Manufacturing Magazine January 2020 | Page 57

ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
Strategically , Fictiv is also aligned with companies like HP , with the launch of its MultiJet Fusion 3D printers , and working with Desktop Metal , Mark- Forged , Intel and Microsoft to further bolster its ecosystem and offer the kind of connections not normally available to startups . to expand into new countries , create connections , offer advice and support the sourcing of talent .” This approach extends to Fictiv ’ s work with early stage venture-backed hardware entrepreneurs , who use the platform to get referrals to deep engineering and design expertise that can help bring their projects to fruition . “ The Fictiv ecosystem offers expertise in areas that are highly technical and specialised ,” confirms Geyer , citing the waterproofing of enclosures for IoT devices and the bespoke design of light pipes for plastic bodies .
ROBOTICS AND AUTOMATION
“ We ’ ve been really focused on robotics ,” reveals Geyer . “ We ’ re seeing a big investment in automation around industrial , medical , aerospace , and e-mobility .” Fictiv has been working with a medical robotics company aiming to do laparoscopic surgeonassisted procedures , using an entirely new robotic arm and control system . “ The doctor sits in a terminal and has a virtual reality view of the surgery for greater precision and higher success rates ,” explains Geyer . “ We ’ re helping them create a complex robotic joint with a full range of motion . By looking at our global network we found that we were able to source the collection of parts required in 16 days , rather than the 16 weeks the company was originally quoted . It warms my heart
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