International Companies Filling the Gaps in NYC’s New Manufacturing Community

The New York City Economic Development Corporation’s World to NYC program seeks top innovative companies from around the world to participate in an industry-specific program twice a year. This spring’s program focus is “new manufacturing” and as the organizing partner, New York International was involved in selecting the winning companies out of a large pool of applicants. The chosen companies exemplify some of the diversity within the new manufacturing sector.

3D PRINTING AND MODELING

When discussing new manufacturing, 3D printing is often the first thing that springs to mind for many. While New York City has some very strong homegrown 3D printing companies such as MakerBot, it is always a good idea to get the international perspective and inject new ideas into the mix.3D Hubs, from Amsterdam, Netherlands is an online platform connecting 3D printer owners with people who want to print. Its mission is to make 3D printing accessible to everyone by unlocking the world’s idle 3D printers, and to help people print 3D customized products locally. 3D Hubs has over 4,000 printing locations in 80 countries. RepRapBCN, from Barcelona, Spain is a group of open source 3D printer developers born in the Technological Park of Barcelona Ecosystem. They design and assemble their own model BCN3D+, which is a customizable domestic manufacturing center with easily replaceable printing heads which can be replaced by a mill or other non-conventional extrusion systems for plastics or paste.  Additionally RepRapBCN coaches people to work with 3D printers and sells kits to start printing at a reasonable price. They are also a hub for the open source development of personalized manufacturing systems and devices.Motion Portrait  is a Tokyo-based Japanese startup with technology that creates a 3D face-model out of a single photo, which can then be animated freely. With its own facial expression engine and texture mapping technology, it creates a variety of expressions and actions such as human emotions, make-up simulations, morphing, singing, aging, etc. The technology has been used in applications or projects for gaming, virtual try-on, advertising campaigns, digital signage, virtual assistant, or to connect a hardware product with a customizable, online presence.

CONNECTED DEVICES

Connected devices are driving innovation and change in the manufacturing sector. As more and more items in daily life are being connected there is a need for a faster turnaround in prototyping and quick production of connected hardware. W2NYC will see a few exemplary models of companies which are driving innovation in new manufacturing through their connected devices.Proxible’s hyper local engagement platform helps people make smart decisions by providing personalized and relevant information at the right time. The company has been able to do this by creating smart environments using its own developed ibeacons and data input from partners (e.g. retailers, museums) and trusted data providers. (e.g. social media, ERP). Proxible’s goal is to provide a framework that enables any business to quickly and easily deploy a hyper localized application suited to their customers’ needs without using developers or IT departments. The company is based in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

From Tel Aviv, Israel, the Seebo Platform brings the Internet of Things to the gaming and toy industries by enabling the creation of connected toys. The company creates an innovative and fun way to play, with a joint play pattern of both toys and games simultaneously using smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. The platform consists of patent-pending technologies and comprehensive development tools. Seebo supports a rapidly increasing number of toy companies and game developers bringing connected toys to kids around the world.

Hailing from Barcelona, Spain, IntesisHome® by Intesis Software is the only cloud-based system capable of providing control of air conditioners of different brands. Users can remotely manage their climate systems using a smartphone, tablet or PC via the Internet. Launched in 2012, IntesisHome now has thousands of users all across Europe.Sensing Tex, from Barcelona, Spain, specializes in the development and marketing of smart textiles in sectors such as interior design, security, health, sportswear, automotive and fashion. The company was founded by a diverse team of professionals with backgrounds in technology, industry, management and marketing of new technologies.

EDUCATION AND ENABLERS

With new manufacturing moving at such a swift pace it is imperative that this and future generations be educated in how to use these new technologies. Having creative citizens may eventually be what sets cities apart and keeps them ahead globally. Fostering the desire and providing tools to create new things will keep NYC moving forward and will set the City up as a global hub for hardware; the companies in this area that were chosen for W2NYC are ideally suited to do just that.TechShop is a membership-based open-access DIY workshop and fabrication studio. The company’s mission is to drive global innovation by engaging, enabling and empowering the creative class to build their dreams. With eight locations already, TechShop provides innovators, tinkerers, artists, students and educators with access to world class workspaces, over a million dollars worth of machines, tools and software, hundreds of classes, and the support and inspiration of a collaborative community of creative makers. TechShop is based in San Francisco, California, but has locations throughout the US.From London, England, Technology Will Save Us designsdevices that consumers make themselves. Their DIY kits and resources are the best way to learn skills, make cool gadgets and begin one’s journey as a tech maker. All of the kits are vehicles for education that encourage people to make, play, learn and invent with technology. They are designed around everyday life themes such as gardening, music, gaming, play and energy.

HARDWARE

With the need for rapid production comes the need for hardware that is adaptable to many situations. The companies we have chosen to participate in the W2NYC program are approaching hardware the right way. B-Industrial is a specialized multifaceted industrial company established over 40 years ago with a special emphasis on general and specialized industry processes, products, and fabrication.  In recent years they have developed rapidly into a major supplier of components, sub-assembly and assemblies to a wide range of markets from commercial manufacturers through to conveying equipment, construction, and general engineering. B-Industrial’s policy of continuous investment in R&D equipment and technology ensures they stay on the cutting-edge and maintain their reputation for quality products with a service to match. B-Industrial is currently based in Barcelona, Spain.Hailing from Rome, Italy, openPicus designs and manufactures open hardware programmable modules for the Internet of Things and M2M. Their main product is FlyportPRO a system on module available with three different kinds of connectivity onboard: Wi-Fi, GPRS, and Ethernet. openPicus also offers a free IDE to cut time to market by six months. Their modules are interchangeable; one carrier board fits them all.Click here for more information on the World to NYC program.