Partnership
Assembly Line
Apptronik Partners with Google DeepMind Robotics to Accelerate Advancement on AI-powered Humanoid Robots
Apptronik, the AI-powered humanoid robotics company, announced it had entered a strategic partnership agreement with the Google DeepMind robotics team. The partnership will bring together best-in-class artificial intelligence with cutting-edge hardware and embodied intelligence, advancing humanoid robots that can be more helpful to people in dynamic environments.
Google DeepMind’s robotics team has been at the forefront of AI and robotics. It brings together world-class expertise from machine learning, engineering, and physics simulation, around the hardest challenges facing the development of AI-powered robots. From pioneering advancements in foundation models to leveraging state-of-the-art AI models like Gemini, Google DeepMind’s robotics team is developing advanced AI systems that can support robotics applications, enabling reasoning and action in the real world.
Archer Announces Strategic Partnership With Anduril to Develop Hybrid VTOL Military Aircraft; Raises An Additional $430M
Anduril and Archer (NYSE: ACHR) announced an exclusive partnership to jointly develop a hybrid VTOL aircraft for critical defense applications targeting a potential program of record from the DOD.
With Archer’s ability to rapidly develop advanced VTOL aircraft using existing commercial parts and supply chains and Anduril’s deep expertise in artificial intelligence, missionization, and systems integration, the partnership will accelerate speed to market for critical hybrid VTOL capabilities at a fraction of the cost of more traditional alternatives.
Archer’s efforts on this project will be part of its new Archer Defense program. To support this initiative and for other general corporate purposes, Archer raised $430M in additional equity capital, with participation from Stellantis, United Airlines, and new institutional investors, including Wellington Management and Abu Dhabi investment holding company 2PointZero, a subsidiary of UAE’S largest listed entity, IHC. Archer ended Q3’24 with $502M of cash and cash equivalents on its balance sheet and this raise brings Archer’s total capital raised to nearly $2B to date. Following this capital raise, and together with Archer’s other announced financing arrangements, Archer believes it is now well-positioned with one of the sector’s leading balance sheets with no near-term financing needs.
Cyclic Materials Secures Multi-Year Agreement to Supply Recycled Copper to Global Natural Resources Company Glencore
Cyclic Materials, an advanced metals recycling company building a circular supply chain for rare earth elements (REEs) and other critical metals, announced the signing of a multi-year offtake agreement with Glencore, a global natural resources company, for the supply of copper produced at its Spoke operations. The strategic partnership aims to advance sustainable practices in the rare earths industry and drive copper circularity while addressing the growing demand for securing recycled materials central to the energy transition.
Under the terms of the agreement, Cyclic Materials will provide high-quality copper, which is extracted and processed from recycled electronic scrap. Glencore will further process and refine this copper at the Horne Smelter and Canadian Copper Refinery (CCR) into copper cathode that can be reutilized in new end-products. Copper is just one of the eight critical materials used in many technologies related to electrification and the energy transition due to its natural conductivity, as defined by the United States Department of Energy. This collaboration aligns with both companies’ commitment to reducing environmental impact and waste through promoting responsible use of all available resources.
This partnership marks a significant effort in transforming the global approach to recycling critical materials and maximizing supply chain resilience, providing a sustainable local alternative. Recycling and reusing valuable materials like copper, as opposed to discarding the hidden sources of the material in electronic waste and industrial byproducts, helps to offset the footprint of resource extraction.
Stellantis and CATL to Invest Up to €4.1 Billion in Joint Venture for Large-Scale LFP Battery Plant in Spain
Stellantis and CATL announced they have reached an agreement to invest up to €4.1 billion to form a joint venture that will build a large-scale European lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Designed to be completely carbon neutral, the battery plant will be implemented in several phases and investment plans.
Targeted to start production by end of 2026 at Stellantis’ Zaragoza, Spain site, the facility could reach up to 50 GWh capacity, subject to the evolution of the electrical market in Europe and continued support from authorities in Spain and the European Union. The 50-50 joint venture between CATL and Stellantis will boost Stellantis’ best-in-class LFP offer in Europe enabling the automaker to offer more high-quality, durable and affordable battery-electric passenger cars, crossovers and SUVs in the B and C segments with intermediate ranges.
Toyota shifts into overdrive: Developing an AI platform for enhanced manufacturing efficiency
Our goal was to build an AI Platform that enabled factory floor employees, regardless of their AI expertise, to create machine learning models with ease. This would facilitate the automation of manual, labor-intensive tasks, freeing up human workers to focus on higher-value activities such as process optimization, AI implementation in other production areas, and data-driven decision-making. By the time we completed implementing the AI platform earlier this year, we found it would be able to save us as many as 10,000 hours of mundane work annually through manufacturing efficiency and process optimization.
The speed of build and processing was also a big appeal for us . In particular, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), its Autopilot and Image Streaming provide flexibility and speed, thereby allowing us to improve cost-effectiveness in terms of operational burden. We measured the communication speed of containerization during the system evaluation process, and found that Google Cloud was four times faster scaling from zero than other existing services. The speed of communication and processing is extremely important, as we use up to 10,000 images when creating the learning model. When we first started developing AI technology in-house, we struggled with flexible system scaling and operations. In this regard, too, using Google Cloud was the ideal choice.
Currently, the development team compiles work logs and feedback from the manufacturing floor, and we believe that the day will soon come when we will start utilizing generative AI. For example, the team is considering using AI to create images for testing machine learning during the production preparation stage, which has been challenging due to a lack of data. In addition, we are considering using Gemini Code Assist to improve the developer experience, or using Gemini to convert past knowledge into RAG and implement a recommendation feature.
TDengine Powers Mogulinker’s AI-Driven Control Platform for Industrial Energy Optimization
Mogulinker Technology (Mogulinker) is leading the charge in industrial energy-saving and digital transformation with its innovative Lingzhi AI model, designed to optimize high-energy-consuming equipment and auxiliary energy workshops. This collaboration with TDengine brings their strengths together to create an AI-powered smart control platform, revolutionizing energy management in manufacturing. This article explores why Mogulinker chose TDengine, the challenges faced during implementation, and the shared vision driving their partnership forward.
Mogulinker’s cloud smart control platform provides energy management and optimization across four levels: device, workshop, plant, and group. It excels in high-energy-use areas like air compression and cooling stations while enabling predictive maintenance through data insights. The platform’s modular design allows flexible deployment for specific needs or comprehensive coverage of energy types such as water, electricity, gas, and cooling. Currently, it supports over 1,600 industrial enterprises, handling around 100GB of IoT data daily with a multi-tenant model.
Anduril and Palantir to Accelerate AI Capabilities for National Security
Palantir and Anduril, two leading companies at the intersection of commercial technology and national security, are launching a new consortium to ensure that the U.S. government leads the world in artificial intelligence. Our goal is to deliver the technological infrastructure, from the edge to the enterprise, that can enable our government and industry partners to transform America’s world-leading AI advancements into next-generation military and national security capabilities.
This partnership is focused on solving two main problems that limit the adoption of AI for national security purposes. The first is data readiness. Most useful national security data—government data that are collected and created by sensors, vehicles, weapons, and robots at the tactical edge—are not retained for AI training and algorithm development. Exabytes of defense data, indispensable for AI training and inferencing, are currently evaporating. What should be America’s ultimate asymmetric advantage over our adversaries is instead our biggest lost opportunity.
Stellantis lithium-sulfur EV batteries: cheaper, lighter, more range
In a potentially game-changing move for the EV industry, Stellantis and Zeta Energy Corp have teamed up to develop the next-generation EV battery with more range, more power, 50% faster charging, and at less than half the cost.
Despite lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries having been conceptualized in the 1960s, practical applications were limited due to issues like poor life cycles and capacity loss from something called “the polysulfide shuttle effect,” unique to Li-S batteries. As the battery discharges, sulfur at the cathode side reacts with the lithium, creating lithium polysulfides which diffuse through the electrolyte to the anode leaving deposits. While charging, some polysulfides would migrate back to the cathode, but not all, degrading the battery very quickly.
Texas, USA-based Zeta, in partnership with global automotive giant, Stellantis, reckons it’s got that figured out. Recent advancements in material technology and the development of barriers and coatings trap these polysulfides, preventing them from “shuttling” between the electrodes, effectively fixing the pesky premature death effect.
The two companies also claim improvements in fast-charging speeds by as much as 50% over traditional lithium-ion battery packs. Li-S has a simpler chemistry and doesn’t rely on the slow diffusion of lithium ions into solid materials (like the graphite in Li-ion). Instead, reactions occur directly between the lithium and sulfur which is faster and more straightforward. They also operate at lower voltages, so they don’t have as much resistance during charging, making them absorb energy more quickly.
Lennar and Base Power to Provide Homeowners a Battery-Powered Home Energy Service in Key Texas Markets
Lennar, one of the nation’s leading homebuilders, announced plans to equip select Lennar communities in the Austin and Dallas-Fort Worth area with home backup battery systems by Base Power. Through this collaboration, Lennar homeowners will have the opportunity to register for Base’s monthly electricity service and receive a complimentary Base backup battery. This will provide outage protection and energy bill savings for the homeowners.
Base, a licensed electricity provider in Texas, operates as a Virtual Power Plant: when the grid is up and running, the Base battery improves grid stability, and, when the grid goes down, Base protects customers’ homes from power outages. Base customers gain access to reliable backup and competitive energy rates, without the high upfront costs of traditional home batteries or generators.
Swiss startup Voltiris offers wavelength-selective PV system for agrivoltaics
Swiss-based agrivoltaics specialist Voltiris is offering a novel solution based on a patented under-roof dichroic mirror concentrator system that integrates tracking systems and silicon PV panels. The system is intended to specifically serve greenhouses to improve the metrics for heating, electricity costs, and CO2 emissions, while maintaining crop yields. Its latest pilot project is in partnership with Swiss utility Genossenschaft Elektra Baselland (EBL), providing a solution for leafy green vegetable-growing greenhouses owned by Füllinsdorf-based Eschbach Gemüsebau.
Voltiris has developed a wavelength-selective PV system based on dichroic filters on mirrors that enable the plants below to receive the light they need to thrive while optimizing the light required for the solar panels. In greenhouses, it is important to avoid the kind of shading that would occur with conventionally installed PV panels because the “rule of thumb” for most greenhouse crops, according to Voltiris, is that 1% light loss is 1% agronomical yield loss. The Voltiris team recently recorded a peak power of 145 W/m2, as confirmed by co-founder and CTO Jonas Roch who explained to pv magazine that to be able to reach 145W/m2 with a checkerboard, or chessboard, type of bifacial solar PV installation would result in “about a 70% light loss for the crops,” which he noted would represent “an unacceptable outcome for greenhouse growers.”
Anduril Partners with Open AI to Advance U.S. Artificial Intelligence Leadership and Protect U.S. and Allied Forces
Anduril Industries, a defense technology company, and OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT and frontier AI models such as GPT 4o and OpenAI o1, are proud to announce a strategic partnership to develop and responsibly deploy advanced artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for national security missions. By bringing together OpenAI’s advanced models with Anduril’s high-performance defense systems and Lattice software platform, the partnership aims to improve the nation’s defense systems that protect U.S. and allied military personnel from attacks by unmanned drones and other aerial devices.
Mecalux and MIT launch Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab
Mecalux SA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology announced a five-year project to expedite the integration of artificial intelligence in logistics. The partners said they will use the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab to explore new applications of AI models “with significant potential for business and society.”
In the first year of their collaboration, the teams at the MIT Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab and Mecalux plan to research two ways to accelerate innovation. The first will focus on increasing the productivity of autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). Using advanced simulation, optimization, and machine learning techniques, researchers will develop a “swarm intelligence” system enabling multiple robots to operate as a single entity, making collective decisions. The second research area will center on training self-learning AI models. The Intelligent Logistics Systems Lab intends to design systems capable of learning from demand patterns and anticipating new customer purchasing habits.
Orbital Materials and AWS enter strategic partnership to develop technologies for data center decarbonization and efficiency
Orbital Materials (Orbital), a company that uses its proprietary AI platform to incubate new advanced materials and climate technologies, and Amazon Web Services (AWS), an Amazon.com company, have announced that they have entered into a multi-year partnership to use AI to develop new data center decarbonization and efficiency technologies.
Orbital is utilizing its proprietary AI platform to design, synthesize and test new technologies and advanced materials for data center-integrated carbon removal and cooling technology. Together, AWS and Orbital will evaluate the scalability and performance of these new technologies in removing carbon and increasing efficiency.
Developing new advanced materials has traditionally been a slow process of trial and error in the lab. Orbital replaces this with generative AI design, radically improving the speed and efficacy of materials discovery and new technology commercialization. Its first product is a carbon removal technology utilizing a proprietary active material. Since establishing its lab in the first quarter of 2024, Orbital has achieved a 10x improvement in its material’s performance through the use of its AI platform - an order of magnitude faster than traditional development and breaking new ground in carbon removal efficacy. Orbital plans to deploy and test its carbon removable technology by the end of 2025.
Marvell Expands Strategic Collaboration with AWS to Enable Accelerated Infrastructure for AI in the Cloud
Marvell Technology, Inc. (NASDAQ: MRVL), a leader in data infrastructure semiconductor solutions, announced the expansion of their strategic relationship with Amazon Web Services (AWS) through a five-year, multi-generational agreement that includes collaboration across multiple AWS products and the use of AWS cloud infrastructure, underscoring their shared commitment to driving innovation and excellence in accelerated infrastructure.
This agreement covers a broad range of data center semiconductors from Marvell, including the supply of custom AI products, optical digital signal processors (DSPs), active electrical cable (AEC) DSPs, PCIe retimers, data center interconnect (DCI) optical modules and Ethernet switching silicon solutions. Marvell’s pioneering role in essential silicon technologies enhances AWS to continue to advance their data center compute, networking and storage offerings, allowing AWS and their customers to achieve greater efficiency, lower total cost of ownership, and faster time to market.
GM and LG Energy Solution extend battery technology partnership
General Motors and LG Energy Solution are extending their 14-year battery technology partnership to include prismatic cell development.
GM expects the prismatic cell technology developed under the agreement to power future GM electric vehicles, as part of the company’s strategy to diversify its supply chain, leveraging multiple chemistries and form factors. GM will continue to leverage the Ultium Cells plants in Warren, Ohio and Spring Hill, Tennessee, which produce pouch battery cells, to meet growing demand for its electric vehicles.
Prismatic cells feature a flat, rectangular shape with a rigid enclosure, which allows for space-efficient packaging within battery modules and packs. That approach can reduce EV weight and cost, while simplifying manufacturing by reducing the number of modules and mechanical components. LG Energy Solution has both experience with prismatic cell production and an extensive patent portfolio on battery design and manufacturing technologies, including packaging.
Idemitsu Kosan Deploys Cognite Data Fusion®︎ to Four Manufacturing Sites
Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. and Cognite announced that they have completed the implementation of Cognite Data Fusion®︎, the leading Data and AI platform, at four manufacturing sites (Hokkaido Refinery, Chiba Complex, Aichi Complex, and Tokuyama Complex) that manufacture petroleum refining and chemical products. Idemitsu Kosan will use Cognite Data Fusion®︎ to centrally manage data and domain knowledge accumulated at each refinery and complex on equipment operation and maintenance operations, thereby reducing the time required for information collection and analysis and enhancing the sophistication of decision-making, including forecasting and situational awareness(a mechanism to notice).
Photoneo Partners With Neousys: 3D Vision-Guided Robotics, Even In Extreme Conditions
We are happy to announce a new strategic partnership with Neousys, a leading provider of rugged embedded systems. This collaboration aims to bring together Neousys’ robust and high-performance computing platforms with our advanced 3D imaging solutions to create innovative systems that push the boundaries of machine vision and automation.
Integration of cutting-edge Photoneo 3D scanners with Neousys’ powerful embedded systems lies at the core of this partnership. Our scanners utilize patented technology to capture high-resolution and accurate 3D data, enabling precise object recognition, measurement, and quality inspection. By combining these scanners with Neousys’ rugged computing platforms, designed to withstand harsh industrial environments, industries can now deploy 3D imaging systems in challenging conditions without compromising performance or reliability.
Senior Tech Jumps on Teaming Up With Hytzer to Develop Solid-State Battery Parts
Senior Tech and Hytzer are joining forces to develop functional membranes for solid-state batteries that will improve battery performance citing the strategic co-operation framework agreement penned by the two parties that day.
The partners will start commercial development, production and sales of the membranes in due course, it added. No mention was made of the tie-up’s performance goals, the timeframe and other details.
Hytzer is committed to promoting the rapid commercialization of the next generation of all-solid-state batteries, according to the Changzhou-based company’s website. Founded in April 2022, the firm has developed four generations of solid-state battery systems with different energy densities so far, and has built the world’s first large-scale pilot production line for polymer all-solid-state batteries.
How Minebea Intec Supports BYD’s Lithium Battery Evolution
As the green wave sweeps the globe, demand for lithium batteries has surged due to their role as key energy carriers in electric vehicles and energy storage industries. To meet the growing demand, the leading new energy company BYD planned to build a 30,000-ton battery-grade lithium carbonate project in Nanning, Guangxi. After rigorous selection processes, Minebea Intec was chosen to provide weighing systems for lithium carbonate thickeners.
Renewable hydrogen production: Air Liquide strengthens its partnership with TotalEnergies through a new major project in the south of France
Air Liquide announces a renewable hydrogen production project at La Mède (Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region in France). In the context of a long-term contract, Air Liquide will cover the hydrogen needs of TotalEnergie’s biorefinery. This project will contribute to the emergence of a new renewable hydrogen ecosystem in the Fos-sur-Mer area, a major industrial basin for Air Liquide in France.
This renewable hydrogen production unit, the largest on La Mède industrial platform, would represent an investment of over 80 million euros for Air Liquide. Planned to be operational in 2028, it will significantly contribute to the decarbonization of the biorefinery, where TotalEnergies aims to reduce CO₂ emissions by around 130,000 tonnes per year.
Kongsberg Digital Announces Availability of Kognitwin on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform
Kongsberg Digital’s digital twin, Kognitwin, is now available on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform. This partnership combines Databricks’ data intelligence with Kognitwin’s interface, allowing businesses to integrate real-time data, reduce costs, and optimize operations for better decision-making.
Customers can now also fully utilize their data-driven digital twin with Databricks Delta Sharing. Delta Sharing simplifies the process by eliminating the need to replicate data, making data analysis and secure access smoother. This integration ensures that users always work with the most current data and simulations.
Cemex kickstarts first-of-a-kind low-carbon hydrogen project using thermal plasma electrolysis in cement production
Cemex Ventures, Cemex’s corporate venture capital (CVC) and open innovation unit, announced an initial hydrogen deployment at industrial scale with HiiROC, the pioneering British hydrogen company that produces affordable, clean hydrogen, at its Rugby cement plant in the United Kingdom. Hydrogen has emerged as a low-carbon energy source within the construction industry’s decarbonization roadmap and offers potential as an energy solution to help reduce the sector’s reliance on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions. This venture marks a significant milestone for Cemex, as it represents the beginning of a large-scale strategic project plan with the aim to further lower its carbon emissions in cement production.
HiiROC produces carbon-neutral hydrogen using its proprietary Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) process, which requires just one-fifth of the electrical energy used in water electrolysis and captures carbon as a solid byproduct, avoiding CO2 emissions – a game-changer for the industry. HiiROC’s modular solution can be deployed as single units to full-scale industrial plants. The hydrogen produced can be used as an alternative energy source to fuel clinker production processes, helping Cemex to achieve its decarbonization goals.
HP Accelerates 3D Printing Adoption with New Innovations and Collaborations at Formnext 2024
HP has also introduced HP 3D HR PA 12 FR enabled by Evonik, a new halogen-free, flame-retardant material for 3D printing. This innovative material is 50% reusable, offering a substantial cost advantage through its high reusability ratio. This breakthrough offers significant cost savings that pave the way for scaling applications in industrial and consumer electronics.
To further streamline and optimize 3D printing workflows, HP announced the HP 3D Build Optimizer, an automated tool designed to re-nest parts, reduce build costs and maintain part quality. Slated for launch in 2025, this tool is in line with overall cost optimization strategies and harnesses HP’s proprietary insights to bring greater efficiency to every project.
Also, through a new collaboration with Fabrex, HP customers can access an AI-powered platform that supports build preparation, order management, and tracking, creating a seamless, efficient experience for users of HP 3D printers.
HP’s collaboration with ArcelorMittal, a leader in sustainable steel production, demonstrates how HP Metal Jet S100 technology is advancing 3D printing across industrial sectors like automotive. By combining HP’s additive manufacturing expertise with ArcelorMittal’s sustainable steel innovations, this partnership aims to reduce production costs, expand material options, and drive broader adoption of 3D-printed steel in key industries. Together, HP and ArcelorMittal are setting new standards for industrial-scale 3D printing applications.
HP is also collaborating with Eaton to support testing and validation of significant advancements in its Metal Jet 3D printing solution. Key innovations include nitrogen-enhanced sintering, which improves the mechanical properties of 316L metal parts, and the S100 Powder Processing Solution, which reduces cost and improves yield in binderjet processes. Together, they will evaluate the technology’s potential for high-performance applications, ensuring it meets the industry’s demands. Eric Johnson, Senior Manager Additive Manufacturing at Eaton Research Labs, added, “Partnering with HP on this program has been an exciting opportunity to advance the manufacturing readiness of this technology and develop a cost-effective process that meets the requirements for our most demanding applications.”
Robotis, MIT to jointly develop physical AI
Robotis and MIT were selected for an international joint research project led by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology (KIAT), under the South Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.
Physical AI refers to bodily intelligence that can replicate precise physical forces, similar to human physical capabilities. It aims to create AI technology that can strategically adjust its physical abilities and movements according to specific situations, much like humans do.
Robotis plans to utilize its actuator technology to collaborate with MIT researchers to develop technologies and components related to physical AI. The physical AI technology under development with MIT will eventually be applied to Robotis’s new collaborative robot, the Open Manipulator-Y.
Litmus Edge Collaborates with Microsoft Azure IoT Operations to Unleash the Transformative Potential of Industrial Data
Litmus announced the integration of Litmus Edge with Microsoft Azure IoT Operations at the Microsoft Ignite conference, marking a leap forward for industrial companies seeking to leverage data for digital transformation. This collaboration empowers manufacturers to seamlessly integrate industrial data across edge and cloud infrastructures, driving smarter operations and operational improvements at scale.
The integration leverages industry-standard protocols such as OPC UA and MQTT, with Litmus Edge validated for deployment on Azure Arc services natively. This solution addresses key challenges manufacturers face, including poor compatibility among fragmented data sources, cloud services and applications, legacy and heterogenous equipment, and complex data context and flows. By streamlining the management of OT data across edge and cloud environments, the integration allows for accessible real-time manufacturing data and managed workloads at the Edge. This collaboration empowers manufacturing companies with a modern data infrastructure from edge to cloud, driving significant operational improvements and scalable data-driven initiatives to ensure a smoother digital transformation for enhanced business outcomes.
Renault Group Acquires a Supply Chain Control Tower to Manage Transportation in Europe and Beyond
In 2020, Renault teamed up with Shippeo, a provider of software for multimodal transportation visibility, along with Google’s artificial intelligence model, to create the first control tower for the automotive industry in Europe. The application employs AI modules fed by real-time traceability data from logistics providers and production stock, along with other sources of news. The resulting support tool gave operational teams end-to-end coverage of operations on a global basis.
By the first half of 2021, 80 of Renault’s carriers had connected to Shippeo’s transportation visibility platform. The first version of the control tower for inbound deliveries went live in October of 2022, covering parts transportation by truck throughout Europe, the Middle East and North Africa. Outbound carriers were added shortly thereafter. As of January 2023, Renault had also integrated the tracking of 100% of its maritime transport services.
The control tower allows for a real-time link between parts transportation and vehicle production. Drawing on AI and machine learning from Google, the system calculates accurate estimated times of arrival, accounting for variables such as weather, strikes, border-crossing delays and traffic levels. The analysis helps it to detect potential disruptions early on, sharpening Renault’s crisis-management strategies and making possible mitigating efforts such as truck rerouting and acceleration, and transshipment of critical parts.
According to the automaker, the Shippeo application has led to “remarkable enhancements” in service levels for the transportation of parts from suppliers to the plants, while also improving safety and fostering global collaboration with supply chain partners. Tracking accuracy is based on a detailed analysis of GPS data, and weekly animation of the automaker’s 10 major carriers in the European region. At the factory, the tool has taken 15 minutes out of an average waiting time of 90 minutes for trucks, Renault added.
Rockwell Automation Brings Autonomous Operations to Life Using NVIDIA Omniverse
Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, today announced it is integrating NVIDIA Omniverse application programming interfaces into its Emulate3D™ digital twin software to enhance factory operations through artificial intelligence and physics-based simulation technology.
Rockwell Automation’s Emulate3D software uses the latest NVIDIA Omniverse APIs to create factory-scale dynamic digital twins based on OpenUSD interoperability and NVIDIA RTX rendering technologies. While visualization was previously possible, this enhancement enables true emulation and dynamic testing of multiple machines within a system. This integration, planned for early 2025, will enable improved visualization and simulation capabilities for manufacturing environments.
China’s Senior Tech to Supply Lithium-Ion Battery Separators to Volkswagen
Senior Technology Material, a leading Chinese producer of lithium-ion battery separators, has announced a deal to supply Volkswagen Group over the next few years. Senior Material Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary, signed the agreement with Volkswagen’s battery subsidiary yesterday, its Shenzhen-headquartered parent company said on the same day.
Senior Tech, which has a number of production plants in China and one in Sweden, will supply about 2.09 billion square meters of separators between next year and 2032. No further details were announced.
o9 Supports Valeo in Driving Digital Transformation Across Its Global SupplyChain
o9, a leading enterprise AI software platform provider for transforming planning and decision-making, announced a seven-year partnership with Valeo, a leading automotive technology company. Through this partnership, Valeo will leverage the o9 Digital Brain platform to streamline its Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP), and Master Production Scheduling (MPS) across 170-plus sites in 29 countries, driving enhanced decision-making and operational efficiency.
Valeo is dedicated to playing a key role in the future of mobility by developing innovative solutions for smart mobility, focusing on intuitive driving and reducing CO2 emissions. This partnership between o9 and Valeo is the result of Valeo’s effort to consistently improve its operations for better competitiveness and enhanced service to its customers. The o9 Digital Brain platform was selected for its flexible, future-proof, and highly scalable architecture, along with the deep automotive expertise of the o9 team. The platform will allow Valeo to automate and enhance its SIOP and MPS processes, ultimately driving better decision-making and operational efficiency.
Liquid Wind and industry leaders solidify partnership to accelerate eFuel production capacity, enabling significant reduction of CO2 emissions in hard-to-abate industries such as global shipping
Liquid Wind announces a further strengthening of its partnership with pan-European decarbonization leaders to include plans of developing and marketing 10 additional eMethanol facilities in the Nordics by 2027. The Partnership was initially formulated in 2020 among key partners Alfa Laval, Carbon Clean, Siemens Energy and Topsoe. With the shared vision of creating a world that no longer relies on fossil fuels, the collaboration aims to reduce the time, cost, and risk of developing and executing Core eMethanol Plants (CMP).
Building on several years of successful collaboration, as demonstrated by the world-first commercial scale eMethanol facility FlagshipONE, the partners’ common mission is to establish 80 standardized, state-of-the-art 100,000 tons eMethanol units by 2030, which are estimated to reduce CO2 emissions by 14 million tons CO2 per annum.
With this latest expansion in its commitment, the partnership will increase production efficiency to further ramp up design and execution of plants to produce a nominal 100,000 tons eMethanol per year with the aim to develop and market an additional ten Core eMethanol Plants (CMP) before the end of 2027. These units will contribute significantly to the global eMethanol market and future reduction in emissions in hard-to-abate industries such as global shipping.
The partnership will continue to deliver industry leading ready-to-build eMethanol facilities that are quicker to fabricate, transport, construct, and commission, by leveraging partners’ innovative technologies and modular solutions. By pooling the partners’ technology expertise and capabilities, the partnership aims to unlock new, innovative, and effective fuel solutions for the shipping industry, other hard-to-abate industries, and society at large.
ANYbotics – Gresco Partner to Revolutionize U.S. Power and Utility Inspections
Gresco is enhancing its technology capabilities by integrating the ANYbotics robot, ANYmal, into its portfolio. This will transform U.S. power and utilities inspections with Gresco’s expertise in inspection drones and digital twins, delivering unmatched autonomous inspection solutions focused on safety, efficiency, and accuracy.
Leveraging Gresco’s local knowledge, industry relationships, and prominent role in the ecosystem, ANYbotics is now better equipped to meet the unique inspection needs of this market while enhancing customer support.
This partnership paves the way for highly automated, high-precision inspection processes across transmission, distribution, and generation, setting a new industry standard.
Gresco offers ANYmal inspection solutions on a subscription basis via Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) or as a direct purchase. In addition, the company offers a range of local support services, customer training, and technical expertise to ensure successful implementation and operation.
Panasonic Automotive Systems and Arm Partner to Standardize Software-Defined Vehicles
Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd. (PAS) and Arm announced a strategic partnership aimed at standardizing automotive architecture for Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs). The two organizations share a common vision for creating a software stack with the flexibility to meet the current and future needs for automotive and have aligned on this through their active participation in SOAFEE (https://www.soafee.io/), an industry-wide initiative that is driving greater collaboration in standardized software development across the automotive market. This new partnership will see PAS and Arm adopt and extend the device virtualization framework VirtIO to decouple automotive software development from hardware and accelerate automotive industry development cycles.
PAS and Arm are leveraging VirtIO not only for virtualizing devices connected to the central ECU like CDC/HPC, but also for remote devices linked to zonal ECUs. The two organizations have demonstrated a groundbreaking proof-of-concept using PAS’s open-source remote GPU technology, Unified HMI, to implement a Display Zonal Architecture built on Arm. This architecture distributes GPU loads from the central ECU to multiple zonal ECUs, reducing heat generation and harness weight without altering applications running on the central ECU. The flexible partitioning in the Mali™-G78AE GPU of Zonal ECUs allocates dedicated hardware resources to different workloads, enabling deterministic graphics performance in a Display Zonal Architecture. PAS and Arm are collaborating to provide a SOAFEE Blueprint and reference implementation of this work, aiming to standardize emerging zonal architectures in the automotive industry.
DHL Supply Chain Unveils Its First Fully Automated Small-Parts Fulfilment Centre in Central and Eastern Europe With AutoStore Technology
DHL Supply Chain announces the opening of its first warehouse in Poland equipped with the fully automated AutoStore system. This robotised warehouse in Gorzów Wielkopolski marks the first deployment of the AutoStore system by the global leader in contract logistics in the Centrale and Eastern Europe region. The Automated Storage and Retrieval System (ASRS) has been implemented by robotics specialist Element Logic, one of the world’s largest AutoStore distributors. This fully automated robot picking system will strengthen Poland’s position in the European e-commerce supply chain.
How BMW Group and Qualcomm built an automated driving platform on AWS
There are several challenges that BMW Group and Qualcomm need to solve in the Autonomous Driving/Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (AD/ADAS) space to bring various automated driving functions to maturity. This includes collecting test data over thousands of kilometers with an extensive range of different traffic scenarios and environmental conditions using test vehicles equipped with the latest sensors. This also involves testing the data quality with which a car perceives the totality of its surroundings. Additionally, the examples are subject to validation and verification of both safety and driving functions in a range of real-world, on-road scenarios and situations.
After deploying the next generation ADAS platform and creating all needed Realms the ADAS application developers have access to AWS services and necessary tools to support functional validation and approval. Each Realm provides key accelerators that empower BMW Group ADAS application developers to move faster. By default, each Realm has preconfigured CI/CD services that are ready to be used to develop, build and deploy IaC applications in the Realm with minimum effort. Another key accelerator is a centralized IaC repository that contains a collection of reusable IaC code modules based on the open-source projects Autonomous Driving Data Framework (ADDF) and Industry Data Framework (IDF). ADDF and IDF provide ready-to-run examples that implement common service patterns like an EKS-cluster. Every Realm on the ADAS platform has the ability to easily integrate into the custom-built overarching orchestration which facilitates standardized pub–sub communication across Realms.
Anthropic and Palantir Partner to Bring Claude AI Models to AWS for U.S. Government Intelligence and Defense Operations
Anthropic and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) announced a partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to provide U.S. intelligence and defense agencies access to the Claude 3 and 3.5 family of models on AWS. This partnership allows for an integrated suite of technology to operationalize the use of Claude within Palantir’s AI Platform (AIP) while leveraging the security, agility, flexibility, and sustainability benefits provided by AWS.
The partnership facilitates the responsible application of AI, enabling the use of Claude within Palantir’s products to support government operations such as processing vast amounts of complex data rapidly, elevating data driven insights, identifying patterns and trends more effectively, streamlining document review and preparation, and helping U.S. officials to make more informed decisions in time-sensitive situations while preserving their decision-making authorities. Claude became accessible within Palantir AIP on AWS earlier this month.
With Palantir’s AIP, customers can now operationalize Claude using an integrated suite of technology, facilitated by Amazon SageMaker, an accredited fully managed service, and hosted on Palantir’s Impact Level 6 (IL6) accredited environment, supported by AWS. Palantir and AWS are among a limited number of companies to receive the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) IL6 accreditation requiring some of the strictest security protocols.
Hapag-Lloyd Partners with HERE Technologies to Transform Global Supply Chain Visibility with Advanced Tracking Solution
Hapag-Lloyd, a global leader in container shipping, and HERE Technologies, the leading location data and technology company, announced a strategic partnership focused on significantly improving visibility in global supply chains. HERE Tracking enhances Hapag-Lloyd’s existing real-time smart container tracking solution Live Position with predictive ETAs for inland transportation, driving operational efficiency and improving customer satisfaction.
As supply chain disruptions continue to impact industries worldwide, the need for real-time visibility has never been greater. With the deployment of over 1.5 million container tracking devices to 90% of Hapag Lloyd’s total fleet, utilizing the HERE Tracking solution, Hapag-Lloyd can now accurately predict arrival of these containers across their rail, barge and truck transportation networks. The tracking devices will extend to Hapag-Lloyd’s entire fleet and include ETA prediction early next year.
By leveraging AI-powered, predictive ETAs from HERE, businesses and operations managers can rely on continuously updated data throughout the entire transport journey. This accuracy empowers more effective planning and decision-making, ultimately improving operational efficiency.
SICK and CoreTigo Partner on IO-Link Wireless: Enhancing Flexibility, Simplifying Deployment, and Integration
Recognizing the market demand for wireless connectivity, while acknowledging that conventional wireless communication is unsuitable for harsh industrial environments, SICK has partnered with CoreTigo. The leader in industrial wireless communication technology delivers a robust solution that provides seamless integration, ease of deployment, and unparalleled flexibility, enabling simplified retrofits and innovative machine designs that were previously unattainable. Additionally, this facilitates the easy execution of IIoT applications and real-time data streaming to enterprise and cloud platforms for advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, and improved operational efficiency.
EssilorLuxottica bets on glasses replacing smartphones as value hits €100bn
Glasses equipped with artificial intelligence helped EssilorLuxottica achieve the final goal of its late founder Leonardo Del Vecchio last week — a €100bn valuation — capping its transformation from a workshop in the Dolomite mountains to the world’s biggest eyewear manufacturer.
His successor is betting that smart eyewear developed with social media giant Meta will one day replace the smartphone in customers’ pockets, and fuel future growth.
On an earnings call last month, the maker of Ray-Ban and Oakley sunglasses said glasses integrated with tiny cameras and Meta’s AI assistant were one of the strongest drivers of quarterly sales, helping to push up shares and taking it to a market capitalisation of €101.5bn last week.
Lummus and Advanced Ionics Establish Partnership for Green Hydrogen
Lummus Technology, a global provider of process technologies and value-driven energy solutions, announced a new partnership with Advanced Ionics, a low-cost green hydrogen technology provider. This partnership includes an investment from Lummus Venture Capital to accelerate the commercialization of Advanced Ionics’ hydrogen electrolyzer technology and support the decarbonization efforts in the refining, gas processing and petrochemical industries. Lummus will also provide engineering services and supply proprietary equipment to create additional green hydrogen capacity for new builds and existing hydrogen users or producers.
By harnessing waste heat and low-cost clean electricity, Advanced Ionics’ Symbion™ Electrolyzers use up to 40 percent less electricity per kilogram of hydrogen produced than alkaline and PEM technologies. The system’s modular design allows for rapid deployment, ease of operation and maintenance, and the use of widely available components helps reduce capital costs.
Karmak and Syncron Partner to Automate Inventory Planning Process
Karmak, a leader in business management solutions for the heavy-duty trucking industry, and Syncron, a global leader in intelligent Service Lifecycle Management (SLM) aftermarket solutions, announced an integration that allows Karmak customers to seamlessly access Syncron’s solutions. The new integration enables dealers and OEMs to automate inventory planning, optimize pricing strategies, reduce costs, and improve service levels—all from within Karmak Fusion.
Syncron’s SLM platform uses AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics to plan and predict parts service needs, maximize availability and minimize waste, and emissions because of unnecessary or rushed orders. It helps dealers and OEMs optimize their parts & service departments, enabling increased customer satisfaction, user automation, & operational profitability.
ABB and Blykalla collaborate on small modular nuclear reactor technology in Sweden
ABB and Swedish nuclear energy company Blykalla have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop advanced nuclear reactor technology, with the aim of supporting Sweden’s efforts to produce clean and reliable baseload energy. The collaboration will initially concentrate on constructing an electrical small modular reactor (SMR) pilot facility near the coastal town of Oskarshamn, approximately 340 km south of Stockholm, to test proof of concept before expanding to future plants.
NTT and Toyota Motor Corporation agree to joint initiative in the field of mobility and AI/telecommunications with the aim of realizing a society with zero traffic accidents
Toyota Motor Corporation and Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation have agreed to a joint initiative in the field of mobility and AI/telecommunications with the aim of realizing a society with zero traffic accidents.
Toyota is developing Software Defined Vehicles (SDV) with safety and security as the top priority. Alongside the evolution of SDV, it will become more important to build infrastructure such as a high-speed, high-quality communication infrastructure, an AI infrastructure that can collect and intelligently process vast amounts of information, and a computing infrastructure.
In this collaboration, NTT, whose strengths lie in the telecommunications, and Toyota will jointly build a “Mobility AI Platform” that combines a seamless communications infrastructure with AI and computing platforms that can intelligently process large amounts of data. By doing so, they aim to connect people, mobility, and infrastructure to realize a safe, secure, and sustainable mobility society with no traffic accidents.
Cognizant Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Empower the Digital Factory and Enhance Smart Manufacturing
Cognizant (NASDAQ:CTSH) announced that it has signed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS), with plans to deliver advanced technology solutions and cloud computing services, focused on enhancing smart manufacturing capabilities for global enterprises across industries.
This latest expansion of Cognizant’s collaboration with AWS is designed to meet the growing market demand for Internet of Things (IoT), data, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud adoption in Industry 4.0 applications, such as digital twins, simulations, manufacturing execution systems, edge computing, and operational technology (OT) cybersecurity solutions, which Cognizant plans to demonstrate in its manufacturing innovation centers in the United States (U.S.) and India.
Under the collaboration, Cognizant will work with clients to advise, implement, deploy and manage smart manufacturing solutions, which include performing OT system integration, network modernization using an industrial data platform and autonomous plant operations tools built on AWS. Clients may experience a range of benefits to assist with manufacturing operations, including real-time visibility into production operations, predictive maintenance capabilities, and enhanced real-time data-driven decision-making, powered by generative AI.
Cognizant is already delivering smart manufacturing solutions in the aerospace industry, notably through Cognizant’s engagement with Brazilian multinational aerospace firm, Embraer.
Photoneo’s Bin Picking Studio & Locator Studio Join Kawasaki Robotics’ K-AddOn Ecosystem
Photoneo’s Bin Picking Studio and Locator Studio are now officially part of Kawasaki Robot’s K-AddOn program. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in our mission to make advanced automation accessible to everyone. What can we look forward to? We’re ahead of the streamlined process of connecting our advanced 3D vision systems with Kawasaki robots, making automation solutions more accessible and versatile.
K-AddOn is a platform developed by Kawasaki Robotics that facilitates the integration of their robots with third-party products and accessories. It serves as a bridge between Kawasaki’s robotic systems and compatible external components. With K-AddOn, incorporating Photoneo’s vision systems into your Kawasaki robot workflows is truly effortless. This seamless integration allows you to focus on what matters most – optimizing your automation processes and boosting productivity.
Photoneo and Yaskawa Partnership: Pioneering the Future of Logistics Automation
At Photoneo, we are proud to announce our collaboration with Yaskawa to deliver groundbreaking solutions, revolutionizing the palletizing and depalletizing landscape. By merging Photoneo’s state-of-the-art 3D vision technology with Yaskawa’s robust robotic systems, we are setting new standards for automation in warehouses and distribution centers. But how did the entire journey materialize? It all starts with PackMaster.
In addition to palletizing, our collaboration with Yaskawa has yielded an AI-driven depalletization solution that transforms warehouse unloading processes. By leveraging Photoneo’s advanced 3D Vision sensors and an AI Neural Network capable of processing over 1,000 boxes per hour with an astounding 99.7% accuracy, we are redefining operational efficiency.
Amazon partners with Unbound Potential to pilot battery technology at logistics hub
Amazon has partnered with Unbound Potential, a Swiss battery startup, to trial its battery energy storage (BESS) technology in a pilot project at Amazon’s European logistics centers. Amazon aims to use the battery to support the challenge of limited solar energy utilization due to 24/7 operations, enabling the transition to off-grid fulfillment centers powered entirely by renewable sources.
During the pilot phase, Amazon will work closely with the startup, providing feedback, troubleshooting assistance, and opportunities to refine their technologies to ensure they work smoothly in their placements.
Upon completion, environmental impacts, financial viability, and overall effectiveness of the pilot will be assessed to determine whether it can be scaled across other sites as part of a long-term partnership.
Siemens and CELUS collaborate to empower SMBs with AI-powered PCB design
Siemens Digital Industries Software, a global leader in PCB electronic systems design, and CELUS, a pioneer in AI-powered electronic design automation solutions, announced their collaboration to transform the PCB design landscape for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and independent engineers.
This collaboration combines Siemens’ industry-leading PCB design expertise with CELUS’ innovative AI automation platform to create a powerful, user-friendly and cost-effective solution tailored to the real-world needs of engineers. The integration of CELUS’ AI-driven automation with Siemens’ next-generation PCB design solution aims to deliver a fully integrated design environment that accelerates design processes, minimizes errors and brings innovative products to market faster and more efficiently.
ANYbotics Partners With SLB to Advance Autonomous Robotics Operations in Oil & Gas
The collaboration between ANYbotics and SLB brings together ANYbotics’ advanced robotic solutions and SLB’s extensive expertise in energy services to revolutionize oil & gas operations. Combining their strengths will deliver comprehensive robotics services across key regions, including the Americas, Atlantic offshore, the UAE, and beyond.
SLB provides unmatched experience in oilfield services, extensive global infrastructure, and a digital ecosystem that will seamlessly integrate ANYmal robots into energy operations. SLB will also provide global market reach, ensuring rapid deployment and after-sales support through its field service teams.
ANYbotics brings its world-leading autonomous robotic technology. ANYmal X, their flagship robot, is certified for hazardous areas and performs real-time inspections and condition monitoring. It navigates complex and hazardous environments, enhancing operational safety and efficiency. ANYbotics’ advanced capabilities complement SLB’s digital solutions by automating routine tasks, enabling predictive maintenance, and reducing human risk.
PMI Worldwide Brands, LLC (dba, Stanley 1913) Partners with Kinaxis to Strengthen Supply Chain
Kinaxis ® Inc. (TSX: KXS), a global leader in end-to-end supply chain orchestration, announced that Stanley 1913 has selected Kinaxis to modernize its supply chain and ensure operational efficiencies to help ever-increasing consumer demand.
Stanley 1913 innovates, designs and manufactures food and drinkware, including its iconic Quencher H2.0 FlowState™ Tumbler and innovative Stanley Cross Bottle. The global brand’s products are distributed in more than 60 countries worldwide. The Kinaxis Maestro™ platform will empower the Stanley 1913 team to sense potential supply chain hurdles quickly, analyze impacts and mitigation options, and implement rapid actions to address or prevent challenges that impact supply.
ABB To Create Robotic Microfactories for Tackling Data Center e-Waste
ABB Robotics’ partnership with American start-up firm Molg is set to address the rising problem of electronic waste (e-waste). The collaboration aims to develop robotic microfactories to handle e-waste disassembly and recovery, addressing the impact these wastes pose on the environment.
ABB Robotics and Molg’s robotic microfactories will be designed as advanced automated solutions for disassembling and recovering complex components like servers, laptop PCs, and other industrial electronics. One of the key benefits of automating disassembly is the improvement of worker safety by reducing the risk of handling toxins in electronic devices that otherwise pose health and environmental hazards. These robotic microfactories also help foster a circular economy by enabling efficient recovery of valuable components like rare earth elements, which can be reused to manufacture new electronic products.
National Robotarium accelerates industry development of wind farm robotics
The National Robotarium is supporting the development of new artificial intelligence and control systems that could enable underwater robots to operate autonomously in turbulent seas, potentially revolutionising maintenance and repair tasks for offshore wind turbines.
“Our trials are showing promising results in enabling underwater robots to maintain stable contact with offshore structures in challenging conditions,” said David Morrison, Project Manager at the National Robotarium. “If successful, the technology could transform offshore wind maintenance, reducing fuel consumption of maintenance missions by up to 97% - from 7,000 litres per day to just 200 litres. This could significantly lower both operational costs and the carbon footprint of maintenance.”
ServiceNow partners with Databricks to deliver Zero Copy integration that supercharges machine learning and AI capabilities
ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW), the AI platform for business transformation, and Databricks, the Data and AI company, announced a Zero Copy partnership that supercharges machine learning and AI capabilities. Databricks’ Delta Sharing will enable ServiceNow to offer Zero Copy, high‑bandwidth, bi‑directional, and secure integration with the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform so customers can turn data and insights into instant, AI‑powered action.
Bi‑directional data exchange with the Zero Copy integration will allow Databricks customers to access data within the ServiceNow platform via ServiceNow’s RaptorDB high‑performance database to analyze, enhance, and combine different sets of company data. Additionally, ServiceNow customers will be able to access rich data and insights from Databricks to trigger workflows in ServiceNow.
Databricks will also enable ServiceNow customers to build, test, and deploy custom GenAI applications tailored to their unique business needs. The partnership also amplifies ServiceNow’s agentic AI workflow capabilities. Customers will be able to design and deploy AI‑driven workflows on the ServiceNow platform that combine Databricks’ AI capabilities with ServiceNow’s workflow automation, creating predictive and self‑optimizing business processes. This includes training custom models from Databricks and integrating them into the ServiceNow platform.
L3Harris and Palantir Announce Strategic Partnership
L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) and Palantir Technologies Inc. (NYSE: PLTR) announced a strategic partnership to propel advanced technology development and accelerate L3Harris’ digital transformation.
The companies’ complementary capabilities – including L3Harris’ sensors and software-defined systems and Palantir’s Artificial Intelligence Platform (AIP) – will together enable new levels of capability and resilient connectivity across the joint-all-domain network, ensuring warfighters can make more informed decisions faster to protect our nation’s security and that of our allies.
L3Harris and Palantir’s strategic partnership encompasses a variety of ongoing initiatives, including collaboration on U.S. Army programs like TITAN and efforts aligned with the U.S. Army’s Unified Network Strategy; leveraging Palantir AIP internally at L3Harris for enterprise-wide digital transformation initiatives; and development and demonstration efforts with sensors, radios and other advanced technologies. Together, Palantir and L3Harris are investing in novel solutions that will push computing to the far edge, from radios as sensors to orbital processing on satellites that will help lead the future of communication and tactical decision-making.
The companies most recently integrated L3Harris’ WESCAM MX-20 EO/IR system with Palantir’s Sensor Inference Platform (SIP), which provided edge AI for improved target detection and delineation during a live fly test. Having SIP integrated onto the MX-20 provided increased situational awareness, automatic target identification, and communication, resulting in reduced operator workload with increased effectiveness.
Redwire Announces Spaceflight Mission with Bristol Myers Squibb to Study Small Molecule Drug Compounds, Launching Additional Biopharma Investigations to Study Bone Disease Treatments in Space
Redwire Corporation (NYSE: RDW), a leader in space infrastructure for the next generation space economy, announced that it is launching an investigation to the International Space Station (ISS) in partnership with global leading biopharmaceutical company Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS) to study model small molecule compounds using Redwire’s pharmaceutical drug development platform (PIL-BOX). The research being conducted with BMS has the potential to enhance drug stability, streamline manufacturing processes, and improve efficiencies across various therapeutic areas, including oncology, immunology, and cardiovascular disease.
Additionally, Redwire will be launching a PIL-BOX investigation in partnership with pharmaceutical startup company ExesaLibero Pharma to study the novel drug ELP-004, which prevents excess bone removal associated with numerous diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, multiple myeloma, and breast and prostate cancers. These newest spaceflight investigations further establish PIL-BOX as the premier space pharmaceutical research platform with 16 PIL-BOXes flown to date and 12 more set to launch on the next commercial resupply mission to the ISS.
A third PIL-BOX investigation launching to the ISS is being conducted in partnership with Butler University. Redwire and Butler University will seek to produce high-quality seed crystals in microgravity that could be used to produce pharmaceuticals on Earth. This is Butler University’s second PIL-BOX investigation.
umati has new partner Peakboard America Inc.
This partnership would allow Peakboard to enhance its ability to offer comprehensive, integrated data solutions for manufacturers who prioritize interoperability and modern data standards.
One important aspect is the Seamless Data Integration: With the standardized seamless communication protocols between different machines and systems, Peakboard can aggregate and visualize machine data in real time, regardless of the machine manufacturer. Peakboard can reach out to a wider array of machines and devices that adhere to the OPC UA standard. This would allow Peakboard to offer customers a more unified data solution, catering to a broader range of equipment types.
With Umati’s standardized data exchange protocols, Peakboard’s implementation time in customer environments can be significantly reduced, allowing for faster setups and quicker value delivery to clients. As Umati continues to evolve and gain traction across the industry, aligning with this open standard ensures that Peakboard stays compatible with future developments in machine connectivity, making its solutions adaptable to future needs. In essence, Umati enhances the value Peakboard provides by offering easier integration, improved flexibility, and future-proof solutions for modern manufacturing needs.
EDP tests construction of its first solar park with automation technology
EDP, a global leader in the renewable energy sector, will test the construction of its first photovoltaic solar park under real life installation conditions on a large scale with the automation technology Hyperflex. The project, named AutoPV, is located in Peñaflor, Valladolid, Spain and will use automated solutions in 3MW of the total 122MW of installed capacity, through a robotic solution.
By investing in the automation process, EDP aims to achieve greater efficiency in the construction of solar parks, significantly accelerating the project schedule, with the expectation of reducing the assembly time of the solar panel structure by up to 50%. This model of human-machine collaboration also allows robots to perform the heaviest tasks, such as handling structures and solar panels, while workers dedicate themselves to more specialised technical functions, creating an effective balance between technological strength and human expertise.
In addition to improving efficiency, automation directly contributes to increased safety in the workplace. This process opens up room for continuous improvement, as automated technology makes it possible to identify and implement optimisations in future projects, ensuring progressive progress and greater speed in the construction of solar parks, allowing the energy transition to be accelerated.
ZEDEDA and OnLogic Partner to Build Integrated Edge Computing Solution for Industrial Environments
ZEDEDA, the leader in edge management and orchestration, and OnLogic, a global leader in industrial computing hardware and solutions, announced a strategic partnership to launch OnLogic Powered by ZEDEDA. This offering combines OnLogic’s rugged, industrial-grade hardware with ZEDEDA’s cloud-native edge orchestration software, providing enterprises with a comprehensive platform to easily and securely deploy, manage and scale edge computing workloads. The companies are committing product and engineering teams to co-design a solution that will streamline edge computing deployments and accelerate time to value.
The OnLogic and ZEDEDA partnership addresses the growing demand for robust edge computing solutions in industrial environments. It enables customers to easily manage, monitor and update edge devices and application workloads, significantly reducing the time and cost associated with deploying and maintaining distributed edge infrastructure. The zero-trust security model begins in the factory and guarantees that devices haven’t been tampered with in transit.
Floatic and Geek+ Form Strategic Partnership to Deliver Integrated Robotics Solutions for Warehouse Automation
Floatic, a leading AMR solutions provider for e-commerce warehouses, announced a strategic partnership with Geek+, a global leader in robotics technology, to deliver an integrated robotic solution for warehouse automation. Through this collaboration, both companies aim to offer clients efficient and scalable robotics solutions, driving innovation in warehouse automation as key partners.
The two industry leaders aim to establish a joint sales pipeline in Asia-Pacific to deliver integrated robotics solutions to clients. The partnership combines Floatic’s proprietary technology in multi-robot management and system integration with Geek+’s comprehensive lineup of robots, industry networks, and mass production capabilities. Both companies are poised to generate powerful synergies, delivering optimized warehouse robotics solutions tailored to the client’s needs.
Floatic provides AMR solutions for e-commerce warehouse called ‘Floware’, a picking robotic solution optimized for multi-SKU inventory storage and volatile e-commerce orders. Floware consists of its proprietary software platform ‘Floatic Engine’, which integrates seamlessly with clients’ Warehouse Management Systems(WMS), enables fleet management system and real-time monitoring, alongside ‘Flody’, the robot hardware designed specifically for warehouse environments.
EuroBLECH: TRUMPF achieves breakthrough in automated sorting
New solutions SortMaster Station and SortMaster Vision from TRUMPF make it possible for the first time to sort fully automatically without any programming // To achieve this, TRUMPF uses an innovative process and artificial intelligence in partnership with Intrinsic, a leading AI and robotics software company // The solution can be used flexibly for all components, especially for thick sheets and complex geometries.
At EuroBLECH 2024, TRUMPF is presenting a completely new solution for the automated sorting of 2D laser-cut parts. With the SortMaster Station and the SortMaster Vision, customers will be able to sort parts particularly reliably and without any programming effort. The key to this is that the SortMaster Station removes the parts from the sheet metal in the first step, regardless of their geometry. The machine operator then sorts the separated parts manually or has them removed and palletized fully automatically by the SortMaster Vision. Meanwhile, the laser cutting machine is already processing the next sheet. “The automated sorting of parts is one of the biggest challenges in the sheet metal world. Conventional methods are particularly suitable for simple components with medium sheet thicknesses of up to 12 millimeters. For many companies, their common automation solutions are too inflexible and time-consuming to program, so they have their parts sorted by hand. With the SortMaster Station and the SortMaster Vision, TRUMPF enables automated sorting of any sheet metal parts and once again demonstrates its technological leadership,” said TRUMPF CTO for Machine Tools Thomas Schneider. TRUMPF offers its customers the new solution in a 3-meter format for the laser cutting machines of the 3000 and 5000 series.
InfluxData and i-flow announce partnership
i-flow is pleased to announce an official partnership with InfluxData, developers of the market-leading time series platform InfluxDB. With this cooperation, i-flow and InfluxData combine their strengths to provide the industry with a powerful and scalable infrastructure for managing and analyzing time series data.
i-flow and InfluxDB offer a powerful combination to build a reliable, secure, and high-performance data infrastructure for factory time series data. i-flow serves as an interface to various OT systems, ensuring that OT data is harmonized and enriched with data from other systems like ERP or databases. The harmonized data is then sent to InfluxDB, which provides a robust, scalable, and secure database for further processing.
TwinThread & Timeseer.AI Form a Strategic Alliance to Deliver an AI-Powered Autonomous Solution for Industrial Companies
TwinThread and Timeseer.AI announce their strategic alliance that brings together two industry-leading platforms into an integrated solution that leverages AI and digital twins. Through this alliance, both companies aim to tackle two of the most pressing issues for industrial manufacturers: consistently extracting quality data from their operations and optimizing their manufacturing processes. Industrial manufacturers can, therefore, use this advanced technology to enhance operational efficiency and reach new heights in productivity.
Avery Dennison Expands RFID Adoption in Grocery Retail Industry
Avery Dennison (NYSE: AVY) announced it will begin working with The Kroger Co. to build a better associate and customer experience through RFID inventory automation technology. This collaboration makes item-level digital identification possible, enabling more frequent and more accurate inventory information to maximize freshness, reduce waste and improve the associate experience.
This strategic collaboration will begin in the bakery department, implementing RFID-embedded labels on each item, providing significant time savings and valuable data to automate inventory management and freshness optimization. It is a foundational step in delivering a more seamless customer and associate experience across all fresh categories long term.
China’s Founder Motor Soars After Securing Volkswagen Orders
Founder Motor’s stock price jumped after two of Volkswagen Group’s businesses in China placed long-term component supply orders with the maker of drive motors.
Founder will supply over 1.6 million stator and rotor assembly sets for drive motors used in electric cars to Volkswagen’s parts factory in Tianjin and SAIC Volkswagen Automotive, the German automaker’s joint venture with China’s SAIC Motor, the Zhejiang province-based company announced.
The core components, which will be used in Volkswagen’s new-generation all-electric vehicles, will start being delivered as soon as the first quarter of next year, Founder added, without revealing any further details.
Honeywell and Google Cloud to Accelerate Autonomous Operations with AI Agents for the Industrial Sector
Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and Google Cloud announced a unique collaboration connecting artificial intelligence (AI) agents with assets, people and processes to accelerate safer, autonomous operations for the industrial sector.
This partnership will bring together the multimodality and natural language capabilities of Gemini on Vertex AI – Google Cloud’s AI platform – and the massive data set on Honeywell Forge, a leading Internet of Things (IoT) platform for industrials. This will unleash easy-to-understand, enterprise-wide insights across a multitude of use cases. Honeywell’s customers across the industrial sector will benefit from opportunities to reduce maintenance costs, increase operational productivity and upskill employees. The first solutions built with Google Cloud AI will be available to Honeywell’s customers in 2025.
Honeywell And Merlin Partner To Enable Autonomy On Wide Variety Of Aircraft
Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) and Merlin, the leading developer of safe, autonomous flight technology for fixed-wing aircraft, announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to bring autonomy to a wide variety of aircraft, including military fleets.
With this partnership, Merlin Pilot, a non-human pilot system, will integrate with Honeywell Anthem’s advanced avionics suite to reduce pilot workloads and enhance operational efficiency for special missions. Honeywell Anthem provides an intuitive user interface and advanced flight management that complements the Merlin Pilot’s advanced automation system, providing a multitude of robust and safe automated flight tasks for various aircraft.
Honeywell and Merlin’s collaboration will initially target fixed-wing military aircraft with the opportunity to expand to other commercial and military aircraft platforms. The partnership will focus on retrofitting existing military aircraft with Merlin’s advanced automation system to enable reduced crew operations, and eventually uncrewed flight. Unlike fully autonomous systems for new aircraft development, this solution enhances current aircraft operations by minimizing the need for multiple pilots, all while maintaining stringent safety standards.
Unlocking Thacker Pass: General Motors to Contribute Combined $625 Million in Cash and Letters of Credit to New Joint Venture with Lithium Americas
Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC)announced the Company and General Motors Holdings LLC (“GM”) have entered into a new investment agreement to establish a joint venture for the purpose of funding, developing, constructing and operating Thacker Pass in Humboldt County, Nevada. The $625 million of cash and letters of credit from GM to Thacker Pass alongside the conditional commitment for a $2.3 billion U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) loan announced earlier this year.
Under the terms of the Investment Agreement, GM will acquire a 38% asset-level ownership stake in Thacker Pass for $625 million in total cash and letters of credit (“GM’s JV Investment”), including $430 million of direct cash funding to the JV to support the construction of Phase 11 and a $195 million letter of credit facility (“LC Facility”) that can be used as collateral to support reserve account requirements2 under the DOE Loan (as defined below). The JV Transaction replaces the $330 million Tranche 2 common equity investment commitment from GM under its original investment agreement with the Company (“Tranche 2”) announced in January 2023.
Airbus and Toshiba to partner on superconductivity research
Airbus UpNext, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Airbus, and Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions Corporation (Toshiba), Toshiba Group’s energy arm, will cooperate and mutualise experience on superconducting technologies for future hydrogen-powered aircraft. The partners aim to co-develop a two-megawatt superconducting motor.
AVEVA announces two new strategic partnerships at its biggest ever AVEVA World Conference
During the AVEVA World 2024 press conference, AVEVA‘s CEO, Caspar Herzberg, announced new strategic partnerships with Vulcan Energy Resources (VER) and Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC).
VER aims at decarbonising lithium production by developing the world’s first dual lithium chemicals and renewable energy business with net zero greenhouse gas emissions. CONNECT, will be used to enhance collaboration and foster digital agility across the different project phases and industrial assets. VER will gain access to a comprehensive suite of software solutions tailored to Phase One and future phases. Core components, such as AVEVA’s Contract Risk Management (CRM) and AVEVA Asset Information Management (AIM), as well as AVEVA’s cutting-edge digital twin and Assai’s Document Control and Management system, will enable secure data sharing among multiple stakeholders including contractors.
AVEVA’s new partnership with Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) seeks to develop an application of quantum computing in the industrial sector. While still in its infancy, quantum computing is expected to help customers save time and money, as well as reducing power consumption. By partnering with OQC, AVEVA is bringing the power and capability of quantum compute to its customers, enabling them to unlock its potential to solve new and previously thought impossible problems. Quantum compute is anticipated to deliver an exponential speed-up over classical techniques, as well as generate cost and power consumption reductions: including AI large language models and big data.
Cell Impact partners with ANDRITZ for high-volume production of bipolar flow plates
Cell Impact of Sweden produces bipolar flow plates using proprietary high-speed forming technology. To boost its production capacity, the company plans to combine its technology with ANDRITZ’s advanced welding process. As part of the collaboration, ANDRITZ will complete the development of its new Soucell system. This multi-scanner (Galvo-Laser), on-the-fly welding system is capable of welding one bipolar plate per second (1 Hz), matching the throughput of the Cell Impact forming process.
The joint project will start in the first quarter of 2025, with the aim of installing a Soucell machine at Cell Impact’s production plant in Karlskoga by the second half of 2026. With the growing demand for bipolar flow plates, the scope of the collaboration is expected to expand.
Kinaxis Announces Deal with ExxonMobil to Transform Energy Sector Supply Chains
Kinaxis® (TSX:KXS), a global leader in end-to-end supply chain orchestration, announced a co-development deal with ExxonMobil, one of the largest integrated fuels, lubricants and chemical companies in the world, to create supply chain technology solutions designed specifically for the energy sector.
Kinaxis and ExxonMobil will focus on a supply and demand planning solution for the complicated fuel commodities market which has no industry-wide standard and which relies heavily on spreadsheets and other manual methods. The solution will enable integrated refinery-to-customer planning with timely data for the most accurate supply/demand planning, balancing and signaling. Benefits include automated data visibility, improved inventory management and terminal replenishment, and enhanced supply scenario planning that are expected to enable arbitrage opportunities and decrease supply costs. In the chemicals and lubricants space, the companies are developing an advanced planning solution that provides manufacturing and logistics constraints management coupled with scenario modelling and evaluation. Finally, the co-development will fit established sales and operations planning solutions specifically for upstream operations to optimize sourcing, storage and movement of materials and assets to improve utilization and lower costs.
Cognite, HUB Ocean, and Ecowende Partner to Develop the Future of Sustainable Offshore Wind
Cognite, the globally recognized authority in Data and AI for industry, and HUB Ocean, a pioneer in ocean data, have been selected by Dutch offshore wind farm developer Ecowende, to build and operate the Ecology Data Repository (EDR) for a groundbreaking offshore wind farm project. This collaboration aims to establish a new standard for ecological data management and data transparency in the renewable energy sector.
Ecowende is the first offshore wind farm developer to publicly share ecological data on a large scale. The data provided by Ecowende will come from numerous sensors in its offshore installations and stand-alone surveys. These sensors monitor a variety of species and oceanic parameters, both above and below the water, such as bird observations, bat presence, underwater telemetry and acoustic data.
The EDR will play a crucial role in collecting, validating, and sharing this ecological data, filling knowledge gaps and supporting research, informing decision-making, and promoting transparency around offshore wind development.
Voltaiq and NOVONIX Announce Strategic Partnership to Drive Efficiency and Quality in the Battery Industry
Voltaiq, the industry leader in battery quality analytics software, and NOVONIX Limited (NASDAQ: NVX, ASX: NVX), a leading battery materials and technology company, announced a strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing the battery industry’s approach to quality control and efficiency.
This collaboration comes at a time when battery companies are under pressure to optimize operations in an increasingly competitive global market. The partnership between Voltaiq and NOVONIX represents a significant step forward in addressing these challenges, combining Voltaiq’s best-in-class battery quality analytics software with NOVONIX Ultra-High Precision Coulometry (UHPC) equipment, as well as its expertise in battery R&D and materials development.
Amkor and TSMC to Expand Partnership and Collaborate on Advanced Packaging in Arizona
Amkor Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMKR) and TSMC (TWSE: 2330, NYSE: TSM) announced that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate and bring advanced packaging and test capabilities to Arizona, further expanding the region’s semiconductor ecosystem.
Amkor and TSMC have been closely collaborating to deliver high volume, leading-edge technologies for advanced packaging and testing of semiconductors to support critical markets such as high-performance computing and communications. Under the agreement, TSMC will contract turnkey advanced packaging and test services from Amkor in their planned facility in Peoria, Arizona. TSMC will leverage these services to support its customers, particularly those using TSMC’s advanced wafer fabrication facilities in Phoenix. The close collaboration and proximity of TSMC’s front-end fab and Amkor’s back-end facility will accelerate overall product cycle times.
The companies will jointly define the specific packaging technologies, such as TSMC’s Integrated Fan-Out (InFO) and Chip on Wafer on Substrate (CoWoS®) that will be employed to address common customers’ needs.
Renault Group and Suez join forces to fast-track circularity in Europe’s automotive sector
Renault Group and SUEZ step up their long-term partnership, which encompasses recycling waste metal and recovering end-of-life vehicles, with strategic agreements aimed at supporting the ecological transition in the automotive sector. Together, Renault Group and SUEZ, a world leader in waste recycling and recovery, will put The Future Is NEUTRAL in a position to speed up its expansion and rank among the standard-setters in the automotive industry’s circular economy.
Renault Group and SUEZ are pooling their technical expertise and industrial capabilities within The Future Is NEUTRAL, to build the new value chain in the car-to-car circular economy. Their goal is to work with the various players in the sector to lessen their impact on natural resources, stay ahead of developments in regulation and provide new sources of recycled materials and parts. Together, both groups will develop the following key activities: design for recycling, reverse logistics, vehicle waste management and closed-loop car-to-car recycling.
PTC Announces Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Help Companies Design Products Faster and Easier with Onshape
PTC (NASDAQ: PTC) announced entry into a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to accelerate the growth of its Onshape® cloud-native computer-aided design (CAD) and product data management (PDM) solution. This collaboration will focus on advancing Onshape product enhancements, customer adoption programs, and artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, all of which are aimed at helping product designers and engineers create new, high-quality products faster and more efficiently.
YASKAWA announces a cooperation agreement with Fizyr
The two companies have defined a non-exclusive go-to-market strategy for Europe, with the goal to facilitate the implementation of robotic automation that relies on AI based computer vision. The area of interest for this cooperation is warehouse logistic and its high-speed item picking, automatic parcel sorting, palletizing, depalletizing and trailer unloading of objects of varying sizes and shapes. This is a field in which AI based vision is crucial for robotic automation to be successful.
For integrators working with warehouse logistic the cooperation between the two companies makes the process of implementing robots with computer vision much easier. They will be offered robots with an integrated vision package, which is easy to deploy. Pre-sales support, as well as training and support for robots and software, will be provided during the process of robot system design, installation, and final operation.
Accenture forms Nvidia Business Group to chase agentic AI
Consulting giant Accenture is forming an Nvidia Business Group in its own organization to help it drive and grow AI adoption in enterprises, a move that comes as part of a newly expanded partnership between the two firms, and more deeply entwines Accenture with the company that has become the poster boy of the AI boom.
Accenture said it will help enable agentic AI by leveraging its AI Refinery framework, which uses the full Nvidia AI stack, including Nvidia AI Foundry, AI Enterprise and Omniverse platforms, to advance areas such as process reinvention, AI-powered simulation, and sovereign AI. The company already has AI Refinery Engineering Hubs in Mountain View, California, and Bangalore, and intends to build additional hubs in Accenture Singapore, Tokyo, Malaga, and London. The partners already are working with some customers to support agentic AI, one prime example being Indosat Group in Indonesia, with whom Accenture and Nvidia are working on a sovereign AI project.
Accenture AI Refinery will be available on all public and private cloud platforms and will integrate seamlessly with other Accenture Business Groups to accelerate AI across the SaaS and cloud AI ecosystem, the company stated. Accenture also plans to debut a new Nvidia NIM Agent Blueprint for virtual facility robot fleet simulation, which integrates Omniverse and Nvidia’s Isaac robotics software and Metropolis video analytics software to enable industrial companies to build autonomous, robot-operated software-defined factories and facilities. Accenture will use these new capabilities at Eclipse Automation, an Accenture-owned manufacturing automation company, to deliver as much as 50% faster designs and 30% reduction in cycle time on behalf of its clients, the company said.
Alaska Airlines and UP.Labs launch Odysee, an AI-enabled startup taking a new approach to schedule optimization
One year after announcing their partnership to solve business challenges through innovation, Alaska Airlines and UP.Labs, have officially announced their first new startup, Odysee, at the UP.Summit. Odysee, which launched with $5M in seed funding led by UP.Partners, is focused on lending powerful AI and computing power to inform real-time tradeoff decisions in planning for and managing operational logistics, starting with scheduling. The platform will ensure the best use of each aircraft asset and the interconnections between them, empowering teams to more effectively optimize one of the most complex areas of an airline’s business.
Odysee utilizes an operations research-led approach to build flight schedules and rapidly quantify the impacts of schedule changes on revenue, profitability and reliability. The platform can run hundreds of simulations within seconds to provide accurate flight-level insights to stress-test a future schedule. This tool can assess more options and evaluate more variables than the human brain – giving teams the opportunity to make more informed decisions.
ABB and Carbon Re agree joint approach to enhance low-carbon cement production with artificial intelligence
ABB has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Carbon Re, an industrial artificial intelligence provider, to assess ways to accelerate the decarbonization of cement production while improving productivity. Together they will explore a joint go-to-market solution for the cement industry which will potentially unite ABB’s domain expertise and experience in delivering successful global automation and advanced process control (APC) projects with Carbon Re’s advanced artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML) and cement expertise.
Building on the success of an exploratory project at a cement plant in Czechia, ABB will explore opportunities to integrate Carbon Re’s AI platform on top of its existing ABB Ability™ Expert Optimizer for cement APC solution. Carbon Re leverages AI and ML technologies, which could add continuously updating, cloud-based optimization software to ABB’s portfolio. With the addition of this AI layer, Expert Optimizer targets – such as post combustion oxygen to improve combustion efficiency – would automatically be set based on ever-changing plant conditions. These automated adjustments would deliver enhanced operational and energy efficiency benefits.
J.B. Hunt and UP.Labs Unite to Establish Logistics Venture Lab to Fuel the Next Wave of Innovation in Logistics and Freight
At the UP.Summit, J.B. Hunt Transport Inc., one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, and UP.Labs, a first-of-its-kind venture lab unlocking the future of transportation and mobility, announced their establishment of the Logistics Venture Lab (LVL).
The logistics and freight-focused lab will aim to launch as many as six startups over the next three years to solve core strategic challenges within the industry. The startups, the first of which the companies target to begin launching in 2025, are inspired by opportunities to drive efficiency and solve common problems faced by providers in the logistics and freight transportation space. They will focus on key industry service areas such as brokerage, dedicated, intermodal and truckload, among others.
Quest One and MAN Energy Solutions open new gigahub
Electrolysis specialist Quest One, a subsidiary of MAN Energy Solutions, has opened its new ‘Gigahub’ for the serial and automated production of electrolysis stacks in Hamburg.
The hydrogen technology specialist is starting the serial and automated production of so-called PEM electrolysis stacks for the production of green hydrogen at the new site. PEM electrolysis, which is based on proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, is one of the most important processes for industrially scaled hydrogen production from renewable energies. The series production is an important step towards making green hydrogen available in large quantities and thus becoming a reliable alternative to fossil fuels. The climate-neutral conversion of the industry with its high energy requirements is an important area of application. The new production and development site plays a central role in realising the Quest One mission of avoiding one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 through the use of its own electrolysers.
Qualcomm and STMicroelectronics Enter Strategic Collaboration in Wireless IoT
Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, and STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, announce a new strategic collaboration for the next generation of industrial and consumer IoT solutions augmented by edge AI. This highly complementary collaboration will see the two companies integrate Qualcomm Technologies’ leading AI-powered wireless connectivity technologies, starting with Wi-Fi/Bluetooth/Thread combo system-on-a-chip (SoC), with the market-leading microcontroller (MCU) ecosystem from ST. Through this collaboration, developers will enjoy seamless connectivity software integration into STM32 general-purpose MCUs, including software toolkits, facilitating quick and broad adoption via ST’s world-wide sales and distributor channels.
Honeywell and Chevron Collaborate on AI-Assisted Solutions for Refining Processes
Honeywell (NASDAQ: HON) announced a strategic collaboration with Chevron (NYSE: CVX) to develop advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-Assisted solutions to help operators make decisions to enhance efficiency for refining processes and improve safety within the industrial automation space.
Together, the two companies are leveraging their deep domain knowledge and industry expertise to create a new generation of AI-Assisted alarm management solutions that will help operators make decisions to increase the efficiency, safety and reliability of process operations and industrial assets. The new solutions will include an Alarm Guidance application that provides operators with guided and specific actions to effectively respond to alarms and operational events, helping to reduce lost profit opportunities and process safety incidents. Using AI technology, the system will mine historical data on past actions to identify patterns of alarms and the corresponding operator actions that successfully return the process to normal operation.
Myers Industries Turned to John Galt Solutions to Transform and Advance Supply Chain Planning Processes
John Galt Solutions, a global leader in automating supply chain planning to empower businesses to make better decisions faster, announced that its market-leading Atlas Planning Platform was successfully implemented at Myers Industries Inc., to help the company standardize processes and support growth across its separate business units.
Myers selected John Galt Solutions’ Atlas Planning Platform for its superior ability to improve visibility across the end-to-end supply chain. With Atlas, Myers can pull data from different external and internal data sources into a single platform, optimizing and improving processes across the business.
Since the implementation, Myers has benefited from a uniform view across its supply chain. The platform’s data-driven dashboards provide real-time insights into key performance indicators (KPIs) across the network and help guide the supply chain team to accelerate decisions that best align with company objectives. The standardization of processes has helped the company align its operations with its financial goals, moving Myers toward a fully integrated business plan.
EOT Signs Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Innovate Industrial Software for AI-Optimized Industrial Assets
EOT, a leading intelligent industrial software provider, announced it signed a multi-year Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help industrial companies unlock the promise of artificial intelligence (AI)-optimized industrial plants with a no-code cloud historian and digital twins residing exclusively on AWS.
EOT is working with AWS to transform how industrial customers unlock, manage, and visualize their legacy operational data with advanced analytics and machine learning (ML) with a user experience to take increased cost savings and production output to the next level. The SCA extends EOT’s easy-to-use TwinFusion portfolio of products, providing industrial customers point-and-click navigation across multi-dimensional asset data visualizations for faster root cause analysis and resolution. It also includes mutual investments in market development and customer proof-of-concept projects.
Hilcorp, a large, privately held exploration and production company in the United States, uses EOT software for operating their upstream assets. Matt Hall, Director of IT at Hilcorp, champions EOT’s offering, stating, “As a customer of EOT, we have been able to accelerate our objective in building a scalable analytics platform that exudes the AWS Well-Architected Framework. It is reliable, cost effective, and allows us to scale our objectives while working hand in hand with our application and data strategy. EOT has grasped our vision and delivered innovative software solutions for our shared Internet of Things (IoT) goals and objectives. Without EOT, we would be spending countless hours and money trying to get close to what exists. EOT has not merely served as a vendor, but as a partner in helping us realize our goals.”
Schneider Electric and Glencore collaborate to drive copper circularity
Schneider Electric, the world’s most sustainable company and leader in the digital transformation of energy management and industrial automation, has partnered with Glencore, one of the world’s largest globally diversified natural resource companies, to transform its copper supply chain and enhance decarbonization efforts.
The industrial technology company assists Glencore in advancing its global operations by deploying a mix of automation, digitalization and electrification technologies, as well as providing consultancy support around sustainable procurement. Specifically:
- Sustainable procurement of capital equipment – Schneider Electric helped Glencore Copper in developing high-efficiency, low-carbon procurement specifications for capital equipment supporting ‘best practices’ aligned to Schneider Electric’s Zero Carbon Project.
- Enhanced energy consumption reporting – Schneider Electric is working with Glencore to develop business cases for fuel switching and energy efficiency measures. In addition, Schneider Electric is designing and deploying Power and Energy Management Systems with measurement and analytics features, helping Glencore to monitor and report on energy consumption more accurately.
- Lowering CO2 output of copper supplies – To support Glencore in improving efficiency and lowering carbon intensity of its raw material supply Schneider Electric is providing industrial digital transformation services and process electrification consulting services, leveraging solutions including AVEVA PI System and Operations Control which captures and analyses process and energy data and ETAP electrical simulation (ETAP) which simulates and optimizes power distribution handle varying power inputs without disrupting the overall distribution network in mining operations, crucial in contexts with increasing power needs, renewable energy complexities and cost fluctuations.
- Implementing automation and standardization – Leveraging Schneider Electric’s Automation installed base and Flex Agreement, Schneider Electric’s Industrial Digital Transformation Consulting team is assisting Glencore Copper in developing their IT/OT Corporate Standards. This is in addition to developing applications for Digital Twins (Mechanical, Process, and electrical), central control, and Predictive Analytics. With the proliferation of advanced control and analytics, Schneider Electric has deployed these types of technologies within Glencore Data Centers, energy management and process automation systems.
Cognite Launches Multi-Site Manufacturing Data Connectivity Initiative with NOVA Chemicals to Reshape Global Operations Across 11 Assets
Cognite, a globally recognized leader in industrial software, and NOVA Chemicals Corporation (“NOVA Chemicals”), a leading North American producer of polyethylene, announced the launch of a multi-site manufacturing data connectivity initiative to accelerate and scale digital transformation solutions across NOVA Chemicals’ organization.
NOVA Chemicals will leverage Cognite’s Industrial DataOps platform, Cognite Data Fusion®, to consolidate data from multiple source systems, such as SAP, Hexagon, and Aspen IP21, into a real-time industrial knowledge graph. This open, flexible, and scalable digital representation of NOVA Chemicals’ operations would enable seamless data flow from source systems to enterprise technology solutions, improving access and trust in their data and reducing time spent on data discovery.
LG Chem Secures Cathode Active Materials for PPES
LG Chem announced it has secured a supply of cathode active materials (CAM) for Prime Planet Energy & Solutions (PPES), a Japanese joint venture of Toyota Motor Corporation and Panasonic Corporation. PPES, a pivotal EV battery manufacturer based in Japan, has been supplying batteries to numerous global OEMs including Toyota. As part of its global expansion, LG Chem will join forces with PPES’s EV battery strategy. Targeting to start in 2026, LG Chem will supply CAM to PPES’ plant in Japan.
GXO partners with Reflex Robotics to deploy new warehouse automation
GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: GXO), the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, announced a new agreement with Reflex Robotics, a cutting-edge general-purpose humanoid startup, to pilot Reflex’s robotics solution for deployment into live operations. This is GXO’s second Robots-as-a-Service (RaaS) agreement.
The Reflex Robot is an out-of-the-box solution that reaches operational capability within 60 minutes of deployment and ramps to become fully autonomous by learning from human demonstrations over time. The multi-purpose humanoid from Reflex can transition seamlessly between repetitive tasks, from tote transfers between other kinds of automation to product picking.
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.
ABB partners with Energy Control Technologies to design integrated turbomachinery controls solution
ABB has signed a joint development agreement with US company Energy Control Technologies (ECT) to co-design and deliver an integrated turbomachinery controls solution which can be configured, operated and maintained within the ABB Ability™ System 800xA® distributed control system (DCS).
The ABB-ECT Integrated Compressor Controls (ICC) with Integrated Control Safety System (ICSS) offers customers a flexible solution that aims to reduce the footprint and complexity of their plant control system and will have the potential to contribute to automation and electrical CAPEX reductions of up to 20 percent for integrated projects, according to ABB estimates.
The ABB-ECT ICC is achieved by eliminating traditional black box controls from the system architecture and having controls unified within the same 800xA ICSS System. The need for a separate operator workstation, I/O network, servers, networks, switches and other auxiliary systems is removed. This provides faster startup and greater machine protection, safety and stability.
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.
Schneider Electric collaborates with GR3N to tackle plastic recycling challenges and drive circularity in chemical sector
Schneider Electric, the world’s most sustainable company and leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation has partnered with GR3N, the Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) chemical recycler to create the first open automation system for the advanced plastic recycling industry.
With 50% of global plastic waste ending up in landfills and only 9% recycled, GR3N developed MADE, the Microwave Assisted DEpolymerization solution. This new process breaks down PET into its chemical building blocks that can be recombined to create new PET pellets with virgin-like quality for packaging and textiles, effectively closing the loop for hard to recycle plastic. The technology is based on alkaline hydrolysis, and it can manage a higher amount of impurities compared to the existing ones.
In March 2024, GR3N successfully demonstrated MADE and the power of Schneider Electric’s open automation technology, EcoStruxure Automation Expert at its demonstration site in Italy. MADE plant is conceived to anticipate the usage of all the technologies that will be finally adopted for the first industrial-scale facility, foreseen to be installed in Spain and with an expected capacity of over 40.000 ton/year of PET waste treated. The intrinsic modularity of GR3N’s proprietary recycling process has allowed MADE to be the first plastic recycling plant to use the shared automation runtime managed by Universal Automation, based on the IEC 61499 standard.
Agility Robotics and Ricoh partner to support expanding humanoid robot market
Agility Robotics, creator of the leading bipedal Mobile Manipulation Robot (MMR) Digit®, and Ricoh USA, Inc., one of the largest global service delivery organizations, announced it will partner to expand Agility’s customer support capabilities throughout North America. This agreement – the first of its kind for a humanoid robot – extends Agility’s support system through Ricoh’s world-class Service Advantage program and provides additional resources for its end users.
Ricoh will support 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.
Monolith and NIO Europe start first ever collaboration on AI-driven anomaly detection for EV batteries
Monolith, artificial intelligence (AI) software provider to the world’s most innovative engineering teams, has been chosen by NIO, a pioneer and leading company in the premium smart electric vehicle market, to collaborate on AI-driven anomaly detection in the company’s electric vehicle batteries.
NIO’s battery swap technology presents a unique opportunity to discover new insights into real-world, daily usage of batteries. It will use Monolith’s Anomaly Detector AI software to monitor performance from data generated in the field. These learnings will build a basis for comparing test-bench results and will be integrated into further verification activities. With Anomaly Detector, NIO and Monolith engineers can recognise abnormalities in cross-channel results at an unprecedented rate based on complex system relationships.
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.”
Kawasaki Robotics Launches High Precision, Industrial-Grade Advanced Collaborative Robots
Kawasaki Robotics will demonstrate new additions to its extensive robotics portfolio, including the new CL Series of intelligent collaborative robots (cobots), at IMTS in Chicago September 9-14. The CL Series cobots, available for order in multiple payloads, and the new industrial robotic solutions featured for applications such as welding, machine tending and material removal give manufacturers limitless flexibility and advanced capabilities when choosing automation to meet their diverse needs.
Developed in partnership with NEURA Robotics, the CL Series cobots challenge the current understanding of collaborative robots, offering full-on industrial scale performance and speed paired with maximum protection without compromising the safety and flexibility advantages of human/robot collaboration. Compact and robust, using the same durable casing as Kawasaki Robotics’ industrial robot arms, the CL Series cobots can operate without protective covers in crowded and harsh environments that may not be suitable for other cobots. Operating in Zero Gravity (Zero G), the CL Series cobots require only light guidance and precise adjustments by hand to create highly efficient solutions for applications such as machine tending and welding.
VELUX Group signs long-term agreement with ArcelorMittal to supply low carbon-emission steel
In 2023, the two companies agreed to enter a partnership to lower the carbon footprint of the steels used in VELUX roof windows by up to 70 percent, compared with conventionally produced steel. This co-operation involved the testing and validation of ArcelorMittal’s XCarb® recycled and renewably produced steel and its performance in VELUX roof window hinges and installation brackets.
Successful results have now culminated in the signing of this 10-year commercial agreement which outlines a framework for steel supply. VELUX is now gradually increasing order intake so that by 2025, XCarb® will be used in several steel components for VELUX roof windows, replacing the conventionally produced steel that was previously used.
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.
AVEVA and Meridian Energy Group Inc. Forge Partnership for World's Cleanest and Most Advanced Crude Oil Refineries
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software driving digital transformation and sustainability, announced a strategic partnership with Meridian Energy Group Inc. (Meridian) to develop a digital twin for the first full-conversion refinery built in the U.S. since 1976, and the first modern “greenfield” advanced technology refinery constructed in the U.S. ever. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in advancing technological innovation and environmental stewardship in the refining industry.
Meridian has selected CONNECT, AVEVA’s industrial intelligence platform, and a series of EPC 4.0 solutions to create one unified, data-centric approach for the engineering and project execution of their new Davis Refinery. Meridian’s executive team, comprising decades of experience in plant engineering and operations, is the driving force to their adopting innovative technologies that overcome traditional project barriers and disparate systems. With AVEVA’s EPC 4.0 solutions, engineering data is no longer siloed, bringing real-time visibility across the engineering and design stage to procurement and construction, improving final handover and time to operational readiness.
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.
PhaBuilder collaborates with Solenis and Hengxin
Solenis, a leading global producer of specialty chemicals for water-intensive industries, has signed an agreement with Beijing PhaBuilder Biotechnology Co., Ltd., (hereinafter referred to as PhaBuilder), an innovative synthetic biology enterprise, to collaborate on further developing key PHA (Polyhydroxyalkanoate) - based technology for the paper packaging market.
DIN Germany announced that Hefei Hengxin Life Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Hengxin) has obtained the world’s first DIN certificate of PHA coated paper products. Chairman Yan Deping of Hengxin stated that this achievement is the result of years of research, continuous innovation, and pursuit of excellence by Tsinghua University, PhaBuilder, and Hengxin. This product not only has excellent physical properties and environmental benefits, but also has made a significant breakthrough in the processing techniques, filling the gap in PHA market.
PHA is a green and sustainable material manufactured through green and low-carbon bio-fermentation. Its application in paper products will help promote the eco-friendly development of the paper industry. The PHA coating of the paper products manufactured by Hengxin is made from the PHA raw material of PhaBuilder. PhaBuilder was established by Professor George Guo-Qiang Chen from Tsinghua University who specializes in synthetic biology.
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, 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.
GXO Advances Humanoid Strategy with Apptronik
GXO Logistics, Inc. (NYSE: GXO), the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, announced it is conducting an early-stage proof-of-concept program in partnership with robot manufacturer Apptronik. This collaboration marks another milestone in GXO’s strategy to advance humanoid innovation by partnering with developers to help shape their prototypes to meet the evolving demands of the logistics industry.
Apptronik’s general purpose industrial humanoid robot stands 5’8”tall, can carry 55 pounds and operates on swappable batteries that are configured to give it the highest operational time of any humanoid robot. Apollo is powered by linear actuators that mimic the mechanics of human muscles and provide a full range of mobility. Its unique force control architecture and flexible safety zone perimeter allow Apollo to work safely around and directly with people. Together, the companies are evaluating the overall performance of the robot in a lab setting to further fine-tune Apptronik’s AI model before deploying the technology to a U.S. distribution center once ready.
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.
AVEVA announces at ACHEMA a Strategic Collaboration Agreement with AWS to Drive Sustainable Industrial Transformation
AVEVA, a global leader in industrial software, driving digital transformation and sustainability, has announced a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services (AWS). Their enhanced collaboration will support industrial customers by enabling cloud delivery of the latest AVEVA applications as integrated, out-of-the-box Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solutions.
AVEVA is collaborating with AWS to solve interoperability challenges with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The lack of workability across data models can be a barrier for customers interested in digital twins, while creating data models is costly and time-consuming. AVEVA and AWS are looking to create mapping capability on AWS platforms, which could decrease time-to-value, while reducing data management complexity across data silos and industrial data standards.
Companies all around the world are already benefitting from AVEVA and AWS solutions. Take, for example, Norway’s Aker Carbon Capture, which designs and builds facilities for companies in carbon-intensive industries, such as cement, steel, and oil and gas. AVEVA’s Unified Engineering in the cloud helps Aker Carbon Capture create efficient and replicable designs for carbon capture units, and AVEVA’s AWS-based software allows teams to collaborate across time zones, resulting in an increase in operational efficiency and time to market by over 50%.
John Galt Solutions and Climatiq Partner to Enhance Supply Chain Planning With Carbon Intelligence
John Galt Solutions, a global leader in automating supply chain planning to empower businesses to make better decisions faster, revealed its partnership with Climatiq, a leading provider of carbon intelligence solutions. Together, John Galt Solutions and Climatiq are helping supply chains become more environmentally responsible and ensure compliance with current and future regulatory requirements. Leading organizations will now have access to accurate and comprehensive carbon insights across their end-to-end supply chain within the Atlas Planning Platform, empowering them to meet the growing demand for sustainable supply chain operations.
By leveraging Climatiq’s expertise and technology in carbon intelligence, John Galt Solutions’ Atlas Planning Platform will equip companies with the visibility and actionable insights they need to reduce their carbon footprint, execute net-zero targets, and stay ahead of regulatory requirements. This partnership is particularly timely as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) regulations continue to evolve, requiring companies to effectively track and reduce their carbon footprint.
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.
Unlocking LandingAI’s Computer Vision Capabilities on Snowflake
LandingAI announced the most sophisticated Native App during the Snowflake Data Cloud Summit 24, available now in the Snowflake Marketplace — it is the very first (Visual AI) Native App that is fully hosted on Snowpark Container Services. By offering LandingLens as a Native App, Snowflake and LandingAI have deepened their partnership and boosted Visual AI in the Data Cloud.
Customers will now have the ability to leverage powerful Snowflake compute with configurable GPU resources to train deep learning, visual AI models directly in their Snowflake environment using LandingAI’s flagship product, LandingLens, with no data ever leaving the platform.
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.
Welcome to The Armada Pioneer Network: Charting New Frontiers Together
We are thrilled to unveil the Armada Pioneer Network (APN), a groundbreaking partner program that embodies our mission to bridge the digital divide and elevate edge computing to unprecedented heights.
The Armada Pioneer Network represents a movement. As pioneers, we are on a quest to harness the untapped potential of edge computing and bring transformative solutions to every corner of the globe. This network is our vessel to navigate the uncharted waters of digital innovation, ensuring that no community or industry is left behind in the digital era. The APN ecosystem assists in developing, promoting, and selling products and solutions to customers through valuable business, technical, and marketing support from Armada.
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.
Celonis and the BMW Group strengthen strategic partnership
Celonis, the pioneer and global market leader in process mining, and the BMW Group announced they have significantly expanded their strategic partnership to continuously optimize BMW’s market-defining processes designed to increase its efficiency, productivity and sustainability. The two Munich-based industry leaders have also agreed to cooperate closely in the further development of future process mining innovations.
The BMW Group’s Center of Excellence for Process Mining and Celonis’ development team also agreed to collaborate more closely to accelerate the joint development of process intelligence innovations. This includes, for example, connecting suppliers in cross-company processes more efficiently by automating the transfer of data (e.g. via CatenaX) and mapping the entire customer journey. The collaboration will also focus on the integration of new AI technologies, such as the processing of information for operational employees in the production area. This will boost operational transparency and accountability by enabling everyone involved in a process to see all the relevant information in areas such as production or logistics.
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.
H2Ok Innovations Interview
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.