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Switzerland-based robotics 3D printing startup SAEKI has raised $2.3 million in seed funding to create absolutely automated “robots-as-a-service” manufacturing microfactories providing on-demand 3D printing.
These manufacturing hubs will leverage digital manufacturing and industrial robotics to 3D print a variety of large-scale parts for the development, automotive, aerospace, marine and power verticals.
The funding spherical was led by Wingman Ventures, with Vento Ventures, Getty Capital and angel buyers additionally collaborating.
“For huge swathes of business it’s not sensible to personal and handle robots that may create what you want rapidly. We’re on the forefront of addressing this and democratizing entry to the very best instruments and creating productive, sustainable and efficient outcomes for business,” commented SAEKI Co-Founder Andrea Perissinotto.
Edouard Treccani, Principal at Wingman Ventures, added that “We’re thrilled to affix forces with SAEKI as lead investor of their pre-seed spherical. Their groundbreaking method to distributed additive manufacturing has the ability to revolutionize sectors from aerospace to development by means of disruptive tech, native manufacturing and sustainable supplies.”
SAEKI’s manufacturing hubs
SAEKI was based in 2021 by Andrea Perissinotto, Oliver Harley and Matthias Leschok, and has beforehand developed a novel technique for the cost-effective manufacturing of customized concrete formworks. This method combines 3D printings and milling with industrial robots that may 3D print the formworks as much as a number of meters in size.
The corporate’s newest venture seems to resolve a major bottleneck inside the manufacturing business. In line with SAEKI, the event and manufacturing of complicated components, reminiscent of light-weight carbon fiber components and topology optimized concrete flooring slabs, is a time consuming and expensive course of.
With 24-hour product turnaround instances, it’s claimed that SAEKI’s manufacturing hub will allow consumers to quickly innovate and develop their service choices. Furthermore, the corporate claims that the manufacturing hubs will permit for the speedy, on-demand manufacturing of large-scale components, one thing which “has not been beforehand attainable.” SAEKI may even present an on the spot quoting service as a part of its new providing. Tailor-made to the enterprise wants of the shopper, this platform will search to take away the “complicated opaque method at present out there.”
The manufacturing hubs will incorporate industrial robots constructed by SAEKI. These robots will mix a variety of digital manufacturing strategies from 3D printing, milling, and inspection to create an all-in-one low-waste fabrication course of. Furthermore, the robots might be used as self-contained microfactories (known as ‘uFactories’), making them straightforward to deploy for localized additive manufacturing.
SAEKI is at present constructing its first manufacturing hub, which is about to launch in early 2024 with chosen companions. It will function a blueprint for additional growth, with the corporate eyeing the eventual creation of a decentralized community of robot-operated manufacturing hubs around the globe.
“In 10 years from now SAEKI envisions lights-out factories full of SAEKI microfactories autonomously producing complicated, materials and weight-saving formwork for the development business, fixtures and tooling for super-sonic jets or composite molds for the subsequent era components one vehicles,” defined Matthias Leschok, Co-Founder at SAEKI.
The SAEKI microfactory. Video by way of SAEKI.
On-demand additive manufacturing
Following latest provide chain challenges, a lot of corporations have sought to reshore on-demand 3D printing capabilities. Earlier this yr, Texas-based industrial 3D printer producer Essentium, Inc. launched Essentium Elements On-Demand (EPOD). This in-house manufacturing service is predicated on the corporate’s Excessive Pace Extrusion (HSETM) 3D printing know-how. Working 9 HSE 3D printers on launch, Essentium plans to broaden this to fifteen+ by the tip of 2024.
Early adopters are already mentioned to be benefiting from EPOD. One buyer within the oil and fuel business has employed HSE’s 3D printing functionality and capability to 3D print PEEK components. One other within the Aviation Technical Operations business leveraged the polymer-to-part answer to supply 100+ housings out of a bespoke materials with flame-resistant qualities.
Elsewhere, it was introduced final yr that San Francisco-based on-demand manufacturing service supplier Fictiv had secured $100 million in Collection E funding. This capital has been employed to alleviate provide chain dangers by enhancing the pace and robustness of the corporate’s on-demand 3D printing companies.
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Featured picture reveals the SAEKI founders (left to proper) Oliver Harley, Matthias Leschok, and Andrea Perissinotto. Picture by way of SAEKI.
