Speaker 0 00:00:00 3D printing offer one main advantage, which is the, the freedom for design. So you could create very complex parts without paying the premium or manufacturing them.
Speaker 2 00:00:17 Hello everyone and welcome to the Robot Industry Podcast. We're glad you're here. And thank you for subscribing. Uh, my name's Jim Beretta, and our guest for this edition of the podcast is Starwood. F. Before I bring Thwa on, though, I'd like to introduce one of our new sponsors. Canova Canova is a global leader in professional robotics. They were founded in 2006 in Montreal. The company's mission initially was to empower individuals with upper body limitations through the use of assistive robots. The company's evolved its product line to service researchers, medical professionals, governments, businesses, and educational institutions to achieve their innovation goals. Through strategic partnerships and collaborative efforts today with robotic technologies built up over more than a decade of inspired ingenuity can, Nova's dedication is to provide solutions to professionals in industries such as AgriFood, healthcare, security, nuclear, hazmat, and advanced manufacturing, to go well beyond their ambitions.
Speaker 2 00:01:16 So we welcome Canova to the Robot Industry Podcast, and we're recording this just ahead of the Automate 2023 show. And so, I'd like to now talk a little bit about, uh, Nubis 3d, uh, founder, uh, thwa. He is founder and president of a Nubis corporation. And Abus 3D Thout draws upon years of solid experience in engineering management with Proctor and Gamble, Apotex Pharmaceutical Company and Abus Corporation, where he managed a variety of functions including project management, engineering, and operations. He established Abus 3D with the objective of transforming the additive manufacturing from a prototyping industry to a viable production technology. Thwa two is the inventor of the first optical solids flow meter, a breakthrough in solid flow management. He also holds several other patents in powder handling industry, and he has managed in the billion dollar range of several manufacturing industries, including a chemical process automation, consumer goods, food and beverage automation, packing lines, logistics and material handling, spray drying towers, and pharmaceutical vaccine production automation. So, THU, that was a lot to say and, uh, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 0 00:02:29 Thank you very much, uh, Jim. Um, thank you for having me.
Speaker 2 00:02:32 What we're gonna talk a lot about today is about kind of what's happening in 3D printing and, um, and end of arm tools for robots. So how did you get started in the business?
Speaker 0 00:02:43 We started, uh, the business in, uh, 2006 as a consultant, um, coming out of, uh, of Proctor and Gamble and Sanofi pastor and, uh, Apotex. We ended up, um, going through the direction of creating a consulting firm. We started there until 2008, 2009, where the recession. And, uh, we kind of, uh, that was a trigger for us to make a change. And this is where we got into, uh, 3D printing. We purchased our first 3D printer in 2012, and from there we started learning and adapting to the industry, understanding its capabilities. And from there we, we moved to where we are right now.
Speaker 2 00:03:24 And I think, actually I have been to your facility a couple of times because that was, I was doing a project for the Canadian government and we were investigating who was using 3D printing. And you, you put us up, uh, you kindly put us up for a, uh, a visit to your facility back way back then. So we've known each other for a long time.
Speaker 0 00:03:41 Yeah, it's been, it has been many, many years. So you started visiting us at the very early days. Um, uh, shortly after we got our first machine. Uh, so that was the beginning of Anbu, uh, 3d.
Speaker 2 00:03:52 And you've been very successful in creating these 3D tools cuz you do both, right? You create 3D print, but you also create 3D for end of arm tools. Yes.
Speaker 0 00:04:01 We, we, when we started the business, it was very hard for people to understand, um, uh, the, the use of 3D printing in manufacturing. Um, uh, 3D printing was commonly only used as a prototype. And for people to understand that they can rely on a 3D printed part or replace the machine part was very hard at the beginning. And, um, that led us to the point of trying to build, uh, the tools ourselves. So that's where we introduced design capabilities. So we started designing and building, uh, we took on the, the, the finished product performance guarantees to the customer to give them the confidence that they can use it. And we had, um, um, early adapter companies that came in and, um, they are the people who helped us out, trusted that we could, uh, deliver on our promises. And, uh, they started using our, our tools. And this is where, uh, it was a win-win. They, they ended up being the first one to introduce these tools to their customers, and we were the, we had the opportunity to start, uh, improving and learning and adjusting and, and growing that, that sector. So
Speaker 2 00:05:10 Speaking of sectors, what sectors do you, I'm assuming that one of the big ones is packaging, uh, uh, consumer packaging and such. We,
Speaker 0 00:05:18 We serve many, uh, uh, we touched almost, uh, the majority of the robotic applications, uh, automotive. Uh, we did pharmaceutical, medical, uh, devices. We've done, uh, we've done food and beverage, um, uh, applications, heavy metal. Um, even we've done many of that. So, so we, we've touched on all of them, but what we found that the applications for consumer products, uh, is, is the most, Ben, the most, the industry that benefits most from that technology. The reason being is, is the smaller the robot, robot and the fastest application, you benefit from a lightweight tool. Um, and that is where, um, you want to handle products in the millions and you need to be able to have very small fast robots. And this is where the end of arm tool being lightweight makes a break breakthrough in the applications. Uh, when it comes to automotive, uh, the, the infrastructure is mostly there.
Speaker 0 00:06:16 It is sized for the traditional tools. So coming in with an alternative tool that is lighter doesn't offer that much of an advantage. In the automotive world as well as the robots are, are very giant and the tools are handling very high weight. Uh, so if the percentage of, of savings from the total weights in larger tools is not that significant to, compared to smaller ones. So the main applications we found, uh, are the, uh, collaborative robots and, um, delta robots and, um, the smaller size robots that needs to run at a very fast high speed.
Speaker 2 00:06:53 So we've got lightweighting, which is one of the, it's kind of a game changer for smaller robots especially. What are some of the other advantages of 3D printing? I, I know that I've been in your booth before, right? So I know that there's a really simple way of, of, uh, removing the tool from the, from the robot.
Speaker 0 00:07:09 Yeah. So it offered the, the, the 3D printing offer one main advantage, which is the, the freedom for design. So you could create very complex parts without paying the premium or manufacturing them. Um, so one of the things we did were we integrated the tool changer within the tool. So we were able to use the same head attached to the robot, and you replace multiple, uh, tools without having to buy an external, uh, tool changer device, um, that needs to screw on both ends and, and, and all the complexities that comes with it. So that was one of the key features we included in most of our products. Uh, we also were able to create very complex network of, uh, air channels for both for pressure and vacuum inside the tool. And that that kind of simplified the, the, the plumbing and made it kind of one piece has everything in it, including electronics, solenoids, everything included in the, in the small head physically.
Speaker 2 00:08:08 So packaging is kind of part of what you're doing, right? By designing the end of arm tool? Yeah. With all the air channels and with sensors and such, inside it is much more elegant solution, it seems to me. It
Speaker 0 00:08:19 It is like, I mean, I, I I leave, I let you be the judge to that. Uh, we believe they are very, uh, attractive products. I think we've seen lots of, uh, uh, companies interested in them compared to traditional projects, uh, products and including some of our competitors who, uh, started buying out our components to complement their, uh, their tools. Well,
Speaker 2 00:08:40 That's an interesting thing, right? Because your n RM tool can, can take a lot of technologies and put them into a package, but you are also working with other end of arm tool companies, and how did that come along?
Speaker 0 00:08:51 Oh, it's very well, I mean, we're working, we, we, when we came in, we didn't want to reinvent the wheel, so, and we didn't want to compete with the people already in the market. We want to add value, complement what they're already doing. So we are working very closely with companies like Schmos. Yep. Um, and many of the components, they already have ejectors and um, and, um, sexual cups and so on. We don't do our own. We integrate AMAs components. We're, uh, we have very good relationships with them. They're a great company. Um, we're also, uh, collaborating with other companies who build, um, robot companies. We have Pheno and also Canova. We're working with both, uh, those companies very closely. Um, and we're working with companies who build the base for the solution as well. So we're kind of trying to bring the whole solution together, um, creating, uh, internally only the things that we add value to rather than starting to build, um, re reinvent an eject for instance that was, uh, already optimized by others.
Speaker 2 00:09:56 So what are the most popular end of ARM tools that you're creating these days?
Speaker 0 00:10:00 So we, we, the, one of the biggest application is, is palletizing. And, and that for that surface gripper area, surface grippers are the most commonly used, uh, tool for that, uh, picking boxes. Um, and we've have a, a line of products that can carry to 40 or 50 pounds boxes. We've done that with both, uh, ejectors, which is the, um, the using the Venturi style. And we also have, um, uh, the same using a blower, uh, which can handle faster speeds, uh, for the boxes, uh, with higher po Porosities. Um, so those, so those are the two main categories. So area surface grippers, um, uh, we, we sell them in, in many fashions, many sizes. Um, but also the other interesting product that, um, when we developed, we didn't think is gonna be, uh, uh, a high end demand. It was the case director. So we've, um, built that automatic case director, um, and it's, uh, showing lots of interest from many, uh, of, of the, of the companies.
Speaker 0 00:11:04 We receive loss of inquiries and we sell a loss of it, uh, since we developed it. So it is a very successful product. Um, and it basically uses collaborative robot to fold a box, uh, ready for packaging. The third, the third product we have is the, um, is the, uh, bottle grippers, uh, that is, uh, a, a creative way of picking a bottle, um, without using vacuum. Um, that's very, we also have it demo demonstrated on the Canova robot in the short. So this, when you come into the booth this year, you will find that that application running on, on the Canva robots,
Speaker 2 00:11:43 It is a big challenge, gripping bottles. And so, uh, and you've kind of got a standard product right now for that?
Speaker 0 00:11:49 Yes. So the bottle, the, uh, bottle grippers, you can find it in our website. This is a product that uses a mechanical fingers wrap around the feature on the bottle, basically a rim or some, some protrusion that we can go underneath and grab the bottle. Um, so that uses a very low energy, uh, we just need to move the arms five, uh, rotation of five, uh, degrees. And, and you are underneath the, the, the, the feature and pick the bottle very reliably, very solid. And it is, uh, it's basically relatively low cost, uh, solution and very reliable. Once it's installed and it's commissioned, it, it is very reliable. It lasts very, very long time without any maintenance.
Speaker 2 00:12:33 So you're going, you're going to show box erecting. You've got some product in the Canova booth. Uh, what else will you be showing at your booth In, uh, in this year's edition of Automate Show,
Speaker 0 00:12:41 We have a couple of other, uh, we have another product that's, um, automatic tool changer. Uh, we're working on that as well for the show. But, um, the main thing we are featuring in the show is, is the, is providing a complete solution. And that's why we partnered with other companies. What we noticed in the market for, uh, collaborative robots, the end users or even the integrators, would like to get this piece as one, um, rather than having to spend time and effort integrating it. So we have a, for crx, we have a, an app, an application. It's a, a plug and play, uh, app. So it makes it very simple to communicate with robot. And, and our both will have a number of, uh, full applications from palletizers to car director supporting all of them are complete system with the robot and the, the base, uh, all together and the tool all running together. That, that's, that's just what the new thing last year, uh, we only supplied the tools so people could see what the tool is, but it's up to the customer to integrate it. This year we're trying to show that we can provide the full solution,
Speaker 2 00:13:47 And that's so important to integrators today because they're so busy, they don't have time to do engineering, they don't have time to do the integration. So I think being able to deliver them a full solution is critical to, to them being successful. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:13:59 And, uh, also will help in the delivery time. So you, you, we built stocks, we're starting to build inventory of all these, uh, items. So the delivery time will be, um, also an attractive, uh, proposition there as well. So that what we're hoping will help us, um, move one step further up and eliminate some of the risks of having to coordinate. Uh, for example, when it comes to the car director having to coordinate between the tool and the folding frame and the taping machine and the robot reach and the program and IO links and all of that, it's so much harder to do it if, if you buy the pieces. But if you just buy system, put it on the floor, um, switch it, funding, that's, that's basically what, uh, what we believe is gonna add a lot value to the, to the customers.
Speaker 2 00:14:48 It's time to market. Right. That's so important. Today's manufacturers. So I was gonna ask you, thwa, do you deal more with, uh, automation integration companies or do you deal with what end users? Uh, obviously, um, or is it a mixture of both?
Speaker 0 00:15:02 Majority of our, our customers are integrators. We've seen some of the distributors are taking the role of integrators for small projects. So we are also working with those companies, uh, very, very few end users. Um, I don't anticipate this to grow much. There is always a need for a either distributor or an integrator between us and the end user. Now, I don't know if this will change once we have a complete systems for some of the products, uh, we'll have to wait and see.
Speaker 2 00:15:32 And so this is all exciting stuff and I'm looking forward to seeing you in, uh, Detroit. What is your booth number for the 2023 show
Speaker 0 00:15:39 Is 24 39.
Speaker 2 00:15:41 24. 39. Well, that's great. And, uh, thyroid. When you're not lightweighting robot world, what do you like to do? Do you have any hobbies?
Speaker 0 00:15:48 Okay. I, I have, um, I picked up the drums, but not the, the, the Middle Eastern one. It's called Pabla. <laugh>. Yeah. Um, I do that. I'm, uh, I've been working on that for, um, a year. Play volleyball, play cars with friends. Um, that's basically what I do when I'm not designing tools. So <laugh>,
Speaker 2 00:16:06 <laugh>, thanks very much for that. And how do people get ahold of you? Uh, if they want to maybe, uh, keep the conversation going or maybe start a conversation.
Speaker 0 00:16:14 <inaudible>, the easiest way I find is going through, uh, through LinkedIn. Um, that is, um, peop most people find me there. You can reach me on my direct number is 2 8 9 3 2 6 4 5 7 0. Um, or just send me an email on uh, fu ffo uad dot mbus corp.com.
Speaker 2 00:16:37 Our sponsor for this episode is Earhart Automation Systems. Earhart builds and commissions turnkey solutions for their worldwide client. With over 80 years of precision manufacturing, they understand the complex world of robotics, automated manufacturing and project management, delivering world class custom automation on time and on budget. Contact one of their sales engineers to see what Airhart can build for you and their
[email protected]. And Earhart is spelled E H R H A R D T. And I'd like to thank and acknowledge a three, the Association for Advancing Automation. They're the leading automation trade association for robotics, vision and imaging motion control and motors, and the industrial artificial intelligence technologies. Visit automate.org to learn more and painted robot builds and integrates digital solutions. They're a web development firm that offers seo, digital social marketing, and can set up and connect CRM and other e r p tools to unify marketing, sales, and operations. And you've, you'd like to get in touch with us at the Robot Industry Podcast like thwa. You can find me, Jim Beretta on LinkedIn. We'll see you next time. Thanks for listening. Be safe out there. Today's podcast was produced by Customer Attraction Industrial Marketing, and I'd like to recognize Chris Gray for the music, Jeffrey Bremner for the audio production. My business partner Janet and our sponsors, Airhart Automation Systems, and Canova Robotic.
