PTC has entered a strategic collaboration agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to
accelerate the growth of its Onshape cloud-native CAD software and product data
management (PDM) solution. The partnership will focus on product enhancements,
customer adoption programmes and AI initiatives, all of which are aimed at helping
designers and engineers create new, high-quality products faster and more efficiently.
The Onshape team and AWS will collaborate on several product and go-to-market priorities,
including the Onshape Discovery Programme, which allows qualified users to try Onshape
Professional at no cost for up to six months. This offer means engineering teams get to
experience the speed and collaboration benefits of the cloud-native CAD and PDM solution
for an extended period before making the decision of whether to adopt or not.

Another focus area is Onshape AI Advisor, which will allow users to design products faster
by cataloguing the vast resource library of text-based documentation and videos, and
answering questions or making recommendations during the design process. While
designing, users will be able to type a question in simple, conversational language and the
Onshape AI Advisor will respond with an answer or recommendation based on the resource
library. It will run on Amazon Bedrock.
Also, CAD and PDM conversion tools will expand intelligent data migration tool sets to
reduce the complexity of switching systems by preserving the parametric features and
sketch information of CAD models during translation.
“Onshape continues to disrupt the CAD and PDM market, with product companies of all
sizes choosing to switch and experience the speed, collaboration and productivity benefits
of the cloud-native approach,” says David Katzman, general manager of Onshape and Arena
at PTC.
More information www.onshape.com

Hypertherm Associates and BLM Group are commencing a partnership agreement aimed at expanding the market reach of their respective solutions. The two companies will join forces to offer solutions to customers through BLM’s laser cutting and tube bending systems, and Hypertherm’s plasma and waterjet cutting products. The partnership includes a minority stake investment in BLM Group by Hypertherm Associates and a commercial agreement to expand demand generation for BLM Group’s tube bending and pipe and plate cutting systems – as well as 3D robotics systems – in North America and Europe.

More information www.blmgroup.com

Software provider, Keyprod, a subsidiary of JPB Système, has introduced new efficiency-enhancing features to its production monitoring solution, which enables manufacturers of all sizes and from any sector to reduce machine downtime.

The user-friendly, cloud-based Keyprod system connects, tracks and measures the effectiveness of all manufacturing process elements, including existing software, machinery and associated applications. This capability provides a consolidated, real-time vision of production operations to analyse different quality and performance indicators, such as overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Feedback from customers indicates that the use of Keyprod can deliver an increase in OEE of up to 15%.

The new Keyprod features include a global loss analysis dashboard that offers manufacturers a comprehensive breakdown of inefficiencies and production losses. By analysing performance data, Keyprod identifies various sources of losses, such as machine failures, micro-stoppages and defects. This targeted insight enables corrective action to optimise OEE, leading to increased productivity and reduced costs.

Keyprod also offers a new alert systemthat allows operators to respond instantly to production anomalies. Real-time notifications enable swift intervention to prevent minor issues from escalating, ensuring production continuity and enhancing team responsiveness to unforeseen events.

Furthermore, an advanced planning feature transforms factory operations to analyse historical and current data. Use of this featureleads to more accurate and adaptive production scheduling, optimised workflows, reduced production lead times and improved on-time delivery.

Keyprod’s plug-and-play Keynetic and Keyvibe devices can be magnetised to production machines and installed in less than 10 minutes without necessitating machine downtime or cable connections. The scalable web platform also adapts to changing industry needs by incorporating new technologies over time.

More information www.keyprod.com

Flexxbotics, which delivers work cell digitalisation for robot-driven manufacturing, is
announcing robotic machine tending in-line inspection connectivity compatible with the full
line-up of Hexagon solutions. Now, companies can enable robot-driven manufacturing with
Flexxbotics using Hexagon to achieve precision quality with six sigma consistency and faster
cycle times. Flexxbotics says its capabilities enable higher yields and greater throughput on
complex parts for increased profit per part. 
 
With Flexxbotics, robots receive closed-loop feedback based on automated inspection
results enabling real-time adjustments to CNC machine programs for autonomous process
control. With in-line inspection, Flexxbotics orchestrates the fleets of robots in the smart
factory to achieve continuous unattended operations.
 
Hexagon offers a wide range of CMMs, laser scanners, laser tool setters, infrared probing
systems, radio wave probing systems and production probe systems. Flexxbotics
compatibility includes Hexagon’s PC-DMIS CMM for bridge and gantry CMMs, the Tempo
robotic-enabled CMM system, NC measuring software, the full Q-DAS product line for SPS,
and Intelligent Machine Control (IMC).
 
“We believe in-line inspection technologies make autonomy in the smart factory possible,
providing the closed-loop co-ordination necessary for autonomous process control,” says
Tyler Modelski, CTO and co-founder of Flexxbotics. “That’s why we’ve focused on making
inspection equipment interoperable with CNC machines and the production robots which
control and co-ordinate robot-driven manufacturing.”
 
Flexxbotics’ SaaS/hybrid architecture runs both online and offline so that production
continues with or without internet access. Moreover, Flexxbotics works with existing
business systems such as CADCAM, DNC, SCADA/HMI, IIoT, MES, ERP, PLM and others for
comprehensive process integration.
More information www.flexxbotics.com