Enabling innovation in wearable technology.
Remote patient monitoring and the measurement of human body movement are increasingly becoming a vital part of how physicians, therapists, and other healthcare providers diagnose, monitor, treat and prevent chronic diseases.
Parker Hannifin’s FlexSense is a vital sensing technology that enables sophisticated new innovations to become reality in wearable tech for health care applications. FlexSense is being integrated into medical applications such as compression therapy, orthopedics, physical therapy and fall reduction. These application help improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, provide independent living choices for an aging population, and encourage patients to assume a more active role in their care.
FlexSense is stretchable, compressible, wearable, and wireless sensor technology designed to deliver medically precise human body motion measurements. The sensors are customizable for wearable applications in athletics, health, and wellness. The form, function and physical properties of the sensors are customized according to application requirements for use on textiles such as shoes, socks, insoles, and shirts.
“We are just scratching the surface on the innovations that FlexSense can enable,” says Tim Mannchen, EAP Market Development at Parker. “Anywhere precise measurement of human body movement is needed, is where we will excel. We have had several customers approach us after their innovation aspirations were not achievable with alternative sensing technologies. After Parker engineers and FlexSense technology were applied to the problem, sophisticated new-to-the-world applications have been successfully completed and brought to market.
“As several years’ worth of natural market evolution and telehealth adoption took place in only months during the pandemic, we believe patients, providers and payers will continue to support wearable health technology. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) presents many opportunities to improve outcomes, reduce costs and support care-at-home models that will become so important in the future.
“For example, we envision patients with chronic disease such as heart failure helping to improve their own outcomes by being an active participant in monitoring their own weight change and swelling with wearables equipped with FlexSense technology.”
FlexSense sensors are made of a silicon-based material and conductive ink that can withstand use environments including heat, cold, and shock to dust, vibration, and moisture. The sensors are soft, flexible, conformable, and durable and can be used as a stretch or pressure sensor, rapidly capturing precise measurements of movement.
Healthcare – Limiting elderly falls FlexSense technology has been incorporated into insoles, which perform assessments of the wearer’s ability to balance and walk. Based on the data collected during the assessment, the application guides the patient through at-home exercises that enhance gait and balance capability. In patient trials this application has been shown to help reduce the incidence of falling by up to 24 percent.
Healthcare – Predicting, preventing, and rehabilitating Injury FlexSense is a difference-making sensing technology that enables the most advanced Musculoskeletal (MSK) solution available in digital health. Joint movement plus soft tissue movement is measured from temporarily worn sensors, providing a complete picture of MSK health that has not been possible before without expensive imaging studies. The application can identify future injury possibility, provide injury preventing exercise regimes and measure progress during rehabilitation from orthopedic injury.
Athletics – Measuring breathing performance A company is leveraging FlexSense technology for its new “smart shirt” that athletes wear during exercise to measure respiration. The application provides exercise coaching that improves aerobic and anaerobic breathing as a means to improve athletic performance. In the past, measurement of aerobic and anerobic breathing was available to elite athletes using laboratory-based equipment. Now, thanks in part to FlexSense, this becomes available as wearable technology at a fraction of the cost.
Healthcare – Remotely monitoring heart failure patients Another potential application is a remote patient monitoring (RPM) tool for heart failure patients. Sensors embedded in textiles could monitor critical symptoms associated with heart failure, like weight change and swelling. By gaining access to this information much earlier during the period when the patient’s condition is declining, providers can react sooner with treatment that can often be provided on an outpatient basis before the patient’s condition worsens to the point where costly hospitalizations and emergency room visits are necessary.
The addition of new Sumitomo (SHI) Demag injection molding presses accelerates Beacon’s ability to meet increased demand.
Beacon MedTech Solutions, formerly Built-Rite, Reliance & LSR Engineering and Acromatic Plastics, announced a new partnership agreement with Sumitomo (SHI) Demag to support increased production in its 110,000ft2 facility in Leominster, Massachusetts. The addition of new machines through this partnership will increase the company’s overall capacity to expedite the production and delivery of complex, critical precision plastic and silicone components.
This ongoing investment in new machinery will enable the Beacon team to further scale medical molding operations to support increased customer demand for single-use technology applications in the bio-pharma and life sciences markets. Following an initial installation of two SE-EV-A series injection molding machines, Beacon MedTech plans to install additional presses in the first half of 2022. Each Sumitomo (SHI) Demag presses comes standard with:
Each press is outfitted with automation – including standard robots, guarding and conveyors – sourced from Massachusetts-based suppliers with national and global reach. These complement Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s sophisticated injection molding technologies and leverage relationships that Beacon MedTech Solutions Senior Tooling and Program Manager Robert Gove has across the regional medical supply chain.
“Sumitomo (SHI) Demag worked directly with our technical and engineering departments to optimize the presses to meet demanding, complex medical product specifications,” says Michael McGee, president of Beacon MedTech Solutions. “This partnership will allow our team to maximize productivity while maintaining the commitment to operational efficiency that allows us to deliver the speed and responsiveness our customers expect.”
As Beacon MedTech Solutions grows, the company will continue to invest in additional machinery, allowing the team to scale operations and expedite the delivery of vital innovations in bio-pharma and life science technologies, LSR and Class II medical devices.
“Beacon MedTech Solutions is an ideal manufacturer to leverage Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s technologically advanced injection molding equipment given its focus on complex, highly engineered parts for the Medical, Life Sciences and Bio-Pharma industries,” says Bob Brady, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Medical Business development manager. “We look forward to continuing to work together to specify and build additional machines that will expand capacity for high-quality, high-precision components.”
Novanta business units Celera Motion and ATI Industrial Automation will collaborate with MassRobotics to enable new innovations in medical/surgical robotics and other applications.
Novanta Inc. announced a new partnership with MassRobotics to help create and scale the next generation of successful robotics startups. Through the partnership, Novanta business units Celera Motion and ATI Industrial Automation will collaborate with MassRobotics to develop advanced innovations in medical/surgical robotics and improve robotic productivity.
MassRobotics is an independent, nonprofit organization serving as an innovation hub for robotics and connected devices. Its efforts include providing innovative entrepreneurs and startups with the workspace and resources they need to develop and commercialize their products and solutions.
Celera Motion is an award-winning provider of motion control components and subsystems for OEMs serving a variety of medical and advanced industrial markets. It will collaborate with MassRobotics and the other companies, organizations and research institutions that it works with to create new innovations across a wide spectrum of applications, especially in medical robotics.
“We are proud to support MassRobotics in its critical mission to create advanced robotics, particularly in the medical field,” says Matthijs Glastra, CEO of Novanta. “We are fortunate to be in a unique setting in the Boston area, surrounded by the world’s top hospitals, medical laboratories and educational institutions. That has given rise to a unique regional ecosystem of resources — with the necessary talent, knowledge networks, infrastructure and financial resources — to produce the best in medical/surgical robotics.”
Brian Young, Chief Human Resources Officer of Novanta adds: “As a Boston-based company with technology development and manufacturing in Massachusetts, Novanta is uniquely positioned to be a leader in developing robotics talent for the region.”
ATI Industrial Automation is the world’s leading engineering-based developer of robotic accessories and robot arm tooling. It will work with MassRobotics to develop sophisticated technological solutions that improve robotic productivity.
“We’re thrilled to partner with MassRobotics to engineer the best innovations for the most demanding applications,” says Robert Little, president and general manager of ATI Industrial Automation. “We love to work with people as passionate about robotics as we are, and we see incredible opportunities ahead for exciting new advancements.”
MassRobotics currently leads a cluster of the highest concentration of robotics companies in the world, with roughly 400 companies, 65 resident startups and 40 strategic partners. Through programming and events, MassRobotics helps bring together innovative startups and existing technology organizations to promote innovation and nurture the next generation of talent.
“We’re excited to be part of the Boston area’s robotics community, one that is leading the next wave of technology,” says Kalpana Singh, president and general manager of Celera Motion. “Together, we are simultaneously fostering and benefiting from our area’s incredibly innovative culture. The future is very bright for our industry, and we can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.”
JM Performance Products, Inc. President John Stoneback and the Reshoring Initiative Founder & President Harry Moser participated in the “Post-COVID-Reshoring-OPS” Q&A.
The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred a national push moving forward to strengthen the domestic supply chain of essential products, driving reshoring numbers higher. The following Q&A is designed to share insights on how today’s companies can address and prevent post-pandemic supply chain disruptions, advance their manufacturing productivity, and reskill workforces.
JM Performance Products, Inc. President John Stoneback and the Reshoring Initiative Founder & President Harry Moser participated in the “Post-COVID-Reshoring-OPS” Q&A.
JM Performance Products, Inc. is a manufacturing innovator of CNC mill spindle optimization products since 2009. Their High Torque Retention Knobs overcome a critical design flaw inherent in CNC v-flange tooling that is responsible for costly CNC milling and boring issues industry wide−in terms of production, time, and tooling.
The Reshoring Initiative, founded in early 2010, hopes to bring five million manufacturing jobs back to the US by helping manufacturers realize that local production, in some cases, reduces their total cost of ownership of purchased parts and tooling. The RI also trains suppliers how to effectively meet the needs of their local customers, giving the suppliers the tools to sell against lower priced offshore competitors. The RI is a nonprofit organization that offers several free tools to advance their mission. What are the aftermath effects in the “nearly” post-COVID-19 landscape for US manufacturing?
Moser: From a reshoring perspective it’s clear that government, consumers, and companies must understand that a global and fractured extended supply chain is not good. Reducing our dependence on foreign countries and corporations for critical technology and products is critical. Quite simply, we need to source more in North America, with the US getting the bulk of it. Without having to worry about geopolitics and the US/China ports, the risk comes down dramatically. Experts feel that China will begin to voluntarily decouple as a strategic shift, whereby they switch their focus from economic growth to economic control. China is furious because of the US resisting their efforts in the Western Pacific−particularly the protection of Hong Kong and Taiwan. If they are convinced that we’re trying to cut them off from their maritime supply chain, China may announce at some time that no Chinese company will ship to the US.
They could also mandate their populace to just buy China-based products. This is made more plausible as 40% of Chinese income is saved by their populace vs. 3-5% for the US−making it easier for them to replace their dependency on us.
I believe it’s a question of degree where they may pick the 5-10 things that we need most (i.e.-penicillin, semiconductors, cell phones, etc.). If they tried this 20 years ago it wouldn’t have worked because they needed us more. Now, we need them more as we have nowhere else to go for these vital items.
Other geopolitical landscape scenarios exist as well, such as Cuba being positioned to block trade from many areas in/out of the Caribbean. The question is, will Cuba, a target for China, help them financially/militarily to block the US? In many ways, the US is doing the same thing in Taiwan, Philippines, etc. This is a very extreme scenario, but also very possible on a percentage level as I believe these trends will continue.
Stoneback: From a small manufacturing perspective, we all need to recognize that we are never going to experience “business as usual” pre-Covid-19. The supply chain disruption has affected every manufacturer, whether they are a small “Mom & Pop” shop or a multi-national entity. We are all being forced to examine our business practices and modify them, so that we can continue to produce our products with better efficiencies while controlling escalating costs.
Everything from buying steel to semi-conductors has been affected. Quoting has taken on a new level of difficulty because lead times are no longer predictable or dependable. Add to that the lack of skilled labor available, and the new deficit of people willing to work, and US manufacturers are now playing the game with a whole different set of rules.
The current domestic “hyper-inflation” must be taken seriously. The cost of everything from food and clothing to fuel and housing has jumped dramatically. The unfortunate reality is that many items are still significantly less expensive if they are imported. The challenge of making every dollar stretch further opens an argument that higher costing domestically produced goods are an extravagance. Changing that mind-set is a necessary but daunting task. Additionally, we all need to recognize that the demand for higher wages to offset the escalating costs, and devaluation of the dollar is imminent. What affect will this additional layer have on reshoring? This is a question every business owner, especially manufacturers, needs to examine.
JM Performance Products is staunch about making our products here in the USA from domestic steel and having to justify our cost over an import is our day-to-day challenge.
The fact of the matter is, we can and do guarantee our quality and performance. If an imported part fails, what is the remedy? A failure of our products, retention knobs, can cause catastrophic damage resulting in production down-time and repairs. It is highly unlikely that a cheap import comes with any sort of guarantee or cost mitigation policy. The reality is that paying more up-front often means saving money down the road; but that is a difficult message to convey.
What is the biggest/most immediate challenge for post-COVID-19 domestic manufacturers?
Moser: The good news is that the reshoring effort has been on a successful track in bringing back manufacturing jobs to the US−6K in 2010, 160K in 2020, and 200,000 or more in 2021. This is still not enough growth needed to reduce the trade deficit and reach the goal of bringing back 500K jobs per year. Even if we reached that goal, we wouldn’t have the skilled (and unskilled) workers trained to handle the work at that pace.
Therefore, the biggest challenge/obstacle is the skilled workforce, and we need to establish recruiting the unskilled and skilled via aggressive apprenticeship programs for beginners and support college funding to go even further. Lower-level jobs will benefit immediately from apprentice programs as social recruitment of manufacturing careers is key−with guidance counselors leading the way.
The second biggest challenge is to get the dollar down 20%. Also, don’t raise the corporate income tax as it will dissuade companies from building new manufacturing facilities, etc. Moving forward, we also need to adopt a value-added tax credit of 15% on every level of the supply chain (steel, etc.) for exports. Today, if a Chinese company ships to the US, China gives that company a 15% value-added tax/credit. We need to do this as well, as it is a critical incentive over and above taxes, duties, and tariffs.
Stoneback: I agree with Harry. We need to incentivize North American manufacturers while protecting them by leveling the financial playing field. For many small manufacturers, higher corporate income tax will only dilute their efforts to grow and expand. It will also have a negative impact on their workforce.
Where is the global supply chain today in terms of speed of delivery, stock, etc.
Moser: Delivery time is at least 50% longer to get to the US, as there is still a good amount of inventory of products stuck on ships and docks. Across the board, there are shortages in distribution centers and stores, and imported products are still the problem for companies waiting for materials to get here. Quite simply, if you use domestic materials and labor, you’ll have less issues.
Stoneback: Many manufacturers fail to recognize that the costs to use imported materials must include the cost of added time, added transportation, and quite honestly, reduced quality in many instances. Yes, we may have to pay more at first blush, but the cost of buying domestic materials is easily calculated.
What needs to change in the global supply chain moving forward?
Moser: More reshoring and foreign direct investment (FDI) may benefit local firms in the host country through various kinds of spillovers to recognize total cost vs. just the price.
I recently participated in a podcast for the AME (Association for Manufacturing Excellence), which is a lean-focused organization that helps manufacturers successfully navigate the post-pandemic economy. We all agreed that JIT is a lean concept and we do need to get leaner. The problem is that JIT is a problem when you have no inventory and depend on products coming from foreign countries vs. domestic-based.
This still comes down to a sourcing problem where we need to be leaner by sourcing more locally. If we can overcome that problem−JIT will work fine.
Stoneback: Sourcing local is key. JMPP currently manufactures and stocks over 400 different styles of retention knobs, so JIT local sourcing isn’t an issue for our customers. Additionally, we recently developed coupling bolts for live tooling on Mazak Corporation (Florence, KY) CNC lathes which are now available for immediate shipment–eliminating the traditional long lead times for comparable imported coupling bolts for Mazak CNC lathes. How is the post-COVID-19 drought in available/willing employees affecting domestic manufacturers?
Moser: In many cases, employees have been afraid to come back to work because of COVID-19 safety issues. Also, government stimulus aid has de-incentivized some from working, but I feel they’ll come back as funds run low and the pandemic continues to subside. The big challenge for manufacturers will be to get their share of those employees coming back to manufacturing.
Stoneback: Our domestic policies need to change. We must stop paying people to NOT work. No one wants to cause anyone any harm, but there needs to be a limit to what an able-bodied person should receive in assistance.
What does the post-COVID-19 landscape look like for the reshoring effort?
Moser: The current administration’s enhanced efforts are focused on manufacturing essential materials for precarious industries such as microchips, rare minerals, medicine, EV batteries, etc. We can’t be dependent on outsourcing so we must boost production at home. The problem is, for example, we can increase microchip manufacturing capacity, but our chips will be too high priced to compete. The emerging chip factories must get costs down to have a competitive US market here for all the chips, as they are 20-30% cheaper to source from overseas. Plus, overseas is also our customer.
Notably, for the second year in a row, reshoring job announcements outpaced FDI – 62% vs. 38% (historically high but lower than last year’s rate of 70% reshoring, 30% FDI.) What are the bottom-line revelations and insights that should be implemented for domestic manufacturers in the post-COVID-19 era moving forward?
Moser: Again, a skilled workforce is the number one priority, plus automation and improving the trade balance are key. Germany is the best example of this as their trade balance is a surplus of 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), whereas the US is at negative 4%. Germany also has a better skilled work force, as manufacturing is 21% of their employment and the US is at 9%. It is also essential to get the dollar down.
Stoneback: While I agree with Harry that a skilled workforce is a priority, I also believe that adopting innovative processes that augment the skill level of our work force is key. Taking a hard look at production bottle necks, and working to simplify processes so that capable, but not necessarily highly skilled workers can maintain the workflow, should always remain a consideration. What can the Reshoring Initiative do to help manufacturers with supply chain problems?
Moser: The Reshoring Initiative offers the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Estimator®. It’s a free, online software that helps companies make better sourcing decisions about offshore vs. domestic sourcing and is also used to sell against imports. The tool asks the companies to look at what products are causing “pain” via “hidden costs.” They can use the TCO to find the products where the hidden costs are greater than the price gap.
We also offer the Import Substitution Program (ISP), where companies can identify the right products to make, and it qualifies the biggest importers of their product. The ISP was created to convince and facilitate importing companies to produce or source more domestically. Customized versions of ISP are available for U.S. manufacturing companies, technology suppliers, and trade associations.
These are unique tools that can become an important part of any sales, marketing, or economic development effort to make smarter sales decisions. Ultimately, lots of jobs are coming back so this could increase US manufacturing by 30%. If 2H2021 progresses at the same rate as 1H2021, reshoring and FDI job announcements for 2021 are projected to be over 220,000 – 38% above an excellent 2020 and, by far, the highest yearly number recorded to date.
Given these statistics and using these tools to do the math and figure it out, manufacturers should have confidence moving forward that it can be done so we can then actively hire, train, and build more factories.
USA “Post-COVID” Reshoring/ Manufacturing Q&A Conclusion:
With an effective vaccine in place, and the COVID-19 crisis nearly over (apart from the new Omicrom variant threat), the negative effects have still permeated the US manufacturing community at every turn and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future–and beyond. Actively addressing the challenges at the forefront because of this pandemic, can create opportunities that pave the way for a stronger, more sustainable US foundation for the future–with advanced manufacturing, training, and reshoring as the essential bedrock.
Register to attend the Feb. 24, 12PM ET Manufacturing Lunch + Learn where you’ll hear from Norton | Saint Gobain and Strausak.
As cutting tool orders continue their recovery from disruptions due to the pandemic, there is a need in the market for high performing tools that provide a better value proposition to the end-user. During the first session, Norton | Saint Gobain experts, Philip Varghese and Alfredo Barragan, will discuss grinding product tiers and their key technology differences that help significantly lower cost per part when grinding cutting tools. Relevant end-user case studies involved in flute grinding, OD and clearance grinding of round tools (end mills, drills), as well as periphery and form grinding of inserts (carbide, PCBN) will be presented. Attendees will also get a sneak peek at the next generation products for round tool grinding and insert grinding that are being actively pursued and tested in the cutting tool market by Norton | Saint-Gobain Abrasives.
The second session will highlight the Strausak model ONE, the new flexible 5-axis CNC tool grinding machine for the orthopedic industry. The machine allows particularly long flute length which is common with surgical drills and reamers. This scalable model has been designed so that any options can be upgraded and retrofitted at any time during the life of the machine to help the user to stay competitive in a dynamic and unpredictable environment. Kris Zellmann, Strausak's National Sales Manager for the U.S. will lead the presentation. Strausak is a member of the Swiss Rollomatic Group of Companies specializing in the design and manufacturing of high precision CNC machines for production grinding and resharpening of cutting tools as well as orthopedic instruments and implants.
Make sure to register today.