TOKYO-Monday 28 October 2019 [ AETOS Wire ]
(BUSINESS WIRE) --
Toshiba Digital & Consulting Corporation (hereinafter TDX) and
Spain’s Gestamp, the global leader in metal components for automobiles,
have announced that they are cooperating in a project to bring advanced
monitoring and analysis to the welding of vehicle chassis parts. By
drawing on know-how from the Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial
intelligence (AI), and utilizing data from camera images and acoustic
emission (AE) sensors, the companies aim to secure very high precision
detection of weld seam quality, which will contribute to improved
vehicle safety.
Gestamp
is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of metal components for
automobiles, with more than 100 factories in 22 countries. Gestamp is
promoting a number of projects under the Industry 4.0 initiative,
applying digital technology and data analysis to the realization of more
efficient manufacturing plants and more consistent and reliable
production processes.
TDX
has been working with Gestamp since April 2018 on a proof of concept
initiative that has monitored the quality of the welds in chassis parts
produced at a Gestamp plant in the United Kingdom. This initiative
brings AE sensors typically used to test for damage in bridges and large
buildings to the manufacturing process. The sensors detect the
characteristics of acoustic waves in the high frequency band, and
Toshiba’s AI analysis technology uses the data to identify welding
failures. Over the last 17 months, Gestamp has validated the initiative
and its ability to ensure the quality of welds in chassis parts.
Mitsui
& Co., Ltd., an investor in both Gestamp and TDX, promoted
cooperation between the companies and facilitated the project.
TDX,
along with Toshiba Corporation and Toshiba Digital Solutions
Corporation, have built on the proof of concept results and now aiming
to further improve the welding detection technology. Drawing on the rich
manufacturing expertise of Toshiba Group, the companies have developed
an IoT solution that applies Toshiba’s AI analysis technology to data
from internal welding quality detection by AE sensors, along with
surface welding quality detection based on camera image data.
The
three companies are now deploying this upgraded solution at a Gestamp
plant in Germany. Proving tests will continue until March next year, and
are expected to increase the precision of the welding quality detection
rate, enable deployment at other Gestamp factories, and accelerate
efforts toward full-scale commercialization.
René
González, Advanced Manufacturing Director at Gestamp, said: “Gestamp is
proud of this system to check welding seams with acoustic and image
recognition technologies. We hope to use this solution in different
Group plants to exceed our customers' expectations in the quality of our
products.”
Noriyasu
Okitani, President & CEO of TDX, said, “By combining Toshiba
Group’s rich experience and knowledge in manufacturing technology and
digital technology, and by utilizing IoT and AI in a cyber-physical
system (CPS), we hope to provide a unique solution that contributes to
raising the high quality of parts produced at Gestamp’s manufacturing
facilities around the world.”
Katsutoshi
Yokoi, General Manager of the Automotive Parts Business Division, Iron
& Steel Products Business Unit of Mitsui & Co., Ltd. said:
“Mitsui intends to contribute to Gestamp’s business by fully utilizing
our assets, and this project will use the advanced technology of
Toshiba, our key partner, to advance operational improvement and
strengthen competitiveness at Gestamp. We are very pleased to have both
companies cooperating to aim for full scale commercialization.”
About Gestamp
Gestamp
is a multinational specialized in the design, development and
manufacture of highly engineered metal components for top vehicle
manufacturers. It develops products with an innovative design to produce
lighter and safer vehicles, which offer improved energy consumption and
a reduced environmental impact. Its products cover the areas of
body-in-white, chassis and mechanisms.
The
company is present in 22 countries with more than 100 manufacturing
plants and 2 under construction, 13 R&D centers and a workforce of
more than 43,000 employees worldwide. Its turnover was €8,548m in 2018.
Gestamp is listed on the Spanish stock market under the GEST ticker.
About Toshiba Digital & Consulting Corporation
As
a global business innovator in digital transformation that promotes
cyber-physical systems, we work closely with our customers to create
value. We draw on the knowledge and achievements that Toshiba Group has
cultivated over many years in a wide range of businesses, leverage the
strengths of digital technologies such as AI and IoT, and focus our
expertise on the key business domains of energy, social infrastructure,
manufacturing and mobility. From consulting to service design, we
identify potential problems and the seeds for next generation growth we
deliver consistent services all the way through to confirmation of value
creation.
https://toshiba-dx.com/toshiba-dx/ (Japanese version only)
https://toshiba-dx.com/toshiba-dx/ (Japanese version only)
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Contacts
Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation
Corporate Communications Group
Strategic Planning Division
Yoshitaka Uematsu
PR@toshiba-sol.co.jp
