Hexagon AB, a global leader in digital reality solutions combining sensors, software and autonomous technologies, announced a $100 million investment in Divergent Technologies Inc., a pioneer in green manufacturing technologies with the first modular digital factory for the automotive industry.
Divergent has developed an alternative manufacturing process to traditional vehicle production, called DAPS (Divergent Adaptive Production System), which directly addresses economic and environmental challenges. DAPS is a fully integrated software and hardware solution, creating a complete modular digital factory for complex structures. The patented process combines AI-optimized generative design software, additive manufacturing (3D printing) and automated assembly to create lightweight automotive parts and frames.
Design software optimizes vehicle weight, strength and cost of production. Parts are 3D printed and assembled autonomously, reducing production time and human intervention. Regardless of the design, parts manufacturing and assembly can be performed using the same hardware infrastructure, allowing for rapid design iterations or seamless transitions between different vehicle models without downtime. The design-independent process is less energy and resource intensive, allows faster delivery of more efficient designs and enables weight reductions of 20% to 70%, leading to dramatic improvements in vehicle performance.
“Auto parts manufacturing has a much bigger environmental impact than car emissions, so new manufacturing concepts are winning,” says Ola Rollén, president and CEO of Hexagon. “We need to find ways to provide carmakers with more efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that minimize material consumption and overall system cost. Gradual steps simply won’t be enough to save the planet.”
“While emissions have skyrocketed over the last 30 years, none of us want to go down in history as the CO2 Generation – the one that has polluted and warmed this planet. For this reason, Hexagon continues to invest in groundbreaking and unconventional technologies that take giant leaps forward. We are the ideal quality assurance partner throughout this new, innovative manufacturing process. Together, Hexagon and Divergent will realize the concepts of smart manufacturing of the 21st century,” continued Rollén.
Founded in 2014, Divergent transforms automakers into agile, project-oriented organizations free of capital constraints. As a Tier 1 supplier, its proprietary end-to-end solution is widely applicable to any discrete structured manufacturing process and has already proven itself in the most demanding automotive and aerospace applications.
Protected by over 500 patents, Divergent’s digital, modular, flexible and automated manufacturing solution generates significantly less emissions over its entire lifecycle than traditional manufacturing. Not only does the company lead the automotive industry in breaking down capital, geographic and environmental barriers, but it also has its own Czinger Vehicles hypercar portfolio that produces the world’s fastest production vehicle, the 21C.
Source: www.hexagon.com