Manufacturing Technology

Life-Changing medical device with Stratasys additive manufacturing

Bluefrog Design, originally named 3CD, was founded in 1990 by Chris Samwell. With 30 years of combined experience as industrial design consultants, the small but expert team at Bluefrog is nothing if not versatile. Bluefrog serves a wide range of industries including consumer goods, packaging, transportation and medical. Although their clients’ specialities are very diverse, they all look to Bluefrog for innovation. Bluefrog needed the freedom to escape traditional design constraints at every stage of product development. One that could produce fully functional, advanced prototypes with industry-recognized, engineering-grade materials. In a quest to find a solution, the team turned to additive manufacturing. Overcoming complexities Bluefrog’s versatility is best exemplified by their ability to find solutions to seemingly insurmountable challenges. The team was recently approached by a young man suffering from paraesthesia, a condition that causes inexplicable burning, tingling or prickling sensation across the skin. For this patient, the only way to ease his pain was to ensure that his clothes touched his skin as little as possible. Despite interventions from doctors, no solution had been found. But it was clear to Samwell the patient could benefit greatly from a custom device he could wear with minimal skin contact that would also minimize his skin contact with his clothing. The device had to be customized to his body, resting only on the areas that were not affected by his condition. Bluefrog Design’s team knew this complex case required a realistic prototype and final product in as little time as possible. They began by creating a complex 3D scan of the patient’s body, which was converted into a 3D printed prototype on their FDM 3D printer. Once tested and modified, the final version was produced in the tough, medical-grade ABSPlus material, chosen thanks to its advanced material stability over time. Notably, due to the round-the-clock capability of the Fortus 3D printer, this process took just three days, a dramatic turnaround for a patient who […]

OnRobot expands product capabilities

Traditional single-purpose industrial robots are losing ground to affordable, easy to use robots and peripherals that can be flexibly redeployed for a wide range of applications. This empowers manufacturers to gain even greater productivity increases from their automation investments. OnRobot is extending its commitment to ongoing customer empowerment with the launch of a software update for its popular, 2.5D camera-based Eyes vision system. The new features, which enable Eyes to be deployed in quality inspection applications and on mobile setups, include one-shot detection for multiple objects, colour and blob detection and automatic landmark calibration tools designed to speed cycle time for mobile robot setups. New visual inspection features for reduced cycle time and fast ROIEyes’ new inspection features enable the system to easily sort, inspect, or pick and place unstructured objects using colour and contour detection – a capability that is beyond most competing vision systems. This detection method requires no workpiece teaching and finds items based on colour and size information input by the operator. Eyes’ inspection features can be used to inspect parts removed from CNC machines, for example, or to check IMM parts for excessive or inadequate material after part has been moulded. The tools also support manual inspections: operators can set up a camera and inspection program, manually place a workpiece in view and execute inspection. No robot required. The update also provides users with one-shot detection for multiple objects, allowing the system to pick all workpieces with only one picture. This reduces complexity for users and improves cycle times. The update includes tools that allow users to request specific workpiece types and specify gripper clearance parameters. Adding Eyes to mobile robotsA new landmark feature has been added to Eyes’ powerful toolkit, enabling easy deployment of Eyes on mobile robots and setups with carts, trays, and […]

Top sensor technologies impacting the future of smart cities

Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Opportunities of Emerging Sensor Technologies Impacting the Future of Smart Cities, reports that digitisation and advancements in Internet of Things (IoT) are driving the large-scale adoption of sensor technologies across cities. Combined with key enabling technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and high-speed internet networks, integrated sensor networks in cities are driving the creation of a connected city ecosystem to enable the optimal use of public resources. The scope of the research includes acoustic, lidar, radar, 3D camera sensors, environmental sensors, flow sensors, gas sensors, and humidity and temperature sensors and also addresses adoption scenarios in key smart cities across the globe. “The need for a smart city is primarily driven by a requirement for a safe, secure, and sustainable environment that allows for effective population management while providing services to citizens in a satisfactory manner,” said Krithika Shekar, TechVision Senior Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “An integrated sensor system aids in establishing a seamlessly interconnected network with an anchor application and a centraliz sed platform. Such a sensor network established for one purpose, such as street lighting, can enable several other connected applications, such as environment monitoring, public safety, and waste management. A centralised network will help reduce duplicated capital costs and eliminates the need for several individual complex networks.” Major investments by top smart city governments in Singapore, New York, and Tokyo show rapid pace of adoption of smart solutions. The rise of smart cities has not only created growth opportunities for sensor makers, but has also accelerated the adoption of several supporting technologies such as 5G, robots, AI, and edge computing, creating endless growth opportunities for smart city applications. For further growth opportunities, smart cities should leverage the following sensor technologies: Electronic sensors are deployed in environmental surveillance sensors and speedometer […]

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NORMA Group distinguishes Hangzhou Haiming as Best Supplier in Asia

NORMA Group, a global market leader in engineered joining technology, presented its “Supplier Recognition Award” for the Asia-Pacific region to Hangzhou Haiming Iron & Steel Co, Ltd. (Hangzhou Haiming) on August 12, 2020. In doing so, NORMA Group has honored the company for its outstanding performance in 2019 in the areas of quality, delivery and costs. “When choosing our suppliers, we rely on companies with high standards for products, services and processes,” said Dr. Michael Schneider, CEO of NORMA Group. “In Hangzhou Haiming, we have a long-standing business partner by our side in the Asia-Pacific region who meets our high standards and strives for excellence together with us.” Hangzhou Haiming has been a NORMA Group business partner for seven years. The company supplies the NORMA Group plant in Changzhou in China with various types of stainless steel slit strips. NORMA Group then uses these strips to manufacture profile clamps, exhaust gas couplings and hose clamps, for example. NORMA Group has been honoring outstanding suppliers in Europe and the Americas with the “Supplier Recognition Award” for several years now. The award is being presented in the Asia-Pacific region for the first time this year. In fiscal year 2019, Hangzhou Haiming stood out with its consistently high quality and excellent delivery times and services. Outstanding materials expertise and a lean cost structure rounded off its overall performance.

SESTO Magnus autonomous mobile robot for materials handling

SESTO Robotics has launched SESTO Magnus – a bi-directional, compact autonomous mobile robot able to carry loads up to 300kg. Having the highest payload rating in the compact class, SESTO Magnus is designed to automate material handling processes in manufacturing, commercial and healthcare industries. Specially built for tight navigation in space-scarce facilities, SESTO Magnus is able to autonomously travel through spaces as narrow as 0.9 metres wide while avoiding obstacles in its path. Its bi-directional same-speed capability means the autonomous mobile robot can reverse out of dead ends without doing a spot turn. With the world easing into the Covid-19 new normal, there is an accelerated urgency for manufacturers and non-manufacturing industries to quickly automate their processes while ensuring safe management measures such as staggered workforce or spilt team arrangements. SESTO Magnus’ small and low profile is designed with manufacturing, healthcare and commercial facilities in mind. Its intelligent software controls enable it to operate safely in narrow passageways and amongst people. Using a single mobile platform, SESTO Magnus is highly versatile and can be configured with limitless applications of autonomous material transportation. From components and parts in manufacturing, to laundry and meal services in hospitality and care facilities, to central sterile services and dispensaries in hospitals, the autonomous mobile robot can be fitted with various top module configurations, customisable to requirements. Current manual handling and transportation processes are often time-consuming and error-prone. In addition, repeated manual handling of heavy loads may lead to labour injuries and accidents. With SESTO Magnus, it reduces the dependency on manual labour which has become a priority for many companies in recent months, as COVID-19 caused major disruptions to the availability of on-premise employees. Powered by SESTO’s proprietary user-friendly interface, operators can easily deploy the robot for material transportation using a tablet or laptop. The […]

NEC and Realeyes announce strategic alliance in Emotion Analysis Solutions

NEC Corporation, a leader in biometric authentication and video analytics technologies, and Realeyes, a leader in computer vision and emotion Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a strategic partnership to jointly develop and distribute emotion analysis solutions globally. Wireless 5G technologies and the COVID-19 pandemic have created a new way of life, where virtual meeting experiences are necessary and have become the default method for communication, collaboration, entertainment and learning. Technologies that can help companies to safely and effectively understand how users are interacting with such services, and to respond to their needs, are now essential. Realeyes, with its best-in-class emotion detection and analysis capabilities, is continuously expanding its products and services for measuring emotion and attention for global brands. Its innovations include predictive analytics and live measurement of attention and emotion response within streaming and mobile applications. NEC, with a wide range of solutions that combine proprietary and sophisticated biometric authentication and video analytics technologies, is now accelerating its businesses in the hospitality and marketing fields. This alliance’s combination of NEC’s biometric and video analytics technologies with Realeyes’ emotion analysis technology will enable digital transformation to enhance safe and robust user experiences across media, entertainment, education, healthcare, and communication verticals throughout the world. “NEC has cultivated biometric authentication and video analytics technologies over many years, and we are excited to now be working in collaboration with Realeyes and their pioneering role in the new field of emotion AI,” said Toshifumi Yoshizaki, Senior Vice President, NEC. “These developments help to realize both companies’ objective of enriching people’s lives and contributing to the realization of a safe, secure, fair and efficient society.” “This partnership with NEC advances our mission to bring a trillion more smiles to our planet,” said Mihkel Jäätma, CEO of Realeyes. “Our […]

ASM production of titanium metal alloy in South Korea

Australian Strategic Materials’ (ASM) partner, ZironTech has successfully produced another run of titanium metal alloy at the joint venture (JV) commercial pilot plant in South Korea. This subsequent run produced approximately 22 kilograms and confirmed energy savings of up to 50 per cent compared to current commercial production methods. ASM is successfully progressing the pilot plant testwork on low emission, high purity metal technology to produce zirconium, titanium and rare earths for permanent magnet metals. The production of metals indicates significant cost benefits to ASM’s integrated business strategy and is key in the development of the Dubbo Project to supply critical materials. The commissioning of the electrorefining section of the pilot plant is proceeding, which will produce ultra-high purity metal, including neodymium, praseodymium, other rare earth metals, zirconium and hafnium metal. Australian Strategic Materials Managing Director, David Woodall said: “Our progress towards an independent fully integrated ’mine to metal‘ business of critical materials is continuing very well. ASM’s focus is to be a stable, secure and alternate supplier of clean metals for the domestic and global markets with the production of these metals coming from our Dubbo Project in Central West NSW. The clean metal technology can be applied to all the products from the Dubbo Project with our focus on the key critical materials of neodymium, dysprosium, zirconium, hafnium and praseodymium.” “ASM management is currently in Korea to progress discussions on the commencement of a definitive feasibility of a clean metals plant and the progress of a joint Australian / Korean strategy that could ensure supply security and stability of these critical materials to the Australian and Korean manufacturing sectors.”. ASM continues with the optimisation of the Dubbo Project through the integration of flotation into the proven flowsheet seeking improved project capital and operating costs. ASM’s JV partner continues […]

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EU Automation launches resource centre for manufacturing professionals

In response to the industry’s hunger for information on technology that can pull them out of the post-pandemic productivity lull, automation equipment supplier EU Automation, has pooled all its resources into a new, free, online Knowledge Hub. At the click of a button, visitors can download a wealth of resources on additive manufacturing (AM), artificial intelligence (AI), Industry 4.0, cyber security, obsolescence, sustainability and the circular economy. The company has also made its two chart-topping books available to download free of charge. EU Automation has been publishing its industry magazine, AUTOMATED, since 2016. In the last four years, it has gathered insight from trade bodies, innovative start ups and created a content bank. The Knowledge Hub takes this several steps further, by providing industry an easy way to download a range of resources on an industry trend of their choice. The company has also made its two manufacturing chart-topping books available for free download. The books were previously available on Amazon for a small cost, but the authors felt that enabling free download would best aid manufacturing professionals in their online learning. The first book, The Book of Obsolescence Management (BoOM) explains how manufacturers can use obsolescence to their advantage, giving practical advice from industry experts at COPA-DATA, Renishaw, the International Institute of Obsolescence Management and more. The book has been downloaded more than 17,000 times and sat at the top of the Amazon manufacturing chart for several weeks. The second book, 4.0 Sight, is a global look at the fourth industrial revolution, covering initiatives like Japan’s Society 5.0 and Made in China 2025. Similar to BoOM, it is packed with insight from big industry players, including ABB, GE and Toshiba Machine. “Google Trends data suggests that the search term “free online learning” increased dramatically during the Covid-19 outbreak,” explained […]

APAC construction market to hit $14 trillion by 2021 predicts Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan’s recent analysis, Business Model Innovations in the Building Construction Industry, 2020, finds that the building construction value chain will shift from sequential (conventional value chain) to innovative business models with increased penetration of building construction technology. With rapid urbanisation and suburban development in Asia-Pacific (APAC), the construction market in the region is expected to reach $14 trillion by 2021 from $10 trillion in 2017. However, the market will be impacted by Covid-19. In a conservative scenario, there will be a long delay in the completion of projects in the commercial segment; in an aspirational scenario, there would be a short delay in the completion of ongoing projects until the Covid-19 pandemic subsides. “APAC is expected to witness an infrastructure and construction boom in the next five years with a healthy distribution of projects shared between the residential, industrial, and infrastructural segments,” said Wen Hui Liu, Energy & Environment Research Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. “Additionally, in this period, innovative business models such as vertical integration, anything-as-a-service (XaaS), and off-site construction will be impacting traditional building construction business in the region.” Advanced technologies such as AR/VR, 3D printing, automation and robotics are expected play a major role in combatting industry challenges such as declined productivity, workforce scarcity and site safety issues. The move to a more modern and digital environment will also play a positive role in addressing the gap of skilled workers. Liu added: “Besides advancement in technology, sustainability trends such as prefabrication construction, sustainable construction, and green building technology are likely to revolutionize the conventional way business is done in the building construction sector. Further, this trend will reduce carbon emission and gain new revenue streams from the conventional value chain.” To tap into the growth opportunities exposed by the innovative building construction industry, market […]

Yale UX 4-wheel electric lift trucks bring global standards of driver focus and low ownership cost

Yale 4-wheel electric lift trucks, engineered to global best standards, backed to best local standards. A global leader in forklift design innovation and warehouse logistics, Yale, is releasing throughout the Asia-Pacific its new UX Series of driver-focused 4-wheel electric forklifts engineered to deliver low ownership costs to a broad group of industries. The Yale UX Series is engineered in a range of six vehicles from 1 to 3.5 tonnes to provide an ideal solution to meet users’ needs for forklifts needed for less frequent usage with outstanding service backup. The 4-wheel electric UX models complement the broader UX Series range. “Yale UX series 4-wheel electric lift trucks are engineered to serve growing segments of the industry where an attractive cost of ownership is a driving factor,” says Hyster-Yale Area Business Director, Asia, Mr Suresh Kuttaiyan. “The new range combines robust quality and strong service backing to cost-effectively tackle simple everyday materials handling needs, bringing the performance of electric forklifts to a broader market sector seeking optimum cost-efficiency for their needs,” says Mr Suresh. The Yale UX Series’ safety-oriented design and agile performance – with wide-view mast and small steering wheel – help equip the new lift trucks for easy use in restricted spaces and around diverse businesses of all sizes, including agribusiness, food and beverage, refrigeration and warehouse, transport and logistics, manufacturing, primary processing and packaging. “Through the use of high quality components and advanced ergonomic technology, the Yale UX series provides the driver with superb control while delivering reliable operation and lower wear and tear. Coupled with fast availability of genuine and cost-effective replacement parts, Yale’s “People, Products, Productivity™” market advantage is what helps to reduce maintenance costs and downtime,” says Mr Suresh. A small steering wheel facilitates fine control, with eight degrees of adjustment and low steering effort […]

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