Power Pairings in Manufacturing: New Tech Collaborations From Qualcomm, Siemens, Comau, and Jamco America

Technology doesn't advance in isolation. In our 'Power Pairings' round-up series, we spotlight the partnerships that are advancing manufacturing—where companies from different domains, expertise, and technological backgrounds converge to solve industrial challenges or refine industrial solutions.

Siemens, SPX FLOW Collaborate to Highlight the Use of Digital Twin and AI in Product Design

SPX FLOW and Siemens are collaborating to highlight the power of digital twin technology at the MxD (Manufacturing x Digital) center in Chicago. A hub for innovation in manufacturing, MxD is driving advances across industries such as food & beverage, chemicals, and batteries.

At MxD, SPX FLOW and Siemens are demonstrating the potential of digital twin technology, especially when it's enhanced by 5G connectivity and modular production using software-defined Module Type Package (MTP) concepts, showcased through an automated mixing tank with an associated digital twin.

The collaboration combines SPX FLOW's fluid processing solutions (including mixers, pumps, and valves) and Siemens' IoT connectivity solutions and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation capabilities to create a digital twin of an autonomous mixing tank concept. This enables users to design, test, and optimize fluid systems virtually, mitigate risks, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation.

"Our innovative fluid technologies combined with simulation-based digital twins and AI-driven modeling enables us to deliver faster, customer-focused solutions," said Tyrone Jeffers, SPX FLOW Vice President of Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain. "Together with Siemens, we are prioritizing flexibility, efficiency, and sustainability, paving the way for a new era of manufacturing excellence."

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modeling and IoT conditional monitoring support SPX FLOW's product development by reducing modeling time while improving precision, refining designs with better flow analysis, aligning digital twins with real-world applications, and using IoT conditional monitoring to optimize equipment performance and enable predictive maintenance.

"This collaboration is a win for us and a huge win for our industrial customers," said Del Costy, Managing Director, Americas, Siemens Digital Industries Software. "Working together with SPX FLOW and harnessing the power of live connections between the physical and digital worlds in digital twin models, we are helping customers to achieve faster time to market, optimize system performance, reduce costs and resource usage, and deliver tailored, application-specific solutions to meet their unique needs."

Avegant, Qualcomm, and Applied Materials Collaborate on AI Smart Glass Design

Comau, Leonardo Use Cognitive Robotics for Automated Inspection of Aeronautical Structures

Comau and Leonardo, a helicopter manufacturer, have partnered to develop and test a powerful, self-adaptive robotic solution to autonomously inspect helicopter blades measuring up to 23 feet (7 meters). The idea is to create a solution that will provide higher-quality inspection with greater flexibility without compromising on precision or repeatability.

Developed as a joint pilot project and tested on-site in Anagni, Italy, over the past year, the two companies are working on moving it to another site to add enhanced capabilities such as MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) services.

Using cognitive robotics, advanced vision systems, and artificial intelligence, autonomous tapping tests and multispectral surface inspection is performed along the non-linear blade, measuring and verifying the structural integrity through microscopic surface analysis across thousands of measurement points.

Intelligent algorithms and path planning allow the robot to see and respond to its surroundings while comprehensive data acquisition and processing infrastructure create optimized sound and image recognition. As the blades are stimulated by the smart robot, the sound response is recorded and photographed using a multispectral camera to detect defects—even hidden ones.

All this tech is hidden behind a simple user interface that uses low-code programming so operators can program the robot using simple commands: look for the blade, find the position, and execute the action.

This solution is in response to an increasing push for faster processes, better control, and higher quality throughout the aerospace industry. Being able to automate this manual work allows more accuracy, efficiency, standardization, and full compliance.

Jamco America, Airtech Partner for 3DP Tool Recycling

Jamco America, Inc., an interior product supplier and a turnkey aircraft interior integrator in the aerospace industry, has furthered its partnership with Airtech Advanced Materials Group, a global manufacturer of composite consumables and supporting materials, to advance aerospace manufacturing through 3D printing (3DP) tool recycling.