Intelligent Tech Channels Issue 13 | Page 11

NEWS Apple partners with GE to host Predix Industrial Applications on iPhone, iPad Apple and GE have announced a partnership to deliver powerful industrial applications designed to bring predictive data and analytics from Predix, GE’s industrial Internet of Things IoT platform, to iPhone and iPad. The two companies unveiled a new Predix software development kit SDK for iOS, which gives developers the tools to make their own powerful industrial IoT applications. The new Predix SDK for iOS gives developers the ability to make powerful, native applications that take full advantage of the industrial analytics from Predix and tap into the power and ease of use of iOS, the world’s most advanced mobile operating system. In collaboration with Apple, GE is also developing applications for both internal use and its customers, giving workers powerful tools to enhance their jobs and help operations run more efficiently. GE’s Asset Performance Management APM Cases application, which is available in the App Store, helps industrial businesses increase machine reliability and availability while reducing maintenance costs and managing operations risks. Customers including Exelon Corp. are already putting APM to work and seeing improved equipment uptime and overall productivity. GE will standardise on iPhone and iPad for mobile devices and also promote Mac as a choice for its global workforce of more than 330,000 employees. Apple will promote GE’s Predix as the industrial IoT analytics platform of choice to its customers and developers. Emirates initiates 3D printing of cabin parts using SLS technique Emirates has announced that it has used 3D printing technology to manufacture components for its aircraft cabins. The airline has reached a significant milestone in innovation by using Selective Laser Sintering, a new and innovative 3D printing technique to produce video monitor shrouds. One of the other recent achievements has been the 3D printing, certification and installation of aircraft cabin air vent grills for onboard trials. Emirates has worked with 3D Systems, a US based 3D printing equipment and material manufacturer and services provider, and with UUDS, a European aviation Engineering and Certification Office and Services Provider based in France, to successfully print the first batch of 3D printed video monitor shrouds using 3D Systems’ Selective Laser Sintering technology platform. This technology uses lasers to bind together powdered plastic into the required shape defined by a 3D model and is different from the Fusion Deposition Modelling technique normally used for printing aircraft 3D parts. The material used to print Emirates’ Video Monitor Shrouds is a new thermoplastic developed by 3D Systems, Duraform ProX FR1200, with excellent flammability resistance properties and surface quality suitable for commercial aerospace business applications. One of the major advantages of using the Selective Laser Sintering technique is the reduced weight of printed components combined with optimisation of the strength of the parts produced. Video monitor shrouds that are 3D printed using the Selective Laser Sintering technique can weigh between 9% and 13% lighter than components manufactured traditionally or through the Fusion Deposition Modelling technique. This has the potential to lead to significant reductions in fuel emissions and costs when consolidated over the entire fleet of Emirates aircraft. Additionally, with the Selective Laser Sintering technique it is possible to print more than one component at a time when compared with other 3D printing methods. This leads to quicker per-part production times and lesser wastage of raw materials used for production. 11