E-mobility with TRUMPF laser technology

By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

Global mobility transition is in full swing. In South East Asia, electric vehicle (EV) and battery industry appears poised for growth. The EV market is expected to reach US$2,665.3 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 32.73%, according to Mordor Intelligence. More companies, mostly automotive suppliers, are looking for new manufacturing solutions, and laser is at the centre of it.

 

International Metalworking News for Asia (IMNA) caught up with Markus Lindemann, Regional Director, Laser Division of TRUMPF Pte Ltd, during the recent ITAP in Singapore to discuss TRUMPF’s E-mobility solutions made with laser welding.

 

IMNA: Please give us an overview of the best features of TRUMPF’s laser welding for E-mobility?

 

Markus: E-mobility is one of our growth drivers. The change from the combustion engine to the EV cars is a big push for laser applications. For TRUMPF, we are moving our focus to different topics. We start e-mobility in the battery cell manufacturing, where we have developed new processes with scanners to weld aluminium housing. But also slitting and contour cutting as well as welding the battery foils are common application for TRUMPF’s lasers.

 

There are lots of laser applications in the prismatic cells. Main battery cell manufacturing companies in Korea and China are using TRUMPF’s lasers. At the end, the automotive or OEM suppliers take the battery cells and combine it to battery modules and battery packs. The module tray, as well as the other parts like combining the battery cells with the bus bar, is also laser welded. Another important process is laser cleaning which is to remove the coating between the battery cells in the model.

 

In our latest development we also came up with a special process to weld the aluminium cans of prismatic battery cells. With a scanner, you can now do tack welding and final contour welding in one station.

Copper materials are also often used in E-mobility. We have developed a new green laser with pulse function for copper welding to address this market trend. For thinner aluminium sheets and connectors, we use the green laser with a excellent beam quality and laser powering up to 3kW. But for thicker copper material (e.g.  thickness of more than 1mm) we still use infrared laser with a scanner optic. We compare different technologies in-house and look for the best solution. It is not only about the optics and the laser source, but also about vision systems, quality control, and welded measuring-- that is another focus of TRUMPF. We are moving towards a holistic approach in offering as a laser system provider including vision and sensor systems. And with these optimised optics and vision system, combined with application know-how, we develop a technological advantage for our customers.

 

IMNA: Considering the present weak market, could you say laser welding is positioned to be a cost-efficient solution?

 

Markus: Lasers will be only used if you can reduce your production cost by using a laser source. Typically, laser is either used in high volume production where we have a fully automated process, and everything is clearly defined and accurate. On the other hand, laser gives you an advantage in being able to produce different parts without any customised tool for it. Cause at the end, it is always the laser light and you have to apply this in a certain way through programming and that makes a laser very flexible to work. In both cases, the laser will only be used if it can reduce the cost.

Another aspect is quality. Laser can achieve new qualities, such as different product features. For instance, you can make the part smaller and more precise compared with other technologies. This is of course one of the strengths of laser technology -- you can explore new applications and product design by applying laser technology.

 

IMNA: Do you see encouraging signs in Asia’s manufacturing capacity utilisation?

 

Markus: Our focus in South East Asia is of course finding customers who have local R&D, but I realised that a lot of R&D is not done here. It is mainly a production hub where processes are developed in Europe and in America, and have transferred their production here. In this case, you do not have much influence on the decision-making process. Once you develop the process, the production side will just follow according to the test before, so there is a limit in developing new things here.

 

But we do have some partners in SEA who develop new things for a local market. For example, we have a customer in Thailand making automotive parts. They came to us saying, “We have this bended tube parts and we need a 3D cutter to cut holes and ends.” We did the testing and came up with a solution. We discussed the costing, investments, and cycle times. In the end, it materialised. It has turned out into a project that is going for more than 4 years but finally we are happy to see TRUMPF’s TruLaser Cell machines fully-automated. That is the first fully automated production line I have seen in SEA for parts like this. This gives me confidence that there is still a need for such solutions in South East Asia and not only in other part of the world You just need the right partners for this journey.

 

IMNA: What do you think are the key manufacturing priorities for 2023 and how can TRUMPF technology give the industry a positive outlook for the future?

 

Markus: Digital solution is the upcoming trend. We move away from the basic machines and if there is an issue, we send a service engineer for repair. I think this is in some ways still state-of- the-art. But this will fade out soon and at TRUMPF we are going into digital manufacturing. On the machine toolside, we have the smart factory where we organise the whole production system. We help the customer to reduce their material storage cost, to optimise the piece flow, optimise the usage of our machines, and gain more by using smart technology.

 

On the laser side, we are using condition monitoring that connect our lasers at the customers through cloud with our headquarters in Germany. They receive the data and apply AI to it. If they see something critical, they will feedback to our local service team, and they will contact the customer to schedule a visit in the next few days. The service team will inform the customer that their machine might be down in the next 30 days and ensure that the required spare parts will be available upon the scheduled visit. This allows the customer to plan their down-times. We also have the first installation in Indonesia already and we have ongoing discussions with customers in in the Philippines and Thailand.

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Renishaw brings advanced manufacturing solutions to South East Asia

 By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

Steve Bell, General Manager of Renishaw ASEA

Manufacturers nowadays are progressively looking to automation in order to propel operational efficiency and overcome skill shortages on the shop floor. To control manufacturing processes on the shop floor, the need for new process control methods, such as gauging systems are increasing.

 

In a conversation with Steve Bell, General Manager of Renishaw ASEAN, at the recent Industrial Transformation Asia Pacific 2022 (ITAP 2022) in Singapore, he highlighted the Equator 300 and 500 flexible gauge system, which is suitable for automation requirements.

 

According to Steve, the Equator 300 versatile gauge is a smaller standalone Equator, while the Equator 500 is the larger system that enables the gauging of larger parts, with a working volume of 500mm in diameter and up to 400mm in height. Both are designed to provide speed, repeatability, and ease of use for manual or automated applications.

 

“We are showing the Equator here at the show to demonstrate how it can help customers in an automation environment. Our focus is very much on products that land themselves to automation, such as our Equator, automated gauging system, machine tool probing, calibration those are the areas we are focused on” he explained.

 

Equator gauging system

The Equator is a highly valuable option for manufacturers who are looking to replace their current gauging method.  Its system enables process control by delivering highly repeatable, thermally insensitive, versatile, and re-programmable gauging to the shop floor.

 

Purchasing an Equator will see a rapid return on investment – Equator’s automated system can greatly increase throughput and naturally will simultaneously reduce labour costs.  The Equator is also a fraction of the cost of an equivalent custom gauging system, including associated fixturing.  There is also no need to pay for expensive rework of custom gauges in order to gauge modified or new parts because of the Equator’s re-programmable readiness.

 

Most users of Equator systems need short cycle times to maximise throughput from their manufacturing processes. Both Equator 300 and 500 systems, while maintaining high levels of repeatability, are capable of rapid scans and high-speed touch points on a wide variety of features. Years of customer experience with Equator systems have proven the capability to gauge size, position, and geometry on a single device. This can eliminate the need to stabilise parts to the temperature of the quality room prior to measuring geometry and form of critical features.

 

Improved efficiency solution

Steve said that its message is all about “Improved Efficiency Solution.” “I think more than future trends, we see a continuation of where things are going right now. I think we are going to see quite a difficult time for the world economy and we must be as efficient as we can be. Both in terms of our own operation and the products that we sell to our customers. The future is going to be electric vehicles (EVs), wherein everything will be connected with EV-- the battery production, energy production in general. All those are pretty much our focus,” he stated.

 

Market growth in South East Asia

As restrictions ease and borders open in South East Asia, more opportunities arise for market expansion. With countries now on the road to recovery after massive losses from the COVID-19 pandemic, the region is once again becoming one of the world’s most attractive emerging markets.

 

For Renishaw, the company is maximising the market opportunities in South East Asia. There is a wealth of opportunities for its business in the region. Steve shared, “Singapore’s semiconductor industry has received a lot of growth. We also see oil and gas coming back strong, including aerospace. Thailand still has a lot of business with automotive, while consumer electronics are growing in Vietnam and the Philippines.”

 

Newly renovated Bangkok facility

With the promising outlooks for Renishaw in South East Asia, the company is refurbishing its Bangkok facility. “Right now, we are doing a major overhaul of our Bangkok facility. Steve revealed, “We are building a state-of-the-art showroom on the ground floor. This is a major refurbishment. Thailand still has a lot of business with automotive, but increasingly more on EV projects coming into Thailand.”

 

He added, “The refurbished facility makes it more feasible, logistically, for Renishaw to work cooperatively with customers and potential customers in Thailand, and develop solutions specific to them.”

 

The renovated Bangkok facility is designed to provide venues where automation adoption process can be accelerated. Steve, further said, “We can give companies cost-effective, hands-on experience of our products, combined with application engineering support to optimise their design, and post-processing capabilities to ensure that it performs as it should.”

Important Strategy

The increased production of new energy vehicles, including hybrids and full EVs, has seen a major shift in automotive engineering and manufacturing practices. Production flexibility and adaptability as technologies are continually refined are fundamental to commercial success on the journey to EV.

Steve disclosed, “One of our important strategies is to recognise that the internal combustion engine (ICE) will not be around that much longer. A lot of our customers especially for inspection and metal cutting products are heavily involved with that industry. So, we must shift our focus to the future which is EV. We are very much involved in developing products and systems to address the needs of the EV industry. There are a lot of things happening in the EV industry, consequently we will also be developing a lot of products to address these needs.”

 

As new automotive technologies continue to be refined, production flexibility and adaptability will be fundamental to commercial success on the road from conventional ICE to full battery EV. Renishaw's manufacturing solutions provide the speed, flexibility, and ease of use to help you adapt your production for this electric future.

Hurco leading change with shopfloor automation solution

 By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

The workforce is the heart and soul of every manufacturing company. The right people can drive a business to incredible heights, while the contrary can lead it to failure. In Singapore, one of the most pressing challenges for small and med-size enterprises (SMEs) is the predominant labour crunch.

International Metalworking News for Asia sat down with Wai Yip Lee, General Manager of Hurco (S.E Asia) Pte Ltd, to discuss a possible solution that can help businesses not just in Singapore but the entire Southeast Asia (SEA) region to bring order to the chaos of batch production and high-mix manufacturing.

Wai Yip Lee, General Manager of Hurco (S.E Asia) Pte Ltd

“The labour crunch is the biggest problem that is affecting every industry, especially precision engineering. The precision engineering industry has always faced a shortage of skilled workers and the pandemic has further aggravated the situation with an unpreceded movement of workers from Singapore and parts of SEA. Foreign workers in Singapore, even in some areas of SEA, are moving away from the big cities. This movement could be temporary, but manufacturing companies are exploring options to reduce their dependence on entry level workers like machine setters. Automation is the first thing that pops up in their mind,” remarked Wai Yip.

He mentioned that after the pandemic, machine shops have relooked at how they are using machines and their overall business model. “Machine shops owners want to upgrade their current machining capability while keeping costs at the optimum level to stay competitive. Most of these shops in the SME segment are subcontractors, serving larger companies and the export markets. They want to move away from providing general machining services and move up the value chain. Faster, multi-axis machines that can hold tighter tolerances and reduce set-up time are seen as essential in their upgrading journey,” Wai Yip added.

SHOPFLOOR AUTOMATION SOLUTION

Wai Yip understood the common struggles machine shops experience with traditional automation, such as lengthy implementation and set-up, steep learning curve and the reliance on system integrators for program and sequence changes. As a result, he is offering a shopfloor automation solution as an upgrade option to Hurco users and others, who wish to transform their machine shop.

“Hurco has introduced a new line of shopfloor automation solutions under the brand name ProCobots. This initiative has started from our Hurco USA head office where customers have requested for an automation solution that is easy to use, flexible and can be efficiently operated by their existing machinist. It has received encouraging response from our users in the US and Europe, where labour rates are substantially higher. I cannot wait to bring ProCobots to our customers in Singapore; they face the same situation as these matured markets,” he disclosed.

According to him, the ProCobot provides easy to use one robot to one machine tending capability, without having to utilise a third-party software. “We have developed an automation manager software that is incorporated within the existing Hurco MAX5 controller that the machinist is familiar with.

This software provides the direct link and interface to the ProCobot robotic arm and parts station. This allows an existing Hurco user to utilise the automation manager to command the robot and schedule the CNC programs for various parts loaded onto the parts station. A standard integration package that includes an auto-door, pneumatic vise and an interface utility box makes this a quick "plug and play" solution for Hurco machines. The ProCobot can be installed on an existing Hurco machine, and up and running in less than a week. If you need to swap the ProCobot from a machining centre to a lathe to support a production run, it can be moved easily and set-up within a day.”

Hurco ProCobot caters to both batch production and high-mix low volume production. “We are currently running tests on actual batch production parts of our customers so that we can identify the range of parts suitable for ProCobots and its various Profeeders (parts station). The initial successful runs will certainly encourage our customers to adopt ProCobots into their production floor,” Wai Yip said.

Wai Yip plans to introduce ProCobot officially in early 2023, after the initial live production tests. “We will showcase the ProCobot solution in a practical way, i.e., a live production environment, to our customers in Singapore so that they can identify whether this is a viable solution to their machine tending needs. They can see for themselves how this simple solution, can be incorporated into their production floor and programmed by their existing machinist. I believe that ProCobot could be the starting point of transforming the machine shop towards a modern manufacturing environment.”

FIVE-AXIS STRATEGIES

Wai Yip noticed the increasing trend of high-mixed low volume production requirements in the market today. “With the changing consumer patterns and shorter lifecycle for most products, five-axis technology will continue to be a very important part of our strategy,” he said.

The regional markets just opened, and Hurco being a regional player in SEA wants to use this opportunity to reconnect with its end users and existing customers thru a series of tradeshows. Wai Yip noted, “The tradeshows provide a good platform for us to reconnect with the regional markets and find out how end users’ expectations and demands have evolved after the pandemic. This will provide first-hand information to help shape our activities for 2023 so that we can continue to serve our customers and grow our installed base across the SEA region.”

Besides investments in industry tradeshows, Wai Yip is focused on expanding its distribution channel in key markets like Vietnam. “We have recently appointed a new distributor, Weldcom, who has strong presence throughout Vietnam. They have two key showroom and technical facilities in Binh Duong and Hanoi, plus several satellite offices. We trust that through an expanded distributor network and technical facilities, we will be able to reach out a wider base of end-users and share how our technology can assist them to increase their profitability.”

DEALING WITH CHANGES

With the current economic slowdown, Wai Yip regarded the SEA market as unpredictable in general. “There are many challenges being faced by the industry, including supply chain disruptions, inflationary pressures, labour crunch, and geopolitical uncertainties. These challenges will affect and shift the demand of end users in the market.”

“The strength of the US dollar versus regional SEA currencies has also further escalated the inflationary pressures. It will take some time for SEA currency to stabilise and buyers to gain confidence to invest. In the meantime, our key focus is to introduce automation solution to help our customers solve the labour crunch; and to simultaneously work with them to identify potential areas of improvement to stay competitive. Be it supporting test-cuts for their R&D projects for new products or improving the productivity within the machine shop,” he declared.

Wai Yip added, “We must stay close to the market so that we could continually tweak our plans and activities along the way to suit the emerging needs of various end users in different markets.”

STAYING POSITIVE

Wai Yip perceived the current economic slowdown is temporarily more of a market reset after Covid. “I am confident that the market will pick up around mid-2023, so we must continually upgrade and position ourselves in a way where we are ready to ride the wave to recovery.”

“Vietnam is the fastest growing market for us. In terms of market relevance, it will probably be number one compared to other parts of SEA. There is still a lot of opportunities here with continual flow of FDIs and local machine shops upgrading and investing in new technology to serve the growing needs. So, we do see a continual growth in demand of machine tools for the Vietnamese market.”

In terms of the emerging demand, Wai Yip expressed, “We will see a substantial increase in the adoption of automation and smart manufacturing solutions by machine shops in Singapore in line with the Singapore government’s refreshed Industry Transformation Roadmap 2025 for the precision engineering (PE) industry. Companies are encouraged to upskill their workforce, adopt digital manufacturing platforms, automate, and introduce advance manufacturing techniques in their business. To stay relevant, businesses will need to transform and set themselves right to compete against the global market. We are committed to drive our solutions to support our customer transformation needs.”

International Metalworking News for Asia December 2022

In this issue of International Metalworking News for Asia, we are presenting exclusive interviews of South East Asia’s (SEA) metalworking industry bigwigs, sharing important technologies for this ever-changing world of industrial manufacturing.

Global mobility transition is in full swing. In SEA, electric vehicle (EV) and battery industry appears poised for growth. The EV market is expected to reach US$2,665.3 million by 2027, registering a CAGR of 32.73%, according to Mordor Intelligence. More companies, mostly automotive suppliers, are looking for new manufacturing solutions, and laser is at the centre of it. Markus Lindemann, Regional Director, Laser Division of TRUMPF Pte Ltd highlighted their E-mobility solutions made with laser welding.

Manufacturers nowadays are progressively looking to automation in order to propel operational efficiency and overcome skill shortages on the shopfloor. To control manufacturing processes on the shopfloor, the need for new process control methods, such as gauging systems are increasing. In the Focus section of this issue, Steve Bell, General Manager of Renishaw ASEAN, explained how the Equator 300 and 500 flexible gauge system can help customers in the automation environment.

Uncertainties have been compounding in the recent past, with developing signs of weakness in economic growth and other high-frequency parameters. To provide manufacturing decision-makers in South East Asia with improved insight into global economic conditions in 2023, we asked thought-leaders in the metalworking industry how their technology can give the industry a positive outlook for the future. Find out more in the Outlook 2023 section.

The labour crunch is the biggest problem that is affecting every industry, especially precision engineering. Shortage of skilled workers and the pandemic have further aggravated the situation with an unpreceded movement of workers from Singapore and parts of SEA. Wai Yip Lee, General Manager of Hurco (S.E Asia) Pte Ltd discussed a possible solution that can help businesses not just in Singapore but the entire SEA region to bring order to the chaos of batch production and high-mix manufacturing.

The last couple of years gave us a lot of things to consider and analyse. We hope that our last issue for the year will give you a general overview of some of the most important forces shaping up the manufacturing industry. The world is taking large steps in the direction of automation, AI, digitalisation, robotics, IoT and more. Use these latest trends to your advantage.

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Beyond Limits APAC President on adoption of Cognitive AI

Beyond Limits Inc. is a California Institute of Technology (Caltech)/Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) spin-out company leveraging 20 years of deep space expertise in Cognitive AI. The company’s technology has been proven in the most extreme operating conditions, from NASA Mars Landings to remote subsurface environments in the energy sector.

In 2020, Beyond Limits announced its first wave of initiatives and partnerships to establish and expand their presence within the Asia Pacific (APAC) region. It’s regional headquarters in Singapore helps them drive strategic investments for joint ventures and partnerships in Asia. Beyond Limits also have operations in Hong Kong, which focuses on expanding AI solutions into verticals; Taipei centres on advanced manufacturing, while Shenzhen, Tokyo, and Singapore addresses energy and healthcare sectors.

 

In an interview with International Metalworking News for Asia (IMNA), Leonard Lee, President of APAC, highlights the key aspects of its technology, and the manufacturing trends they are seeing in APAC.

 

IMNA: How has the nature of manufacturing in APAC changed, what trends do you see?

 

Lee: The manufacturing industry is constantly undergoing change, and with rapid digitalisation, the sector is proving themselves as frontrunners when it comes to streamlining processes and optimising entire operations. Adopting next-generation AI software and data analytics have allowed manufacturers to eliminate potential bottlenecks and improve quality management in their manufacturing cycle. In Asia Pacific, manufacturers are facing an increased production output, despite having a declining workforce.

The shortage of talent has been a longstanding issue for the sector. However, it is raising alarms due to the rise of consumerism in the region and the demand for increased output. Simply put, younger talents rarely view manufacturing as their default choice of career, and the majority within the sector are an aging workforce. As a result, the talent pool has dwindled to only a few select individuals.  With output demand soaring, manufacturers need these individuals to be quickly onboarded with the right skills and knowledge base. The underlying issue is that this expertise and skills are not easily transferable. In this regard, Cognitive AI in manufacturing is already making its mark.

 

To illustrate, manufacturing generally across all industries would involve individuals with high expertise and accumulated experience they received by working in a variety of operations setups and scenarios. With the declining workforce, there’s only so much that existing employees can do when facing a particular issue in a challenging situation. This is where the experience of older operators needs to be captured somehow to be used in their absence. New operators must be equipped with the ability to resolve pressing issues that could possibly lead to bigger problems across the board, from an operation or profitability perspective.

 

Yet there is a gap in manpower capabilities where older or more experienced operators have left or been laid off. They have been replaced by new operators who have limited experience. Enabling digital solutions that are paired to Cognitive AI, allows the technology system to capture human knowledge – which, in this case would be the experience of the more senior operators – translating it to new joiners. With all the dynamic factors with manufacturing operations, Cognitive AI can provide advice or recommendations to young operators on what actions to take to either correct an error or optimise to maximise certain goals.

 

IMNA: What kind of role do you see technology playing here, what can you do to help?

 

Lee: Take Automatic Optic Inspection (AOI), for quality control (QC) in Surface Mounting Technology (SMT), as an example. It is easy to buy into the idea that smarter, stronger, and more inspection equipment reduces the quantity of human labour in the QC stage. On the contrary, highly sensitive AOI equipment generates a large number of false alarms that require double inspection from humans.

Instead of improving the accuracy of AOI and reducing false alarms, Beyond Limits collaborated with one the world’s largest electronic Original Design Manufacturer (ODM) in Taiwan to deploy Knowledge Base Operation (KBOps), which extracts and digitalises knowledge from seasoned domain experts, for root cause analysis.

 

In this case, AOI equipment becomes more than just inspecting units. It captures features previously unavailable to human eyesight for KBOps to learn and document. With cognitive reasoning, Beyond Limit's hybrid AI is capable of providing optimised solutions and actionable insights for SMT manufacturers, reducing downtime, human labour, and material waste.

 

IMNA: How can manufacturers ensure they have the right level of AI?

 

Lee: The manufacturing industry has widely accepted that an imminent need exists for an industrial, state-of-the-art software solution that brings several steps or processes into a singular, cohesive platform. At the same time, they need to integrate their extremely valuable institutional knowledge to leverage their most valuable asset – historical data records. Through the implementation of next-generation AI software, manufacturers have unlocked process automation and automated scheduling towards quality monitoring and defect management, as well as applications to shorten design time and customise experiences. However, while the sector has largely embraced the adoption of machine learning, it needs to be even more timely to shift towards cognitive AI solutions.

 

Cognitive AI is essentially a glass box, versus conventional AI which is a black box. Conventional AI takes a whole bunch of data, churns it, and then comes up with a recommendation, without our knowing how it arrived at that point. Whereas a glass box, or what we call Explainable AI, has an audit trail, and gives us the ability to figure out and understand how it arrived at that recommendation. With Cognitive AI, there is a human reasoning component which is set in place.

 

For manufacturers, tapping into this insight will allow them to elevate their processes. Through knowledge capture of all existing data, including operators' expertise and skills, the Cognitive AI system is then able to take all this data and provide recommendations for an action depending on the situation. This is especially useful for the multitude of scenarios that could occur within a manufacturing plant, ranging from production schedules and equipment failures to the interdependence of the various machinery, which will then impact the ability to provide output.

 

IMNA: How can small and medium-sized companies in APAC improve their manufacturing?

 

Lee: When considering small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), especially in the manufacturing sector, there is a need to transition from legacy technology to a modern solution that allows SMEs to remain competitive in terms of output and efficiency. According to the DBS Digital Readiness Survey, the region’s SMEs are lagging behind large corporates and middle-market companies in terms of digital readiness. Only four in 10 SMEs (41%) have a digital transformation plan in place, and one in 10 have a clearly defined digital strategy (12%). Hence, for manufacturers to improve their outputs, they first need to upgrade their processes internally, so that they can start their digital transformation journey.

 

Unfortunately, many are facing difficulty in considering where to even begin. The first step, which is also the most crucial step for starters, is always ensuring the availability of data. Manufacturers must look at implementing solutions that arrange and compile data that is scattered in silos and place the existing data in a single repository. This key step would allow for additional technology implementations to run smoothly, such as the adoption of next-generation AI software to churn out recommendations for improving efficiency throughout the company.

 

IMNA: Finally, how do you see the future, with special reference to Beyond Limits?

 

Lee: We believe that the move towards digitalisation will only continue to advance as more organisations embrace technology and improve business outcomes. In the manufacturing sector, driving operational excellence, using techniques like Lean Six Sigma, is no longer sufficient to drive the level of productivity and efficiency needed. Combining the best features of technology and human knowledge, Cognitive AI would allow manufacturers to elevate their efforts on their smart manufacturing journey. Digitalisation is a "must have," and cognitive AI is the key differentiator. There is no doubt we can look forward to the progress of the smart manufacturing industry in Asia Pacific, while we continue our efforts to shape this dynamic region into the next global smart manufacturing hub.

Oct 2022 E-zine: https://edms.industrysourcing.com/ezine/22/10/imna.html?pagenum=16#/

International Metalworking News for Asia- October 2022

If your world is all about industrial manufacturing, you’ve come to the right place.

At this month’s issue of International Metalworking News for Asia, our aim is to provide industrial manufacturing executives with the most up-to-the minute news and information affecting the industry. We are writing extensively on the latest trends in the business, providing features examining the personalities and technology driving the industrial manufacturing world, and offering analysis and opinion pieces, all in an effort to arm you with the knowledge that will separate you from the pack, and make it easier for you to run your business.

Beyond Limits Inc.  APAC President, Leonard Lee, highlights the key aspects of the company’s Cognitive AI technology, and the manufacturing trends they are seeing in the APAC region. According to him, the manufacturing industry is constantly undergoing change, and with rapid digitalisation, the sector is proving themselves as frontrunners when it comes to streamlining processes and optimising entire operations. Adopting next-generation AI software and data analytics have allowed manufacturers to eliminate potential bottlenecks and improve quality management in their manufacturing cycle.

Have you encounter restrictions in accepting orders for larger and heavier components or even difficult to machine materials? The Machine Tools section features seven facts about double column machining centers. Here, it was explained that Difficult to machine parts or materials have become essential and part of today’s many variations and industries, such as aerospace, commercial vehicles, shipbuilding, machinery manufacturing, construction, power generation, windmills, even mould & die and semiconductor.

As a society, we’re all working towards shared sustainability goals. In addition to focusing on global goals, manufacturers should have their own sustainability targets and crucially, these must be led by data.

Anders Dellblad, Manager of Sustainable Supply at Sandvik Coromant, shares his advice for building achievable, impactful sustainability goals in the Software & Control section.

Nowadays, manufacturing business companies are turning to autonomous mobile robot (AMR) for help. AMRs have changed the automation landscape, especially in collaborative environments. They are thriving in numerous industries because they are becoming more reliable, user friendly and affordable. Han Boon Siew, Chief Information Officer Schaeffler Asia/Pacific speaks more about AMR, and it research for improved industrial workplaces.

In an age when an overload of information is often an impediment to doing your job efficiently, International Metalworking News for Asia will focus on the issues most vital to your business. It’s a reality that we’re all pressed for time, so why not use our magazine to eliminate the news clutter you encounter every day and instead focus on the issues that impact your business and your customers? Let us know how what you need. Send us an e-mail at Kathryn@ringiertrade.com.

E-zine: https://edms.industrysourcing.com/ezine/22/10/imna.html#/

Website: https://www.industrysourcing.com/client/magazine/details.html?id=101620

Redefining the boundaries of 3D metrology and engineering services

By: Kathryn Gerardino-Elagio

Founded in 2002 in Canada, Creaform was born out of the need to change the status quo. What began as a metrology and engineering consulting firm turned into a global leader in portable and automated dimensional metrology solutions. Now, 20 years later—the company continues to redefine the boundaries of 3D metrology and engineering services by constantly pushing back the limits of innovation.

International Metalworking News for Asia’s (IMNA) interview with Mr. George Tan, Sales Manager – RoAPAC, delves into Creaform’s secret to achieving 20 years, 3D measurement and where the technology will go from here in South East Asia (SEA).

IMNA: Congratulations on your 20^th anniversary! How are things shaping up for Creaform since its establishment in 2002?

George: Indeed, this year is our 20^th anniversary. Creaform first started in 2002 in Lévis, Quebec, Canada, as a metrology and engineering consulting firm, and our first HandySCAN 3D was launched in 2005, which was the first ever handheld self-positioning 3D laser scanner. Since then, Creaform has never stopped innovating. In just 20 years, Creaform had launched over 60 game-changing technologies, both hardware and software. With continuous market adoption, it enabled Creaform to generate substantial and constant double-digit growth almost every year over the past 2 decades!

IMNA: What is the secret to achieving 20 years? What is your top tip for creating innovations such as 3D measurement?

George: There is no big secret for achieving 20 years. Creaform always believed in investing in our employees through passion and commitment. Providing our employees with real opportunities to achieve work–life balance and fostering a positive and pleasant workplace atmosphere where everyone feels like they are part of the team. There are no limits to how far we can go, and we are looking forward for many more 20 years to come.

As for the top tip, I would say that at Creaform, we are pioneers. We venture where nobody else has yet dared to tread, boldly designing products and technology for projects that were once beyond the imagination. We redefine the boundaries of the 3D universe by constantly pushing back the limits of technology.

Our motto says it all: “Never Stop Innovating”.

IMNA: Can you brief us about your presence, business model and verticals and sectors you cater to in SEA?

George: Creaform is present in almost all countries in SEA, either through direct offices and/or indirect distributors/agents. We believe that it is important to be present in the countries where our customers reside, in order to provide better support/service.

Regardless whether it is through our direct employees or distributors/agents, there will always be someone representing Creaform to attend to our customers’ enquiries, such as non-destructive testing (NDT), from surface inspection for O&G pipes to maintenance repair and overhaul (MRO), and from reverse engineering applications for prototypes to automated quality control inspection systems for daily production.

IMNA: How do you find out what the customers really want or what is more important, satisfying an existing need or creating new needs?

George:  It is important for every Creaform employees to understand/discover what the customers’ “Needs” and “Wants”. The “Needs” are something that customers must have, in order to proceed with their jobs and the “Wants” are something good to have but not necessarily required to complete their tasks. Creaform employees participate continuously in technical and sales training to obtain these specific skills.

Although, it is always a tough question to answer. For me, satisfying an existing need and creating new needs are both equally important. But if I must choose between them, I prefer creating new needs, as there are still a lot of uncharted areas where 3D scanning applications can help customers in a way they never thought or dreamed of before. And the satisfaction that you get from these customers when they tell me how much money or time, they saved by implementing 3D scanning into their inspection process, that’s priceless.

IMNA: What makes Creaform achievements stand out? And what does the future hold for 3D measurement in SEA market?

George:  As mentioned, Creaform is the pioneer of handheld 3D scanners. We are a technological leader – not a follower. Creaform was founded because other measurement technology defined as “portable” were simply not suitable for shop-floor environments. We aimed to tackle our customers’ most difficult challenges and are eager to push the limits.

I foresee an increasing demand in the coming years, especially considering the rise of new production processes like 3D printing, where parts are no longer machined in a single, straightforward geometrical shape, and then assembled. It will be “printed” in a single completed part with complex geometrical features, where conventional handheld measuring tools will face difficulties in measuring it.

This is where 3D measurement solutions, especially Creaform handheld 3D scanners, are the perfect go-to inspection tools for faster and more accurate inspection of these complex geometrical surfaces, directly in the production environment, with the help of inspection software features like CAD comparison for quick Go/No-Go colour indicator checks.

IMNA: What’s the toughest project or customer request Creaform has been confronted with? Did it influence the company’s approach on creating new technologies?

George: As mentioned before, Creaform started as a metrology and engineering consulting firm, helping local manufacturers solve their product development and inspection issues. During those early years, we worked on several projects, using our competitors’ tools, which were cumbersome and slow 3D scanners mounted on a CMM. We experienced first-hand the difficulties in using such tools. We knew there was an opportunity to greatly improve these tools, because we listened to our team and our customers. We didn’t need to receive a formal request from our customers to understand the pressing necessity for better tools.

In the following years, we created the next generation of 3D scanners, and disrupted the entire market. We were spearheading a real technological revolution, and even if the interest was immediate from all industries, it remains to this day the toughest project we have been confronted with. From a handful of employees in Levis, to more than 650 employees in 15 offices across the world, Creaform proved that it can tackle any challenges, head-on.

IMNA: Finally, what’s next for Creaform in SEA?

George: We are very excited with the growing business opportunities in SEA, especially in the 3D measurement sector. We believe there are a lot of business potential in this sector in SEA and Creaform, being the pioneer in handheld 3D scanners, wants to be there with our customers, share our latest technologies, helping them to reduce turnaround time and most importantly, to increase their profitability.

IMNA August 2022 issue click here!