Galway, Ireland – Officials from Aran Biomedical, a partner in design, development, and manufacture of implantable medical devices, announced the company’s new medical textile valve covering solution – ValvTEX – for mitral, aortic, and tricuspid heart valves.

The ValvTEX technology platform was created to reduce the delivery profile of transcatheter heart valves that require a valve skirt, whilst also offering some unique advantages. The solution involves custom low-profile fabric attached onto the valve frame without the need for sutures. Lower delivery profile is achieved by reducing the amount of fabric pleating during crimping, along with the reduction or elimination of sutures required to attach the fabric. Not only does this improve manufacturing time, but a further advantage from the attachment process is the ability to create an impermeable seal at select regions of the skirt, which can help inhibit paravalvular leakage.

“Aran Biomedical’s focused investment in medical textile & coating technologies has enabled our skilled engineers to deliver a proprietary medical textile valve covering solution to support the exciting fields of Mitral, Aortic and Tricuspid heart valve replacement,” says Aran Biomedical CEO, Peter Mulrooney.

Considering the increased interest in transcatheter product development to treat a greater range of structural heart conditions, the ValvTEX platform technology is ideally positioned to support next generation devices.

^{Photo courtesy of Aran Biomedical}

Charlotte, North Carolina – Okuma America Corp., a CNC machine tool manufacturer, presents its annual Winter Showcase, Wednesday, November 28 and Thursday, November 29, 2018, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in Charlotte, North Carolina. Machine tool users will see cutting demonstrations on 22 machines and learn how they can apply diverse automation applications to their manufacturing process to save time and money. Many demos shown at IMTS 2018 will be at this event as well, providing users another opportunity to view Okuma's advanced technology advancements firsthand.

More than 40 companies and members of Partners in THINC will feature CNC machining solutions on various demos and be available to discuss every facet of manufacturing needs, from automation, tooling, workholding, programming, coolant, and fluids, to chip control, and digitalization.

“Okuma will be showcasing our latest machine tool technology, such as our MU-S600V with built-in machine-to-machine automation. Our engineering experts and industry partners will also be available to speak one-on-one to answer questions regarding manufacturing challenges,” says Wade Anderson, director of Partners in THINC and Product Specialist Sales Manager.

Daily Showcase agenda:

• 9:00-9:45am: Embracing Technology, Chris Bathgate: Machinist sculptor Chris Bathgate shares his journey of creating unique, metal artwork, the challenges he’s faced and the technology he’s embraced along the way.
• 10:00-10:30am: Speed Up Function – Getting the most from your HMC, Errol Burrell: Okuma machining center product specialist Errol Burrell shares the inside scoop on how to get the most from the Speed Up Function software with the latest HMC and OSP controls.
• 10:30-11:00am: Automation – Integration and its Profound Impact for Manufacturers, Gosiger and Okuma: Gosiger Automation and Okuma share examples of how to automate processes and the areas that have to be considered for successful integration.
• 11:00-11:30am: Solving Manufacturing Problems Through the Power of OSP, THINC Developers Group: The team will discuss how they work together to develop new or custom apps and how using the openness of the OSP control can solve manufacturing needs.
• 12:00-1:00pm: Buffet lunch
• 1:15-2:00pm: Automating Collision Avoidance Software to Protect Your Investment, Esprit and Okuma: We’ve teamed up with Esprit to create game-changing integration that makes modeling for Collision Avoidance Software easier to use and more productive than ever.
• 2:00-2:30pm: Adding Value for Your Employees through Competitive Benefit Packages, Liberty National: Employee retention is a concern for every shop owner or business leader. Liberty National shares how their competitive packages can add value to your workforce.

Unique, metal artwork by machinist sculptor, Chris Bathgate, will be on display for the two-day event. The Baltimore-based artist is a self-trained machinist. He uses handmade tools and automated CNC milling and drilling machines to create precisely-crafted elements that assemble into complex sculptures.

Lunch will be provided. Get detailed information about the 2018 Winter Showcase event and register today.

 First Concept Laser M Line Factory systems to be delivered in Q2 2019. (Photo: GE Additive, GEADPR010)

GE Additive’s first Concept Laser M Line Factory systems will be delivered to customers in Q2 2019. Since GE Additive’s acquisition of Concept Laser in December 2016, the M Line Factory’s design architecture, system, and software have undergone extensive review and redesign in line with established GE processes and beta testing with selected customers.

The M Line Factory’s modular machine architecture offers automation and reliability, driving economical, scalable series production on an industrial scale.

Improvements incorporated into the system include:

• Improved in-machine architecture and automation
• Enhanced serviceability, scalable modular system design and ease of service
• Increased build volume: 500 x 500 platform
• Onboard software system: Modularized software architecture, superior exposure strategies and real-time, in-situ process monitoring
• Process control & thermal stability – control key process variables that dictate part quality.

The M Line Factory automates upstream and downstream stages of the production process and provides interfaces to conventional manufacturing methods in the form of automation, interlinking, and digitization.

The system forms part of GE Additive’s focus to provide additive machines that are reliable, repeatable, and ready for series production.

Index Corp. expands North American team

Company hires 15 employees, 12 of which are for newly created positions.

Index Corp. has hired 15 new employees during the past five months, with 12 of those filling newly created positions. Representing growth of more than 20% for Index’s North American workforce, the recent spate of hires has been undertaken to guarantee continued high levels of service and support amidst significant growth in sales.

“In 2017, Index undertook an ambitious five-year plan to increase our footprint in North America, encompassing workforce growth, adoption of a new ERP and CRM and significantly investing across all areas of our business” says Tom Clark, president and CEO of Index. “Thanks to a healthy market and high demand for increasing throughput while reducing cost per piece, we have surpassed our targets to date and are scaling up our workforce even faster than planned. Each of the new team members included in this announcement was carefully selected for their ability to contribute to exceeding the expectations of our existing and new customers.”

The announced hires include three field service engineers, three applications engineers, and four positions in operations, all of which are expansions to Index’s workforce. The company also has hired five individuals to office support positions, two of which are newly created. 

Universal Robots hire 20+ former Rethink Robotics employees

Reinforcing both companies’ roles in collaborative robotics, it brings valuable expertise in engineering, product development, and customer applications.

Universal Robots (UR) is hiring 20+ Rethink staff members, merging UR’s Boston office with Rethink’s former headquarters in the Seaport area in Boston, USA, with immediate effect. These key personnel bring extensive collaborative robotics experience in engineering, product development, and customer applications, which will combine well with UR’s expertise to continue to drive new and innovative collaborative robotics solutions.

“Our new colleagues from Rethink have extensive expertise, knowledge and know-how not only about the technology but indeed also about the market conditions and what the customers’ pain-points are. All of this will benefit our customers and partners as we face an increase in competitors due to the huge market potential for collaborative robots,” says Universal Robots’ President Jürgen von Hollen. “Our ability to secure key members of the Rethink team will have a significant positive impact in meeting market needs and driving innovation.”

Collaborative robots, now the fastest-growing segment of industrial robotics, is forecasted to grow from $283 million last year to $3.26 billion in 2022 according to BIS Research. Universal Robots’ market-leading growth means continually adapting the company structure and processes to deliver its ambitious targets for 2019 and beyond. The addition of key Rethink Robotics personnel will help expedite UR’s strategic ambitions and actions.

BISTel joins Siemens’ MindSphere Partner Program

AI applications connect with Siemens’ MindSphere cloud-based open IoT operating system, speeding the customers’ journey to smart manufacturing.

BISTeL, a leading provider of adaptive intelligent (AI) applications for smart manufacturing has joined the MindSphere Partner Program, Siemens’ partner program for Industrial IoT solution and technology providers. BISTel applications are expected to be available on the MindSphere platform in Q1 2019.

BISTel’s advanced data analytics platform, eDatalzyer, and its real-time, health monitoring and predictive maintenance (HMP) solution will connect with the MindSphere cloud-based, open Industrial IoT platform to deliver significant business value to the manufacturing sector. Opportunities for enhanced business value include access to the latest industrial IoT technology and access to industry leading manufacturing applications that are designed to accelerate the customers’ journey to smart manufacturing, improve engineering productivity, provide greater operational efficiencies, and increase quality and yield. Smart Manufacturing (also referred to as Industry 4.0), is event driven, enabling issues to be addressed before they occur, and machines taken offline only when it is absolutely necessary.

According to W.K. Choi, CEO, BISTel, “We are delighted to work with Siemens and build MindSphere applications to take advantage of Siemens’ leading industrial IoT technology. BISTel’s real-time monitoring, fault detection, data analysis and predictive maintenance applications on the MindSphere platform enable customers to quickly turn manufacturing data into actionable intelligence that improves business performance and creates significant efficiencies across their manufacturing organizations.”

“BISTel is capable of delivering tremendous value in engineering and automation applications for smart manufacturing,” says Paul Kaeley, senior vice president, global partner ecosystem at Siemens PLM Software. “With BISTel as a partner in the MindSphere ecosystem, customers now have more strong options to solve operational challenges with advanced data analytics and predictive maintenance.”

About Industry 4.0
Industry 4.0 enables the digitalization of the manufacturing sector and transforms the way plants operate. Increased automation and the introduction of AI create new ways for engineers and operators to interface with factory equipment and processes and solve every day manufacturing problems in real time. Key to this, is Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technology. According to a recent Gartner Group study, the number of IoT connected devices worldwide will grow from 8.4 billion in 2017 to more than 20.4 billion by 2020, creating access to a wealth of new data across the manufacturing ecosystem. To achieve the vision of Industry 4.0 the manufacturing ecosystem must deliver this data to the right people, at the right place and at the right time. The proliferation of the Cloud, Big Data analytics and the adoption of AI based technologies are critical to achieving this goal.

Adaptive intelligence for smart manufacturing
BISTel is redefining AI as adaptive intelligence for smarter manufacturing. Several new AI based, real-time monitoring and advanced data analytics tools connect with IIoT platforms. These new solutions enable manufacturers to connect to and gather data from any data source. BISTel’s real-time monitoring applications detect faults before they occur, quickly conduct root cause analysis in hours and minutes versus the weeks and months it takes others. With its new health monitoring and predictive maintenance (HMP) solution, engineers and operators can now predict outcomes and adapt real-time to changing factory conditions. 

Stratasys puts additive manufacturing to work

Built for F123 machines, thermoplastics bring elasticity, durability with soluble support; Vibrant colors advance true-to-life prototypes on J750, J735 3D printers.

Putting Additive Manufacturing to work across critical rapid prototyping, custom tooling, and part production processes, Stratasys is bringing to market advanced elastomers and enhanced materials for its leading FDM and PolyJet machines. Enabling customers to make it today with 3D Printing, the FDM elastomer solution is intended to provide manufacturers with new levels of elasticity, durability with true soluble support – while advanced colors for PolyJet drive enhanced realism to transform legacy design and prototyping processes.

Empowering engineers with fast, accurate, and functional elastomers, customers can now produce parts with unique resilience – with an ability to greatly stretch or compress without losing shape. Offered across the F123 3D Printer platform and via North America’s leading service provider, Stratasys Direct Manufacturing, the Stratasys TPU 92A Elastomer is designed to meet the needs of manufacturers requiring high part elongation, superior toughness, and full design freedom. With hands-free soluble support, the solution can significantly reduce both production time and labor costs.

“Creating elastomer parts using traditional silicone or CNC molds are extremely costly and time-consuming – while it is our view that other additive techniques just cannot deliver parts with the size and complexity of our elastomer approach,” Zehavit Reisin, vice president and head of solutions and materials business, Stratasys. “Manufacturers demand 3D printing solutions that can be put to work in real prototyping and extreme production environments. With reliable and highly resilient parts, our solutions are designed to enable customers to do just that.”

“The new Stratasys 92A is a compelling material for our consortium members because when combined with water soluble supports, it will provide them with the opportunity to produce medium to large, complex, durable and resilient elastomeric parts that were previously not feasible,” said Vince Anewenter, director of rapid prototyping consortium, Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Enhanced realism for advanced prototypes
Further advancing realism for 3D printed prototypes, Stratasys also announced a range of new materials for its J750 and J735 PolyJet 3D Printers. These enhancements include five new materials with an ability to mimic rubber, leather or plastic. These highly realistic prototypes are designed to enable teams to better meet specific design objectives, streamline iterations, and shorten time-to-market and time-to-revenue.

The Agilus30 White material can mirror such parts as rubber-like seals and gaskets for automakers – or vividly colored models used for prototypes in sporting goods, consumer electronic components, or toys/figurines. Mixing both rigid and soft materials, Agilus30 White produces the widest range of life-like prototypes on a single printer. The newest member of the Agilus family of colors that includes translucent and black, Agilus White creates the highest levels of detail – critical for such industries as healthcare, where true white is necessary for such applications as medical devices.

VeroVivid Cyan expands the J750 and J735 gamut to more than half a million distinguishable colors – encompassing rigid to opaque, flexible, and transparent. Producing vibrant colors and translucency in a single print, VeroVivid Cyan and the new VeroFlexVivid engineer effective, realistic prototypes for such markets as consumer goods, packaging, and eyewear. Supported by enhanced GrabCAD Print color profiles, designers can actually “print what they see” with enhanced color accuracy.

Antero 800NA and MED625FLX
MED625FLX is a bio-compatible material, well-suited for dental and orthodontic applications such as indirect bonding (IDB) trays and implantology case work ups. Now available on both Objet260 Dental and Objet260/500 Dental Selection 3D Printers, the material is designed to advance Indirect Bonding Trays by allowing the direct printing of flexible IDB trays, and is built to enable orthodontists to reduce bracket placement times up to 75% and cut the cost for labs to produce by 40%.

Delivering on previously announced roadmaps, Stratasys is now making its PEKK-based FDM thermoplastic – Antero800NA – available on F900 3D Printers. This high-performance material is chemical resistant, possesses ultra-low outgassing properties, and exhibits high heat resistance – ideally suited for aircraft and space applications.

Suhner has partnered with Velocity Products on the repair and maintenance of SU-matic tooling. Velocity is the premier distributor of tooling for Okuma, as well as machine tools throughout North America. Velocity/SU-matic tooling is designed and manufactured by SU-matic, a worldwide leader in tooling technology. SU-matic works closely with engineers from Okuma when designing new tools. The collaboration ensures flawless tooling performance on lathes, multi-tasking machines and machine tools.

Velocity has experienced staff who can maintain tools at the highest standard required by OEM clients. Walter Scheppe has more than 30 years of experience in maintaining and repairing tools. He has fixed lathe tooling, angle heads, multi-spindle heads and specialty tooling. The Velocity/SU-matic Preventive Maintenance Program uses the expertise of Walter and his team to keep the SU-matic tools running smoothly. 

The Preventive Maintenance Program offers 72-hour inspection turnaround, inspection of radial and axial play and a six-month guarantee on repairs.  In addition, Velocity/SU-matic tooling is guaranteed for two years; at the end of the two years, you can send your tools to the Velocity/SU-matic repair center for inspection, and if needed, return your tools to original factory specifications

The repair center is in Suhner’s new location, at 43 Anderson Road, Rome, GA 30161.