deploying and managing Digit fleets. Digit is a multi-purpose, human-centric robot made for logistics work, and designed to work safely in human spaces and help with a variety of repetitive tasks. Agility Arc is designed to simplify the deployment lifecycle, from facility mapping and workflow definition to operational management and troubleshooting.
In the SPANX facility, Agility’s solutions integrate with existing automation, including Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Expanding on last year’s pilot, Digit robots are assisting with repetitive tasks such as moving totes from cobots and placing them onto conveyors, all orchestrated through Agility Arc. Under the RaaS agreement, the companies will continue to explore additional use cases and scale Digit usage to meet demand throughout the deployment.
Cognite Data Fusion® Enhances Productivity and Drives Value for Idemitsu Kosan
Cognite, the globally recognized authority in Data and AI for industry, announced that Idemitsu Kosan has selected Cognite Data Fusion® as the Industrial DataOps platform for its Digital Transformation strategy that will drive the evolution of its business platform, enhance productivity, and create new value through the use of digital technology. Idemitsu Kosan plans to scale Cognite Data Fusion® across all sites within the fiscal year.
Idemitsu Kosan is building robust, self-operating facilities across its manufacturing sites by leveraging digital transformation to establish a data collection mechanism for more efficient data consolidation and contextualization. Previous data collection and organization from each system relied on individual expertise, which resulted in time-consuming processes and hindered the shift to high-value analytical tasks. By utilizing Cognite Data Fusion®, Idemitsu Kosan can centrally and automatically consolidate and contextualize data from all existing systems.
A New Era in Additive Manufacturing: Würth Additive Group, Raise3D, and Henkel's Collaborative Venture
Würth Additive Group (WAG), an innovator in digital supply chain solutions and part of the globally leading Würth Group in fasteners, MRO, safety, and physical inventory solutions— announced a strategic partnership with Raise3D, a leading 3D printing hardware and consumables manufacturer, and Henkel, renowned for adhesives and Loctite additive resin materials. This collaboration signifies the start of a customer-focused mission to bring 3D printing to everyday applications.
Würth Additive, Raise3D, and Henkel Loctite’s 3D Teams have strategically synchronized their equipment, inventory platform, and materials, including Loctite’s tested resins. This collaboration has resulted in tailored and simplified product applications for one of the first DIS beta-users, IMS Verbindungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, experts in fasteners crafted from plastic, metal, and spring steel, with a clientele that spans the global automotive industry, various other industries, wholesale trading, export-import operations, the aviation sector, and subcontractors.
Chris Janke of Coca-Cola on Supply Chain Design with Optilogic
NTT DATA and Zebra Technologies Drive Global Private 5G Adoption with Device as a Service Collaboration
NTT DATA, a global leader in IT infrastructure and services, announced a strategic partnership with Zebra Technologies, a leader in digital solutions, to accelerate innovation in the 5G device ecosystem, laying the foundation for widespread adoption across industries.
Under this multi-year agreement, NTT DATA and Zebra Technologies will co-innovate to drive the adoption of 5G devices, which is essential for Private 5G adoption. Together, the two companies will enable intelligent asset tracking that allows for real-time monitoring and management of assets in industrial and enterprise deployments, ensuring enhanced visibility, efficiencies, and security capabilities critical to Industry 4.0 supply chain management.
One critical barrier to Private 5G adoption has been the availability of 5G devices for enterprises. This partnership will bridge this gap for connected devices in the enterprise private 5G market, which Omdia estimates will grow 35% globally over the next four years, reaching nearly $10 billion by 2028.
General Motors Partners with Optilogic to Solve Complex Global Supply Chain Decisions with Real-Time Results Monitoring
Supply chain design software innovator Optilogic announced a strategic supply agreement with General Motors Co. to use Optilogic’s proprietary supply chain solution, Cosmic Frog, in its Customer Care and Aftersales organization. The software will enable the CCA organization to solve complex supply chain design problems at the SKU level to deliver increased accuracy and logistical efficiency.
Partnering with Optilogic will empower General Motors to analyze its end-to-end supply chain network at group levels, such as customers, suppliers and sub-assemblies—all the way down to individual parts with separate SKUs. The ability to leverage Cosmic Frog’s models with apps developed by users to democratize decision-making across the globe will also enable General Motors to collaborate, co-create and share supply chain design models in real-time worldwide.
Fervo Energy Announces 320 MW Power Purchase Agreements with Southern California Edison
Fervo Energy, the leader in next-generation geothermal energy, announced the execution of two power purchase agreements (PPAs) totaling 320 MW with Southern California Edison (SCE), one of the nation’s largest utilities. The 15-year agreements for 24/7 carbon-free geothermal energy will provide reliable, clean, and affordable power for the equivalent of 350,000 homes across Southern California and support SCE’s vision to help California transition to a cleaner energy future.
SCE will purchase the power from Fervo Energy’s 400 MW Cape Station project currently under construction in southwest Utah. The first 70 MW phase of the project is expected to be operational by 2026 and the second phase will be operational by 2028.
Altair Announces Material Collaboration with HP Inc.
Altair, a global leader in computational intelligence, has signed an agreement with HP Inc. in which HP will provide Altair with proprietary material information that will bolster the Altair® Material Data Center™, which enables designers, engineers, and scientists to browse, search, and compare materials in a standalone application or through the interface of their simulation and optimization tools. The collaboration will help break down traditional barriers to 3D printing adoption and ultimately help customers better design parts for Multi Jet Fusion and Metal Jet printers.
The collaboration between Altair and HP bridges the often-siloed functions of the design and production of 3D-printed parts. As a result of the partnership, engineers with access to the Altair Material Data Center will be able to use HP material data to design efficient parts, conduct structural analysis using finite element analysis (FEA), and predict and fix manufacturing defects during design and simulation.
Partnership between RoboDK and KEBA Industrial Automation
RoboDK and KEBA Industrial Automation officially announce their collaboration.
The integration of KEBA Robotik KeMotion in RoboDK simplifies the complete life cycle of a process solution with integrated robotics, from the preparation of the quotation to implementation and after-sales support. We are delighted with the successful integration of our control technology into RoboDK. RoboDK has developed a KeMotion KEBA driver that is based on KEBA’s new secure and powerful web APIs and thus enables corresponding workflows. Our existing customers will also benefit from this, as the RoboDK Robot Library already supports them.
Rheinmetall and Anduril join forces to develop C-sUAS system
The Düsseldorf-based technology group Rheinmetall and Anduril Industries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during Eurosatory in Paris, one of the world’s leading trade shows for defence and security. Under this collaboration, Rheinmetall and Anduril will work together to design, develop, and produce new layered Counter small Unmanned Aerial System (C-sUAS) air defense systems. The scope of this collaboration is primarily to address European markets first.
These C-sUAS systems will combine Rheinmetall’s command and control system, Skymaster, and high-power guns with Lattice and open, modular and scalable hardware components including Anduril’s Sentry Tower, Wisp sensors and Anvil, its autonomous interceptor. By combining the unique capabilities of both companies, an unmatched layered solution for C-sUAS will be offered. Overall, the MoU aims to bring together the complementary skills of these two leading companies.
Singtel and Hitachi Digital Partner to Accelerate Industrial AI Solutions
Singtel, a leading communications technology group in Asia, and Hitachi Digital, representing Hitachi’s broad end-to-end digital transformation services and technology capabilities, announced a new collaboration that will pair Hitachi’s deep AI expertise with Singtel’s Paragon platform, the all-in-one orchestration platform for 5G, edge computing and cloud.
Hitachi Digital will deploy Paragon at the Hitachi Americas’ Santa Clara R&D Labs, followed by a pilot in a U.S. factory for Industry 4.0 use cases. The pilot will aim to validate the interoperability of Hitachi AI applications on quality assurance, workplace safety, immersive training and pre-emptive maintenance on Paragon. The trial will also enable the integration of Paragon with Hitachi industry cloud applications and digital services to enable enterprises to transcend the limitations of complex, low-latency connectivity and productivity experiences.
Hitachi’s pre-built Industrial AI applications together with the Paragon platform’s network and multi-cloud orchestration capabilities will be used to create multiple Paragon-related offerings to help clients improve and accelerate their cloud operations. Subsequently, Hitachi Digital Services will go to market with these offerings as a Singtel Paragon authorized System Integrator – presenting a unique value proposition to enterprise customers looking to leverage multiple network protocols in delivering digital transformation in industrial settings.
Topsoe, ABB and Fluor form alliance to develop standardized concept for SOEC electrolyzer factory
Topsoe, a global leader in carbon emission reduction technologies, ABB, a technology leader in electrification and automation, and Fluor, a leader in engineering, procurement and construction services, have formed an alliance to design a standardized concept for building Topsoe’s next Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells (SOEC) factory.
Topsoe is currently building its first SOEC factory in Herning, Denmark, which is expected to be in operation by late 2024. Building on the Herning factory project experience, the alliance will have the capabilities and know how to build the next factory more efficiently and through a standardized concept. The next factory will – subject to Final Investment Decision – be built in Chesterfield, Virginia, and is expected to be operational by 2028.
L3Harris and Accenture Collaborate to Accelerate Technology Reinvention for Growth
L3Harris Technologies announced a strategic collaboration with Accenture to accelerate its technology reinvention. The initiative, part of L3Harris’ LHX NeXt transformation, is centered around building a strong digital core and establishing new ways of working that will help optimize operations and enable future growth.
L3Harris will leverage Accenture’s deep industry expertise and digital skills steeped in cloud, infrastructure, and application services to drive increased agility, scalability and improved user experiences. As part of this collaboration, a portion of L3Harris’ IT professionals will join Accenture, where they will benefit from industry-specific training, new technology and operational skills development.
Apple Watch to Use 3D Printing Components in Upcoming Models
Starting later this year (2nd half of 2024), some components in the Apple Watch will be manufactured using 3D printing technology. This comes after Apple’s growing confidence in 3D printing for mass production.
While Apple experimented with 3D printing for the Apple Watch Series 9 last year, it wasn’t mass-produced. Extensive testing during that time seems to have significantly improved the efficiency of 3D printing for large-scale manufacturing.
Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) is now supplying the 3D-printed components for the Apple Watch, a shift from its role as an equipment supplier last year.
The cost advantages of 3D printing seem to have been a major factor in Apple’s decision. With successful implementation, BLT’s shipments of 3D-printed components are expected to grow in the coming years.
UPS relies on Geekplus during automation journey
UPS Supply Chain Solutions, which has been in warehouse and distribution for more than 30 years, is in the midst of a large push toward automation in its 35 million square feet of warehouse space globally. UPS SCS has been working with Geekplus to automate North American facilities for the past few years. The most recent project is the UPS Velocity facility in Louisville.
Warehouse automation also helps UPS SCS deal with customer growth. Stearman told the audience about a customer that needed 50-percent more capacity. Immediately. In a six-week period, his team brought in additional Geekplus QR-based robots and racks to meet that need. With other warehouse automation providers, he said, something like that could have taken anywhere from 6 to 18 months.
Materialise and ArcelorMittal Announce Partnership to Enhance Metal 3D Printing Capabilities
Materialise, a global leader in 3D printing software and services, and ArcelorMittal Powders, a business unit of ArcelorMittal established to produce high-quality steel powders, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create solutions to optimize laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) equipment and metal 3D printing strategies. Through the MOU, ArcelorMittal will use Materialise’s next-gen build processor for 3d printers.
The two companies are partnering to develop solutions that integrate Materialise’s next-gen build processor and ArcelorMittal Powders’ AdamIQTM range of steel powders to enhance LPBF, the most widely used additive manufacturing technology for producing metal parts. Build processors link 3D printers with data preparation software, streamlining the additive manufacturing process from design to print. Materialise’s next-gen build processor supports larger build volumes and more complex geometries than traditional build processors, so users will be able to customize process parameters, streamline workflows and print faster. Combined with the AdamIQTM steel powders made specifically for additive manufacturing applications, these printing solutions help improve setup and production speed, part quality, cost-efficiency, reproducibility and repeatability.
Cognite and Equinor Enter Robotics Collaboration To Accelerate Autonomous Industry
Cognite, a globally recognized leader in industrial software, announced a joint robotics project with Equinor, an international energy company, to improve Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) initiatives at the company’s onshore facility Mongstad, outside of Bergen, Norway.
Developed in conjunction with Adigo and Createc, the project establishes robust routines, systems, and standards governing the utilization of robots within onshore facilities. To enhance safety in hazardous environments, the project will employ a combination of robots, IP cameras, and IoT sensors for remote inspections throughout Mongstad.
Adigo recently launched the new generation of the versatile robot platform VÅK, capable of handling heavy payloads (30kg) and long working hours (8h) before autodocking for charging. VÅK will be used for autonomous transport of water samples from several points in the water treatment plant, operating 24/7. At each sampling point, Adigo installed a system to deliver fluid samples to the robot. Adigo VÅK will drastically reduce the need and presence of personnel in hazardous areas.
Hexagon and Paperless Parts Slash Quoting Times for America’s Precision Manufacturers with Advanced Software Solutions
Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division and Paperless Parts announced a strategic partnership designed to accelerate the adoption of modern quoting software by forward-thinking custom part manufacturers.
Through its broad portfolio of products and top-tier customer service, Hexagon has become synonymous with high-quality, industry-tested solutions across the entire manufacturing lifecycle. Similarly, forward-thinking shops have abandoned antiquated quoting methods in favor of Paperless Parts, which leverages geometric interrogations, automated pricing and costing logic, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and advanced workflow technology to revolutionize the quoting process. Through this partnership, Hexagon and Paperless Parts can equip tech-forward manufacturers to increase revenue, drive operational efficiency, and leverage modern software solutions to make American manufacturing more competitive and profitable. Paperless Parts will also soon be available to Hexagon customers on the Nexus Digital Reality Platform, an open cloud-based platform designed to connect technologies from both Hexagon and its partner ecosystem.
BQE Water Renews Operating Agreement with Glencore
BQE Water, a global leader in the treatment and management of mine impacted waters is pleased to announce the renewal of the operations services agreement with Glencore Canada Corporation (“Glencore”) for water treatment at Raglan Mine (“Raglan”), a nickel operation located in Nunavik, Quebec. BQE provides services in the Nunavik region in a joint venture with Nuvumiut Developments, an Inuit community-based organization. Under the terms of the multi-year agreement with an option to extend, the joint venture is responsible for clean water production for environmental discharge and meeting effluent quality that ensures the health of the pristine aquatic environment in the region.
Seeq Selected by Equinor for Enterprise-Wide Analytics
Seeq, a leader in industrial analytics, AI, and monitoring, and Equinor, an international energy company, announced a multi-year commercial agreement for the Seeq Industrial Analytics and AI platform to be leveraged across Equinor’s global assets to further accelerate digital transformation outcomes.
Through the agreement, Equinor will implement Seeq to empower its engineering teams to optimize production and improve energy performance across a variety of assets. Initially, the company plans to leverage Seeq to monitor well and process behavior, thereby gaining a deeper understanding of daily operations to maximize production, enhance workforce collaboration and increase efficiency.
Amitec, a Norway-based, Seeq-certified partner with deep expertise in the energy industry, will support the Seeq implementation for Equinor.
Snowflake partners with SynerLeap to support industrial companies of the future
Snowflake has announced that it is joining as an ecosystem partner of Synerleap, part of ABB. Through this collaboration, Snowflake plans to launch an initiative to support the next generation of startups in the industrial sector, by making its technology and expertise available to 200 members across 26 countries of SynerLeap’s startup ecosystem. This will enable startups within SynerLeap’s ecosystem to design and build their data-intensive products and services in a way that ensures scalability and rapid growth.
Synopsys and Microsoft: GenAI in Chip Design
Synopsys & Tesla: Partnering in Software-Defined Vehicle Development
Berry Global Statesville Uses Manifest Spatial Work Instructions
Berry Global Statesville is using Manifest AR-enabled work instructions to capture expert knowledge and digitize training procedures. This will help improve the quality and consistency of training, decrease training times, and improve worker retention. Manifest is easy to deploy and manage. Procedures are created using no-code tools and delivered in minutes. Step by step procedures are enhanced with video, photos, and AR – and then virtually anchored on or near machines. Operators then follow instructions displayed in their HoloLens or tablet to complete training, inspection, maintenance, and operational procedures.
Databricks and ARM Hub sign partnership to boost manufacturing
ARM Hub, Australia’s leading artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and design-for-manufacture industry hub is partnering with world-leading data and AI platform, Databricks. This international alliance is set to transform Australia’s manufacturing landscape by enabling smarter decision-making through affordable, safe, relevant and up-to-date data and AI solutions.
Honda and IBM Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Explore Long-term Joint Research and Development of Semiconductor Chip and Software Technologies for Future Software-Defined Vehicles
IBM and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda) announced they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlining their intent to collaborate on the long-term joint research and development of next-generation computing technologies needed to overcome challenges related to processing capability, power consumption, and design complexity for the realization of the software-defined vehicles (SDV) of the future.
In particular, the MOU outlines areas of potential joint research of specialized semiconductor technologies such as brain-inspired computing and chiplet technologies, with the aim to dramatically improve processing performance while, simultaneously, decreasing power consumption. Hardware and software co-optimization is important to ensure high performance and fast time to market. To achieve such benefits and manage design complexity for future SDVs, the two companies also plan to explore open and flexible software solutions.
Game-Changing Wi-R Technology to Revolutionize Soldier Communications: OTTO Engineering and Ixana Announce Strategic Alliance
OTTO Engineering, a leading developer and manufacturer of ruggedized communications equipment for the tactical market, and Ixana, a pioneer in wireless body area network technology, announced a strategic alliance aimed at revolutionizing electronic devices used by the warfighter.
This alliance positions OTTO Engineering as the exclusive integration partner for Ixana’s game-changing Wi-R technology in soldier communications, control and monitoring equipment for the Federal and Military markets. The partnership will focus on seamlessly integrating Ixana’s silicon chip into critical soldier gear, including tactical audio devices, military radios, and control interfaces like radio push-to-talk buttons. Beyond direct integration into OTTO products, OTTO will collaborate with other companies to develop and manufacture a wider range of products powered by Ixana’s Wi-R silicon chip.
This integration will leverage Ixana’s Wi-R, a revolutionary Body Area Network technology that utilizes fields around the human body as secure and reliable communication channels, completely eliminating the need for physical wires, resulting in a truly innovative and seamless way for devices to securely connect with each other.
Bright Machines Collaborates with Microsoft Azure to Deliver Software-Defined Manufacturing
Bright Machines, an innovator in intelligent, software-defined manufacturing, announced an integration and go-to-market collaboration with Microsoft Azure to deliver a full stack environment for all stages of the manufacturing life cycle, from product design to assembly to disassembly. With this collaboration, Bright Machines will enable an accessible, efficient, and data-driven manufacturing process for electronics manufacturers.
Through this collaboration, Bright Machines is building on Azure and working with Microsoft to directly reach customers and partners, including through the Azure Marketplace. The integration will allow Bright Machines to deliver this transformation in manufacturing to customers across the ecosystem.
Infineon provides a broad range of products for Xiaomi’s new SU7 smart electric vehicle
Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY), a global semiconductor leader in power systems and IoT, will provide silicon carbide (SiC) power modules HybridPACK™ Drive G2 CoolSiC™ and bare die products to Xiaomi EV for its recently announced SU7 until 2027. Infineon’s CoolSiC-based power modules allow for higher operating temperatures, resulting in best-in-class performance, driving dynamics and lifetime. Traction inverters based on the technology can, for example, further increase electric vehicle range. The HybridPACK Drive is Infineon’s market-leading power module family for electric vehicles, with almost 8.5 million units sold since 2017.
Infineon provides two HybridPACK Drive G2 CoolSiC 1200 V modules for the Xiaomi SU7 Max. In addition, Infineon supplies Xiaomi EV with a broad range of products per car, including, for example, EiceDRIVER TM gate drivers and more than ten microcontrollers in various applications. The two companies also agreed to further cooperate on SiC automotive applications to fully utilize the benefits of Infineon’s SiC portfolio.
Linde Signs Agreement to Supply Industrial Gases to World’s First Large-Scale Green Steel Plant
Linde will invest approximately $150 million to build, own and operate an on-site air separation unit (ASU) in Boden, northern Sweden. Linde will supply oxygen, nitrogen and argon to H2 Green Steel’s integrated plant, which will use the latest technology to reduce carbon emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional steelmaking. Linde’s new ASU is expected to start up by 2026 and will also supply atmospheric gases to Linde’s existing and new customers in the local merchant market.
Samsung Electronics to Receive AIMS EUV Equipment from Germany’s ZEISS
It has been confirmed that Samsung Electronics has entered into a supply contract with the German optical company ZEISS for advanced semiconductor equipment. The collaboration between the two companies signifies not only an enhancement in processing yield, quality, and miniaturization pace but also diversifies the core semiconductor equipment supply chain while reducing dependence on ASML.
According to industry sources on April 29, Samsung Electronics Chairman Lee Jae-yong, who visited the ZEISS headquarters in Oberkochen, Germany, on April 26, toured the facilities where ZEISS manufactures the latest Area Image Measurement System (AIMS) extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optical lenses at their Semiconductor Mask Business (SMS) lab.
ZEISS’s AIMS EUV equipment plays a crucial role similar to a microscope for inspecting the presence of defects in semiconductor photomasks (films containing electrical circuits). Samsung Electronics plans to deploy the AIMS EUV equipment in its state-of-the-art semiconductor facilities, including the foundries being constructed in Pyeongtaek and Yongin in South Korea, and in Taylor, Texas, in the U.S. Identifying even the smallest imperfections in photomasks is critical for improving the yield (ratio of good output to input) at Samsung Electronics’ foundries, which are currently considered inferior to those of Taiwan’s TSMC. The number and timing of equipment deployments will be adjusted based on Samsung’s investment pace and production plans.
How Luminar Accelerates ADAS Testing With First Validated Sensor Models of Its Lidar
Luminar Technologies and Applied Intuition are partnering to provide the first validated sensor models of Luminar lidars for advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving (AD) simulation. This partnership aims to offer automakers access to high-fidelity lidar data for inclusion in their simulations. Automakers will be able to use Applied Intuition’s sensor simulator Sensor Sim to validate their lidar-based ADAS or AD software in virtual environments while reducing the need for expensive real-world tests.
Luminar uses Applied Intuition’s simulation tools to develop its ADAS stack, Sentinel. Sentinel provides a fully redundant, AI- and geometric-based safety solution that can dramatically reduce vehicle accidents and injuries. With the integration of Sentinel and Object Sim, Luminar can now run the full Sentinel pipeline within the virtual environment, controlling simulated vehicles in the same manner as real-world vehicles, including acceleration, steering, and braking. Through closed-loop simulation, Luminar can easily develop against and validate the edge cases of real-world driving scenarios that are challenging for perception systems and active safety functions.
Cadence and TSMC Collaborate on Wide-Ranging Innovations to Transform System and Semiconductor Design
Cadence Design Systems, Inc. and TSMC have extended their longstanding collaboration by announcing a broad range of innovative technology advancements to accelerate design, including developments ranging from 3D-IC and advanced process nodes to design IP and photonics. This collaboration significantly advances system and semiconductor design for AI, automotive, aerospace, hyperscale and mobile applications and has resulted in the following recent technology achievements such as Cadence Custom/Analog Design Flow is fully certified for TSMC’s latest N2 Process Design Kit.
Autodesk and the Nemetschek Group Agree to Advance Open, Interoperable Workflows for Design and Make Industries
Autodesk, Inc. announced an interoperability agreement with the Nemetschek Group to improve open collaboration and efficiencies for the architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO) and media and entertainment (M&E) industries. The agreement will enhance existing interoperability between the two companies’ industry cloud and desktop products and improve the fluent exchange of information across solutions.
Optimizing workflows across Autodesk and Nemetschek will allow data to flow more easily from one cloud platform or desktop application to another so details get to the right people at the right time. The interoperability is powered by Autodesk Platform Services (APS), a set of open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and web services, that enables Nemetschek’s dTwin, Bluebeam Cloud, BIMcloud, and BIMplus to connect to Autodesk’s industry clouds—Forma, Fusion, and Flow—and design solutions. This will enable customers and partners to connect their data and capabilities across the respective solutions so users can focus on optimizing their projects with automation, AI and insight.
Cyngn Joins John Deere Supply Base
Cyngn Inc. has been chosen to supply its DriveMod Tuggers for industrial automation to John Deere’s operation in Dubuque, Iowa. Cyngn is a supplier of AI-powered autonomous vehicle and data solutions based in Menlo Park, CA.
Cyngn’s DriveMod Kit can be installed on new industrial vehicles at end of line or via retrofit, empowering customers to seamlessly adopt self-driving technology into their operations without high upfront costs or the need to completely replace existing vehicle investments.
Fizyr Announces Strategic Partnership with DERO GROEP to Revolutionize Robotic Automation for Advanced Picking
Fizyr, providing the smartest and fastest vision AI for robotic systems, announces a new strategic partnership with DERO GROEP, a renowned expert in food processing, the convenience goods market, and robotic automation solutions. This partnership marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of highly efficient automation in complex, high-variability tasks within food processing and logistics sectors.
Fizyr empowers systems and robotics integrators with its industry-leading vision AI and other resources needed to automate the most intricate tasks in dynamic environments. Combining with DERO GROEP’s deep expertise and stellar reputation in automation solutions drives remarkable advancements in tailor-made production automation.
Fizyr’s approach to supervised machine learning, featuring cascade learning, is a game-changer in the industry. This method streamlines and accelerates robotic performance, drastically reducing the typical 3-20% error rates associated with high-variability tasks. With success rates in mature applications reaching 99.99%, Fizyr’s technology ensures robotic mistakes are a rarity, often occurring just once in every 10,000 picks.
PLCnext Technology: Festo and Phoenix Contact enter into strategic technology partnership
Festo, manufacturer of pneumatic and electrical automation technology, will use PLCnext Technology, the open ecosystem for modern automation from Phoenix Contact, in future intelligent devices. This will combine the innovative strength of both companies with the aim of taking industrial automation to a new level. The new product generation is expected to be launched at the end of the year. The integration of PLCnext Technology opens up a wide range of opportunities for Festo and its customers such as Openness and flexibility with PLCnext Technology is based on an open architecture that allows individual solutions to be developed and existing systems to be seamlessly integrated. Festo can therefore offer customized automation solutions for specific customer requirements.
The common goal of Festo and Phoenix Contact is to meet the requirements arising from the convergence of IT and OT (Information Technology and Operations Technology) in industry through open automation solutions.
BYD Revolutionizes Battery Production Line with ForwardX Robotics' AMR Solutions
BYD, renowned for its electric vehicle and sustainable technology innovations, embarks on a transformative collaboration with ForwardX Robotics, a global leader in autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). This partnership has introduced groundbreaking automation solutions into BYD’s advanced battery production line, signaling a shift towards enhanced efficiency and eco-friendly manufacturing.
Responding to the escalating demand for electric vehicle batteries, BYD has revolutionized its production approach by integrating ForwardX Robotics’ AMRs and custom autonomous forklifts. This strategic move veers from labor-intensive methods, which are costly and inadequate for meeting rapid industry growth. At BYD’s facility, nine units of ForwardX Robotics’ Max 1500-L Slim AMRs and six units of Apex 2000 Autonomous forklifts with 2.4-meter fork lengths operate across a vast area of 15,000 to 16,000 square meters. These AMRs and forklifts collaborate seamlessly to optimize material transport and streamline production workflows.
ThroughPut.AI and Inteligistics Announce Strategic Partnership to Transform Agriculture and Fresh Produce Supply Chains
ThroughPut Inc., the industrial AI supply chain Decision Intelligence pioneer, and Inteligistics, the leading digital visibility solutions provider for perishable supply chains, today announced a strategic technology alliance to accelerate profitability for the sales of perishable goods. This area is typically plagued by volatile prices and volumes, poor predictions, limited supply chain visibility, and excessive product spoilage. This leads to high rejection and discount rates, and avoidable lost margins. ThroughPut.AI, in collaboration with Inteligistics, will enable growers, suppliers, carriers, distributors, and retailers to significantly improve the efficiency of their supply and cold chain operations, thus ensuring that all fresh products – ranging from berries and vegetables to fish and meat – is sold profitably on-time and in-full for faster, fresher and safer delivery with full supply chain visibility.
Yaskawa Electric’s Next-Generation Industrial Robot with AI and Autonomy Uses Wind River Linux
Wind River®, a global leader in delivering software for mission-critical intelligent systems, today announced that Wind River Linux is being used by Yaskawa Electric Corporation, a leading manufacturer of servo motor, AC drives, and industrial robots, in the development of its new product, MOTOMAN NEXT.
MOTOMAN NEXT is capable of autonomous adaptivity to the environment and can make judgments with advanced AI capabilities. Yaskawa’s new robot is powered by NVIDIA® Jetson Orin™ and Wind River Linux to realize new levels of intelligence and autonomy. It can handle challenging tasks in unstructured environments, driving automation into new application areas that previously were challenging to automate due to the need for human-level perception and judgment capabilities.
Sight Machine on Microsoft Cloud for Manufacturing Brings Contextualized Manufacturing Data into the Data Estate
Sight Machine Inc., provider of the leading platform for manufacturing data and industrial AI, today introduced a manufacturing data solution for integrating contextualized production data into Microsoft Fabric.
Bringing Sight Machine’s data and its analytics tools, including Factory CoPilot, into Microsoft Fabric enables companies to combine and analyze contextualized manufacturing data with financial, supply chain, ERP and MES data, enabling unprecedented levels of knowledge and enterprise-wide insight.
Sight Machine for Siemens Industrial Edge Brings Manufacturing AI to Factory Automation Systems
Sight Machine Inc. and Siemens AG announced a partnership bringing manufacturing AI to on-premises automation networks.
Bringing Sight Machine’s advanced data models and analytics into on-premises systems opens the opportunity for software-defined automation and closed-loop systems. Sight Machine’s software analyzes the entire history of production runs to determine the best settings for the current conditions. These Dynamic Recipes are available to guide operators to integrate with control systems for automated optimization. Sight Machine is now a certified Industrial Edge Solution Partner of Siemens Digital Industries Factory Automation.
Tulip Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Expand Capabilities Driving Resilience for Frontline Operations
Tulip Interfaces, a leader in frontline operations, has announced that it has signed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS). The new agreement is designed to advance the adoption of cloud solutions for manufacturing and fuel the development of flexible and adaptable manufacturing operations solutions. Through this multi-year SCA, Tulip and AWS will deliver further value to their customers by expanding collaboration in the areas of analytics, computer vision, and edge computing to enhance Tulip product capabilities and offerings with AWS services.
A Fork in the Road: Walmart Bets on Associates, Automation
After a 16-month proof of concept, I’m proud to announce Walmart is taking another step into the future, rolling 19 autonomous forklifts across four high-tech DCs, with the potential for more as we evaluate the benefits to our associates and operations. As our facility has worked with Fox Robotics, the developer of the autonomous forklifts, we’ve learned a lot. But I can sum it up easily: Automation isn’t just good for business – it’s good for our associates too.
Here’s how they work together: Trucks arrive at our DC, and they need to be unloaded. Queue the forklifts. Using AI-powered machine vision and dynamic planning, the forklifts safely and accurately unload pallets and ferry them to be inducted into the automated storage and retrieval system, which catalogues and stores our goods. And the associate? They’re the most important part.
Associates are being trained to operate the FoxBot autonomous forklift, designed to fully automate the warehouse loading dock. And so far, it’s working. That’s why Walmart invested growth capital for a minority stake in Fox Robotics, demonstrating a multi-year commitment to the company and its technology.
Pioneering energy startup Clyde Hydrogen secures over £1M in pre-seed funding
A University of Glasgow start-up that is set to revolutionise the hydrogen energy sector has announced the successful closure of its pre-seed funding round totalling more than £1m in equity and grants. Clyde Hydrogen said the investment marked a significant vote of confidence in its mission to develop cutting-edge hydrogen production solutions that promise to significantly reduce carbon emissions and advance the global transition to a sustainable energy future.
The pre-seed funding will be instrumental in expanding the company’s R&D team, accelerating technology development, and forging strategic partnerships within the energy sector. Clyde Hydrogen is committed to contributing significantly to Scotland’s ambitious carbon neutrality and green hydrogen goals.
Universal Robots Expands Partnership with MathWorks by Joining Connections Program
Universal Robots, the Danish collaborative robot (cobot) company, has further strengthened its partnership with MathWorks, the leading developer of mathematical computing software, by joining the Mathworks Connections Program. The program supports organizations that develop and distribute complementary, commercially available products, training, and consulting based on MATLAB® and Simulink®. Last year, MathWorks became a UR+ partner within the Universal Robots ecosystem, consisting of more than 300+ approved developer companies creating products for the UR platform.
BlackBerry Announces Collaboration with AMD to Advance Foundational Precision and Control for Robotics Industry
BlackBerry Limited announced a collaboration with AMD designed to revolutionize next-generation robotic systems by enabling new levels of low latency and jitter, and repeatable determinism. Together, the companies will address the critical need for ‘hard’ real-time capabilities in robotics-focused hardware with an affordable and powerful platform that delivers enhanced performance, reliability, and scalability for robotic systems in industrial and healthcare.
The platform combines BlackBerry® QNX® expertise in real-time foundational software solutions and the QNX® Software Development Platform (SDP) with heterogeneous hardware solutions powered by the AMD Kria™ K26 SOM that features both Arm® and FPGA programmable logic-based architecture. With Kria, an Arm® sub-system can power the advanced capabilities of the QNX microkernel real-time operating system (RTOS) while allowing users to run low latency, deterministic functions on the programable logic of the AMD Kria KR260 robotics starter kit.
3D Spark signs three-year breakthrough deal with Alstom
Alstom, the world’s second-largest railway technology company, alongside 3D Spark, an innovator in B2B manufacturing and procurement software, announced a three-year extension of their partnership. This extension indicates an expansion of a collaboration that has already realized more than 15 million euros in cost savings, an impressive 2,600-month cut in lead times, and an 86% decrease in procurement efforts, setting new standards in rail sector manufacturing and procurement.
The partnership highlights how advanced algorithms and AI-driven tools can significantly enhance efficiency in part manufacturing and procurement. With 3D Spark’s solution integrated, Alstom advanced its “Design To Print” initiative, empowering over 170 users to identify swiftly and effectively the cheapest, fastest, and most sustainable production options.
Doral, a Leading Global Renewables Developer, Announces Strategic Green Hydrogen Agreement with Verdagy
Verdagy, a green hydrogen electrolysis company with over a decade of technology and product development experience, announced today a strategic agreement with Doral, a leading renewable energy developer, in which Verdagy will supply green hydrogen electrolysis systems to Doral through 2030. The agreement is global with a focus on green hydrogen projects Doral is developing in Europe, United States, Australia and the Middle East.
This partnership is imperative to accelerate the adoption of green hydrogen; society has recognized green hydrogen as the most attractive solution to reduce 25 percent of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by decarbonizing difficult-to-abate sectors such as fertilizers, oil and gas, mining, transport and steel.
o9 and Resilinc Partner to Provide Joint Clients With Greater Visibility Into Their Multi-Tier Supply Network
o9, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, announced that it has formed a strategic partnership with Resilinc, a leading supply chain mapping, disruption sensing, and resiliency analytics company. The partnership will enable joint clients to monitor their n-tier supply network to sense upstream risks, determine impacts, and propagate them across their extended supply chain.
Resilinc holds 13 years’ worth of supply chain risk data including a validated supplier network that has been mapped down to the sub-tier, part-site, and commodity level. This high-quality, multi-tier supply chain data can easily integrate with o9’s multi-tier impact and mitigation analytics solution. This integration significantly extends o9’s digital supply chain twin and risk management capabilities. The alliance between the two companies will provide joint clients with greater visibility into their multi-tier supply chain networks, allowing them to detect risks earlier, run and evaluate different what-if scenarios, and make data-driven decisions. It will enable users to mitigate risks through closer collaboration with their vendors, prescribe corrective actions, and run resolution scenarios to minimize disruptions - ultimately leading to higher service levels and more reliable inventory availability information.
Microchip Technology Expands Partnership with TSMC to Strengthen Semiconductor Manufacturing Capacity
Microchip Technology announced it has expanded its partnership with TSMC, the world’s leading semiconductor foundry, to enable a specialized 40 nm manufacturing capacity at Japan Advanced Semiconductor Manufacturing, Inc. (JASM), TSMC’s majority-owned manufacturing subsidiary in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. This partnership is part of Microchip’s ongoing strategy to build resiliency in its supply chain. Other initiatives include investing in additional technology to boost internal manufacturing capabilities and capacity, as well as establishing more geographical diversity and redundancy with wafer fab, foundry, assembly, test and OSAT partners.
The wafer capacity supply from JASM further strengthens Microchip’s ability to serve a broad base of global customers in a variety of markets including automotive, industrial and networking applications.
Agility Robotics and Manhattan Associates Partner to Bring AI-Powered Humanoid Robots into the Warehouse
Agility Robotics, creator of the market-leading bipedal Mobile Manipulation Robot (MMR) Digit, announced a partnership with Manhattan Associates, the global leader in supply chain commerce. This industry-first partnership marks a significant step forward for customers across a wide array of industries looking to integrate multi-purpose bipedal robots, like Digit, into their existing warehouse workflows.
As part of the partnership, Agility will join the Manhattan Value Partner (MVP) program for trusted partners, and the Manhattan Automation Network for warehouse automation solution providers. Manhattan and Agility will work together to integrate Digit and Agility Arc, Agility’s cloud automation platform for managing fleets of Digits, with the Manhattan Active Warehouse Management solution. Agility is the first humanoid robotics provider to join both the MVP and the Manhattan Automation Network.
AVEVA and Databricks Forge Strategic Collaboration to Accelerate Industrial AI Outcomes and Enable a Connected Industrial Ecosystem
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, and Databricks, the Data and AI company and inventor of the data lakehouse, proudly announce a strategic partnership aimed at reshaping the future of industrial software through an open, secure, and governed approach to data and AI. This collaboration will drive a closer integration between AVEVA Connect, AVEVA’s industrial intelligence platform, and the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform.
The partnership will act as a catalyst for AVEVA’s vision of a connected industrial ecosystem by enabling seamless and secure sharing of data amongst different industry applications and community stakeholders, orchestrated by AVEVA Connect. An open approach for industry collaboration and secure, cross-platform data sharing, powered by Databricks’ Delta Sharing, will help mutual customers in manufacturing, energy, consumer packaged goods and pharmaceutical sectors to identify new sources of value and gain flexibility in industrial processes, without compromising on security and governance.
Artelys Optimizes Toyota Motor Europe Vehicle Processing Using FICO Technology
Artelys, an independent company specializing in numerical optimization, modeling, and decision support, has used FICO optimization technology to build a solution that optimizes post-production activity in Toyota Motor Europe’s vehicle distribution hubs, organizing tens of thousands of operations on thousands of vehicles a day. The manual scheduling that used to take three hours per day for each hub is now done in 20 minutes.
A customer buying a vehicle from a Toyota retailer can add numerous options to a Toyota vehicle such as a navigation system, a towing bar or a parking assist system. To minimize delivery time, the solution has increased the efficiency of the distribution hubs of Toyota Motor Europe, ensured satisfactory delivery time to customers, and reduced the carbon footprint of vehicle logistics operations.
NEURA Robotics and OMRON forge strategic alliance to revolutionize the manufacturing industry with cognitive robots
NEURA Robotics, a global pioneer in cognitive robotics, and Omron Robotics and Safety Technologies Inc., a global leader in industrial robotics and automation, are excited to announce their strategic partnership. This partnership aims to revolutionize the manufacturing industry by introducing cognitive robots into factory automation, leveraging advanced AI capabilities to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and safety.
MODEC secures FEED for Shell’s Gato do Mato FPSO project in Brazil
MODEC Inc. is pleased to announce that it has been successful in securing the Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) for a Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) system for Shell do Brasil Ltda (“Shell”) on the Gato do Mato development, offshore Brazil.
Gato do Mato FPSO will be moored at a water depth of approximately 2,000m, some 250km off the coast of Brazil. MODEC will be responsible for the design of the hull and all related topsides facilities for the FPSO, which is projected to be moored by a SOFEC Spread Mooring system. The produced stabilized crude will be stored in the FPSO tanks and the oil will be offloaded to shuttle tankers to go to market.
Shell and Verdagy to Collaborate on Renewable Hydrogen Projects
Verdagy, a renewable hydrogen electrolysis company with over a decade of technology and product development experience, announced today that Shell provided technical endorsement of Verdagy’s eDynamic® electrolyzers. This major step qualifies Verdagy as a supplier in its upcoming green hydrogen projects. Verdagy worked with the Shell team to successfully complete a rigorous “HAZOP” (safety) review along with a detailed Design and Technology Development Review of Verdagy’s electrolyzers, as necessary and important steps to commercial adoption within Shell.
Welcome to the Purdue Polytechnic Smart Learning Factory
Flightradar24 and Airbus strengthen collaboration with renewed partnership
With a global network of ADS-B receivers and unparalleled attention to quality, Sweden-based Flightradar24 has a well-established track record of providing accurate, reliable flight data and renowned flight tracking solutions that enable wide-ranging industry insights. In combination with their own unique data points, the Airbus team leverage Flightradar24’s data services to build smart solutions that elevate internal decision-making platforms and enhance the commercial operations of their customers.
Flightradar24 and its real-time flight tracking data is a key asset feeding into the digital solutions offered by Airbus to its customers worldwide. Multi-sourced real-time flight position data is one of the pillars to provide airlines, aircraft lessors and lessees and all other aviation stakeholders advanced digital solutions, which will allow them to excel in their mission. Skywise Core users can leverage these solutions covering their fleet right from their private spaces where they can include it in their custom reports and analysis supporting them in operating Airbus products more efficiently and sustainably. Moving to a long lasting partnership with Flightradar24 confirms Airbus’ commitment to its customers to provide advanced real-time solutions to boost their operations and business.
Nucor Signs Agreement with Mercedes-Benz To Supply Econiq™-RE
Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE) announced that it has signed an agreement with Mercedes-Benz to supply Econiq™-RE for Mercedes-Benz models produced at their Tuscaloosa, AL manufacturing plant. Since its inception in 2022, Econiq™ has led the global steel industry in certifying low-embodied carbon materials. By using Econiq™-RE, an evolutionary category of Econiq™ that certifies Nucor steel or steel products made with 100% renewable energy, greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced to less than half that of extractive blast furnace-based steel production (Scopes 1, 2 & 3).
Google, Microsoft, and Nucor announce a new initiative to aggregate demand to scale the adoption of advanced clean electricity technologies
Google LLC, Microsoft Corporation, and Nucor Corporation announced they will work together across the electricity ecosystem to develop new business models and aggregate their demand for advanced clean electricity technologies. These models will be designed to accelerate the development of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) and early commercial projects, including advanced nuclear, next-generation geothermal, clean hydrogen, long-duration energy storage (LDES) and others.
The companies will initially focus on proving out the demand aggregation and procurement model through advanced technology pilot projects in the United States. The companies will pilot a project delivery framework focused on three enabling levers for early commercial projects: signing offtake agreements for technologies that are still early on the cost curve, bringing a clear customer voice to policymakers and other stakeholders on broader long-term ecosystem improvements, and developing new enabling tariff structures in partnership with energy providers and utilities.
ABB signs agreement to support major Power-to-X green hydrogen project in the US
ABB is collaborating with Green Hydrogen International (GHI) on a project to develop a major green hydrogen facility in south Texas, United States. As part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) ABB’s automation, electrification and digital technology will be assessed for deployment at GHI’s Hydrogen City project. The Power-to-X facility will use solar and onshore wind energy to power a 2.2 GW electrolyzer plant to produce 280,000 tons of green hydrogen per year, which will be turned into one million tons of green ammonia annually.
The project will utilize underground salt cavern storage, which is seen as an efficient way to store large volumes of hydrogen onshore1. The planned storage of up to 24,000 tons of green hydrogen will help balance out the intermittency of the renewable energy sources powering the operation and allow for a lower levelized cost of hydrogen.
Rockwell Automation to Increase Scale and Scope of AI in Manufacturing with NVIDIA
Rockwell Automation, the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, announced it is collaborating with NVIDIA to accelerate a next-generation industrial architecture. Rockwell will further integrate NVIDIA Omniverse Cloud application programming interfaces (APIs) with Emulate3D by Rockwell Automation, bringing users data interoperability, live collaboration, and physically based visualization for designing, building, and operating industrial-scale digital twins of production systems.
The lack of labor force and a need for more efficiency are driving huge demand for intelligent automation and robotics in manufacturing and logistics. By developing on the NVIDIA robotics platform for edge AI, Rockwell is helping to bring AMRs - through its recent acquisition of OTTO Motors - and process automation applications to industrial customers.
Schneider Electric Collaborates with NVIDIA on Designs for AI Data Centers
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced a collaboration with NVIDIA to optimize data center infrastructure and pave the way for groundbreaking advancements in edge artificial intelligence (AI) and digital twin technologies.
Schneider Electric will leverage its expertise in data center infrastructure and NVIDIA’s advanced AI technologies to introduce the first publicly available AI data center reference designs. These designs are set to redefine the benchmarks for AI deployment and operation within data center ecosystems, marking a significant milestone in the industry’s evolution.
In the first phase of this collaboration, Schneider Electric will introduce cutting-edge data center reference designs tailored for NVIDIA accelerated computing clusters and built for data processing, engineering simulation, electronic design automation, computer-aided drug design, and generative AI. Special focus will be on enabling high-power distribution, liquid-cooling systems, and controls designed to ensure simple commissioning and reliable operations for the extreme-density cluster. Through the collaboration, Schneider Electric aims to provide data center owners and operators with the tools and resources necessary to seamlessly integrate new and evolving AI solutions into their infrastructure, enhancing deployment efficiency, and ensuring reliable life-cycle operation.
ANYbotics and YCL Technology Announce Partnership in Taiwan
ANYbotics and YCL Technology are joining forces in Taiwan to transform industrial inspection. This partnership capitalizes on YCL’s local knowledge and industry relationships, allowing ANYbotics to meet the unique needs of Taiwanese industrial facilities. By integrating ANYbotics’ advanced robotic inspection solutions, the collaboration enhances safety, predictive maintenance, and production optimization. YCL Technology’s expertise in solution integration further ensures successful robot deployment and integration, marking a transformative shift in automating local industrial inspection.
Siemens Teamcenter X Powered by NVIDIA Omniverse APIs
SAP and NVIDIA to Accelerate Generative AI Adoption Across Enterprise Applications Powering Global Industries
SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) and NVIDIA (NASDAQ: NVDA) announced a partnership expansion focused on accelerating enterprise customers’ ability to harness the transformative power of data and generative AI across SAP’s portfolio of cloud solutions and applications.
The companies are collaborating to build and deliver SAP Business AI, including scalable, business-specific generative AI capabilities inside the Joule® copilot from SAP and across SAP’s portfolio of cloud solutions and applications – all of which are underpinned by the SAP generative AI hub. The generative AI hub facilitates relevant, reliable and responsible business AI and provides instant access to a broad range of large language models (LLMs).
Ducati chooses TESISQUARE® for the end-to-end digitalisation of its Supply Chain
Ducati Motor Holding, the Italian motorcycle manufacturer based in Borgo Panigale, Bologna, and TESISQUARE®, the leading Italian company in the creation of digital supply chain solutions, have launched an innovative long-term project designed to deliver end-to-end visibility of the supply chain through the implementation of the TESISQUARE Platform.
The partnership is part of Ducati’s digital innovation programme to make its procurement and logistics processes more efficient and innovative, working from the principle that technology and digitalisation can improve the transport ecosystem. In the initial phase of the project, Ducati and TESISQUARE® implemented the Delivery Schedule and Inbound Management modules for publishing delivery plans with direct suppliers, currently numbering around 300, and managing shipment advice notes. The subsequent phase involved the launch of a pilot based on RFID and IoT technologies to monitor the 2,500 vehicles in the company’s fleet and track motorcycles in real time. This offers enormous benefits for control process automation on operations, from planning of deliveries and despatches to management of anomalies and delays through pro-active alerts.
Mazak Joins the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute as Collaborative Partner
Continuing its leadership role in secure digital connectivity and Industry 4.0 manufacturing, Mazak has joined major cybersecurity research universities and enterprises throughout the country as a collaborative partner with the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute (CyManII).
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, CyManII brings together the nation’s foremost manufacturers and research institutions along with the Oak Ridge, Sandia and Idaho national laboratories to drive innovation in digital infrastructure and security for advanced manufacturing, supply chains and workforce development.
Mazak’s advances in cybersecurity protection include its SmartBox technology, which secures machines connected to a network by isolating them from unwanted connections while retaining the ability to collect read-only data for Industry 4.0 manufacturing.
Walmart and unspun Collaborate on 3D Fabric Weaving Technology
Walmart, the world’s leading omnichannel retailer, today announced a pilot project with unspun, a pioneering fashion tech company using the world’s first 3D weaving technology, a collaboration that, if successful, could help reduce the environmental impact of garment production, offer a more sustainable process for meeting apparel demand and support the companies’ shared commitment to shift more textile manufacturing back to the U.S. Out of its micro factory in Oakland, California, unspun’s first-of-its-kind technology promises to more quickly and efficiently transform yarn into garments.
In the pilot project, the two companies will explore how unspun’s 3D weaving machines can be used to make workwear style pants under a Walmart house brand. With 3D weaving, yarn is spun directly into completed garments. This is an innovative and new approach to garment manufacturing. Traditionally, yarn is woven into one-dimensional fabrics, which are then cut and assembled into garments – creating waste and taking significant time and multiple manufacturing steps. The 3D weaving process is different from commonly known 3D printing, which creates a physical object from a digital design by laying down thin layers of liquid or powdered plastic, metal or cement.
Easily integrate Machine Vision into production with apps from the Industrial Edge Ecosystem
Quality control is critical in modern industry. Machine vision makes it less error-prone, time-consuming, and costly. By adding offerings from industry leaders Basler and MVTec to the Siemens Industrial Edge ecosystem, new scalable machine vision solutions can be efficiently and seamlessly integrated into production automation.
One-Stop Shop for Machine Vision: Teledyne Technologies and Edmund Optics Partnership
HP and DyeMansion formalize strategic collaboration
HP is set to market DyeMansion’s post-processing workflows as a preferred solution for customers to achieve large-scale production of final parts. As part of the newly formalized collaboration, the companies will focus on delivering high-quality, scalable, and eco-friendly additive manufacturing solutions.
The collaboration brings together HP’s advanced 3D printing technology and DyeMansion’s innovative post-processing workflows. Together, the companies will tackle joint market analysis and provide end-to-end solutions that seamlessly integrate into users’ operations – unlocking new applications and offering mutual support and advice.
LG Collaborates With SVT Robotics to Accelerate the Deployment of Autonomous Mobile Robots
LG Business Solutions USA is collaborating with SVT Robotics, a leading software provider that empowers IT teams to seamlessly integrate, monitor, and scale automation, to deploy LG’s new CLOi CarryBot autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in U.S. warehouse environments. By leveraging the SOFTBOT® Platform from SVT Robotics, prebuilt integrations easily enable the LG CLOi CarryBot AMRs to connect to virtually any warehouse management solution.
LG’s CLOi CarryBot, offers warehouses a powerful, easy-to-use solution that can move up to 1.2 meters per second with 18 hours of runtime and a 6-hour charge time. Up to 100 CarryBots can operate in unison, enabling use in organizations and spaces of any size and complexity. A convenient, intuitive 9.2-inch color touchscreen provides info and control options.
Salt X and ABB expand collaboration for electrification of emission-intensive industries
ABB and Sweden-based greentech company Salt X have signed an agreement to enable the further development of technologies in the Electric Arc Calcination (EAC) process. ABB will also become a minority shareholder in Salt X.
The two companies are known for their expertise in electrifying emission-intensive industries, including in the production of cement and quicklime, highly sought after materials in modern construction and process industries. Today, manufacturers are dependent on fossil fuels for high-temperature heating, up to 900 degrees Celsius, and have no realistic alternative.
Under the new agreement, Salt X will further develop its innovative Electric Arc Calciner (EAC), a technology that makes it possible to reach several thousand degrees Celsius. The electric plasma solution reinvents industrial calcination – the process used to heat materials to high temperatures – and replaces fossil-driven heating with renewable electricity while capturing the CO2 emissions released. ABB will contribute with control and electrical systems for the EAC, creating a strong joint offering to the market. The collaboration aims to accelerate the commercialization of Salt X’s electrification and carbon separation technology.
LG Energy, Qualcomm to develop battery management system
South Korea’s LG Energy Solution Ltd., the world’s second-largest electric vehicle battery maker, announced on Sunday that it will develop a battery management system (BMS) for future electric vehicles (EVs) with the US-based Qualcomm. The company aims to improve the BMS’s accuracy by integrating Qualcomm’s technology into the system, which was previously based on less sophisticated software.
LG Energy Solution will incorporate specific functionalities of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis into the BMS diagnostic software.
Rolls-Royce announces two additions to FIRST Network of authorized global support providers
Rolls-Royce announces the addition of two companies to its FIRST Network™ of authorized service providers. The FIRST Network is a global listing of authorized facilities providing affordable, reliable support solutions for operators of Rolls-Royce M250 and RR300 engines.
Essential Turbines Inc., joins the First Network as an Authorized Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Center (AMROC). MASCO Services, based in Grapevine, Texas, joins the First Network as an Authorized Repair Facility (ARF). MASCO’s primary focus will be repairs to the RR300 Starter Generator.
Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. Selects Velo3D's Metal Additive Manufacturing Solution To Revolutionize the Supply Chain for the U.S. Navy
Velo3D, Inc. (NYSE: VLD), announced Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc. (BPMI) has selected a fully integrated metal additive manufacturing solution from the company to produce parts for the U.S. Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. The Sapphire XC large format printer, calibrated for stainless steel 415, will be operated by ATI (NYSE: ATI) at its new additive manufacturing facility outside Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Earlier this year, BPMI awarded a contract to ATI to support development of highly engineered part solutions for advanced manufacturing methods including metal additive manufacturing. The partners will use the printer to produce parts previously produced through casting, reducing lead times for mission critical parts, and streamlining their supply chain.
Army Selects Anduril and Palantir to Deliver TITAN Deep Sensing Capability for Long Range Fires
Anduril Industries announced that the company is part of the team selected by the Army to develop and manufacture the Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node (TITAN) ground station system, the Army’s next-generation deep-sensing capability. The industry-defining team, led by Palantir Technologies, is made up of the nation’s leading traditional and non-traditional contractors. Under the partnership, Anduril will spearhead hardware design, development, and scaled manufacturing across 10 TITAN vehicles.
During the previous Competitive Prototyping Phase, Anduril spearheaded the design and manufacturing of a full working prototype vehicle. That prototype underwent rigorous testing during a five-month evaluation period to assess the system’s technical performance and usability across a series of test events replicating relevant operational scenarios. Those soldier touchpoints involved a combination of manned, overhead, and ground based ISR platforms spanning joint service technologies, validating system performance in fusing sensor data from disparate sources at the tactical edge.
HP Unveils Disruptive New Material for 3D Polymers Production
At the annual AMUG (Additive Manufacturing User Group) Conference, HP Inc. will showcase parts using a new material qualified for its industrial 3D polymers solutions. Developed with Arkema, the new PA 12 S material sets the standard for surface aesthetics, while reducing costs for customers using HP’s Jet Fusion 5200 Series 3D printing solutions. The reach of this pioneering material will soon expand, as it is set to become available for the Jet Fusion 5600 Series later this spring, broadening its application across HP’s suite of polymer 3D printing solutions.
The introduction of PA 12 S, enabled by Arkema, is set to revolutionize the industry by reducing variable costs per part and significantly lowering the total cost of ownership. This material, in conjunction with HP Multi Jet Fusion technology, offers an optimized production process that streamlines post-processing steps, saving time and further reducing costs. These advancements enable manufacturers to produce parts more efficiently while maintaining high quality and sustainability standards.
Customers including Accel Digital Solutions, Decathlon, Erpro Group, and Materialise developing production 3D parts across industries with HP’s industrial solutions, software, and materials.
H&M Group and Vargas Holding launch Syre, a new venture to scale textile-to-textile recycled polyester
The co-founded venture, also backed by TPG Rise Climate, aims to rapidly scale textile-to-textile recycling of polyester and contribute to a more sustainable textile industry. H&M Group has secured an offtake agreement with Syre worth a total of USD 600 million over seven years, covering a significant share of H&M Group’s long-term need for recycled polyester, which is currently primarily sourced from rPET bottle-to-textile.
Through Syre, H&M Group aims to contribute to a meaningful shift in the industry by moving away from virgin polyester and the current industry standard bottle-to-textile recycling, known as recycled polyester (rPET), towards a closed loop alternative.
H&M Group has also strengthened its recycled material ambition – an important part of the strategy to decouple growth from virgin resource use. H&M Group’s overarching material ambition is to have 100 percent of materials to be either recycled or sourced in a more sustainable way by 2030, with the subgoal of 30 percent recycled materials by 2025. As the company is moving closer to achieving the target of 30 percent recycled materials by 2025, the ambition is to now aim for 50 percent recycled by 2030.
RoboDK and Comau partner to offer improved Robotic Simulation and Offline Programming
RoboDK, a pioneer in the world of robotics simulation and offline programming, announces its strategic partnership with Comau, a global leader in advanced automation solutions and robot manufacturer. The latest version of Comau Roboshop Next Gen software seamlessly integrates with RoboDK, making simulation more advanced.
This collaboration solidifies RoboDK’s presence in the OEM market, marking a significant step as an embedded solution. Comau users can now enjoy the benefits of RoboDK directly due to RoboDK’s integration into Comau’s Roboshop Next Gen software suite. This integration allows users to easily simulate and program robots using advanced CAD to path features, import 3D Models, detect collisions, integrate with external axes such as turntables and linear rails, support multiple robot cells in the same project, improved integration with CAD/CAM software and use advanced simulation features such as conveyors and grippers. This allows Comau robot programmers to easily use Comau robots for advanced manufacturing applications such as robot machining or 3D printing.
Barilla Achieves 80% Visibility into Ocean and Over-the-Road Shipments with FourKites
Barilla, the world leader in pasta production, announced today that it has achieved 80% visibility into the entire lifecycle of its ocean and road shipments, thanks to leading supply chain visibility provider FourKites®. The end-to-end transparency offered by FourKites allows Barilla to see exactly where its goods are anywhere in the supply chain, as well as when they’ll arrive at their final destination. In the face of military conflict in the Red Sea, disruptive weather events and supply shortages, this comprehensive visibility is critical for Barilla to achieve a resilient supply chain that ensures products get to customers in the most efficient way and with the best service.
Ocean shipments are an important part of Barilla’s logistics operation and equal about 10% of its market. Barilla started its collaboration with FourKites by using the company’s OTR visibility and then expanded coverage to include visibility into all its ocean shipments.
Price Industries casts eyes on four-year, AI-enabled partnership
Price has now teamed up with a pair of Manitoba companies to design an artificial intelligence-enabled manufacturing execution system (MES) that will take advantage of efficiency technologies that do not currently exist in the market today.
Along with Mode40 (a manufacturing software design shop out of Steinbach) and Innovair (a Winnipeg distributor of robotics equipment for the manufacturing industry), Price is working on the project partially funded by NGen, the country’s advanced manufacturing supercluster. Called “Discrete Manufacturing Assembly Transformation,” the four-year project is expected to be transformational for Price.
Desktop Metal and Evonik Expand Partnership, Announce Qualification of Photopolymer on Large Format Additive Manufacturing 2.0 Systems for High-Performance, High-Temperature Products
Desktop Metal, Inc. (NYSE: DM), a global leader in Additive Manufacturing 2.0 technologies for mass production, and Evonik, a leading materials provider in 3D printing technology based in Germany, announced their expanded collaboration on photopolymer and materials development with the qualification of INFINAM® ST 6100 L on the ETEC Xtreme 8K and the Pro XL.
The properties offered by INFINAM® ST 6100 L make the material ideal for 3D printed production of molds, models, and tooling, as well as end-use parts in the aerospace, automotive, or electronics industries. Additionally, tools or parts 3D printed in INFINAM® ST 6100 can deliver very precise features and a smooth surface finish, especially when paired with the crisp 65 μm resolution offered on the ETEC Pro XL. Parts printed in this material can also be machined and polished, in addition to other post-processing techniques.
Snowflake Ventures Invests in Landing AI, Boosting Visual AI in the Data Cloud
Snowflake and Landing AI are already partners, and we’re excited to announce today that we are deepening our relationship with an investment in Landing AI. Through this next phase of partnership, customers will be able to leverage Landing AI’s computer vision capabilities natively on Snowflake via Snowpark Container Services and Snowflake Native Apps. This will enable the building of powerful, custom-built computer vision solutions that process images and videos at scale, all within the secure, governed boundary of the Data Cloud.
Michelin North America, Inc. Selects Cosmo Tech for Supply Chain Simulation
Cosmo Tech announces it has been selected by Michelin North America, Inc. to help improve its supply chain simulation and optimize operations. The overall aim of bringing onboard Cosmo Tech’s solution is to help supply chain and marketing managers anticipate the impact of variable demand and predict the future state of Michelin’s complex supply chain, with the objective of improving supply chain agility and efficiency.
Tenstorrent RISC-V and Chiplet Technology Selected to Build the Future of AI in Japan
Tenstorrent is pleased to announce a multi-tiered partnership deal with Japan’s Leading-edge Semiconductor Technology Center (LSTC), which selected Tenstorrent’s world-class RISC-V and Chiplet IP for its all-new edge 2nm AI Accelerator. In addition to the IP licensing portion of this deal, Tenstorrent will work with LSTC as a collaborative innovation partner to co-design the chip that will redefine AI performance in Japan.
Under this project, Tenstorrent will also work with Rapidus Corporation, a newly founded Japanese semiconductor company that will develop state-of-the-art logic semiconductor technologies with an ambitious goal to achieve the world’s best cycle time reduction services. Rapidus is planning to serve not only for wafer processing but also advanced packaging to meet the customer’s specific needs through maximizing the effectiveness of the total manufacturing process. Their strategy is well aligned with Tenstorrent’s direction.
LyondellBasell Selects Emerson to Modernize Automation Technology at Olefins Production Plants
Global software and technology leader Emerson has been selected by multinational chemical company LyondellBasell to modernize control systems and software at its Wesseling complex in Germany. The implementation of advanced automation technology will help to enhance operation of an ethylene cracker and butadiene production plant. Emerson digital tools and project engineering services will help to ensure a smooth transition during the planned plant shutdown in 2024.
The Wesseling site is LyondellBasell‘s largest manufacturing facility in Europe. As part of a global modernization program, LyondellBasell is standardizing its control system technology. Emerson was selected for the project after demonstrating that it could implement all hardware and software upgrades during the two-week turnaround period.
Toyota Material Handling transforms production operations with Ericsson Private 5G
Toyota Material Handling’s major production complex in Columbus, Indiana, U.S., is enjoying increased productivity, faster deliveries to customers and boosted employee morale since the operational launch of a private 5G network at the facility, designed and installed by Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) and channel partner, STEP.
Toyota Material Handling management reported the benefits following the decision to replace on-site Wi-Fi solutions with Ericsson private 5G products and solutions, including the indoor-connectivity-focused Radio Dot System. Business-critical operations at the almost 200,000 square feet warehouse are now run exclusively over the on-site 5G private network leveraging CBRS spectrum, with no disruptions or connectivity loss reported since its operational launch in November of 2023.
Capgemini to acquire Unity’s Digital Twin Professional Services arm to accelerate enterprises’ digital transformation through real-time 3D technology
Capgemini and Unity (NYSE: U), the world’s leading platform for creating and growing real-time 3D (RT3D) content, announced an expansion of their strategic alliance that will see Capgemini take on Unity’s Digital Twin Professional Services arm. Per the agreement, Unity’s Digital Twin Professional Services team will join and embed within Capgemini, forming one of the largest pools of Unity enterprise developers in the world. The transaction will accelerate the iteration and implementation of the market leading real-time 3D (RT3D) visualization software for the industrial application of digital twins. It will allow end users to envision, understand, and interact with physical systems – a key enabler for intelligent industry. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2024.
NTT DATA and Schneider Electric Join Forces to Drive AI Innovation at the Edge
NTT DATA, a global leader in IT infrastructure and services, and Schneider Electric, a pioneer in digital transformation for energy management and automation, have unveiled a first-of-a-kind co-innovation that empowers enterprises to harness the power of edge computing. The strategic partnership introduces a unique solution that seamlessly integrates Edge, Private 5G, IOT, and Modular Data Centers, providing unparalleled connectivity and supports the computational demands of Generative AI applications deployed at the edge.
The joint offering combines NTT DATA’s Edge as a Service, which includes fully managed Edge to Cloud, Private 5G, and IoT capabilities, with Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure, a modular data center that fuses OT solutions with the latest in IT technologies. This powerful combination enables companies to maximize energy efficiency and meet the demands of compute-intensive tasks such as machine vision, predictive maintenance, and other AI inferencing applications at the edge.
Cognitive robotics for advanced automated inspection
Comau and Leonardo are working together to develop and test a powerful, self-adaptive robotic solution to autonomously inspect helicopter blades measuring up to 7 meters. The smart inspection solution has been developed as a joint pilot project and was tested on-site in Anagni, Italy, over the past year. The system may now move to another site to deliver enhanced capabilities for MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul) services.
Leveraging a combination of cognitive robotics, advanced vision systems and artificial intelligence, the solution autonomously performs tapping tests and multispectral surface inspection along the non-linear blade, to measure and verify the structural integrity with a granularity exceeding thousands of points. More importantly, robotized inspection ensures 100% accuracy within the self-adaptive process and allows operators to upskill their positions while enjoying better safety and well-being compared to the initial repetitive and labor-intensive process. Furthermore, the move from manual to robotic automation will let Leonardo leverage the full benefits of process engineering compared to a manual operation in which experience is often passed between technicians in a non-standard way.
Toyota Material Handling Europe (TMHE) and Gideon enter strategic cooperation for new automated solutions
By implementing Gideon’s AI-powered autonomy software stack on Toyota vehicles, the market will get solution to some of the unsolved automation problems through significantly shortened project implementation timelines, focusing primarily on collaborative case picking for retail order fulfilment and autonomous truck unloading and loading.
Ansys, Intel Foundry Collaborate on Multiphysics Analysis Solution for EMIB 2.5D Assembly Technology
Ansys (NASDAQ: ANSS) and Intel Foundry collaborated to provide multiphysics signoff solutions for Intel’s innovative 2.5D chip assembly technology, which uses EMIB technology to connect the die flexibly and without the need for through-silicon vias (TSVs). Ansys’ accurate simulation engines deliver higher speeds, lower power consumption, and greater reliability in advanced silicon systems for artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing, autonomous driving, and graphic processing.
Kawasaki Robotics partners with Olis Robotics to offer remote monitoring and control of its industrial robots
Olis Robotics, a leader in the remote error recovery for industrial robots, announces a new partnership with Kawasaki Robotics Inc., a leading supplier of industrial robots and automation systems, to offer their customers the ability to restart production faster, reduce troubleshooting and downtime costs by up to 90%, and gain access to expert support quickly.
At Kawasaki’s booth #C5475 at MODEX 2024 in Atlanta, GA, March 11 - 14, Kawasaki and Olis Robotics will showcase their partnership by joining forces with CRG Automation, a Louisville, KY-based integration house. The partners will demonstrate a state-of-the-art robotic corner board system, integrated with a mixed palletizing and depalletizing cell, featuring a Kawasaki RS007L robot, that automates placing corner boards on pallets being wrapped, ensuring overall load stability.
AMD + Ansys – Together We Advance
Wipro and IBM Expand Partnership to Offer New AI Services and Support to Clients
Wipro Enterprise AI-Ready Platform is born out of an expanded multi-year partnership between Wipro and IBM. The expanded partnership brings together the technology and industry expertise of Wipro with leading hybrid cloud and AI innovation from IBM and aims to build joint solutions that help advance the implementation of robust, reliable, integrated, and enterprise-ready AI solutions.
“This expanded partnership with IBM combines our deep contextual cloud, AI, and industry expertise with IBM’s leading AI innovation capabilities,” said Jo Debecker, Managing Partner & Global Head, Wipro FullStride Cloud. “The solutions we are creating as part of this partnership will help enterprises achieve new levels of flexibility when building their own enterprise-specific AI ecosystems. Our goal is to make AI consumption as efficient, agile, reliable, and sustainable as possible—ultimately, helping advance the adoption of enterprise-level AI.”
As part of the partnership, Wipro and IBM are jointly funding the IBM TechHub@Wipro solution, which is designed to drive and support joint client pursuits through a centralized group of subject matter experts, engineers, assets, and processes. The IBM TechHub@Wipro will include a watsonx Center of Excellence, which will focus on infusing IBM’s watsonx capabilities across Wipro’s offerings.
Hawk Ridge Systems and DyeMansion Forge New Partnership to Bring End-Use Parts to Market
Hawk Ridge Systems and DyeMansion form a strategic partnership to bring more high-quality 3D printing post-processing solutions to multi jet fusion (MJF) customers, additive manufacturers and sustainability creators. Together, the companies will continue to develop an innovative future in additive manufacturing worldwide. Hawk Ridge Systems’ integrated-solution portfolio will now include the complete Print-to-Product workflow with the products — Powershot C, Powershot S, DM60 and Powerfuse S.
Verusen Joins AWS ISV Accelerate Program
Verusen, the industry leader driving MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) optimization and collaboration, today announced that it has joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Independent Software Vendor (ISV) Accelerate Program, a co-sell program for AWS Partners that provides software solutions that run on or integrate with AWS.
AWS customers can access Verusen’s game-changing AI solution for optimizing MRO within the AWS Marketplace. Verusen’s listing in the AWS Marketplace allows customers to streamline the purchasing and managing Verusen’s MRO optimization platform product offerings within their AWS respective Marketplace accounts.
Manz and Siemens team up to electrify battery production
Merlin Signs an Agreement with the United States Air Force as First Step Towards Bringing Uncrewed Flight Capabilities to the KC-135
Merlin, the leading developer of safe, autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, today announced it has entered into an agreement with the United States Air Force (USAF). In collaboration with Air Mobility Command (AMC) and Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC), Merlin will design, integrate, test, and demonstrate aspects of the Merlin Pilot on the KC-135 Stratotanker for the first time. The multi-year partnership is focused on using a stepwise approach starting with reducing crew workload, then proceeding to reduced crew operations. As the system gains experience and trust, it will pave the way for autonomous uncrewed operations of the KC-135; an unprecedented new capability for AMC and the USAF. Merlin and the USAF’s collaboration will include, but is not limited to, system integration, ground testing, and extended flight demonstrations.
Panasonic Energy Partners with NOVONIX for Sustainable Synthetic Graphite Supply in EV Battery Production
Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group Company, announced it has signed a binding off-take agreement with the leading battery materials and technology company NOVONIX Limited (“NOVONIX”; Queensland, Australia) for the supply of synthetic graphite, the main component of the anodes of lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). In line with Panasonic Energy’s Medium- to Long-term Strategy to strengthen its North America-focused supply chain and reduce its environmental impact, the synthetic graphite will be utilized by Panasonic Energy’s EV battery manufacturing facilities in the U.S., with shipments scheduled to start in 2025 from NOVONIX’s facility in Tennessee.
The new One Off Robotics Cell, powered by Meltio and made in the USA
One Off Robotics and Meltio are teaming up to develop a breakthrough, ready-to-use additive manufacturing workcell. This system includes high-touch customer service and comprehensive support to assist end users in any industry.
The US-based company, One Off Robotics, is one of Meltio’s key partners in supporting wire-laser metal 3D printing in the USA. Their new turn-key system can be quickly and easily deployed into any factory environment.
The One Off Robotics Cell uses standard welding wire and produces parts that are consistent, spatter-free, and clean. The robot and positioner are installed on a self-supporting platform inside a custom, laser-safe enclosure, which ensures safe operation and quick installation. The system package includes the robot, W-LMD system, two-axis positioner, Meltio machine vision laser alignment tool, welding camera, and safety enclosure.
Airbus awards landmark aerospace order for A220 aircraft doors to Bengaluru-based Dynamatic Technologies
Giving a significant push to the Government of India’s ‘Make in India’ vision, Airbus has awarded a contract for the manufacturing and assembly of its A220 Family aircraft doors to Bengaluru-based Dynamatic Technologies.
This is one of the largest aerospace export contracts to India. The contract will support the ramp-up of the A220 programme by creating additional capacity to the currently existing source. Under the agreement, Dynamatic will manufacture and assemble the cargo, passenger and service doors along with the over-wing emergency exit doors for the A220 family aircraft (eight doors per aircraft). The doors contract includes the manufacturing of detailed parts components, which will create downstream opportunities for the other Indian suppliers.
Bollegraaf and Greyparrot Forge Strategic AI Partnership to Transform Global Waste Management Industry
Bollegraaf, the world’s largest builder of recycling plants, has entered into a strategic partnership with Greyparrot, a pioneer in AI waste analytics, to transform global waste management. As part of the agreement, Bollegraaf will transfer its AI vision business to Greyparrot and also make a cash investment, for a total value of $12.8M, in Greyparrot, obtaining a non-controlling stake in the company. It will also serve as a worldwide distributor and strategic partner for Greyparrot’s Analyzer, which currently provides 100% visibility into waste streams at recycling plants across 14 countries using AI camera systems.
The deal includes Greyparrot acquiring Bollegraaf’s vision-based computing intellectual property (IP) and esteemed AI development team. Greyparrot will also open its first office in mainland Europe in the Netherlands.
With this groundbreaking partnership, both companies aim to retrofit thousands of existing Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and Plastics Recovery Facilities (PRFs) with advanced AI capabilities to significantly boost recycling rates and quantify material emissions. The collaboration will bring forth revolutionary smart recycling plants that are fully automated and agile, unlocking new value in waste streams while diverting millions of tonnes of waste away from landfills, oceans, and incinerators. In a development set to transform waste management, this marks a momentous acceleration in the global shift from a linear to a circular economy. Together, Greyparrot and Bollegraaf commit to developing further products that combine the strengths of both companies to make the vision of fully automated and intelligent sorting facilities a reality.
Tompkins Solutions Partners with Soft Robotics to Deliver Revolutionary AI-Enabled Technology to the Logistics Industry
Tompkins Solutions, a leading supply chain consulting and material handling integration firm, announced a strategic partnership with Soft Robotics, a leading provider of innovative robotic automation solutions. This collaboration will deliver cutting-edge AI-powered robotics to logistics operations worldwide, enabling them to address ongoing supply chain issues and optimize order fulfillment.
Fluor’s Econamine FG PlusSM Carbon Capture Technology Selected to Reduce CO2 Emissions at Chevron Facility
Fluor Corporation (NYSE: FLR) announced today that Chevron New Energies has signed a license agreement with Fluor to use its proprietary Econamine FG PlusSM carbon capture technology to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions at Chevron’s Eastridge Cogeneration facility in Kern County, California.
When installed, Fluor’s carbon capture solution is expected to reduce the Eastridge facility’s carbon emissions by approximately 95%. As part of the licensing agreement, Fluor will develop a process design package, supply proprietary equipment and provide technical support services throughout various stages of the project.
EY collaborates with Dell Technologies to launch EY Edge Technologies Lab to help accelerate the value of data
The EY organization announces the launch of the EY Edge Technologies Lab (“Lab”), an initiative focused on bringing the power of edge ecosystem technologies to the forefront of the digital transformation journey. The Lab intends to revolutionize the way organizations experience and envision their business outcomes and data strategy by helping create real-time industry-specific use cases and prototypes for edge-centric solutions, seamlessly integrating the technology into business operations.
With an initial focus on manufacturing, life sciences, healthcare, consumer products, and utilities, the Lab can bridge the gap between data transformation and management by helping create edge-centric use cases, like deploying an IoT solution for a client’s manufacturing process.
Photoneo 3D sensors integrated into TM Robot Ecosystem
As of November 2023, you can seamlessly use Techman Robot with Photoneo best-in-class 3D sensors for various 3D vision-guided robotic applications such as bin picking or depalletization. Techman Robot developed a Depalletization solution that relies on high-quality 3D data from Photoneo cutting-edge 3D camera MotionCam-3D Color. This flexible Depalletization solution includes an agile Techman collaborative robot and Photoneo’s flagship 3D vision device.
Supernova to Drive New VLM 3D Printing Technology, A Strategic Spin-Off by BCN3D
VLM, or Viscous Lithography Manufacturing, is a completely different 3D printing process that doesn’t use a vat of resin, as most resin processes do. Instead VLM uses a transparent film to carry a single layer of resin to the build chamber. This process repeats to build entire objects. The advantage is that VLM can produce objects using vastly thicker resins, hence the “viscous” in the process name. They say the resins can be up to 100X more viscous than typical 3D print resins.
The benefit comes from the ability to infuse different additives into the resin that could not be used by non-viscous processes. This has opened up a very wide range of possible materials, which BCN3D could exploit in the future. VLM sounds very promising, yet it is utterly different from their traditional FFF process. The process is different, the materials are very different, the applications are different, and therefore the customers will be different. Because of this divergence from the FFF trajectory, BCN3D has decided to spin off their VLM business into an entirely new and separate entity, Supernova.
GA-ASI Demonstrates Release of A2LE from MQ-20 Avenger UAS
GA-ASI’s design and engineering team partnered with Divergent Technologies, Inc. for the A2LE vehicle design and build, matching GA-ASI’s aircraft design expertise with the Divergent Adaptive Production System (DAPS™) to support rapid, low-cost manufacturing of the demonstration vehicle.
The demonstration vehicle airframe was 100 percent additively manufactured and was designed to meet the captive carriage and ejection loads of the jet-powered aircraft with internal weapons bays. The topology-optimized AM structure was validated via proof and pit ejection testing prior to the flight demonstration. The demonstration highlighted the design efficiencies that can be realized when AM is incorporated early in the design process and throughout the vehicle. It was also a key step in validating the AM process and material properties for incorporation in future systems to be employed by both manned and unmanned platforms.
GKN Aerospace collaborates with Northrop Grumman on SMART Demo rocket test motor
GKN Aerospace selected by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC) to provide advanced technology for the full-scale static test fire of NGC’s new SMART Demo. GKN Aerospace’s support included additive manufacturing (AM) technology from its new Global Technology Centre in Fort Worth, Texas. Large-scale laser metal deposition with wire (LMD-w) process optimises product weight, ensures efficient use of high-cost alloys and significantly reduces lead times
ABB Robotics and Mettler-Toledo International Inc. join forces to accelerate global adoption of flexible lab automation
ABB Robotics and METTLER TOLEDO, a global supplier of precision instruments and services, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to offer an innovative solution that seamlessly integrates ABB’s robots with LabX™, METTLER TOLEDO’s laboratory instrument management software.
With the collaboration, METTLER TOLEDO’s LabX software will seamlessly integrate into ABB’s OmniCore ™ robot controllers, enabling LabX to orchestrate robotic lab workflows. By combining the flexibility, ease-of-use and precision of ABB robots with the secure data capture, method control and instrument management of LabX, customers can increase lab productivity, reduce system complexity, fulfill data quality, and safety and regulatory requirements. This also relieves scientists and lab technicians of mundane, repetitive tasks; eliminating common errors; and optimizing productivity – providing lab professionals additional time to pursue higher-value activities, such as data analytics.
Flexxbotics Announces Robot Compatibility with Okuma Machine Tools
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Okuma CNC machines. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with Okuma equipment achieve higher yields, greater throughput and increased profit per part.
Robot compatibility is enabled by Flexxbotics for all different Okuma machine types including lathes, multi-tasking, machining centers, 5-axis, double columns, grinders and hybrid. Flexxbotics is compatible with the full line of Okuma controllers including OSP-P100/200/300 series and the next-generation OSP-P500 CNC control.
Cirba Solutions and EcoPro Innovating the Closed-Loop Circular Battery Economy
Cirba Solutions, the premiere battery recycling and battery materials company, is collaborating with EcoPro Co Ltd (“EcoPro”), a global leader in lithium-ion battery cathode materials, under a signed Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) to enhance innovative elements of the lithium-ion battery recycling business.
This strategic alliance brings together key leaders in the market focused on a circular battery supply chain. EcoPro will leverage Cirba Solutions recycled materials to produce precursor cathode active material (PCAM) and cathode active material (CAM). PCAM and CAM production is critical to support the growing demand for electric vehicle batteries and requires increased use of recycled content. Cirba Solutions’ expansive logistics and collection networks, along with a diversified processing footprint, also are key aspects of this alliance.
New Scale Robotics Brings Automated Gauging to FANUC America’s CRX Collaborative Robots
New Scale Robotics announces a new partnership with FANUC Americas as an Authorized Systems Integrator (ASI). This new relationship expands the FANUC system’s capabilities by enabling the automation of manual gauging processes, helping manufacturers eliminate bottlenecks and improve productivity. By automating tedious manual gauging tasks, New Scale’s Q-Span® systems improve measurement consistency, repeatability, and throughput while eliminating data entry errors. Working together, FANUC’s CRX robot with New Scale Robotics’ Q-Span system help high-mix, small-batch manufacturers to improve throughput, process control, and yield.
Honeywell To Drive Distribution Center Efficiency And Enhanced Storage Capacity Through Collaboration With Hai Robotics
Honeywell announced it will team up with Hai Robotics to deliver flexible, high-density storage and retrieval solutions to distribution centers (DCs). The alliance couples Hai’s innovative robotics technology with Honeywell’s Momentum Warehouse Execution Software, enhanced cybersecurity capabilities and experience integrating robotics solutions. Additionally, it supports Honeywell’s portfolio alignment to three compelling megatrends: automation, the future of aviation and energy transition.
Hai Robotics solutions integrate with Honeywell’s Momentum Warehouse Execution Software, enabling DC operators to analyze real-time operating information across a DC and prioritize and redirect work as it is performed by both robotic systems and people, allowing for reduced costs and greater customer service levels.
Siemens brings secure thermal digital twin technology to the electronics supply chain
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced that it is bringing an innovative approach for sharing accurate thermal models of integrated circuit (IC) packages to the electronics supply chain. The main advantages are protecting intellectual property, enhancing supply chain collaboration and accuracy of models for steady state and transient thermal analysis to enhance design studies.
MediaTek Inc., a global fabless semiconductor company and market leader in developing innovative systems-on-chip (SoC) for mobile, home entertainment, connectivity and Internet of Things (IoT) products, has taken advantage of Simcenter Flotherm to drive efficiency in its collaboration with customers. “Embeddable BCI-ROM is a great way to share our thermal models with our customers. It has several key features: easy generation, confidentiality, low error rate, and suitability for steady-state and transient applications,” said Jimmy Lin, Technical Manager, MediaTek Inc.
Lumus and SCHOTT Strengthen Manufacturing Partnership to Meet the Growing Global Market Demand for Optical AR Glasses
Lumus, the pioneering developer of reflective waveguide technology for augmented reality (AR) eyewear, announced today that it is expanding its five-year long partnership with SCHOTT, international technology group and manufacturer of high-tech materials and optics including SCHOTT RealView® high-index wafers and reflective waveguides, to meet the growing worldwide demand for optical AR glasses.
In the first phase of the five-year partnership, SCHOTT established a sampling line in Malaysia, where it successfully developed the processing and metrology capabilities to provide customers with prototypes and better understand their manufacturing requirements. In the second phase, SCHOTT focused on developing the equipment and processing platform to meet the stringent requirements of industrial manufacturing for these customers. The engine of this processing platform is Lumus’s new Z-lens reflective waveguide architecture that’s designed to meet the imminent customer demand for AR glasses.
🇯🇵 Japan's NTT, Intel to collaborate on cutting-edge chips using optical tech
Japanese telecom carrier NTT will develop technologies to mass-produce next-generation semiconductors that drastically reduce power consumption by utilizing optical technology, in partnership with U.S. chipmaker Intel and other semiconductor companies. SK Hynix of South Korea is also expected to participate in the initiative, which eyes countering China by cooperating in research and development of cutting-edge strategic technologies. The Japanese government will provide about 45 billion yen ($305 million) in support.
Cognite and ANYbotics Driving Innovation Within AI Robotics And Safe Operations
Cognite, a globally recognized leader in industrial software, and ANYbotics, a globally leading robotics company specializing in the development of advanced four-legged robots for industrial inspection, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) where they will enter a non-exclusive collaboration aimed at delivering cutting-edge products and services to global customers. The parties seek to leverage the unique strengths of both companies to offer customers an integrated robotics inspection solution, enabling unmanned operations by providing real-time autonomous data collection in industries such as Oil & Gas, Power & Utilities, Chemicals, and Metals.
ANYbotics’ autonomous robotic inspection, driven by an automated end-to-end workflow, and Cognite’s specialized industrial DataOps platform, Cognite Data Fusion®, complement each other seamlessly and will fuel AI robotics innovation and deployment across current and prospective customers to improve the safety of operations and reduce operational expenditures.
Intel and UMC Announce New Foundry Collaboration
Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) and United Microelectronics Corporation (NYSE: UMC; TWSE: 2303) (“UMC”), a leading global semiconductor foundry, announced that they will collaborate on the development of a 12-nanometer semiconductor process platform to address high-growth markets such as mobile, communication infrastructure and networking. The long-term agreement brings together Intel’s at-scale U.S. manufacturing capacity and UMC’s extensive foundry experience on mature nodes to enable an expanded process portfolio. It also offers global customers greater choice in their sourcing decisions with access to a more geographically diversified and resilient supply chain.
Accenture and Mujin Establish Joint Venture to Bring AI and Robotics to the Manufacturing and Logistics Industries
Accenture and Mujin, a leader in intelligent robotics for manufacturing, logistics and supply chain operations, have established Accenture Alpha Automation, a joint venture for the manufacturing and logistics industries. Accenture Alpha Automation will help companies automate their management infrastructure with data-driven solutions that seamlessly combine data from manufacturing and logistics operations with management data. The joint venture is 70% owned by Accenture and 30% by Mujin.
The joint venture will combine Mujin’s experience in industrial robotics and automation with expertise from Accenture’s digital engineering and manufacturing service, Industry X. Accenture Alpha Automation’s solutions will integrate previously disconnected operational data from manufacturing and logistics sites with business management data, such as the company-wide supply chain status, financial information and market information. Accenture and Mujin will bring these solutions to clients to help them make faster, better decisions and hyper-automate their manufacturing and logistics processes.
Jacobi Robotics and Formic Team Up to Rapidly Configure Robotic Cells Using AI
Jacobi Robotics, a new company pioneering AI-driven motion planning for robot systems, and Formic, a leading robotics-as-a-service provider accelerating the adoption of automation across American manufacturing, today unveiled a strategic partnership to bring high-performance AI-powered robotics to manufacturers. Jacobi’s technology empowers robot solution providers like Formic to program and deploy the next wave of automation technology in less than one day compared to one month with existing tools, setting a new benchmark for operational efficiency.
The Jacobi-Formic alliance initially targets robotic palletizers that stack cases onto pallets for storage or shipment. More than $400 billion worth of American trade is exported annually on pallets. But the physically demanding task of manual palletizing ranks as the leading cause of worker compensation claims in the manufacturing sector. This challenge, coupled with a daunting labor shortage, drives the growing demand and deployment of robotic palletizers.
$100M partnership between U.S. Army, University of Michigan fuels automotive research
An automotive research partnership between University of Michigan and the U.S. Army was extended for $100 million for five more years, university officials said Wednesday. The research doubles the federal government’s financial investment in the university’s Automotive Research Center, officials said Jan. 24. The research center launched in 1994 with federal assistance, and its partnership with the Army runs through 2028, officials said.
Deloitte and UiPath Expand Strategic Alliance with New SAP Delivery Framework to Accelerate Clients’ Business Transformation
Deloitte and UiPath (NYSE: PATH) today announced an alliance expansion to accelerate the transformation of their clients’ businesses through a new focus on bringing AI-powered Intelligent Automation solutions to SAP implementations and operations. The expansion will serve as a catalyst to develop an innovative AI-led delivery methodology and new solutions for autonomous business operations, accelerating their joint clients’ SAP S/4HANA® transformation goals. As a part of this expansion, UiPath and Deloitte will create a first-of-its-kind co-innovation market collaboration, combining Deloitte’s SAP implementation skillset and deep AI talent pool with UiPath’s AI and automation technology.
Mitsubishi Electric, HACARUS to Expand AI Visual-inspection Business
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and HACARUS Corporation announced today that they have agreed to expand their collaboration in the development of AI-based visual-inspection applications for manufacturing. As part of the agreement, Mitsubishi Electric will take an equity stake in HACARUS.
The strategic partnership will leverage the resources and technologies of both companies to increase synergies aimed at maximizing mutual technological and business potential. By leveraging HACARUS’ expertise, Mitsubishi Electric expects to accelerate its development and provision of integrated and automated AI-based visual-inspection solutions that will enable customers to improve manufacturing quality and overall productivity. For HACARUS, the collaboration will provide access to Mitsubishi Electric’s extensive sales infrastructure in Japan and overseas.
HACARUS Check is a visual-inspection solution equipped with a unique, compact AI. In addition to AI development, HACARUS also specializes in integrating AI with various factory automation (FA) devices. In December 2023, Mitsubishi Electric released MELSOFT VIXIO, an AI-based visual-inspection software equipped with the company’s proprietary Maisart AI technology to automate visual-inspection processes for improved manufacturing quality and to address the problem of Japan’s shrinking labor force.
Figure announces commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing to bring general purpose robots into automotive production
Figure, a California-based company developing autonomous humanoid robots, announced that it has signed a commercial agreement with BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC to deploy general purpose robots in automotive manufacturing environments.
Under the agreement, BMW Manufacturing and Figure will pursue a milestone-based approach. In the first phase, Figure will identify initial use cases to apply the Figure robots in automotive production. Once the first phase has been completed, the Figure robots will begin staged deployment at BMW’s manufacturing facility in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Microsoft and Cognite extend partnership to build industrial data operations platform on Microsoft Fabric and Azure OpenAI Service
Long-time partners Microsoft and Cognite have successfully delivered digital transformation value to industrial customers in energy, industrial carbon management, manufacturing, and renewables globally. In a landmark new collaboration, Cognite and Microsoft are excited to announce an expansion of their strategic partnership to bring enterprise data operations to the generative AI era, from the shop floor all the way to the top floor. For the first time, enterprise and industrial—information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and engineering technology (ET)—converge for data operations and AI value.
Smart factory deployment with Schneider Electric & Cognex machine vision
Yokogawa and TIM Solution Ink Global Partnership to Offer 8D Digital Twin to Customers
Yokogawa Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6841) announces that it has entered into a partnership with TIM Solution and will act as a global value-added reseller for this company’s 8D* digital twin platform. The addition of TIM Solution’s digital twin platform will complement Yokogawa’s existing digital twin portfolio, covering a broader spectrum of asset lifecycle solutions from design and engineering to operation and maintenance, thereby improving the intelligence of industrial sites. Through this agreement, Yokogawa will be able to manage implementation, integration, and support for TIM Solution’s digital twin platform. The partnership will help strengthen Yokogawa’s capabilities as a global digital transformation (DX) integrator while expanding the provision of TIM Solution’s digital twin platform in the global market.
TIM Solution’s digital twin platform is offered as a PaaS. Functioning as a universal digital twin platform, it can be applied in various fields to enhance manufacturing processes by integrating and simulating data from oil & gas, shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive, and other industries with respect to IT/OT and engineering technology. It is a specialized digital platform that, when coupled with Yokogawa asset management offerings such as OpreX Asset Health Insights, can provide customers with a single platform for the access and utilization of company-wide data. TIM Solution’s digital twin platform can also be placed on top of Yokogawa’s OT process digital twin offerings, providing an even more holistic view of asset data.
8D digital twin: A digital twin platform that adopts an eight-dimensional approach (document, drawing, spatial, real time, cost, maintenance, sustainability, safety) to the integration of data.
Toyota Motor Corporation Collaborates with READY Robotics to Introduce Sim-to-Real Robotic Programming in Industrial Manufacturing Using NVIDIA Omniverse
READY Robotics, a pioneer in operating systems for automation and robotics, is collaborating with Toyota Motor Corporation and NVIDIA to bring a significant leap forward in industrial robotics. Toyota will employ READY ForgeOS in tandem with NVIDIA Isaac Sim, a robotics simulator developed on NVIDIA Omniverse, to build a state-of-the-art simulated robotic programming environment for its aluminum hot forging production lines.
This groundbreaking collaboration is set to enhance safety and efficiency in Toyota’s manufacturing processes. Typically, programming robotic systems for forging necessitates that the metal parts remain hot during programming, presenting significant safety challenges. By integrating NVIDIA Isaac Sim — an extensible application developed on the Omniverse platform for simulating, developing and testing robots — with ForgeOS, programming can now be accomplished seamlessly in a simulated environment, eliminating the risks associated with hot parts.
KIRCHHOFF Automotive and H2 Green Steel in €130 million deal for supply near zero emissions steel
Global supplier to the automotive industry, KIRCHHOFF Automotive, signs 7-year agreement with H2 Green Steel for the delivery of near zero emissions steel from Boden.
KIRCHHOFF Automotive works ambitiously with sustainability, including its supply chain where steel is the main component in its products, accounting for circa 50% of its material purchases. 90% of its carbon footprint is currently determined by the use of conventionally produced steel and aluminum. Based on orders for upcoming generations of vehicles from international car manufacturers, KIRCHHOFF Automotive sees that the demand for safe and sustainable body-in-white parts will increase strongly in the coming years.
The order from KIRCHHOFF Automotive will see deliveries of green steel from H2 Green Steel’s Boden plant starting 2027, to KIRCHHOFF Automotive’s plants across Europe.
John Deere, Meet Elon Musk: SpaceX Satellites to Link Farm Giant’s Equipment
Deere said it would tap SpaceX’s satellite fleet to propel the tractor maker’s digital farming push and help automate planting and harvesting in remote locations. The world’s largest farm machinery manufacturer signed a deal with SpaceX’s Starlink business to connect tractors, seed planters, crop sprayers and other equipment in areas that lack adequate internet service, allowing them to use Deere’s digital products.
Closing the loop“ with innovative hardware and software concepts
“Initially, we were looking for a control technology manufacturer with whom we could flexibly shape our future and who offered total solutions. KEBA was not on the radar at first, but after some research, including discussions with business partners, the perfect win-win situation crystallized due to the good references, the similar size, and the possibility to access development on a partnership level,” Martin Kienbauer, Head of Automation at EREMA, explains the beginning of the cooperation. “It was quite a good fit, and so we started the discussion and saw the first results relatively quickly.” EREMA wanted to build completely new hardware and no longer just “parameterize” the software but really program it, develop its own architecture, have more freedom and bring its own creativity into the development of the software concepts.
The implemented concepts are based on the KEBA Kemro X automation platform, in a decentralized hardware concept, their focus is on the systematic construction of a modular machine architecture. The idea is to replace a central control with several compact controls from the scalable KeControl C5 control family in order to establish more flexibility for customer requirements. Optional peripheral units can either operate independently or be seamlessly integrated into an overall EREMA system. Modern software structures of the Kemro X platform and state-of-the-art technologies such as OPC UA Pub/Sub support this solution approach. Future-proof technology and programming, openness to developing own services at the control level, and integration into the EREMA Bluport portal - the EdgeDevice solution - are also essential components of the architecture.
CNH and HD Hyundai announce joint innovation program for the construction sector at CES
The CE Innovation Lab will be dedicated to exploring innovation opportunities in the construction sector. The team, comprised of both CNH and HDX construction specialists, will study emerging technology trends, map new and evolving customer needs and identify prospects for portfolio enhancements and further growth. Their work together will advance the development and widespread adoption of new technologies, such as automation and Artificial Intelligence.
Further to this, the parties will mutually benefit from each other’s distinctive technological capabilities. HDX will supply CNH with their patented AAVM+ (Advanced Around View Monitoring Plus) 360-degree camera and radar system delivering enhanced safety. CNH will supply HDX with Global Navigation Satellite System technologies through its Hemisphere brand.
Siemens and Voltaiq collaborate to optimize battery manufacturing
Siemens Digital Industries Software announced its collaboration with Voltaiq to accelerate battery manufacturing, by combining their strengths to offer unparalleled capabilities for battery manufacturing-focused companies. This collaboration aims to bring together the production-proven capabilities of both Siemens’ Insights Hub™ and Voltaiq’s Enterprise Battery Intelligence™ (EBI), customers can gain access to unparalleled capability specific to battery-domain companies to help rapidly scale operations smoothly, from initial testing to full-scale production lines.
BASF and Stena Recycling partner in recycling of electric vehicle batteries in Europe
BASF, a global battery materials producer and battery recycler, and Stena Recycling, one of Europe’s leading recycling companies, offering comprehensive solutions in recycling and circular services, have entered into a black mass purchase agreement. This agreement is part of a broader collaboration envisaged by BASF and Stena Recycling with the goal of setting up a battery recycling value chain for the European electric vehicle battery market.
Valiant TMS and Realtime Robotics Partner to Reduce a Customer's Cycle Time by 17% and Cut Programming Time in Half
Realtime Robotics, the leader in collision-free autonomous motion planning for industrial robots, today announced that Valiant TMS, a full-service Industry 4.0 system integrator, has partnered with the company to apply its innovative Optimization-as-a-Service solution to customers’ manufacturing operations.
The combination of Valiant TMS’ years of manufacturing industry expertise with Realtime Robotics’ proprietary optimization software and experienced robotics engineering insights presents customers with an easy way to improve the efficiency and productivity of their automation operations. Realtime’s solution rapidly generates and tests hundreds of thousands of potential robot paths, determining the best motion sequences based on target sequences, robot reach, and other customer-desired parameters.
In fact, in a recently completed multi-robot application, Valiant TMS used Realtime’s optimization solution to design motion plans with more efficient motion paths, better interlocks, and a faster execution time, ultimately reducing a customer’s robot cycle time by 17% and cutting robot programming time in half.
Siemens delivers innovations in immersive engineering and artificial intelligence to enable the industrial metaverse
Siemens and Sony Corporation (Sony) are partnering to introduce a new solution that combines the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software with Sony’s new spatial content creation system, featuring the XR head-mounted display with high-quality 4K OLED Microdisplays and controllers for intuitive interaction with 3D objects.
In addition, Siemens and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are strengthening their partnership and making it easier for businesses of all sizes and industries to build and scale generative artificial intelligence (AI) applications. Siemens is integrating Amazon Bedrock - a service that offers a choice of high-performing foundation models from leading AI companies via a single API, along with security, privacy, and responsible AI capabilities - with Mendix, the leading low-code platform that is part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio.
Arch Systems Announces Strategic Collaboration with Jabil for Global Electronics Manufacturing Data and Analytics Solution
Arch®, the leading provider of machine data and analytics for manufacturing, is pleased to announce its three-year strategic collaboration with Jabil Inc., a leading global manufacturing solutions provider. The agreement, effective from September 1, 2023, to September 1, 2026, solidifies a long-term international collaboration between the two industry leaders.
Jabil selected Arch Systems for its unrivaled expertise in manufacturing data, offering a seamless solution that adds key functionality and enhances critical points within Jabil’s internal system. The strategic collaboration spans four continents, twelve countries, and several hundred production lines front-to-back, from surface mount technology (SMT) through backend assembly and test.
Autonomous operations: The key to sustainably capitalizing on FPSO market growth
Yinson’s partnership with AVEVA, named Project Polaris, aims to combine our industry and technology expertise with its in-depth knowledge of the industry and FPSOs. Project Polaris is an integrated asset management solution consisting of AVEVA™ Asset Strategy Optimization, AVEVA™ Predictive Analytics, AVEVA™ BI Gateway, AVEVA™ Unified Operations Center, and AVEVA™ Work Tasks used in conjunction with existing solutions including AVEVA™ PI System™. It’s designed to improve the overall operations, maintenance, and reliability of the FPSO assets and drive toward sustainable, autonomous operations.
Using a unified operations center that provides a common user experience across the organization, Project Polaris is already helping Yinson overcome business challenges. From visualization to predictive analytics, Project Polaris integrates with existing applications and is scalable, allowing the solution to continue to gain value while reaching goals for 15 unique use cases. By monitoring asset reliability and efficiency, users can understand asset health and performance to make data-driven decisions that optimize operations, reduce unplanned downtime to zero, prevent failures, and maximize production through effective asset lifecycle management.
Kodiak Robotics Selects Ambarella AI Domain Controller SoC For Next-Generation Autonomous Trucks
Ambarella, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMBA), an edge AI semiconductor company, and Kodiak Robotics, Inc., a leading autonomous vehicle company focused on trucking and defense, announced that Kodiak selected Ambarella’s CV3-AD685 AI domain control system-on-chip (SoC) as a complete embedded compute solution for its next-generation autonomous vehicles. This SoC provides a complete embedded solution for Kodiak’s multi-sensor perception, fusion and path planning—running neural networks while processing multiple cameras, lidars and radars.
Building on the success of the companies’ current partnership, Kodiak has already logged over 300,000 miles on Ambarella’s CV2 AI perception SoC while delivering over 875 loads, demonstrating that Kodiak Driver with help from the Ambarella hardware can withstand the rigorous environment of highway trucking. The CV2 has enabled premium image quality through rain, fog and darkness—ensuring that Kodiak delivers freight for its customers safely and on time.
Kodiak’s next-generation self-driving truck platform will utilize the CV3-AD685 SoC to optimize hardware cost, reliability, size and robustness, while improving safety and performance. Designed with Ambarella’s “algorithm first” philosophy, this 5nm SoC is purpose-built to provide a high-performance compute solution in the smallest form factor, which enables Kodiak’s modular autonomous vehicle platform hardware across a wide variety of environmental conditions.
Eureka Robotics’ Joint Development with Bridgestone Softrobotics Ventures
We are pleased to announce Eureka Robotics’ joint development with Bridgestone Softrobotics Ventures: industry’s first “Grasp Anything” system!
How to grasp a wide variety of objects without any programming is the Holy Grail of Warehouse Automation. Eureka Robotics and Bridgestone Softrobotics Ventures, a Bridgestone Corporation company, have joined forces to fundamentally tackle this challenge.
Leveraging Soft Actuator technology, Bridgestone’s Soft Robot Hand is able to grasp a remarkably wide variety of objects while being tolerant to positioning uncertainties and collisions.
HD Hyundai, Google Cloud team up to accelerate generative AI innovation
HD Hyundai and Google Cloud have formed a strategic partnership to use the US firm’s multimodal AI model Gemini, unveiled earlier this month, across the Korean company’s core businesses, including shipbuilding, heavy machinery and energy. Under the partnership, Google Cloud will provide HD Hyundai with enterprise tools such as the Vertex AI platform to develop industry-specific AI applications. Starting in January 2024, HD Hyundai and Google Cloud will develop various AI solutions tailored to industry-specific needs and cultivate AI experts at the Korean conglomerate.
Mitsubishi Corporation and Amogy with SK Innovation join forces to unlock the potential of Amogy's ammonia cracking technology in Japan and South Korea
Mitsubishi Corporation and Amogy are excited to announce a strategic partnership that will focus on accelerating the adoption of Amogy’s ammonia-to-power and ammonia cracking technology in large-scale hydrogen carrier applications in East Asia, particularly Japan and South Korea.
The joint study set to commence in December 2023 with SK Innovation, will first assess a large-scale deployment of Amogy’s technology, including analysis of costs across the value chain, and explore opportunities for market expansion across the ammonia and hydrogen supply chain. Upon the completion of the initial phase, three companies are looking to explore joint pilot opportunities in the strategic regions.
Flexxbotics Provides Robot Compatibility with Nakamura-Tome Machine Tools
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Nakamura-Tome machinery and equipment. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with Nakamura-Tome machine tools achieve higher yields, greater throughput and increased profit per part.
Flexxbotics’ patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables robots to securely connect and communicate with Nakamura-Tome machinery in the smart factory to provide more powerful, flexible and open robot connectivity than previously possible.
Smart robotic automation solutions from ABB to support sustainability targets for Volvo Cars
ABB announced the strengthening of its long-standing partnership with Volvo Cars to supply more than 1,300 robots and functional packages to build the next generation of electric vehicles. This will support the Swedish car manufacturer to achieve its ambitious sustainability targets.
This agreement includes functional packages covering various production tasks, from spot-welding, riveting, and dispensing to flow drilling and ultrasonic weld inspection. Each package is a ready-to-use, customer-proven combination of hardware, software and services and will be implemented at Volvo Cars’ facilities in Torslanda, Sweden and Daqing, China. Alongside the hardware and functional packages, ABB’s latest range of OmniCore robot controllers will help to deliver energy savings of up to 20 percent at sites due to their highly efficient power electronics and use of regenerative braking within the robot.
IHI, Gentari sign MoU to develop global green ammonia value chain and commercial demonstration of ammonia-powered gas turbine
IHI Corporation (IHI), a Japanese engineering company, and Gentari Hydrogen Sdn Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of PETRONAS’ clean energy arm Gentari Sdn Bhd (Gentari), today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will see the two parties deepening their collaboration to further develop the hydrogen industry.
Under this MoU, IHI and Gentari will jointly explore the establishment of a global green ammonia value chain which spans the production, transportation, storage and utilization of green ammonia in Asia Pacific and other areas of mutual interest. Additionally, the parties will also explore progressing the commercial utilization of IM270, a fully ammonia-powered gas turbine, developed by IHI with support from Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Anticipating commencement by 2026, this commercial demonstration could potentially be the world’s first fully ammonia-powered gas turbine to be deployed.
Infineon, POLYN to Collaborate on Advanced Tire Monitoring Products
POLYN Technology, a fabless semiconductor company supplying application-specific Neuromorphic Analog Signal Processing (NASP) technology and products, and Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX), the global leader in automotive semiconductors, today announced a collaboration in next-generation tire monitoring products.
POLYN is a market leader in neuromorphic analog signal processing and offers Neuromorphic Front-End (NFE) chips for innovative IoT products utilizing on-sensor data processing. As a result of the two companies’ collaboration, Infineon will provide new generation TPMS sensors with tire vibration signal detection, leveraging POLYN’s NFE for vibration data pre-processing at the sensor.
Realtime Robotics and HLS Partner to Rapidly Optimize Manufacturing
Following the release of its Optimization-as-a-Service (OaaS) solution, Realtime Robotics has announced a partnership with integrated engineering solutions mogul HLS Engineering Group. Realtime will combine its well-orchestrated robotic motion control expertise with HLS’ engineering know-how to enhance the OaaS solution. Through virtual modeling, automated robot path generation, and evaluation, manufacturers can use the OaaS solution to implement robot path changes without disrupting existing processes.
Rockwell Automation and Michelin strengthen their collaboration in the digitalization of manufacturing
Rockwell Automation, Inc (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced it has strengthened its collaboration with Michelin, the French multinational tire manufacturing company, focusing on digital innovation across Michelin’s manufacturing processes.
This collaboration between Michelin and Rockwell Automation is comprehensive, covering multiple aspects of digital transformation. Joint efforts in prototyping and testing will validate the feasibility and effectiveness of new ideas, and enhance the efficiency of R&D initiatives, laying the groundwork for ongoing co-innovation and co-development.
Flexxbotics Announces Robot Compatibility with HURCO® CNC Machines & Automation Solutions
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full line of HURCO machinery including 5-axis machining centers, 3-axis machining centers, portal machining centers, horizontal machining centers, and turning centers. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with HURCO equipment achieve higher yields, greater throughput and increased profit per part.
Flexxbotics’ patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables robots to securely connect and communicate with HURCO machinery in the smart factory to provide more powerful, flexible and open robot connectivity than previously possible. Flexxbotics is compatible with HURCO’s MAX®5 CNC control system used on HURCO machines including the TM/X Series and VM/X Series.
DNP Develops Photomask Process for 3nm EUV Lithography
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) has successfully developed a photomask manufacturing process capable of accommodating the 3-nanometer (10-9 meter) lithography process that supports Extreme Ultra-Violet (EUV) lithography, the cutting-edge process for semiconductor manufacturing. Through joint development with partners, such as imec, DNP will continue to develop more advanced photomasks capable of supporting processes finer than 3nm and even beyond 2nm.
TeamViewer to drive smart factory innovation with strategic investments in manufacturing analytics and IoT
TeamViewer, a leading global provider of remote connectivity and workplace digitalization solutions, today announced strategic investments in two pioneering companies for smart factory solutions: Sight Machine and Cybus. With a total investment of a low double-digit million EUR amount, the company is strengthening its commitment to the digital transformation of industrial working environments and the convergence of Information and Operation Technology (IT & OT).
Materialise, Proponent, and Stirling Dynamics Sign Letter of Intent to Provide Certified 3D-Printed Cabin Solutions
Materialise NV (NASDAQ:MTLS), a global pioneer in 3D printing solutions and services, Proponent, the largest independent aerospace distributor, and Stirling Dynamics, an EASA 21.J-certified Aerospace Design Organization, have announced the signing of a letter of intent (LOI) aimed at providing certified cabin solutions for aircraft.
Stirling Dynamics, an Expleo company, strengthens an existing partnership between Materialise and Proponent that was formed in 2021. By combining their unique forces, the three companies can support the aerospace aftermarket with the design, production, and distribution of certified 3D-printed cabin solutions. As an aerospace-approved Design Organization (DOA), Stirling Dynamics develops improved, certified designs for 3D-printed interior cabin parts and provides complete aircraft documentation and installation instructions.
Together, Materialise, Proponent, and Stirling Dynamics aim to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing for cabin parts. Through the identification and design of smart 3D-printed solutions for OEMs, airlines, and MROs, this partnership seeks to give airline customers the possibility to easily leverage the unique manufacturing benefits 3D printing offers.
Breakthrough Digital Lithography Technology From Applied Materials and Ushio to Enable More Powerful Computing Systems for the AI Era
Applied Materials, Inc. and Ushio, Inc. announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the industry’s roadmap for heterogeneous integration (HI) of chiplets into 3D packages. The companies are jointly bringing to market the first digital lithography system specifically designed for patterning the advanced substrates needed in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) era of computing.
The new DLT system is the only lithography technology that can achieve the resolution necessary for advanced substrate applications while delivering throughput levels required for high-volume production. With the ability to pattern less than 2-micron line widths, the system enables the highest area density for chiplet architectures on any substrate, including wafers or large panels made of glass or organic materials. The DLT system is uniquely designed to solve unpredictable substrate warpage issues and achieve overlay accuracy. Production systems have already been shipped to multiple customers, and 2-micron patterning has been demonstrated on glass and other advanced package substrates.
GreyOrange and Hai Robotics Dynamic Partnership Advances Automated Robotic Fulfillment
GreyOrange Inc., a global leader in automated robotic fulfillment and inventory optimization software, and Hai Robotics, a global leader in Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS), elevate their strategic partnership, resulting in customer competitive advantages. Together, after more than two years of partnership, GreyOrange software and Hai Robotics hardware yield increased throughput, storage density and agility, resulting in accelerated customer operations and growth.
The two companies have come together to create a uniquely advanced offering for warehouses and distribution centers around the globe. GreyOrange’s fulfillment orchestration platform, GreyMatter™, utilizes its Multi-Agent Orchestration (MAO) capabilities to connect and run both Hai’s Tote to Person AMRs and GreyOrange’s Rack to Person AMRs on a single grid – unifying complex or cross-functional operations throughout a facility for streamlined operations.
Emerson Chosen as Automation Partner For Korea's Largest EV Lithium-Ion Battery Recycler
Global automation technology and software leader Emerson (NYSE: EMR) has been selected by Korea’s SungEel HiTech Co., Ltd., a specialist in lithium-ion battery recycling, to provide advanced automation solutions in support of sustainable production and operational efficiency goals at the newest of three lithium-ion recycling plants located at SungEel’s Hydro Center complex in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do.
Through the combination of Emerson’s process automation technology and SungEel HiTech’s unique battery recycling methods, the collaboration aims to establish a robust resource cycle that will help enable a more stable supply of battery materials for electric vehicles in pursuit of bolstering the world’s overall production capacity.
Audi drives the future of manufacturing
The production of the Audi e-tron GT illustrates what’s possible in this new paradigm. It went from design to production in record time — without a physical prototype.
Virtual reality prototypes are just the beginning. Thousands of assets in the Böllinger Höfe plant operate under the aegis of Audi’s Edge Cloud 4 Production (EC4P), with critical networking and security support from Cisco. And by connecting “brownfield” legacy hardware — that is, existing devices like cameras, robots, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and field busses — the transformation did not demand a complete factory overhaul. It did, however, benefit from the efforts of Cisco’s Customer Experience team to bring the vision to life.
“Audi and Cisco shared the vision of getting rid of the compute hardware from the shop floor and virtualizing it,” Loeser concluded. “That’s one of the big reasons why we are actually deploying this today.
Mitsubishi Electric and TXOne Networks to Cooperate in Mutual Expansion of OT Security Businesses
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and TXOne Networks Inc. announced today that they have signed a long-term cooperation agreement covering technology development and marketing, aiming at expanding the operational-technology (OT) security businesses of both companies.
OT and industrial control systems in manufacturing sites are often operated in closed environments, with IT and OT systems separated from each other. However, the emergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and digital transformation (DX) is enabling convergence between these two domains. As a result, cyberattacks targeting manufacturing sites in industries such as semiconductors and automobiles have increased, leading to production disruptions and highlighting the growing need for more robust security measures in factories.
Through their new collaboration, the two companies aim to create innovative new value in OT security by combining Mitsubishi Electric’s assessment, maintenance and operation services as well as control equipment and systems with TXOne’s OT security products. The new OT security solutions are expected to improve manufacturing productivity, efficiency and safety as well as security levels throughout the supply chains of various industries.
Panasonic and Sila Sign Agreement for Titan Silicon, Sila’s anode material to deliver enhanced battery performance for EVs
Panasonic Energy Co., Ltd., a Panasonic Group Company, and Sila, a next-generation battery materials company, today announced the signing of a commercial agreement for Sila’s high-performance nano-composite silicon anode, Titan SiliconTM. The high energy density battery from Panasonic is expected to enable automakers to deliver unmatched EV performance, dramatically increasing vehicle range and reducing charge times. Sila’s anode materials, to be produced in the company’s plant in Moses Lake, WA, will be optimized for Panasonic’s next-generation lithium-ion batteries.
Sila was the first to bring next-generation anode materials to market with the launch of Titan Silicon in the WHOOP 4.0 in 2021. In 2022, the company was the first next-generation battery materials company to sign a supply agreement with a global auto manufacturer, Mercedes Benz. And today, Sila partners with the world’s leading cell manufacturer to redefine what’s possible for EV range and charge times.
ROHM and Toshiba Agree to Collaborate in Manufacturing Power Devices
A plan by ROHM Co., Ltd. (“ROHM”) and Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation (“Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage”) to collaborate in the manufacture and increased volume production of power devices has been recognized and will be supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry as a measure supporting the Japanese Government’s target of secure and stable semiconductor supply. ROHM and Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage will respectively make intensive investments in silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) power devices, effectively enhance their supply capabilities, and complementally utilize other party’s production capacity.
ROHM has already announced its participation in the privatization of Toshiba, but this investment did not serve as the starting point for manufacturing collaboration between the two companies. Under intensifying international competition in the semiconductor industry, ROHM and Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage have been considering collaboration in the power device business for some time, and that resulted in the joint application.
Trimble to Provide Advanced Positioning Systems to Sabanto for Enhanced Autonomous Tractor Performance
Trimble (NASDAQ: TRMB) and Sabanto have announced the integration of Trimble BX992 Dual Antenna GNSS receivers with Trimble CenterPoint® RTX into Sabanto’s autonomy solutions. Trimble will act as Sabanto’s key autonomous technology provider, delivering high-accuracy positioning to its fleet.
Siemens and Intel to collaborate on advanced semiconductor manufacturing
Siemens AG, a leading technology company, and Intel Corporation, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on driving digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing. The companies will focus on advancing future manufacturing efforts, evolving factory operations and cybersecurity, and supporting a resilient global industry ecosystem.
Siemens and Intel to collaborate to advance semiconductor manufacturing production efficiency and sustainability across scopes 1-3 of the value chain Semiconductors are crucial for the global economy and for lowering carbon footprints across economies by enabling sustainable solutions Intel and Siemens will leverage their respective portfolios of cutting edge IoT solutions, along with Siemens automation solutions to enhance semiconductor manufacturing efficiency and sustainability
JGC and Yokogawa Team up to Develop Lunar Plant Control System That Will Support Ultra-remote Communications
JGC Corporation and Yokogawa Electric Corporation announce the signing of an agreement on November 15 to jointly develop a control system that will support the ultra-remote communications required for the operation of plants on the lunar surface.
The construction of such a system, which will be located at a ground station and integrate the communications, process control, and operation monitoring for a plant on the lunar surface, will need to take into account constraints such as the communication delay between the earth and the moon. This joint development will make use of JGC’s know-how of energy plant control/operations and knowledge gained through the conduct of lunar plant studies, and Yokogawa’s remote monitoring and control technology. The two companies plan to quickly move ahead with the design and construction of experimental equipment that can simulate these delays, then complete by the end of 2024 a study that will identify an optimal solution for a control system that will be capable of handling ultra-remote communications.
Siemens and Intel to collaborate on advanced semiconductor manufacturing
Siemens AG, a leading technology company, and Intel Corporation, one of the world’s largest semiconductor companies, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on driving digitalization and sustainability of microelectronics manufacturing. The companies will focus on advancing future manufacturing efforts, evolving factory operations and cybersecurity, and supporting a resilient global industry ecosystem.
The MoU identifies key areas of collaboration to explore a variety of initiatives, including optimizing energy management and addressing carbon footprints across the value chain. For instance, the collaboration will explore use of “digital twins” of complex, highly capital-intensive manufacturing facilities to standardize solutions where every percentage of efficiency gained is meaningful.
The collaboration will also explore minimizing energy use through advanced modeling of natural resources and environmental footprints across the value chain. To gain more information on product-related emissions, Intel will explore product and supply chain related modeling solutions with Siemens that drive data-based insights and help the industry accelerate progress in reducing its collective footprint.
UVeye Partners with Hypertec to Mass-produce AI Vehicle Inspection Systems in North America
UVeye, a leading technology company specializing in computer vision and artificial intelligence for the development of automated drive-through inspection systems for vehicles, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with Hypertec, a global leader in state-of-the-art sustainable technology solutions.
This collaborative effort will kickstart mass production of UVeye’s innovative systems in response to the growing demand from a diverse range of automotive industry players, including car dealerships, car auctions, and fleets. Production will take place at Hypertec’s facilities located in Plainfield, Indiana, and Montréal, Canada, solidifying the alignment between cutting-edge technology and sustainable innovation.
Japan's TDK Corp to manufacture iPhone battery cells in India
Japanese electronic parts maker TDK Corp will manufacture lithium ion (li-ion) battery cells for Apple iPhones in India. TDK will set up a manufacturing facility in the northern state of Haryana, creating several thousand new jobs, Deputy Minister for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on social media platform X. Cells manufactured at the facility will be supplied to Apple’s li-ion battery assembler Sunwoda Electronics, the report added.
Flexxbotics Announces Robot Compatibility with Mazak Advanced Technology Solutions
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Mazak CNC machines and automation equipment. With Flexxbotics next generation machining environments using robotics with Mazak advanced technology solutions achieve greater throughput, higher yields and increased profit per part.
Robot compatibility is enabled by Flexxbotics for all different Mazak machine types including multi-tasking, hybrid multi-tasking, 5-axis, milling, turning, laser processing and automation. Flexxbotics is compatible with the full line of Mazak MAZATROL controllers including its next generation AI-powered SmoothAi, SmoothEz, SmoothX, SmoothG and SmoothC.
In addition to compatibility with Mazak MAZATROL controllers Flexxbotics is compatible with a wide range of open standard protocols including OPC/UA, MTConnect, Modbus-TCP, TCP/IP, Ethernet/IP, and DeviceNet along with FOCAS2/FOCAS, MELSEC, Profibus/Profinet and other proprietary controllers and interfacing protocols.
Accenture Expands Partnership with SAP to Help Clients Establish Responsible and Resilient Supply Chains
Accenture (NYSE: ACN) announced it will collaborate with SAP SE to help organizations reinvent their supply chains with a comprehensive supply chain nerve center that can reduce risk, enhance visibility and support sustainability goals. Additionally, Accenture and SAP plan to co-develop new capabilities for the SAP® Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain (SAP IBP) solution to help further enhance an organization’s ability to quickly and cost-effectively respond to changes in supply, demand and inventory.
Using cloud, data, artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics, the supply chain nerve centerprovides n-tier transparency, allowing organizations to identify risks beyond tier one and tier two suppliers by giving deeper visibility into their network of suppliers and subcontractors. It turns data into actionable insights and improves decision-making by sensing factors such as whether suppliers align with an organization’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals.
Yokogawa and FPT Software Ink Global Partnership to Advance DX Solution Offerings
Specifically, FPT Software will strengthen Yokogawa’s IT capabilities by providing support in the areas of application development, system maintenance, infrastructure deployment, infrastructure operation, and the offering of software as a service. Yokogawa will leverage its solid foundation of OT know-how and experience to support FPT Software in applying its technologies to the field, while continuously enhancing its own DX-related solutions and services. As a result, the customers of both companies will be able to experience a broader array of enhanced and differentiated DX services that make combined use of OT and IT.
Mitsubishi Electric Partners with Software Developer ModuleWorks
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced that it has agreed to strategically partner with and invest in ModuleWorks GmbH, a leading software component provider for the digital manufacturing industry. The agreement builds on Mitsubishi Electric’s ongoing collaboration with ModuleWorks, a highly regarded developer of cutting-edge CAD/CAM solutions, for the development of advanced technologies to generate machining-tool paths and conduct machine-tool simulations.
The simulation of machining operations and the avoidance of real-time collisions through machine verifications are critical to the operation and safe use of machines, as well as to reducing the burden of engineering.
Mitsubishi Electric intends to accelerate joint development and marketing through its partnership with ModuleWorks. By strengthening its software development, including machine-tool simulation and data integration with CAD/CAM, the company aims to realize easier and safer operation of machine tools, reduce engineering workloads, and optimize engineering chains. Ultimately, this is expected to contribute to the growth of Mitsubishi Electric’s Circular Digital-Engineering business, including the expanded use of digital twins and other advanced technologies in the machine tool field and the realization of increasingly smart production sites.
RICOH 3D for Healthcare partners with Materialise to broaden access to 3D-printed patient-specific solutions
Ricoh USA, Inc. today announced at the RSNA Assembly and Annual Meeting, a partnership with Materialise that will provide software solutions to support RICOH 3D for Healthcare, a HIPAA-compliant, ISO 13485 certified 3D medical manufacturing center for the development, design and production of 3D-printed anatomic models in both their centralized medical device manufacturing facility, as well as in Ricoh’s Point of Care facilities. Through the partnership, Ricoh will now be able to drive more personalized healthcare solutions and make it simple to create or expand on-site Point of Care centers.
IHI and Vopak sign MOU for joint study on low-carbon ammonia terminal development and operation
IHI Corporation (IHI) and Royal Vopak (Vopak) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to jointly explore the development and operation of efficient, high value-added ammonia terminals in Japan. IHI and Vopak will furthermore assess a collaboration outside of Japan.
The collaboration focusses on large-scale ammonia storage terminals, strategically positioned for the economical distribution of ammonia. Ammonia plays an important role as a fuel for reducing carbon emissions from thermal power generation and as a hydrogen carrier, both in Japan and abroad. In addition, the study will examine the possibility of streamlining the operation of ammonia terminals to enhance price competitiveness, as well as the conversion and supply of various hydrogen derivatives.
Kraft Heinz introduces first 100% recyclable ketchup cap with help from Berry Global
The launch by Kraft Heinz Company of its first 100% recyclable cap for its famous squeezy ketchup bottle demonstrates the collaborative achievement utilizing the innovative design and manufacturing capabilities of Berry Global in supporting retail brands with a move towards more sustainable packaging solutions.
The project has been eight years, 45 prototypes and more than 185,000 hours in development, to ensure the optimum balance between functionality and sustainability. Berry was involved through the design and production process, from concept to the creation of the series tools in Berry’s in-house tool shop, as well as the development of the assembly equipment for industrial production.
Supernal and Korean Air Announce Strategic Partnership to Spur Development of Advanced Air Mobility Vehicles and Operational Ecosystem
Supernal LLC – Hyundai Motor Group’s Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) company – announced today a strategic partnership with Korean Air to help accelerate the design of an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle and the development of the AAM ecosystem in Korea. The collaboration adds to a growing list of Supernal partnerships that are advancing its mission to make AAM an efficient and reliable option for everyday transportation needs.
The companies will engage in a variety of activities as part of the partnership, including exchanging technical data and jointly participating in workshops and programs to help develop an AAM ecosystem that will support safe eVTOL operations. As part of the agreement, Korean Air will provide insights about Korean-market requirements and AAM aircraft specifications, informing Supernal’s product and market development strategies. The companies will also explore ways to effectively test the operation of Supernal’s eVTOL vehicle and AAM infrastructure networks.
Rapidus and Tenstorrent Partner to Accelerate Development of AI Edge Device Domain Based on 2nm Logic
Rapidus Corporation, a company involved in the research, development, design, manufacture, and sales of advanced logic semiconductors, today announced an agreement with Tenstorrent Inc., a next-generation computing company building computers for AI, to jointly develop semiconductor IP (design assets) in the field of AI edge devices based on 2nm logic semiconductors.
In addition to its AI processors and servers, Tenstorrent built and owns the world’s most performant RISC-V CPU IP and licenses that technology to its customers around the world. Through this technological partnership with Rapidus, Tenstorrent will accelerate the development of cutting-edge devices to meet the needs of the ever-evolving digital society.
Rapidus, University of Tokyo plan 1-nm chip tech with French partner
Japanese chipmaker Rapidus and the University of Tokyo are partnering with French research institute Leti to jointly develop basic technology for designing chips using technology in the 1-nanometer range, Nikkei has learned. The partners will begin actively exchanging staff and sharing technology as early as next year. Leti will contribute its expertise in chip components to build an infrastructure for supplying 1-nm products.
TOPPAN Holdings Strengthens Collaborative Network in the Decorative Surfacing Materials Business with Vietnam’s JOYFUL
TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) entered into a capital and business alliance agreement with JOYFUL Co., Ltd., a Vietnamese printer of decorative surfacing materials, in July 2023 to drive global development of the decorative surfacing materials business. After receiving approval from the Vietnamese authorities in October, the two companies are launching full-scale collaboration, including sales and marketing activities, in November.
Dyndrite Partners with AMFG to Streamline Production with Automated Nesting.
Dyndrite is partnering with AMFG to leverage our award-winning automated workflow software to enable the automated 3D nesting of CAD files, streamlining their pre-production process. Commenting on the successful integration of the project, Sven Hinrichs, Head of Technology Consulting, AMFG, stated; “As a leading automation solution, we recognize the transformative power of Dyndrite’s automated nesting and build preparation capabilities for additive manufacturing. The efficiency gains brought about by Dyndrite’s cutting-edge technology have revolutionized our workflow, allowing our customers to optimize material usage, reduce production time, and ultimately deliver superior results to our clients. Dyndrite’s commitment to advancing the additive manufacturing landscape aligns seamlessly with our goal of providing innovative and cost-effective solutions. Together, we’re shaping the future of manufacturing by harnessing the full potential of automation in the additive process.”
Toyota and Redwood Materials Agree to Battery Recycling, Materials Procurement
Progressing closer to the goal of battery ecosystem circularity, Toyota Motor North America (TMNA) and Redwood Materials announce an expanded recycling agreement that aims to create pathways for automotive batteries used in Toyota’s electrified vehicles that have reached the end of their life. The plan also includes an agreement for Toyota to source Cathode Active Material (CAM) and Anode copper foil from Redwood’s recycling activities for Toyota’s future, new automotive battery production. The agreement builds on the collaboration with Redwood announced last year for battery collection and recycling of Toyota’s hybrid and battery electric vehicle batteries.
Toyota’s automotive battery recycling needs are expected to grow substantially in the coming years as more of its electrified vehicles, such as first-generation Prius models introduced more than 20 years ago, reach the end of their lifecycle. With a large amount of Toyota’s retiring fleet of electrified vehicles being in California, Redwood’s Nevada recycling facility will support Toyota’s North American supply chain, which will improve sustainability, and help to enhance operational improvements across the TMNA enterprise for a closed-loop battery ecosystem. Toyota’s battery lifecycle ecosystem is forecast to include the recycling, remanufacturing and repurposing of the nearly five million operating units, building toward Toyota’s ultimate goals of carbon neutrality for its global operations by 2035 and carbon neutrality for its vehicles by 2050.
Why CP Kelco chose to partner with Tractian
Center For Deep Learning In Electronics Manufacturing: Bringing Deep Learning To Production For Photomask Manufacturing
Five years later, CDLe has completed its mission by graduating more than 20 students from the alliance members and completing 30 DL projects, many of which are headed to or already in production. This contrasts with the opinion of industry luminaries in the 2023 annual eBeam Initiative survey in which only 22% of respondents thought that DL would be used in production in any stage of production mask making by 2023. CDLe and its participants have had more success with DL than the industry at large because of their approach: using digital twins to bridge the data gap that keeps DL prototypes from moving to production use and following a “recipe for DL success” that includes executive commitment, dedicated computing resources, and DL and domain experts.
Schneider Electric partners with ArcelorMittal on low-carbon steel to reduce the environmental impact of its products
ArcelorMittal, the world’s leading steel and mining company, and Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced today a partnership whereby ArcelorMittal will supply Schneider Electric with XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel for its electrical cabinets and enclosures.
Produced at ArcelorMittal’s site in Sestao, Spain, XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is made using a very high proportion of recycled steel in an electric arc furnace, powered with 100% renewable electricity. This results in CO₂ emissions which are close to 70% lower than the same product made without XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel.
ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel will be used by Schneider Electric to manufacture the new PanelSeT SFN floor-standing enclosures built to protect large electrical panels for industrial automation, power distribution and electronic applications. As these enclosures are built to withstand tough operating environments, the XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel is also coated with Magnelis®, a metallic coating offering high corrosion protection.
Simulation Helps Rockwell Automation Accelerate Digital Transformation
LG's robot to be used in facility diagnosis of POSCO's steel mill
LG Electronics’ AI-based self-driving robots can be widely used for facility diagnosis at hazardous worksites in the future, the company said Wednesday, after completing a two-day demonstration of unmanned facility management using its robot at POSCO’s Gwangyang steel plant. LG said the robot completed its facility management mission in the electrical room of the steel plant in Gwangyang, South Jeolla Province, on Monday and Tuesday.
This demonstration project was carried out as part of a business agreement between LG Electronics and POSCO Holdings. In May, the two companies signed a business agreement for the development of technologies in the fields of robots, AI and 5G networks, and conducted the first stage of a demonstration in July to control the driving of a semi-autonomous robot.
“We equipped the robot with cameras and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensors. The robot uses the information acquired from the sensors to recognize its surroundings more accurately,” LG said. “It has a high recognition rate even in low-light environments such as basements or places where safety fences are installed around equipment. If it detects abnormal temperatures in various equipment in the electrical room using the temperature information obtained from its thermal imaging camera, it will take a picture and send an alert to the control room.”
Aveva and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories
AI for industry: Schaeffler and Siemens bring Industrial Copilot to shopfloor
To support engineers with various automation tasks, the AI-powered assistant is connected to Siemens’ engineering framework Totally Integrated Automation (TIA) Portal via the open API TIA Portal Openness. The Industrial Copilot helps Schaeffler’s automation engineers to generate code faster for programmable logic controllers (PLC), the devices that control most machines throughout the world’s factories. Engineering teams can significantly reduce time, effort, and the probability of errors by generating PLC code through natural language inputs.
Siemens Industrial Copilot has access to all relevant documentation, guidelines and manuals to assist shopfloor workers with identifying possible errors. These capabilities enable maintenance teams to identify errors and generate step-by-step solutions more quickly. This will help to significantly reduce machine downtime, make industrial companies more efficient and thus support sustainability efforts.
ABB Case Study SUS Japan 2023
Flexxbotics Delivers Robot Compatibility with Haas Automation CNC Machines and Equipment
Flexxbotics, delivering workcell digitalization for robot-driven manufacturing, today announced robot machine tending connectivity compatible with the full range of Haas Automation machine tools including vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, CNC lathes, and rotary tables, as well as, five-axis and specialty machines. With Flexxbotics, next generation machining environments running robotics with Haas Automation equipment achieve greater throughput, higher yields and increased profit per part.
Flexxbotics’ patent-pending FlexxCORE technology enables robots to securely connect and communicate with Haas Automation equipment in the smart factory to provide more powerful, flexible and open connectivity than previously possible. Flexxbotics compatibility includes the Haas Next Generation Control, as well as, Haas Serial and I/O for interfacing to both current and older models.
Autodesk & Cadence: Partnering to Unlock Smarter Product Design and Fuel Innovation
Traditionally, printed circuit board (PCB) designers using Cadence Design Systems tools operated in a silo, isolated from the mechanical design team working with tools like Autodesk Fusion. Teams would play a game of digital ping-pong, tossing files over the virtual wall, hoping everything gets noticed in the right place, at the right time, and by the right people.
This week at Autodesk University, we were excited to announce our new partnership with Cadence Design Systems, the leader in electronic systems design tools, which aims to bridge this gap between electronic and mechanical design teams. The integration connects specialized Cadence PCB technologies directly with Autodesk Fusion, advancing its powerful CAD, CAM, and PCB design capabilities to streamline ECAD to MCAD workflows and transform smart product design.
Together, the partnership brings cloud-based integration between Fusion and Cadence Allegro X and OrCAD X. The integrated solution is another example of Autodesk’s commitment to an open ecosystem and to improve collaboration across electronics and mechanical design teams.
“They listened to everything we asked for.” – How Toyota helped shape the Stratasys F3300 FDM 3D printer
In the building of the F3300, Stratasys started from scratch rather than riff off the architecture of past FDM systems, integrating a tool changer that allows the user to deploy one of four extruders at a time. Tools can be changed within around 14 seconds, giving the user more flexibility in scenarios of extruder redundancy – one extruder can pick up the slack of another that has broken down – while also allowing them to print multiple colours in one part and even incorporate two different resolutions too. That latter feature was one Stratasys had been looking to achieve from the very beginning.
Stratasys went to the industrial leader in tool changer manufacture, ATI, and commissioned the company to build a custom product for the F3300. Since Stratasys expects users to do multiple tool changes in a build, they needed repeatability, reliability, and accuracy in the XY dimensions.
Per Martin, Stratasys’ tool changer is delivering on the promise. Martin works in Toyota’s TILT Lab and is responsible for delivering tooling, jigs, and fixture applications to his colleagues on the production lines. Around 5,000 cars come off these production lines every day, with Toyota harnessing FDM technology to produce manufacturing aids in materials such as PA12 CF and ULTEM 9085. Martin estimates the F3300 to be between 46-50% faster while maintaining the same resolution and accuracy as the F900.
Lummus and Citroniq Announce Licensing and Engineering Agreements for Green Polypropylene Plants
Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, and Citroniq Chemicals announced that the two companies have signed licensing and engineering agreements for green polypropylene plants in the U.S. The first plant, scheduled for completion in 2027, will produce 400kta of bio-polypropylene and will be first in North America with this production capability.
In April 2023, Lummus and Citroniq formed a partnership to develop four green polypropylene plants in North America using Lummus’ Verdene™ polypropylene technology suite. The licensing and engineering agreements announced are for the first of the four plants.
The Verdene suite includes four Lummus technologies: ethanol to ethylene technology, dimer technology, olefins conversion technology and polypropylene technology. Lummus is the only technology provider able to supply all the proven, low energy technologies to produce renewable green polypropylene from biogenic ethanol.
RIKEN and imec sign Memorandum of Cooperation
RIKEN and imec signed a Memorandum of Cooperation pledging to explore R&D collaboration opportunities, and exchange knowledge through the organization of joint lectures, seminars and symposia. As a part of this initiative, it is developing the elemental technologies necessary for the development of next-generation semiconductors and pioneering the science of prediction in a wide range of fields, including life sciences, through AI and mathematics.
Xometry Leverages Google Cloud To Accelerate The Digitization Of Manufacturing Globally
Xometry, the global AI-powered marketplace connecting enterprise buyers with suppliers of manufacturing services, today announced a partnership with Google Cloud to leverage Vertex AI to help accelerate the deployment of new auto-quote methods and models within Xometry’s AI-powered Instant Quoting Engine. Using Vertex AI, Xometry will accelerate the deployment of its instant-quoting and fulfillment capabilities to encompass the broadest and most comprehensive set of manufacturing technologies. As a result, Vertex AI will help Xometry expand the markets it serves for custom manufacturing and further advance the digitization of manufacturing globally.
Schneider Electric and Compass Datacenters Expand Partnership with $3 Billion Multi-Year Data Center Technology Agreement
Schneider Electric, the leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, today announced at its Capital Markets Day meeting with investors a $3 billion multi-year agreement with Compass Datacenters. The agreement extends the companies’ existing relationship that integrates their respective supply chains to manufacture and deliver prefabricated modular data center solutions.
Since the inception of the initial agreement between the companies, Schneider Electric has manufactured and delivered about 150 modular data center solutions to Compass from its West Chester, OH operation. As demand for more data center solutions increase, the 110,000 square-foot Red Oak, TX operation—which the companies jointly announced in the summer—will also be used to support projected growth.
EOS and Volkmann Partner to Provide Fully-Automated Industrial 3D Printing Powder Handling Solution
VOLKMANN and EOS today announced a scalable, closed-loop metal powder handling solution for users of the EOS M 290, EOS M 400 and EOS M 300 series additive manufacturing (AM) systems. Offered directly from EOS, the handling and processing of metal AM materials can now be managed through a holistic powder handling approach – for both pre- and post-processing – from initial powder preparation to a closed, fully-automatic powder circuit.
Closed powder circuits can be created with up to six (6) 3D printers in one production cell with fully automatic powder handling. The scaling of such systems can be done gradually, incorporating existing printers. The user benefits from this partnership through a holistic system for 3D printing and powder handling from a single source – from project planning to end-use application.
Nokia Bell Labs and Aramco announce R&D collaboration to support priority industries
Nokia’s research arm, Nokia Bell Labs and Aramco, the world’s largest energy company, have signed a non-binding R&D collaboration agreement to support Industry 4.0/4IR digital use-case creation and proof of concept development for priority industrial sectors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and beyond.
Building on the vision of the recently launched Aramco Digital Company, this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is envisioned to accelerate digital transformation within the Kingdom, the Middle East, and North Africa (MENA) region and globally. The collaboration seeks to leverage cutting-edge research and technologies from both companies to advance digital use-cases for a diverse range of industries, including oil and gas, utilities, mining, manufacturing and logistics.
China Unicom and Huawei Help Exquisite Automotive Deploy a Commercial 5G-Advanced Flexible Production Line
Recently, China Unicom and Huawei began to help the Baoding Automation Technology Branch of Exquisite Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. (“EA”) deploy a commercial 5G-Advanced flexible production line that features ultra-high reliability and ultra-low latency.
At Great Wall Motor’s factory in Baoding, Hebei, 5G-Advanced equipment is being used in the car roof production line. Traditional industrial control relies on wired networks to realize the serial connection and control of terminal equipment. However, after a certain period of operations, wire abrasion in mobile application scenarios, such as robot arms, slide units, and swiveling tables, often results in production interruptions, causing an average of about 60 hours of downtime a year.
HP and Materialise Partner to Drive Volume 3D Printing
As an HP preferred partner, Materialise will provide the industry with an end-to-end manufacturing solution that is integrated with an additive technology that is designed for productivity and scale — MJF and Metal Jet systems. As part of this partnership, HP will help customers identify meaningful use cases for the software platform, as well as showcase the solution at HP demo facilities and public events.
The seamless connectivity between HP AM technology and Materialise CO-AM enables users to create workflows that improve traceability, quality control, and machine utilization. Optimized 3D print job management allows production leads to track planned and actual printer activities and optimize machine time. To ensure continuous production, real-time machine monitoring provides operators and engineers with critical process data, including build status, material usage, and machine sensor data. This data can be collected and stored in log files of 3D-printed jobs to enhance traceability and quality control. In addition to their 3D printers, Metal Jet users can connect process-relevant HP machinery to the CO-AM platform, such as the Powder Management Station, Curing Station, and Powder Removal Station. This integration allows Metal Jet users to streamline the post-processing of metal parts within the manufacturing process.