Breaking the Bottleneck | Issue 30
[11/7/2023] Green Steel, Industrial Batteries, 3D Printing for Quantum Sensors, & The New Fincher Movie
Breaking the Bottleneck is a weekly manufacturing technology newsletter with perspectives, interviews, news, research, and funding announcements. For an older version of a discrete and continuous manufacturing market map click the link here!
Content I Enjoyed This Week 🏭🗞️🔬
News:
The Trillion-Dollar Quest to Make Green Steel [Canary Media]
Today the process of heating fossil fuels to turn raw iron ore into steel accounts for a significant portion of global CO2 emissions. “Green steel," has a significantly lower carbon footprint and offers a solution. One approach to green steel production is using hydrogen to process iron ore. Currently, only a few facilities, like the Hybrit project in Sweden, are doing this at scale. However, many projects involving hydrogen are in development worldwide. Green steel production also relies on renewable energy sources to power electric arc furnaces, which melt iron and steel scrap, further reducing emissions. Still, more work is needed to drive increased production of green steel. First more government policies are needed to incentivize cleaner steel production and drive cooperation between steel suppliers and industries of consumption. Second, companies will need to focus on retraining and reskilling workers with the shift toward greener technologies. Finally, the automotive industry in particular should establish clear goals and rules for adoption, as it accounts for a significant portion of steel consumption and can use its market power to drive the transition to cleaner steel production methods.
How Heat Batteries Promise a Cleaner Future in Industrial Manufacturing [MIT]
Antora Energy, a California-based startup, announced plans to open a large-scale manufacturing facility in San Jose to produce modular heat batteries for industrial decarbonization. Industrial heat from fossil fuels contributes to 20% of global emissions. Thermal batteries use renewable energy to heat materials like solid carbon blocks, which store the heat until needed for manufacturing. The heat-battery industry is in its early stages but is seeing growing interest. Companies like Rondo Energy are also expanding their heat battery production, while German firm Kraftblock collaborates with companies like Pepsi to use heat batteries instead of gas-fired boilers.
Inside NASA’s Bid to Make Spacecraft as Small as Possible [MIT]
Since NASA's MarCO mission demonstrated the potential of small, affordable spacecraft for deep-space exploration, NASA has been gradually moving toward smaller spacecraft designs, seeking to reduce costs and increase mission frequency. However, there are limitations to how small spacecraft can become due to fundamental laws of physics. Developing small spacecraft presents a "wicked problem" because of the complex interactions among various stakeholders with different priorities, including scientists, engineers, and project managers. These stakeholders must balance the desirability of scientific data, the feasibility of engineering solutions, and the viability of budget constraints. Furthermore, while small satellites, like CubeSats, have found success in Earth's orbit, they face significant challenges when venturing beyond Earth. Constraints such as limited payload capacity, power, and communication abilities become more pronounced in deep space. Scientists and engineers need to find innovative solutions to these problems to make small spacecraft effective for planetary exploration.
Amazon’s Tye Brady on the Future of Robotics [Techcrunch]
Amazon recently made several announcements related to its robotics initiatives during its "Delivering the Future" event. The company currently has more than 750,000 mobile robots and other robotic systems in its operations. Some interesting points:
Sequoia Inventory System: Amazon introduced Sequoia, a first-party inventory system. Sequoia can identify and store inventory at fulfillment centers up to 75% faster than current methods.
Generative AI: Amazon discussed its use of generative AI in robotics. Generative AI is being used for various purposes, including generating synthetic packages for testing robotic systems, optimizing grasp affordance (how robots pick up objects), and assisting with real-world problem-solving.
Agility's Digit System: Amazon is conducting pilots with Agility's Digit robotic systems to evaluate the effectiveness of bipedal/humanoid robots in its operations.
Mobile Manipulation: Amazon is exploring mobile manipulation, which involves mounting robotic arms on autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
CATL Opens New Highly Automated Battery Base in China [Electrek]
CATL, a leading battery manufacturer, has initiated operations at a new battery facility in China's Guizhou province. This facility, spanning over 235 acres, represents the first phase of production, boasting a 30 GWh annual capacity. It is characterized by advanced automation processes, with an automation rate of 95%, enabling efficient and rapid production. The production speed has reached one cell per second and one complete battery pack every 2.5 minutes. CATL plans to expand this facility in the future, doubling the production capacity to 60 GWh in the next phase, although the timeline for this expansion remains unspecified. The company is known for its diverse range of battery chemistries and formats, from cylindrical cells to pouches and prismatic cells that can be integrated into various applications, including electric vehicles.
A Conversation With Jay Timmons, CEO Of NAM [Forbes]
Timmons reflects on his nearly 13-year tenure as the head of NAM and the importance of defining a clear vision and staying committed to it. He acknowledges the role of government policies in supporting manufacturing competitiveness and mentions that regulatory challenges pose a significant obstacle to the industry's growth. In the NAM’s Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey for quarter 2, two-thirds of manufacturers say they would purchase more equipment if the regulatory burden were not so high, 47% say they would increase compensation, and 43% would increase hiring. Timmons also highlights the need for a skilled workforce in the manufacturing sector, particularly in light of technological advancements and changing skill requirements. He references a study by Deloitte and the Manufacturing Institute reports that manufacturers will need to fill 4 million jobs by the end of this decade, 2.1 million of which could go unfilled if we don’t inspire more people to pursue modern manufacturing careers.
Research:
AI Momentum in Core Manufacturing Services [MIT Technology Review]
Manufacturers are leveraging AI to streamline operations, reduce downtime, incorporate robotics for safety and speed, detect anomalies using computer vision, and process vast amounts of data to identify patterns and predict customer needs. The study from Dataiku indicates that while the manufacturing sector has been innovative in response to supply chain disruptions and labor shortages, it still lags behind other industries in terms of AI adoption, with a significant portion of companies in the exploration or experimentation phase.
New 3D Printing Technique for Quantum Sensors [Berkeley]
Researchers at Berkeley have developed a novel 3D printing technique for quantum sensors that can detect changes in temperature and magnetic fields in microscopic environments. The method uses additive manufacturing to create customizable 3D structures capable of hosting tiny diamonds containing quantum sensing elements. These sensors allow for sensitive measurements at room temperature, offering potential applications in materials science, biology, chemistry, and more. This advancement could lead to the integration of quantum sensors into microfluidics, electronics, and biological systems, expanding their use in various applications. The researchers overcame the need for extremely cold temperatures by structuring quantum sensing particles, known as nitrogen-vacancy centers, into 3D configurations. These centers can reliably operate at room temperature, making them more practical for real-world applications. The technology could also be extended to other types of measurements in the future.
Accenture’s Report on Supply Chain Resilience
Accenture’s recent survey of 1,230 operations across 11 industries and 14 countries reveals key trends reshaping supply chains. These include the growth in multi-sourcing strategies, a shift to regional sourcing, and growing investments in relocating, automating, and digitizing supply chains.
The Gen Z Industrial Work Report [Soter Analytics]
Here are the Key Highlights:
Gen Zers are uninterested in industrial jobs: Only 14% say they’d consider industrial work as a career; 26% say they’d only consider it for a short-term career.
Perceptions of poor pay and promotion opportunities: Some 46% of Gen Zers surveyed listed pay as a top reason for considering a job, and 29% said that if industrial jobs paid above average for entry-level workers they’d consider them. But one in five of those surveyed believe industrial work pays poorly. Meanwhile, 32% of Gen Zers said they’d consider industrial work if there were a clear path to a corporate position.
Perceptions of poor flexibility and safety: Flexible hours are important, according to 40% of survey respondents, and 26% of Gen Zers said they believed industrial work did not offer flexible hours. Meanwhile, a quarter of Gen Zers believe industrial work is not safe.
Industrial Sector Opportunities Amidst 'Slowbalisation' [Oxford Economics]
Initially, there was some skepticism about the ability of the new measures to facilitate reshoring, given the relatively high labor and production costs in the US. But there seems little doubt now that it has helped trigger a boom in the construction of manufacturing facilities. As of mid-2023, US manufacturing construction spending in volume terms was double the level in 2019. Comparing such granular data across countries can be difficult, but the scale of the rise in the US looks to be unique.
Podcasts:
Future of Robotics & AI Ethics [Robot Report]
Sujeet Chand on Industrial Automation & Controls [Heavy Hitters]
Chart of the Week:
Countries Benefitting the Most from Reshuffling Supply Chains
Manufacturing Deals
Seurat - Acompany building a new additive manufacturing technology called Area Printing that uses a powerful laser containing over 2.3 million pixels—like brush strokes—to micro-weld thin metal powder layers to the area below it across a single defined area
$99 million [Series C] - Led by Nvidia & Capricorn and joined by Honda Motors, True Ventures, GM Ventures, Porsche, Denso Global, & Maniv Mobility
AI Build - A company building an AI and machine learning (ML)-driven platform offers toolpath optimization and quality control for industrial additive manufacturing
$8 million [Series A] - Led by IQ Capital and joined by Nikon, Superseed, ACT Venture Partners, Atlas Venture (UK) and Seedcamp
Traba - A platform to connect industrial businesses (warehouses, concert venues, and distribution centers) with temporary labor
$22 million [Venture] - Led by Founders Fund and joined by Khosla Ventures
Xage Security - A company building zero trust identity and access management for industrial networks
$20 million [Series B Extension] - Joined by Piva Capital, March Capital, SCF Partners, Overture Climate Fund, Valor Equity Partners, & Chevron Technology Ventures
TVARIT - An AI and deeptech startup which helps metal companies reduce manufacturing scrap and energy losses
$6.5 million [Series A] - Led by Momenta and Futury Capital
[Acquisition] Autodesk Acquires Flex Sim
[Acquisition] Rockwell Acquires Verve Industrial Protection
Weekly Planned Downtime
David Fincher’s The Killer [In Theaters This Friday]