MEDC Conference : Smart manufacturing & industry 4.0 fuelling composite materials innovation
With the advanced materials and processes involved in composite manufacturing, it makes sense that suppliers are focusing on smart manufacturing methods to bring these materials and systems to life. The need for smart manufacturing in the composite industry is critical to help ensure product quality and performance. Since composite manufacturing is highly variable compared to machining and other traditional processes that composites are replacing across industries, manufacturers are looking to smart manufacturing to help maximize efficiency across the board and strengthen the supply chain. Many smart manufacturing principles can be applied to composite manufacturing that ensure automotive and other industries of the quality and performance levels of composite product, including additive manufacturing, incorporating advanced technologies like sensors and artificial intelligence, and industrial automation (Industry 4.0, Digital Twin, etc…). The biggest challenge facing the composite materials industry is the ability to scale these technologies that are now available to meet demand.
Speaker(s):
Introduction
Eric SHREFFLER, VP Market Development, Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
The Problem of “Black Aluminum""- What We Learned From it, and How is it Different this Time?
Ethan ESCOWITZ, Founder & Board Member, Arris Composites
Exploring what we can learn from history to anticipate the future of composites
Partnering with champions when the agents of change sometimes aren’t change agents
Looking at where OEMs will find breakthrough products with composites
How to make Composites Easy, Reliable and Flexible by Going Digital
Marcus KREMERS, CTO, Airborne
Automated Programming
On-demand manufacturing
Tailored blank laminates
Composite Factory of the Future – how to flexibly automate composite production through Cobots
Hannah DAMMERS, Research Associate, ITA Group International Centre for Sustainable Textiles
Flexible semi-automation
Human-robot collaboration
Cobot tools
Moderator:
Cynthia HUTCHINSON, Project Fellow/VP, World Economic Forum/Automation Alley