The document discusses several innovations in the industrial sector, including an industrial language model from SymphonyAI to accelerate decision making, Valmet Automotive's metaverse collaboration pilot project, FORVIA's haptic seat technology called VIBE, Magna International's 100% recyclable vehicle seating made from a single material, and progress on the ATLAS-L4 project developing autonomous trucks in Germany.
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The Industrialist: Trends & Innovations - January 2024
2. Learn about the latest announcements
impacting the industry, from the
industry-first 100% recyclable foam
and trim product line for vehicle seats,
to the Industrial Language Model
(LLM) revolutionizing intelligent
manufacturing processes, innovative
powder coating technology for new
material combinations, and more.
3. Industrial is
a front-runner
in combining
human ingenuity
with technology
and innovation.
Thomas Rinn
Senior Managing Director,
Global Industrial Lead, Accenture
4. SymphonyAI unveils industrial
language model for smart
manufacturing
SymphonyAI, a leader in AI SaaS, has introduced one of the world's first
industrial Large Language Model (LLM), a groundbreaking initiative in smart
manufacturing. Trained on a vast industrial dataset with over 1.2 billion
tokens and 3 trillion data points, the LLM, hosted on Microsoft Azure,
accelerates industrial transformation by providing contextualized
information for faster decision-making, boasting up to 90% faster delivery of
actionable knowledge. The Industrial LLM's self-learning capabilities adapt
in real time, offering insights into diverse manufacturing processes.
Available for private preview, developers can leverage the Industrial LLM API
for custom applications, fostering a new era of intelligent manufacturing
and supporting educational initiatives in universities and colleges.
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5. Valmet Automotive piloting
metaverse collaboration
Valmet Automotive and Telia, one of Finland’s leading ICT companies,
collaborate on a pilot project where a service robot has scanned Valmet's
Innovation Center in Finland and created a matching virtual world, the
metaverse. This initiative is part of the MURO innovation project, led by VTT
and Telia, exploring the potential of 5G robots. The virtual world can be
accessed with VR glasses or on a PC screen, allowing experts from around
the world to collaborate in real-time, providing location-independent work
and flexibility in operations. Valmet Automotive envisions various
applications for this technology, such as engineering, maintenance, repairs,
and training conducted remotely worldwide. The transition from testing to
actual implementation is expected to take 2-3 years. The industrial metaverse
is anticipated to be transformative, simplifying engineering processes and
enabling real-time experimentation.
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6. FORVIA, the 7th-largest supplier of automotive technology, has partnered
with a premium German OEM to introduce its VIBE technology, set to
debut in a next-gen premium SUV by 2025. FORVIA's goal is to transform
the driving experience and set new standards for safety, entertainment
and well-being by seamlessly integrating tactile sensations into the car
seat. VIBE emits low-frequency vibrations and offers haptic alerts for
various driving situations such as blind spots, lane changes, speed limits
and driver drowsiness, enhancing safety. It also enhances the
entertainment aspect of driving by synchronizing vibrations with audio
played on the vehicle’s audio system. In addition, VIBE includes wellness
programs for relaxation and energy enhancement.
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FORVIA's VIBE: transforming
driving experience
7. Pioneering 100% recyclable
auto seating
Magna International has unveiled an industry-first, 100% melt recyclable
foam and trim seating solution under its EcoSphere product family. The
innovative product line uses mono-material polyethylene terephthalate
(PET) to create sustainable trim materials, trim padding, structures, and
foam. All components of foam pad and trim cover sets, including hooks,
adhesives, threads and padding, are made of the same PET material,
allowing for easier disassembly without the need to separate the
components when the vehicle reaches the end of its lifespan. The material
can then be melted down and used for other purposes, contributing to a
circular economy. Magna plans to roll out this approach in 2026 for a
North American automaker. The initiative aligns with Magna's commitment
to a net-zero goal, emphasizing recycled and bio-based materials, energy-
efficient manufacturing, and responsible end-of-life management to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and overall carbon footprint.
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8. 05
Innovative powder coating
technology for new material
combinations
Schaeffler AG, a leading motion technology company, has acquired Desktop
Metal's Aerosint SA, a Belgian startup specializing in additive manufacturing
technologies. Renamed "Schaeffler Aerosint SA," the startup will be integrated
into the Schaeffler Group, offering the first industrial solution for simultaneous
multi-material printing like metals and ceramics. Aerosint's patented Selective
Powder Deposition (SPD) technology enables the creation of uniform layers with
multiple materials. This SPD technology is applicable in various additive
manufacturing processes, including laser melting, binder injection, and indirect
methods. Additive manufacturing simplifies the production of intricately shaped
components, aligning with Industry 4.0 principles and offering sustainability
benefits such as reduced material consumption and enhanced energy efficiency.
Schaeffler Special Machinery will integrate SPD into its multi-material 3D printing
system, available from 2024.
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Turning waste into carbon sink:
Swiss startup opens plant to store
CO₂ in waste concrete permanently
Swiss startup Neustark, a spin-off from ETH Zurich university, has opened a
commercial-scale carbon capture plant near Berlin, Germany in partnership
with building and recycling company Heim. The plant can permanently
store over 1,000 tons of CO₂ annually by injecting captured gas into
granules of demolition concrete. This concrete can then be reused to build
new infrastructure. Through mineralization, CO₂ is transformed into
limestone, binding it to the concrete and sequestering it for thousands of
years. Neustark aims to turn demolition concrete, the world's largest waste
stream, into a carbon sink. They also sell carbon removal credits to
companies. Thanks to a recent investment from building materials company
Holcim, which intends to install the technology at its cement-making
facilities, Neustark plans to remove 1 million tons of CO₂ by 2030.
10. Hitachi Rail Ltd. transforms
railway maintenance with
metaverse and AI
Hitachi Rail's metaverse project is transforming railway maintenance and
design through AI. The project utilizes front-facing cameras on trains
to capture images of tracks, which are then analyzed using AI algorithms
to detect any abnormalities. These abnormalities are then simulated and
color-coded in the metaverse for effortless interpretation, accelerating
the process of diagnosis and repairs. The integrated metaverse and AI
approach improves safety and reliability, benefiting customers.
The system also serves as a valuable educational tool for hands-on
training in dealing with irregular conditions. Beyond maintenance, Hitachi
Rail utilizes these technologies to aid in train design and interior solutions
as well as for enhancing collaboration and learning.
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11. The ATLAS-L4 project, a collaboration between twelve partners*, is developing
self-driving trucks in accordance with German laws for autonomous driving.
The project focuses on automating hub-to-hub transportation to improve safety
and efficiency, with an ultimate goal of proving the feasibility of Level 4
automated, driverless vehicles on highways. The project has achieved
significant milestones, including the successful coverage of initial kilometers
by MAN's prototype with sensors and built-in computers. This prototype
collects data for autonomous driving development and has demonstrated
effective communication between components and realistic environment
detection. Moreover, safety-relevant subsystems necessary for Level 4
autonomy have been designed and tested. The Control Center for technical
supervision is now operational, and a thorough risk analysis, including
cybersecurity measures, has been conducted.
*MAN Truck & Bus, Knorr-Bremse, Leoni, Bosch, Fernride, BTC Embedded Systems, Fraunhofer AISEC, Technical University of Munich,
Technical University of Braunschweig, TÜV SÜD, Autobahn GmbH and the Würzburger Institut für Verkehrswissenschaften (WIVW) GmbH
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Progress in highway-ready
autonomous trucks