Apex to Carry Booz Allen Payload on Aries Call to Adventure Mission

Los Angeles-based spacecraft manufacturer Apex has announced that it will be carrying a payload for Booz Allen Hamilton as part of its Aries Call to Adventure Mission. The payload will be enabled on Apex’s Aries Serial Number 1 spacecraft. Through this mission, Booz Allen will be able to run diagnostics on software designed to support on-orbit space domain awareness (SDA) sensors. The company’s software will specifically focus on computer-vision tasks at the edge, with the goal of reducing the bandwidth required for SDA sensors and enabling the use of next-generation deep-space sensors.

Apex’s Aries Call to Adventure Mission is unique in that it allows for multiple customers to share space on a single spacecraft. The company has not disclosed any other customers participating in this particular mission. Apex is known for its rapid spacecraft manufacturing and has set a historical record for the design and build timeline of its satellites. The company’s first satellite was designed, built, and launched in just 12 months. Apex is currently in the process of manufacturing additional Aries spacecraft for missions scheduled in 2024.

Booz Allen is a prime customer for the Aries Call to Adventure Mission and will be the only other payload onboard the Aries Serial Number 1 spacecraft. The company is a leading provider of space data solutions for both the public and private sectors. Booz Allen’s software payload will be a key component of the company’s ongoing efforts to integrate emerging technologies into its space domain awareness mission applications. The payload will specifically focus on demonstrating Booz Allen’s ability to process space domain awareness data using artificial intelligence on the edge. The company’s initial tests will involve using a computer-vision solution to detect and characterize resident space objects.

As the space domain continues to evolve, there is an increasing need for SDA sensors that can operate autonomously at the edge. These sensors will be essential as the United States and other strategic competitors expand their presence beyond geostationary orbit (GEO) and into deep space. Through its collaboration with Apex, Booz Allen aims to demonstrate the potential for using edge compute hardware to support next-generation SDA capabilities. The company’s software is being developed to support a range of autonomous SDA applications, including safety-of-flight analyses and conjunction assessments.

In addition to its work with Booz Allen, Apex is also focused on the broader potential for on-orbit SDA sensors. The company sees a growing market for these capabilities as both government and commercial entities look to enhance their space situational awareness. By enabling customer payloads on its Aries spacecraft, Apex is positioning itself to support a range of SDA missions in the future.

The specific launch date for the Aries Call to Adventure Mission has not yet been announced. Apex is currently in the process of manufacturing the spacecraft and will work with its launch partners to determine the most appropriate launch window. The company’s Aries spacecraft are designed to be compatible with a range of launch vehicles, providing flexibility in terms of mission timelines and specific orbit requirements.

In addition to its work with Booz Allen, Apex has also secured a contract with the U.S. Space Force to deploy a space test asset as part of the Aries program. The company will work with the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Small Launch and Targets Division to execute the test mission. Through these efforts, Apex is aiming to demonstrate the operational utility of its Aries spacecraft for a range of national security and commercial customers.

Sources: Booz Allen Hamilton & Apex Press Release

908 Devices Acquires RedWave Technology to Expand its Spectroscopy Capabilities

Boston-based 908 Devices has successfully acquired RedWave Technology, a company known for its portable FTIR spectroscopic analyzers. This acquisition is expected to bring new optical spectroscopy capabilities to 908 Devices’ existing technology platform, which is focused on point-of-need applications for chemical and biochemical analysis.

FTIR, which stands for Fourier Transform Infrared, is a type of optical spectroscopy that is commonly used for the identification of various substances across different types of materials. RedWave is recognized for its expertise in developing portable FTIR analyzers that are specifically designed for the rapid identification of chemicals in bulk materials. 

The acquisition will not only bring RedWave’s innovative technology to 908 Devices, but also its existing customer base and market presence. RedWave is a high-growth company that has seen significant success in the portable FTIR market. The company’s analyzers are currently in use in more than 20 countries around the world.

In addition to its portable FTIR analyzers, RedWave also offers a range of accessories for pharma Process Analytical Technology (PAT) and industrial quality control (QC) applications. These products are designed to work in conjunction with RedWave’s analyzers to provide enhanced chemical analysis capabilities for specific use cases. 

908 Devices plans to leverage RedWave’s product portfolio to expand its own offering of handheld and desktop chemical analysis devices. The company will focus on incorporating RedWave’s technology into its forensic workflow solutions, which are designed to help first responders and other professionals quickly detect and identify unknown chemicals in the field. 

“Our technology platforms are complementary as our forensics customers rely on both mass spec and FTIR analyzers to rapidly assess and monitor their environment for dangerous trace chemicals and bulk chemical hazards,” said Kevin J. Knopp, CEO and Co-founder of 908 Devices.

Knopp also noted that the acquisition of RedWave will help 908 Devices accelerate its overall strategic objectives. This includes not only expanding the company’s product portfolio, but also its market reach and revenue growth. 

As a result of the acquisition, 908 Devices will also gain access to RedWave’s existing team and operational resources. This includes the company’s headquarters in Danbury, CT, and its 39 employees. 

908 Devices has not disclosed the specific financial terms of the deal, but the company did confirm that it included a combination of cash and stock. The acquisition is expected to be finalized in the coming weeks, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions.

Founded in 2012, 908 Devices has established itself as a leader in the development of purpose-built mass spectrometry devices. The company offers a range of handheld and desktop instruments that are designed to provide real-time chemical analysis in a variety of settings.

Culture of Quality Takes Center Stage in Latest Boeing News

As the public trials and tribulations of Boeing continue, we have started to hear discussion of the loss of a culture at Boeing.

In an article in The Atlantic, titled “What’s Gone Wrong at Boeing,” James Surowiecki blames the problems at Boeing on “the erosion of a valuable corporate culture,” one he suggests “will be will be harder to fix than a loose bolt.”

In his article for Forbes, “Where Boeing Went Wrong And What Manufacturers Can Learn From It,” Ethan Karp championed his view that air travel is perfectly safe, but writes, “Boeing has a very, very long way to go before it regains the trust of its customers. The $78 billion-revenue firm stands as a cautionary tale—one that manufacturers of all sizes should take to heart.”

The casual observer might believe the tale starts with a door plug blowing off an Alaska Airlines plane back in January. That was followed by other incidents, such as the tire falling off a United flight as it took off, another plane that slid off of the runway soon after, and another subsequent event on Southwest detailing the loss of an engine cover. All were captured on video and began to raise the question, What’s going on at Boeing?

But the problems at Boeing were evident before these recent incidents, as both The Atlantic and Forbes articles suggest. As Karp writes, “Boeing’s mishaps started in 2018 and 2019 when two crashes caused by a faulty flight-control system killed 346 people.” Some will remember these crashes, others saw them detailed in a Netflix documentary titled “Downfall: The Case Against Boeing" from 2022.

In fact, it goes back even further than that, to 1997. As Surowiecki writes, “For most of its history, Boeing had what you might call an engineering-centric culture, with power in the company resting in the hands of engineering and design. But in 1997, Boeing bought another aircraft manufacturer, McDonnell Douglas, in what turned out to be a kind of reverse acquisition—executives from McDonnell Douglas ended up dominating and remaking Boeing. They turned it from a company that was relentlessly focused on product to one more focused on profit.”

Surowiecki further writes, “This new orientation was encapsulated by something that Harry Stonecipher, who had been CEO of McDonnell Douglas and was CEO of Boeing from 2003 to 2005, said, ‘When people say I changed the culture of Boeing, that was the intent, so that it’s run like a business rather than a great engineering firm.’”

He points out that Boeing, prior to 1997 and the McDonnell Douglas merger, was one of the most respected American companies and helped NASA put a man on the moon. “The firm’s reputation for safety and excellence was such that people used to say, ‘If it’s not Boeing, I’m not going,’” he writes.

So, the culture Surowiecki was referring to when he alluded to “the erosion of a valuable corporate culture” is what we in the quality industry call a “culture of quality.” Others in the mainstream media have referred to it as a “culture of safety.”

In an article, “How to fix Boeing, according to a former Airbus technology chief,” for Fortune, former Chief Technology Officer at Airbus and at United Technologies Paul Eremenko writes, “The modern air transportation system is nothing short of miraculous. Airplanes are some of the most complex feats of engineering created by humans, and yet thousands of them fly daily with so few incidents that flying is one of the safest modes of travel, second only to taking an elevator (and safer than walking, not to mention driving). It is not a miracle but a meticulously accumulated set of engineering principles, quality processes, and operating procedures–all underpinned by a set of cultural mores to ensure that they are faithfully and intelligently implemented. This cultural element is the magic ingredient. And it is what’s broken at Boeing.”

He further writes, “Take, for example, the tragic crashes of two Boeing 737 MAX aircraft a few months apart in 2018 and 2019. A key aviation engineering principle is that safety-critical systems cannot have a single point of failure. Boeing engineers convinced themselves [and the FAA] on paper that the MCAS system, which was found to be the culprit, was not safety-critical. Of course, it turned out to be. This is an engineering error–but more importantly and systemically, it is a failure of culture: The right people should have felt empowered to question the right assumptions at the right time.”

Certainly, the wrong time is April 17, 2024. That is the day that veteran-Boeing-employee-turned-whistleblower, Sam Salehpour, testified before the Senate in an examination of Boeing’s “safety culture,” where he alleged, “the company threatened him for voicing safety concerns, said his manager would keep him out of meetings and call his personal phone to ‘berate’ him,” and “told lawmakers that he has also received threats against his physical safety,” culminating in him saying that “his boss once said in a meeting that he ‘would have killed someone who said what you said.’"

In their various conclusions, Surowiecki detailed Boeing’s current financial woes and the company’s vow to reinvent itself, but suggested it has a long way to go, writing, “Just as public trust in a brand is easier and quicker to lose than to build, restoring a corporate culture that values engineering excellence foremost will take more time and effort.” He ended his article by writing, “Putting profit over product has been bad for Boeing’s products. The irony now painfully apparent is that it’s been bad for Boeing’s profits too.”

According to Karp, “it’s vital that manufacturers begin to invest today in equipping their operations with the sort of sensors and IoT [Internet of Things] components that will allow a clear and complete digital view of their products and processes.” He added, “Boeing has promised it will rework its culture and recommit to the engineering-first approach of its past. It should also commit to being a leader in connected manufacturing technology. For that matter, any manufacturer can and should make that commitment.”

He ended his article by writing, “The odds are that it will pay off long term. After all, as The Atlantic article concluded, product and profit turn out to be intrinsically tied together.”

Eremenko wrote, “While my career took me to the planemaker on the other side of the Atlantic, I feel a deep fondness for the American icon that is the Boeing Company–and sadness at its current malaise. I am confident that it can regain its magic by putting airplane geeks at the helm, giving its employees a direct stake in the company’s success, and making a bold, ambitious bet on the future.”

As for Salehpour’s testimony to the Senate, according to reporting by Business Insider, "After the threats and after all this, it really scares me, but I am at peace," Salehpour said. "If something happens to me, I am at peace because I feel like by coming forward, I will be saving a lot of lives."

According to the same reporting, “Boeing has backed its widebody planes despite Salehpour's complaint, telling Business Insider in an email statement prior to the hearing that the allegations are not representative of the work it has done to ‘ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft.’"

Large Machine Vision Companies Acquire, Partner to Grow

By Jonathan Sparkes, Research Analyst, Interact Analysis

The global machine vision market is expected to return to growth in 2024, expanding by around 1.4% this year. This is partially due to the continued growth of the 3D camera market, but is also a result of a return to growth in key machine vision consuming sectors  (such as semis and electronics), which are expected to perform better in 2024 than the wider manufacturing industry. However, growth for some is also stimulated by acquisition, as companies seek opportunities to broaden their machine vision portfolio in order to offer customers a more complete solution. This trend, which is common across all facets of industrial automation, seems to be especially prevalent in the machine vision market right now.

The research anticipates that by 2028 the Americas and EMEA will have the largest growth, at 12.6% and 12.3% respectively. We see this growth potential as a result of the continued partnering and acquisition culture among large machine vision vendors. Companies are looking at ways to expand their portfolio to develop a full offering and a solution-based service to customers. While there are many new vendors entering the machine vision market, global corporations investing in acquiring technology and expertise in each of the machine vision component sectors.

While research demonstrates very little movement in terms of positioning in 2022 and 2023, it does show some companies, such as market leader Keyence, increasing market share with a strong performance in 2023.

Cognex Corporation, headquartered in the US, made the decision in August 2023 to acquire Japanese optics components specialist Schott-Moritex for a fee of around $275m. Scott-Moritex has a strong presence in Japan and the acquisition will give Cognex a greater footing in the Japanese market, while also increasing its lens capabilities. The additional income from Scott-Moritex will help Cognex grow its market share in 2024 and beyond.

Teledyne Imaging, headquartered in Canada, is already a large multi-company corporation that has made many substantial acquisitions in recent years to grow and supplement its machine vision portfolio. In February 2024, Teledyne Imaging announced it would be acquiring Netherlands-based camera manufacturer Adimec Holding B.V for an undisclosed fee. Adimec specializes in customized high-performance industrial and scientific cameras that solve applications where image quality is of greatest importance. This acquisition will further supplement Teledyne Imaging’s large portfolio and allows it to further grow its market share going forwards, strengthening its presence in the EMEA market.#

TKH Vision, headquartered in the Netherlands, is also a very large corporation that has acquired many supplementary vision companies in recent years. TKH’s individual companies include: Allied Vision (Germany), which specializes in area scan cameras; LMI Technologies (Canada), which specializes in 3D laser-triangulation cameras; Chromasens (Germany) which specializes in Line-Scan cameras; SVS-Mikrotron (Germany) which specializes in high-end and high-speed cameras; NET (Germany) which specializes in machine vision components; Nerian (Germany) which specializes in 3D stereo cameras; and Tattille (Italy), which focuses on area-scan, line-scan and smart cameras. TKH has a strong presence already in the EMEA region and, with further acquisitions, it will continue to strengthen its position as a leading machine vision vendor.

Despite a recent flurry of activity, with a relatively fragmented vendor base, Interact Analysis expects further consolidation and acquisitions for the machine vision industry in the future, enabling vendors to provide a complete solution to customers, rather than having to combine their products with other suppliers’ technology. When speaking to vendors, they have said customers are increasingly looking for a complete solution to be provided, or a one stop shop where all future maintenance and services can be met by one company instead of several. The growth in automation in general is allowing new companies to enter the market with strong new products or designs and grow significantly. Meanwhile, long-standing and large vendors look to these new and exciting products to supplement and grow their portfolios.

Data on the machine vision market is available in our new Machine Vision 2024 report, published in January 2024. This report and data set provide the most granular data on the machine vision market ever produced. We look at the market for 11 primary products, in 20 different industries, for 9 different applications and for 38 different countries. We supply this data in terms of revenues, units shipped and ASP’s.

For the Machine Vision 2024 report, visit https://interactanalysis.com/research/machine-vision/.

US Cutting Tool Orders Totaled $214.6M in February 2024, Bringing the Year-Over-Year Total Up 9% From February 2023

February 2024 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $214.6 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was up 4.9% from January’s $204.5 million and up 9% when compared with the $196.9 million reported for February 2023. With a year-to-date total of $419.1 million, 2024 is up 6.5% when compared to the same time period in 2023.

“After some declines in orders to end the fourth quarter of 2023, the U.S. cutting tool industry has seen rebounds in monthly orders and growth in shipments to begin the first quarter of 2024,” observed Steve Boyer, president of USCTI. “Inflation continues to add some apprehension for upcoming quarters, but the industry continues to positively show growth even if that pattern is of uneven growth.”

Bret Tayne, president of Everede Tool Co., noted: “In spite of some uneasiness and uncertainty in the general economy, cutting tool sales remained on an upward trend in February. The yield curve remains inverted, and inflation remains stubbornly high. The commercial aircraft sector is in a challenging period. Automobile manufacturers have become increasingly concerned about the direction of the EV market. Elections are approaching, and consumer sentiment is volatile. It will be interesting to see if the cutting tool industry can maintain momentum over the next several months.”

The Cutting Tool Market Report is jointly compiled by AMT and USCTI, two trade associations representing the development, production, and distribution of cutting tool technology and products. It provides a monthly statement on U.S. manufacturers’ consumption of the primary consumable in the manufacturing process – the cutting tool. Analysis of cutting tool consumption is a leading indicator of both upturns and downturns in U.S. manufacturing activity, as it is a true measure of actual production levels.

Historical data for the Cutting Tool Market Report is available dating back to January 2012. This collaboration of AMT and USCTI is the first step in the two associations working together to promote and support U.S.-based manufacturers of cutting tool technology. 

For more information, visit https://www.amtonline.org/.

Creaform Raises, Waves a New Flag

Creaform reformulates its branding in an effort to center on experiencing innovation through three pillars: state-of-the-art products, stellar customer relationships and fearless ambition.

Creaform, a business of AMETEK, Inc., portray their fresh brand identity as an evolution rather than a revolution. With 20+ years of innovation under the belt, focused around high-technology solutions, they secure a legacy of continuously pushing the limits of the industry through rich and dynamic relationships with their customer base.

The new branding stems from a continuum; “Innovation Takes Form” puts the spotlight on the company’s employees, partners and customers, and their journey through the Innovation mindset. This mindset builds on intrinsic expectations about the metrology market, namely the product, the relationship, and the ambition. Key to the success of Creaform are the satisfaction expressed when scanning and measuring with intuitive tools, the human connections made along the journey, and the ripple effect on the customer’s own ambition.

The company therefore draws on the power of experiencing innovation to consolidate its past, present and future accomplishments in terms of hardware, software and engineering services.

“Our goal was to embrace our commitment to a comprehensive customer experience. While our products and quality have always taken center stage, and rightly so, it is now time to shine a light on the actual process. Innovation is at the crossroads of the people, their creations and their desire to achieve. That is what we call Experiencing Innovation,” says Fanny Truchon, president and business unit manager at Creaform.

And today, with 26 office locations around the world and 14 new distribution centers opened in the past year, Creaform is in full swing, not only in a niche market, but across the tech industry worldwide, and thus remains very close to its customers, both in terms of human connections and geographic proximity.

For more information, visit creaform3d.com.

A3 Unveils Advocacy Principles to Accelerate Robotics, Automation Adoption Across U.S.

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3), North America’s largest automation trade association representing 1300+ organizations, has unveiled five principles to help drive support and expansion of the robotics and automation industries in the United States.

With these principles in place, the U.S. government can work with industry and robotics leaders to drive discussion and enact the policy initiatives needed in the coming years to maintain U.S. automation, robotics and manufacturing leadership. While the focus is on the United States, these principles would also benefit allied countries in other regions, and A3 welcomes their broader adoption by government officials elsewhere.

To download the principles, visit https://www.automate.org/a3/advocacy-principles?utm_campaign=A3%20Advocacy%20Principles&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8mUebIwPwVW30OXQlr9L4JhvgKQclQI-Rdj1QcWzJ0MbPtGDhNLuHBvlsIBKPUDUIW7cPOdPmOuoU9_pyx5Qs4V-HcLw&_hsmi=301883255&utm_content=301883255&utm_source=hs_email.

MVTec Opens First Subsidiary in Taiwan

MVTec Software GmbH is strengthening its activities in Taiwan and establishing its own subsidiary in Hsinchu, southwest of Taipei.

The new subsidiary was opened on April 1, 2024, and is intended to further intensify the exchange with customers from Taiwan. Martin Krumey, vice president sales at MVTec, explains the background: "Our goal at MVTec is to be close to our customers worldwide. Taiwan is a strategically important market for us. We believe that with our increased local presence, together with our local partners, we can understand and serve the needs and requirements of our customers even better." MVTec has already had a sales office in Taiwan since 2020. This will now be relocated from its previous location in Taichung to Hsinchu and upscaled into a subsidiary.

In terms of personnel, MVTec is focusing on continuity in Taiwan. Jash Chu and Edward Tsai, who were already working in the sales office in Taichung, are the first two employees of the new subsidiary MVTec Taiwan Co., LTD. The expertise of the sales office employees will help MVTec to further expand its presence on the Taiwanese market and intensify its proximity to local customers. Jash Chu, technical sales manager, explains, "Our powerful software products HALCON and MERLIC are already well known in the market. With the new subsidiary, we are now able to provide customers with even faster and more comprehensive support for their specific, often very complex inquiries. This service directly from us as the manufacturer helps to get even more performance out of the machine vision applications." Edward Tsai, sales manager, adds: "We have been working with strong local partners, such as sales partners or hardware manufacturers, for years. We want to maintain these partnerships and expand them accordingly for the benefit of our customers." To achieve these goals, the number of employees in the new subsidiary will be increased further over the next few years.

"Our focus sector in Taiwan clearly is the semiconductor industry. Automation and the corresponding use of machine vision, including our software, are already very advanced here. Nevertheless, the market is growing very dynamically. We decided to open the subsidiary to meet the increasing technical challenges in particular," says Martin Krumey.

For more information, visit https://www.mvtec.com/.

February Manufacturing Technology Orders Up 2.1% Over January; Contract Machine Shops Decreased Orders, While Aerospace Increased

Orders of manufacturing technology, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $343.3 million in February 2024. This was a 2.1% increase from January 2024 but a 26.5% decline from February 2023. Year-to-date orders reached $679.6 million, a decline of 16.9% from the first two months of 2023.

While orders have thus far fallen short of the expectations from the beginning of the year, it is important to remember how good orders were in the first quarter of 2023. Manufacturing technology orders in the first three months of 2023 averaged $455.6 million per month. In the remainder of the year, monthly orders only reached $395.9 million. This is high by historical standards but reachable given the resilient economy and IMTS returning to Chicago’s McCormick Place later in the year. Small and medium-sized businesses, primarily contract machine shops, continued to fall behind the market, yet OEMs in several sectors increased their capital investment.

• Contract machine shops, the largest consumer of manufacturing technology, continued to decrease their orders. While they have generally ordered less relative to the overall market in recent months, this is only the second time since September 2021 that job shops decreased machinery orders while the overall market was expanding.
• Manufacturers of engines, turbines, and power transmission equipment increased orders to the highest level since February 2023. Orders from this sector have been elevated in recent years due partly to extreme weather requiring infrastructure improvements to improve grid reliability as well as government incentives around clean energy generation. The last time orders were at these levels was between late 2007 and the summer of 2008 when natural gas plants started becoming the dominant source of energy generation in the United States.
• The aerospace industry posted the second-largest order volume since December 2022, only surpassed by December 2023. While commercial aviation is a large part of the sector, there will be several large opportunities in the defense side of the business throughout the year. The Pentagon recently announced funding for new programs to improve the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and both Lockheed and Boeing were recently awarded contracts to develop or supply missile systems.

March is the end of the fiscal year for several companies, so in most years, orders tend to increase. With an order value of $548.8 million in March 2023, it will be difficult to surpass if demand from contract machine shops continues to fall behind the overall market. Even if orders fall short of 2023 levels next month, there are positive signs the remainder of 2024 will provide some opportunities for growth.

The March 2024 ISM® Manufacturing PMI® showed the manufacturing sector was expanding for the first time since September 2022. If new orders and production continue to improve, orders of manufacturing technology will surely increase as OEMs begin to give work to contract machine shops to keep pace with their customers’ demands. Given the typical lag between increased demand and new machinery orders, shops may begin to need additional capacity just in time to ‘kick the wheels’ at IMTS 2024.

For more information, visit https://www.amtonline.org/.

Virginia Professor Danny Murphy Wins Inaugural A3 Educator of the Year Award 

Association for Advancing Automation (A3) honors Murphy, an assistant professor of mechatronics at Central Virginia Community College, for his engaging, real-world, hands-on teaching methods and focus on collaboration with fellow educators.

The Association for Advancing Automation (A3) named Danny Murphy, an assistant professor of mechatronics at Central Virginia Community College, the recipient of its inaugural Educator of the Year award. With more than 100 nominees for this now annual award, Murphy stood out with his innovative teaching methods that depict real-world, hands-on and relevant education and his active industry collaborations that keep his curriculum up to date with trends in artificial intelligence, robotics and safety in advanced manufacturing. 

Sponsored by Siemens and open to anyone in the field, A3’s new Educator of the Year award was created to recognize individuals that embody four key criteria: innovation, dedication to growth, motivation and inspiration, and mastery of subject matter. This year’s winner and finalists were chosen by members of the A3 Education Committee and will be honored at a special event on Educator Day on May 8 at Automate 2024 in Chicago.   

“As we reviewed the impressive nominees, Danny truly stood out as an outstanding embodiment of all four criteria we established to honor an Educator of the Year,” said Ritch Ramey, director of education, A3. “Not only is he a highly effective, engaging educator for students at Central Virginia Community College, but he consistently demonstrates a remarkable willingness to share his expertise in robotics and automation with fellow educators. His extensive background in workforce development and project-based learning further enhances his contributions to the field.” 

 In addition to serving as an associate professor for CVCC, where he teaches PLC programming, robotics, machines, electronics, industrial electrical wiring and STEM principles in engineering, Murphy is an automation consultant with 25 years of experience in controls engineering. He has contributed to the development of over 75 pieces of production machinery, including positioning controls for ALMA Observatory, the largest astronomical project on Earth. He is the recipient of several other teaching awards, including the 2023 Learning Environment Award and 2022 Faculty Award for Teaching Effectiveness, both from CVCC, and is a National Science Foundation partner. He also runs multiple organizations that mentor local and international students in their search for education and employment. 

As the winner of the A3 Educator of the Year, Murphy and CVCC will receive a cash prize from the Siemens Cooperates with Education (SCE) program as well as a hardware and software technology bundle to expand Murphy’s efforts to provide students with practical technical skills. The SCE program will also award Murphy and the top five educators nominated with a technology bundle of Siemens software valued at over $250,000 each to promote automation in education and continue elevating the skills of tomorrow’s workforce in the U.S. 

“Siemens is very excited to support this first of many Educator of the Year awards recognizing the energy and expertise of so many talented educators across the country,” said Amanda Beaton, US program manager, SCE. “It is a pleasure to work with teachers like Danny and all the wonderful nominees who are truly game changers in the area of STEM education. Danny’s real-world experience, industry-relevant, hands-on teaching style, and passion for education demonstrate the perfect example of what is needed to produce a work-ready student.” 

Verisurf, Hexagon Sign Solutions Agreement

Verisurf Software Inc. and Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence have entered a metrology solutions agreement. Under the agreement, Verisurf will offer complete metrology solutions that combine its popular model-based inspection and measurement software, training, and live technical support with proven Hexagon portable CMMs. Customers can now receive single-source consultation, quoting, transactional support, and relationship management for complete best-in-class metrology solutions.

Verisurf software combined with Hexagon portable CMMs delivers automated, time-saving workflows with repeatable process control, a major tenet of quality management. Verisurf is the only measurement software built on a full-featured 3D CAD/CAM platform committed to intelligent Model-Based Definition (MBD). This lets users perform measurement workflows in a seamless CAD environment and maintains model-based digital continuity. The Verisurf Device Interface (VDI) communicates with and operates all Hexagon portable CMMs to measure and collect data with industry-leading precision.

“Verisurf has always worked closely with Hexagon, supporting its line of portable CMMs. Hexagon is an industry leader, and we are excited to offer integrated solutions that include their technology bundled with Verisurf’s renowned application training, software updates, and technical support,” said Verisurf President and CEO Ernie Husted.

Hexagon portable CMMs, including laser trackers, portable arms, and scanners, are recognized worldwide for their quality, precision, and reliability. With Verisurf software driving the measurement and inspection workflow, customers receive the best total solution.

Verisurf’s modular software enables unparalleled flexibility, supporting all 3D metrology applications, utilizing a consistent interface across all devices, and extending process control throughout the product realization process. Verisurf is also available in application suite configurations where modules are combined and paired with the appropriate Hexagon CMM as a turn-key solution to specific applications.

Here are a couple of popular combinations:

• Hexagon Absolute 7-Axis Scan Arm Powered by Verisurf Inspection & Analysis Suite
• Hexagon Leica Absolute Tracker AT960 Powered by Verisurf Tool Building & Inspection Suite

“Hexagon has collaborated with Verisurf to deliver integrated hardware and software solutions for years with many satisfied customers to show for it,” said Hexagon Indirect Channel Sales Manager Frank Colón. “This agreement continues our commitment to work together while emphasizing customer flexibility and focused application support.”

For more information, visit https://hexagon.com or https://www.verisurf.com.