Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Multicursor (Feasibility study for Multicursor - a non-contact sensor for curing quality control)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2019-06-01 al 2019-09-30
Factobotics, SME from Lithuania, innovated Multicursor - an intelligent non-contact polymerization quality level sensor driven by cutting-edge laser technology in order to provide real-time response on curing level and quality of various surfaces covered in paint, lacquer or other coatings. Multicursor is mostly applicable for wooden materials, although it is possible to introduce innovation to other materials which require curing as well.
At the moment the curing quality control process requires manual labour input and results in defect rate of around 2%. With Multicursor, manufacturers will produce a significant reduction to defect rate and move closer towards full automatization of the production process.
The company managed to achieve high technological advancement by combining engineering and software development innovations. By thus, Multicursor helps to achieve higher efficiency and productivity in production plants. This will lead to faster and more accurate curing processes.
Therefore, according to Multicursor’s technical analysis, it is safe to assume that the technology has a high potential in increasing manufacturing productivity and saving costs, while at the same time being an affordable solution for SMEs and Large companies across Europe and outside.
At the moment the curing quality control process requires manual labour input and results in defect rate of around 2%. With Multicursor, manufacturers will produce a significant reduction to defect rate and move closer towards full automatization of the production process.
The company managed to achieve high technological advancement by combining engineering and software development innovations. By thus, Multicursor helps to achieve higher efficiency and productivity in production plants. This will lead to faster and more accurate curing processes.
Therefore, according to Multicursor’s technical analysis, it is safe to assume that the technology has a high potential in increasing manufacturing productivity and saving costs, while at the same time being an affordable solution for SMEs and Large companies across Europe and outside.
The Multicursor has been tested in a real-time production environment, followed by hardware and software improvements that result in higher efficiency of the sensor. The results of the testing are promising, as the sensor successfully scans the curing thickness, however additional input in improving the laser scanning speed is required before launching the product publicly. However, the product has advanced from TRL 6 to TRL 7 and is systematically moving towards TRL 8 and TRL 9 maturity with further improvement to be introduced this year.
Factobotics team was able to build software frameworks for higher applicability of the Multicursor. With software updated over the air, manufacturers using Multicursor will benefit by being able to adapt curing quality measures to different types of lacquer, so it will serve as a one-sensor-fits-all solution.
Together with AI data analysis functions, the sensor is planned to have automatic identification of lacquer function to help the manufacturers minimise the time required for changeovers and software surveillance. In addition, production flow will be measured and analysed for the identification of bottlenecks, peak times and other data, which would produce valuable insights for manufacturing improvement.
Last part of the feasibility study, was the development of the business plan for commercialisation of the Multicursor. The initial product introduction will begin in Lithuania, while Italian, Polish and Swedish furniture manufacturers will follow. The pricing strategy will be built on two different models: Flat price and Sensor-as-a-Service models. This approach will help to reach a wider audience and Sensor-as-a-Service model is intended to serve SMEs mostly.
To conclude, Multicursor's development is getting its pace and is almost ready to begin the commercialisation. Therefore, further tests will show the real value proposition but as to current results, it is clear that the sensor has high potential in helping to automate manufacturing facilities.
Factobotics team was able to build software frameworks for higher applicability of the Multicursor. With software updated over the air, manufacturers using Multicursor will benefit by being able to adapt curing quality measures to different types of lacquer, so it will serve as a one-sensor-fits-all solution.
Together with AI data analysis functions, the sensor is planned to have automatic identification of lacquer function to help the manufacturers minimise the time required for changeovers and software surveillance. In addition, production flow will be measured and analysed for the identification of bottlenecks, peak times and other data, which would produce valuable insights for manufacturing improvement.
Last part of the feasibility study, was the development of the business plan for commercialisation of the Multicursor. The initial product introduction will begin in Lithuania, while Italian, Polish and Swedish furniture manufacturers will follow. The pricing strategy will be built on two different models: Flat price and Sensor-as-a-Service models. This approach will help to reach a wider audience and Sensor-as-a-Service model is intended to serve SMEs mostly.
To conclude, Multicursor's development is getting its pace and is almost ready to begin the commercialisation. Therefore, further tests will show the real value proposition but as to current results, it is clear that the sensor has high potential in helping to automate manufacturing facilities.
Multicursor's testing appeared to prove that the technology can successfully operate in the production environment, therefore it will help the manufacturing industry move closer towards automatisation. The technology itself will lower the need for manual labour, so society will be able to concentrate on higher additional value-creating jobs. Also, the sustainability impact should be taken into consideration, as the amount of waste caused by defected and inefficiently used goods will result in lower amounts with Multicursor in use.
By choosing to install the Multicursor sensors, companies benefit from Industry 4.0 benefits that bring sustainable economic benefits for the entire manufacturing industry.
By choosing to install the Multicursor sensors, companies benefit from Industry 4.0 benefits that bring sustainable economic benefits for the entire manufacturing industry.