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Understanding the challenges associated with DIY electric-assist bicycle battery and system “Right To Repair” legislation Let’s face it, if there was a legitimate resource of battery cell-based electrical/chemical/material engineers available, we would have far more cell production companies here in North America. The reality is that we don’t have the technical manpower with the expertise needed to fully understand everything from the actual formulation of new cell chemistry to the adaptability of reverse engineering of cell and pack technology to identify and repair existing battery packs built into electric vehicles. Those who claim to have basic electrical engineering skills and somehow assume that these skills automatically adapt to advanced lithium cell technology, are kidding themselves. When the US walked away from lithium rechargeable battery production back in the 1980s under the pretext that these cells would be too expensive for consumer use, it left the Japanese and Koreans to pick up the slack. Following their continued government-based investments in Li advancements and the inclusion of these new rechargeable technologies into consumer products produced there, the Japanese and Korean markets got a huge jump start. The Chinese, realizing they had access to the bulk of the rare earth materials needed, eventually saw an opportunity to commoditize this energy resource and its manufacturing. As the Asian manufacturing markets witnessed the transition from Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) and NiCd batteries as packs, migrating to the 3-5x higher capacity and power output of Lithium-based cells of the same size, premium consumer products saw a dramatic increase in the length of time between charges as well as a higher power output. John Goodenough, a materials scientist, solid-state physicist, and a Nobel laureate in chemistry, discovered LiCoO2 in 1980 and as a result, SONY commercialized Lithium Ion cells in 1991. Globally, numerous companies produce both pieces and parts, as well as finished individual cells, along with assembled battery packs that make up the current generation of Lithium Ion makers. Everything from raw material mining to the refining of rare earth elements, aluminum foils, activation chemicals, and the management circuitry, reaches virtually every corner of the planet. Because verifying the quality and density of each material is extremely precise, there are entire groups of firms that measure, evaluate, and separate the different grades which are then sent to the cell manufacturers. Additionally, because the chemistry is so precise, often an intermediate external step is introduced that blends these elements and attempts to balance the mix into a specific consistency before it is turned into a paste-like slurry coating. This external business exists simply because the expertise to separate, weigh, and blend is not typically available to mid-level producers. Additional components include the metal substrate on which the slurry coating is applied and dried. This is most often an aluminum film-like or copper roll. The slurry coating is applied to both sides of this substrate and dried, and then slit into dimensioned bands. Besides the unique blend, application thickness is also an important factor. A separator element is rolled (or cut and layered in the case of pouch or prismatic cells). There are single and multiple separator layers and the makeup usually is polyolefins or polymer blends. The purpose of the separator is to create a physical barrier to prevent electronic contact between the two electrodes. The separator also holds the reservoir of the liquid electrolyte. For this discussion, the purpose of all this detail is to note that each cell producer has developed their own blend of chemical slurry, determined the material makeup of the separator, and the chemical composition of the injected electrolyte activator. This means that cell chemistry has unique characteristics in terms of energy, capacity, volatility, discharge rate, and overall cycle life. The assumption that all cylindrical 18650 cells are identical is patently false. Understanding this means that mixing different chemistries, from different sources can enhance the dangers of pack damage and possible thermal runaway (fire). Another important fact that is not commonly publicized is the grade of cells. We talk about bad cells being a major part of the problem, but how do they end up in the items we buy? Because there are so many potential variables in the blending of refined raw materials, the quality of the substrate, and the consistency of the electrolyte chemistry all determine the final grade of the individual cell. In mid-sized, to large-scale Chinese factories, there can be as many as 4500 workers who are part of the manual assembly process. So many hands involved. The evaluating and testing of each cell is done after the post-assembly activation and rest period, whereupon they are placed into electrical racks for repeated testing in a semi-isolated facility. These racks can monitor the status of each cell during the charge and discharge process. They are often pushed to a maximum capacity limit to determine their performance as well as state of charge (SoC). In the course of the 24 to 48 hours of the repeated process, the cells ultimately get divided up into three grades, A, B, and C. The A cells are at the top of the line and are labeled as the house brand. The B cells typically do not meet the top standards so they are sold to the brokers primarily for domestic consumption. This is done at a discount. The C-quality cells, the highest risk category of the produced cells, are also sold to local brokers who go so far as to completely rebrand the cells and are presented at a substantial discount. From a consumer point of view, these are all Lithium Ion rechargeable cells. While it is not often publicized outside of China, there have been multiple massive factory explosions where the cell testing facility has suffered significant damage from bad cell thermal runaway. In Southern China alone, there are more than 50 actual cell producers, yet there are more than 200 cell brokers in Shenzhen alone. These brokers source their “Special Incentive” cells from the core manufacturers, which are marketed at significant price reductions, and then they are sold to local consumer electronics producers. While these goods are primarily for the domestic Asian market, a fair amount of them make their way onto the sales channels of foreign e-commerce websites. With rechargeable batteries often making up the most expensive component within any given electronic product, the low-quality rechargeable batteries being marketed are typically how we get the questionable electric-powered bicycles and scooters sold into the US under the de minimus pricing limit for US customs. The cells are sold at rates as much as 60% below their traditional wholesale market value. The Making Of A Battery Pack There is a good deal of discussion in the “Right To Repair” marketplace, where cell phones are the leading example used. The major difference is that in all but a few of the latest foldable models, a cell phone only has a single cell (typically a pouch or prismatic) powering the device. An official replacement cell will have a simple two-tab configuration where the replacement process can be handled by a trained assembly tech. The charge, discharge, and status management are controlled by circuitry embedded into the main IC board within the phone. Even in this category, cell phone makers are concerned about the quality of non-OEM replacement battery packs that lack cell quality and lack robust electronic control protection. For the electric-assist bicycle and scooter products, their batteries are packs made up of dozens of individual cells inside a plastic or metal case. They are normally cylindrical with either 18 mm by 65 mm (18650) or 21 mm by 70 mm (21700) -dimensional cells. Some packs are made up of multiple pouches or prismatic cells. All of the cells are connected to a battery management system (BMS). This is the circuit board that controls the charge and discharge rates as well as monitors the health of the cells and the overall SoC. Again, there are hundreds of different BMS designs based on a combination of the functionality of the final device, the environment that the pack will be used in, and how sensitive the product designer wants to track the safety of the finished pack. Packs can be a combined makeup of both serial and parallel cell groupings, and often, to get the maximum discharge rate, cells are tested and matched into pairs to improve the balance of the charge level. Temperature monitoring can be done as cheaply as a single circuit on the BMS that passively monitors the overall temperature within the single pack. More advanced packs can monitor groups of cells fed to dedicated circuits. The most expensive and safest option is to actively monitor each cell within a pack and, when necessary, automatically disable a cell when it exceeds the SoC and/or temperature limits. When packs have dozens of compatible cells, some circuits divide up groupings to better manage the SoC and balance the load to keep the energy capacity equal throughout. This is a more expensive feature that well-designed BMS ICs offer but is often skipped over due to cost constraints. In some cases, advanced chip technology incorporated into the BMS comes from suppliers who do not distribute in China, and/or if by chance the product makes its way into Asia, are sealed and coated to challenge reverse engineering. An attempted repair of a pack without exact knowledge of the makeup and access to the actual OEM parts can completely change the functionality of the SoC system. The balance, performance, temperature monitoring, and overall lifecycle of the pack are at risk. Furthermore, some battery/motor/controller relationships communicate via custom firmware. Changes to the system could disable this handshake. Technically, repairs are not as simple as using a soldering iron to heat a tab connection, sticking another generic cell in its place, and using a solder gun to reconnect. The heat from an iron can potentially damage the cell. Often, top pack producers use everything from lasers to ultrasonic devices to avoid heat damage and secure individual cells to build a pack. It is also critical to note that lithium batteries as well as lithium battery-operated products are noted as Dangerous Goods by the United Nations. They pose an inherent risk to fire and explosion safety and must be treated with expert care and caution. Legally, every battery cell and pack that is transported into North America from overseas and/or overland in a commercial truck or cargo plane must have a certificate indicating that these class 9 hazardous material goods have met the UNDOT 38.3 regulations. Even in China, where a legal transport certificate is not required to move cells and packs around, to be transported out of the country, these goods must go through the 8-step process. Here are the steps:
This program is only designed to verify during transportation of a product not yet in operational use will not result in a fire or explosion. This program does not check the materials or components or further evaluate the electronics like the BMS or Motor Control. It also does not consider the type of conditions an e-bike or e-scooter will undergo so it doesn’t adequately cover the product's safety needs. Controversy With The Transportation Certification The DOT and US Customs have indicated that while this certificate covers both the individual cells used as well as the complete battery pack and is mandatory for goods shipped to North America via ocean or air cargo, it seems as if they don’t require an actual official copy of these certificates to be included in the packing materials for review. It states that they must be on file, and unless the vendor is called out to validate this, no one knows if the certificate is valid and/or current. Often, it has been determined that the B and C-quality cells don’t pass the 38.3 tests. Any modifications to a certified UNDOT 38.3 battery pack will automatically void the certificate, and transport of these packs through public commercial cargo services could carry a fine that reaches into the thousands if caught. For a while, copies of the certificate were provided with shipments. With the pressure on Asian cell sales channels, there were opportunities for brokers and exporters to illegally duplicate certificates, and often customs inspections didn’t confirm that the cells were the exact size or density and would let them through. In other cases, EU certification misinformation led buyers to believe they could circumvent the 38.3 certificate by submitting EN 60086-4 or EN 61960 certificates. While these EN standards are product safety standards, simply having the CE identifier on the shipping box does not meet transport safety regulations in North America. For CE, the Declaration of Conformity is a primary document that is often requested by other authorities, retailers, or marketplaces. Getting Back To The Issue At Hand Those attempting to repair battery packs with replacement cells often purchase them through online Asian e-commerce sites. The generic nature of the cells and battery packs provides little, if any, product safety certification, such as battery pack certification to UL 2271 by OSHA-authorized certification organizations like UL Solutions, to determine capacity, density, or discharge output. In other cases, generic class B or C cells have been wrapped in labels with marketing designations indicating that the cell meets and/or exceeds performance criteria. We have even seen knockoffs of leading brands. The Challenge Of Charging Battery Packs For the longest time, battery charger producers who originally built products for NiCd and similar batteries attempted to shift to the multi-phase charge process of Lithium Ion cells, but the complexity of the different chemistries and the measurement and monitoring capabilities of the BMS IC created conflicts. Developing new-technology chargers was costly, and in the early days, the demand to support lithium-ion-powered products exported from China didn’t warrant it. Today, the charging industry has several levels of offerings. Chargers that are not designed for the specific battery pack it’s charging will not properly take into account the taper charge process when the cells reach a certain level of capacity. Additionally, many of the chargers don’t meet the latest California standards, which are designed to shut down at a certain level during the trickle charge and maintenance process. This integrated sequence terminates all activity from the charger, which would help eliminate the overnight overcharge process. But building chargers that interact with the BMS circuitry and controller IC requires investment and engineering to create the handshake. Often, these low-end bikes include the least expensive charger and are not product safety certified to a standard like UL 62368-1 or the newly published UL Outline of Investigation 4900 for micro mobility charging stations. Additional issues occur when the charge connector is either proprietary or wired uniquely. There is a reason for that. Quality chargers are often paired with specific e-bikes or e-scooters. In NYC, unknowledgeable riders often splice different chargers together, changing the connector ends, and try to charge multiple packs at once. Often, the goal of the DIY rebuilder is to replace components with the motivation of improving the e-bike's performance, often disregarding the safety of the e-bike. Replacing cells with higher energy density ratings, updating the BMS circuitry, or tweaking the controller on the motor to eke out a bit more power are all reasons not to allow self-repair. Even authorized distributors find it almost impossible to store replacement parts, let alone individual, independent DIYers, or small service centers. Because of this, untrained pack assemblers attempt to use generic parts or pieces from other brands, creating and contributing to a public safety crisis of fires and explosions from battery-operated products. While most consumers don’t see themselves shipping their products via commercial carriers, the moment a pack is modified or a cell is replaced, the product safety certifications issued by UL Solutions as well as the UNDOT 38.3 certification become null and void. Whether it’s a DIY project or through a local bike shop, it doesn’t matter. Product Liability Insurance At present, there are no full e-bike drive kit manufacturers producing complete systems here in the US. Virtually every part of the bicycle is imported, along with the motors, controllers, battery packs, and chargers. Even the system displays (unless they incorporate your cell phone) all come from outside the country. Once assembled, the finished bike becomes a product. Often, the exporters make slight tweaks to the component list, and individual finished products are similar but can be associated with multiple brands. Because the product suppliers are offshore and have virtually no North American presence, every importer who establishes a business entity to bring in and sell these bikes should have product liability insurance. This is to protect themselves against manufacturing defects and/or failures. With the volume of fire incidents, rider accidents, and even deaths being reported, operating a business without this coverage is foolish. Getting an insurance carrier to provide the importer with coverage frequently requires them to become the “Manufacturer of Record”, which means they are on the hook for the components used to build the bike instead of the Asian manufacturer. Assuming that the importer or distributor has secured this liability coverage, it does not automatically mean that the local dealer (if they sell through dealers) or the repair facility that takes on the task of fixing the bike is covered or indemnified under the importer’s policy should an issue arise after they work on the product. Once a product is serviced outside of the manufacturer/importer/distributor loop, the consumer is stuck. NYC, CPSC, and UL Certification The ability to certify an entire electric-assist bicycle system has now become a requirement to sell and ride an eBike in New York’s five boroughs. The New York City Council passed Initiative 663-A, mandating e-bikes, e-scooters + e-mobility devices, and light electric vehicle (EV) battery packs to be third-party certified to UL 2849, UL 2272, and UL 2271, respectively. On March 20, 2023, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed this into law. With this new law, any company selling, leasing, or distributing micro-mobility devices, such as e-bikes or e-scooters, has until September 16, 2023, to obtain certification from UL Solutions or another OSHA-approved Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory. This was reiterated at the July 27th Consumer Product Safety Commission’s forum on lithium-ion battery safety by FDNY Fire Chief Flynn. What’s shocking is that in the past 15 years, as lithium battery-operated products have proliferated in everyday products consumers use, from wireless earbuds to mobile phones to power tools to now e-bikes and in some homes energy storage, none of these products have any law or regulation mandated by the CPSC that they are 3rd party safety certified to their applicable UL safety standard. This goes well beyond having UN DOT 38.3 testing, which was never intended to replace or substitute for product safety. As mentioned before, the United Nations calls any lithium battery-operated product a Dangerous Good. How is it that US lawmakers and the CPSC have never enforced laws or regulations to safeguard consumers for all lithium battery-operated products? What is also important to note is that a UL certification on an e-bike that includes a foreign-made component paid for by an individual importer does not automatically indemnify that foreign brand for all other importers using a similar product. Only manufacturers of full systems who have completed the certification of their solution may indemnify an authorized distributor to claim proper certification. Examples would be i-Go Electric, Velotric, Yadea, and Panasonic, listed directly on the UL Solutions certification directory for e-Bikes. Cross-Compatibility Standard There are numerous discussions about the need to create a standard of batteries and chargers where cross-compatibility would allow a common exchange between electric-assist bikes. But with no actual manufacturing of electric-assist bicycle drive systems here in North America, there is little opportunity to initiate a concerted effort to establish standardization. Technically, each of the quality-built bundled drive solutions has created a more integrated relationship between the battery, the motor controller, and the display, and attempting to make their battery packs compatible with the low-end products doesn’t work with their business models. Additionally, many of the performance brands have integrated their batteries into the frame to the point that they would not be compatible with the external mounts on the low-cost imported bikes. A Final Analysis The discussion surrounding the "Right To Repair" for electric-assist bicycles encompasses both a valid business case and crucial safety considerations. This debate is particularly pronounced due to the clear distinction between UL or OSHA NRTL-certified brands and uncertified brands, which raises concerns about their safety risks and reliability. The challenge is twofold: ensuring the safety of components and seamlessly integrating the technology that governs the interaction between the electric drive and performance sensors. A prime example of this distinction lies in the sophisticated onboard systems capable of learning a rider's individual traits, skills, and usual terrain, thereby tailoring the bike's features accordingly. Beyond this, an array of other intricate elements, including torque sensors, ABS brake systems, and electronic shifting, further contribute to the intricate web of complexities. Consumers who unknowingly acquire subpar or inadequately vetted electric-assist bikes or scooters, which manage to evade official safety standards, frequently find these items employed in dubious contexts. Notably, these include instances involving children below 16 years old, commercial delivery services, and unconventional commuter vehicles modified for speeds surpassing recognized class limits. These scenarios often take center stage in the ongoing debate. A recurring theme involves e-bikes triggering building and house fires due to lithium battery pack malfunctions, commonly during the charging process, indicating potentially poor electronic controls (whether in the BMS or charger) and/or the quality of the cells. Furthermore, the potential for severe injuries is heightened by excessive speeds or deficient braking capabilities. Compounding these issues, cases of underage riders neglecting established traffic regulations add another layer of concern. Prominent industry leaders express apprehension regarding potential tangential ties to liability cases wherein their products are utilized in questionable contexts. Furthermore, they are troubled by instances where components originally designed exclusively for their high-quality offerings find their way into substandard bicycles in unintended ways. To put it plainly, these companies have made substantial investments in crafting top-tier products and establishing their brand presence. Their driving force lies in upholding performance and safety benchmarks for the entire industry. Short-term investors and importers, driven by the prospect of tapping into the market with budget-friendly yet inferior offerings, prioritize swift returns on investment and aim to minimize liabilities. Consequently, the emphasis on providing extended warranty services takes a backseat. Frequently, these entities adopt a marketing strategy centered on complete product replacement upon failure, given the considerably lower initial cost of the item. A potential solution involves a well-regarded industry association partnered with a leading independent and impartial 3rd party organization to devise a balanced training program to cater to fundamental repairs and a certain extent of warranty service. This program would be made available to specific shops willing to invest in it. While the training and necessary equipment for this endeavor come at a cost, there is a viable business opportunity within this framework. The predicament confronting many shops lies in the cost of product recertification and the daunting challenge of sourcing genuine OEM parts. In numerous instances, traditional bike shops exhibit reluctance to engage in servicing and repairing products they haven't sold, while a lingering stigma attached to electric-assist cycling persists within premium cycling establishments. In the view of the author, it's high time for a bold industry initiative that takes the reins in addressing problematic imports. This can be achieved through fostering enhanced customs procedures, encouraging domestic onshore manufacturing, enforcing mandatory safety certifications, and imposing more severe penalties for deliberate evasion of regulations. Additionally, a nationwide marketing campaign akin to the RV market could be developed to promote the safe and legal aspects of electric-assist cycling to the general public. Companies committed to obtaining comprehensive safety certifications, e.g., UL Certification, for their products should promote this as a clear distinguishing factor between them and those who opt not to vouch for safer products. An example of marketing can be seen here by ecotric clearly showing their UL Holographic label on their certified models. Empowering consumers with a thorough understanding of their purchases, encompassing the inherent risks of cycling and the potential repercussions linked to poorly manufactured goods, is pivotal. Add your thoughts.
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While the idea of bringing an eMobility Experience to CES seems to be a natural fit, with all of the electric-powered vehicles being showcased there, the plan of building an experiential compound of more than 65,000 square feet, complete with a test track, is a real step above.
Being able to test ride the latest legal electric-assist bicycles, e-scooters, and cargo bikes on an outdoor closed-loop track is a great way for the thousands of show attendees to realize the benefits of power-assist cycling. The typical audience for these types of events are recreational and enthusiast-level cyclists and the venue is typically associated with a cycling event. But CES is different. For companies seeking a relationship with the next generation technology company, whose product lineup includes vehicle-to-vehicle sensors, enhanced rechargeable battery technology and components, as well as business models that provide alternatives to traditional purchasing through subscriptions and leasing. This is the place. With a record high or 176,000+ B2B attendees in 2015, and more than 7,000 registered global media in attendance (on average), this is the event where companies can meet with potential partners (financial and technology), get the word out to some of the world’s leading news outlets, and collect feedback in real time from future-thinking buyers and sellers of consumer electronics. Virtually every year, CES has led the industry with a massive targeted attendance. The eMobility Experience will also have a series of educational tracks held inside of the presentation pavilion over the four days. Subjects will cover the growing movement of community rideshare, the effective use of electric-assist cargo bikes and trikes for last-mile deliveries, and the potential of new connectivity interfaces from leading automotive industry manufacturers. Lastly, the Experience will have a Live Streaming Media Pavilion that will be fully equipped with podcast recording equipment in a number of studios, as well as vLog studios for streaming video capture and broadcast capabilities. The idea is to provide a temporary home for leading social media influencers and independent storytellers who want to craft content right on the spot. This will be open to all registered CES media to use free-of-charge (with a reservation). A leading telecom provider will provide the outbound bandwidth to allow real-time streaming of content right from CES. We will be providing the pavilion design, the test track construction (including the hills), the RFID test ride tracking, and the development of the Steaming Media Center. To become an exhibitor or sponsor, contact Gina Rosselle at [email protected] or +1-949-606-3919 As the second annual consumer event, exclusively for electric-assist cycling, the E-Bike Challenge show is returning to the Minneapolis Convention Center on March 28th and 29th, 2020, and we'll be there.
The Hicle Corporation, with its ties to years of international consumer bicycle events, is returning to the states to build on their initial efforts last year. The plans call for a more enhanced test ride experience with a new track surface and many more bikes for enthusiasts to test ride indoors. The plans include a larger travel section highlighting bicycle touring, a kids featured test ride zone, and some interesting sessions in the e-Bike Theater. Our involvement again brings the Assess test ride registration component as well as the rider research tracking. With the pending growth of the event, we are beefing up the number of registration terminals and staff, as well as doubling the track entrance reader lanes to speed access to the course. The organizers are taking additional advantage of the pre-registration forms to build a better demographic understanding of the attendees, as well as to inform the exhibitors on what to expect in terms of the knowledge and experience level of the people planning to attend. Our new version of the application provides participating exhibitors with real-time data about their individual products as well as live Google mapping showing where their riders are coming from, and all of this will be available on their individual cell phones. New marketing efforts to attract more exhibitors and attendees is under way, including a digital newsletter that will reach the 2019 audience to let them know what to expect this year. The link to the event is e-Bike Challenge Minneapolis. When Reed Exhibitions came to us to help with the launch of a new consumer event for Outside Magazine, we were very excited. The idea of featuring pedal-assist electric bikes with Bosch as the primary sponsor meant that we could develop an indoor test track that featured a number of different structures designed to highlight the capabilities of the different electric bike models.
We created a design that included two different hills that would highlight the climbing power of the electric drives and give riders a chance to feel the power that these bikes could offer. As part of our effort, we conceptualized the track layout within the given space, designed and engineered the two different hills and then we constructed the components to work with local rental equipment vendors in the Chicago area. We transported everything to the convention center and oversaw the installation and dismantle. With the volume of consumer interest, the staffing needs required a larger call that included top executives from Reed to join in and get consumers riding. Even with fly fishing, ax throwing, rappelling, kayaking, running and camping pavilions, we had more than 2000 test rides over the two days. Both Outside Magazine and Reed Exhibitions are planning for the event's return in July 2020. Between our large format graphics division, our advanced data tracking event software, and our event engineering consulting we are quite busy.
We started with large wall-sized booth graphics for the new startup company ZenSpace during the ExhibitorLive Show at Mandalay Bay. Produced in a very short time, we created a pair of large back wall panels that replaced the drapes to give a massive 152 square feet of branding message on two back sections of the booth. We also helped produce a last minute short run digital print, full color brochure. The introduction of their private sound proof mini-meeting rooms got a lot of attention during the show from exhibit and facility managers. Our Assess Lead Management system has been selected to register and track all of the indoor eBike test rides at the upcoming eBike Challenge to be held inside the Minneapolis Convention Center coming up later this month. The European organizer will be using our advanced RFID tracking solution to provide select exhibitors during their first US event with complete data reports on the attendees who took their bikes for a spin. Another major government conference has ordered a large volume of big banners for the event’s back wall display. Some panels are 10ft wide by 14ft tall. The order is being produced in our Las Vegas facility and shipped to Boston and we are still competitive! Finally, our track engineering capabilities will be put to the test as we have been selected to help design, engineer, and install the new indoor eBike test track that will be part of the brand new Outside Magazine consumer event scheduled for July in the McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. Here we will be designing the new double-step main hill, some terrain features and the floor covering map for the event organizer. As we enter 2019, there is a tremendous amount of development energy going on in the Additive Manufacturing marketplace. The transition from the “maker” camp to actual industrial finished part production is gaining a foothold and allowing large multi-national companies to look seriously at developments that will eventually capture a significant portion of the traditional injected molded parts market, which, in 2016 was projected to be valued at 283.54 billion USD, (according to Grand View Research).
The concept of using additive manufacturing as a final part production method has gained strength through three specific areas with massive academic and industrial investments in larger and faster print machine platforms, advanced chemistry to develop viable materials, and automated post-processing methods to reduce the manual finishing labor. Material Formulation Regardless of the planned products to be manufactured, the breadth of industries that will benefit from the various disruptive methods being developed, the most recent developments will change forever the materials used to deliver the necessary characteristics of strength, rigidity and/or flexibility, environmental durability, and complexity. The chemical composite of the latest polymers, metals, and blended filaments that combine strands of carbon, fiberglass, kevlar, and even nanotubes gives a product development team that ability to specify exacting standards of the materials used to achieve the perfect part. The additive model of layered buildups allows for the inclusion of new patented materials with incredibly high conductive capabilities. In practice, these conductive formulas allow for the printing and embedding of electrical circuitry within a printed part, linking PCBs to switches, sensors, and communications antenna. To see MIT, Harvard, and Stanford chemical engineering teams placing such an emphasis on printable solutions feeds the commercial powerhouses such as BASF, 3M, and Dow Chemical with both direction and intellectual resources. It must be said that while there is a distinct focus on IP from North American research centers and academics, similar developments are taking place throughout the EU and elsewhere. These chemically-based material solutions can allow products to be produced with specific use criteria built into specific quantity production runs. Factors of environmental extremes such as temperature, moisture, chemical interactions, and ruggedness can be addressed through chemistry blends. Making sure that structural integrity and shear force can be maximized for either frigid cold or within an engine compartment, can all be addressed. Print Methods A series of new print philosophies have come out from deep cover and during the next twelve months will continue to demonstrate similar strength and finish qualities normally associated with extruded processes. Companies to follow include Origin and Evolve. Origin fits into the SLA category but has developed a method that does not rely on oxygen as an activation component in the way that Carbon and Formlabs do. According to their founder, Chris Prucha, this opens the door to a much larger materials menu due to their open material platform API. Evolve Additive has been an internal, radically new print model within Stratasys and just recently broke off to become its own privately funded company. Built around a new layered additive print process, Evolve is going directly at the injection molding industry by producing equipment that can churn out high quality finished parts that offer isotropic properties meaning that strength is now equal in X, Y, and Z axis, a problem often associated with individual layers. Printing in metal is not escaping future generation cycles with improvements coming from HP, Markforged, Desktop Metal, and the newest player Digital Alloys. Each is attempting to produce finished parts with the necessary structural integrity and dimensional accuracy that can be reproduced in volume. Here again, chemistry is playing a central role, as engineers work to develop stronger blends of metal substrates that can deliver high strength, lighter weight, and environmental durability. Keeping Up With The Technology As we dive deeper into a number of manufacturing projects, we will continue to research advanced solutions that have practical capabilities for final part manufacturing, and we will publish summaries of our findings. From a practical standpoint, we will look closely at legitimate industrial systems that can demonstrate competitive solutions against traditional injection mold production and subtractive machining. Our factors will be Total Cost of Ownership for small to medium volume production runs, final finish quality as perceived from a customer’s point of view, and the capabilities of volume personalization. Stay tuned!
In just a few days, we turned an open parking lot into a full outdoor experiential event for attendees of the 2018 Interbike industry trade show. Working in conjunction with the management team of Emerald Exhibitions, we installed a large horseshoe-shaped test track, complete with a 70ft hill and separate terrain lane. Using our Assess Lead Intelligence RFID system, we enabled more than 950 individuals with live data tracking tags as they tested bicycles from dozens of exhibitors. We had more than 150 different tagged bicycles to try, and our system captured every individual as they entered the test track.
As part of the test track convenience, Emerald had 6D Helmets providing loaner bike helmets to almost all of the riders. They too used our RFID system to track their helmets against the individual rider tags. Both the helmet program and the track entrance utilizes a mobile scanning solution that reads the UHF RFID tags and creates pairs between the rider and the items. This pairing is recorded and immediately sent to the cloud where are servers are waiting for the data to crunch. When the bike is returned, or the helmet and it is scanned and sent out again, the pairing is refreshed and recorded again. This application allows the exhibitors and the organizer to see where the product interest lies. What types of bikes, which exhibitor is leading the charge, and are there any trends being set. We can match each bike to each attendee and then look at their shop's location to determine what they see as possibly becoming a new addition to their offering. Is it commuter bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, cargo bikes, or compact folding models. Not only did we actually construct the venue's test track, map out the exhibitor floorplan, worked with the electrical service contractors, and located the key exhibitors and food service vendors, but we also staffed the track with customer service and safety personnel. We assembled shade canopies for the free happy hours and managed the move-in and out logistics. Our banner division provided entry banners, large meshed event branding banners, and individual exhibitors ordered banners, flags and even a custom canopy tent from our other division. Utilizing our advanced 4G LTE Internet signal, we created a dual-zone WiFi mesh to capture all of the RFID reader signals from registration to the helmet station and track entrance. In the end, we put more than 3100 test rides on to and off the course and recorded all of the data for exhibitor consumption. While in the midst of coordinating the setup and management of the test track and outdoor exhibition area at the upcoming 2018 Interbike Trade Show in Reno, we are also working on a number of new stories that will appear in an industry magazine that will be available at the show for free.
We are working with the editorial staff from Cycle Industry News to bring a global perspective to the content. The angle is more about discussions on behind the scenes topics for manufacturer/distributors as well as retailers and how they can take the presented knowledge and turn it into an improved business practice and/or a revenue generator. One of the topics concentrates on advanced, patented U.S. technology within the world of 3D printing as a potential means of advanced product production, using advanced materials as a way to onshore some bicycle parts manufacturing. The article will focus on three industry-leading domestic companies. We will look at the comparative pricing of compact space and automation as opposed to large production facilities with volumes of lower cost labor. The other aspect is the flexibility of Just-In-Time manufacturing where personalization and customization can be included without grinding production to a halt. Another topic will look at expanding on the discussion of “retail flooring” which involves brands paying for prime space within a retail environment to guarantee a preferred showcase. It’s done everywhere from the grocery store with shelf placement to large department stores with entire brand departments. The term “Flooring” also has a financing aspect to where internal corporations extend terms to maintain an inventory presence. The motorcycle industry has done this for years. We will be looking at the business model behind this trend as well as we will speak to third-party “Factoring” groups to understand the cost for even smaller distributors to offer this service. I would love to hear from any of you regarding your opinions on these topics and any known tidbits you think we should cover. Also, any other B2B topics that we should look at, particularly in this time of potential tariff penalties.  We have just posted our latest white paper on the use of lead retrieval systems for events and trade shows over the years and how today's most advanced solutions actually allow the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence through software that can think through the process, predict what the attendee would find of interest and fulfill the initial request to get them data immediately to help cut down the sales lead time. For your FREE copy, click here>>
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