Lancashire-based software company, Valuechain have received £960k funding from UK Research & Innovation towards the development of artificial intelligence into its additive manufacturing production control software, DNAam.

Launched in July 2017, DNAam was developed in collaboration with Airbus UK to standardise aerospace additive manufacturing production processes and enable scalability in the aerospace sector. This project looks to further develop the platform to deploy AI to optimise AM processes by analysing multiple data sources.

Valuechain CEO, Tom Dawes commented: “Through our collaboration with Airbus UK we have developed DNAam into the global market leading production control solution for aerospace AM. With this project, we are looking to be able to model big data captured from multiple sources, such as ERP systems, AM plant, equipment and sensors and material analysis software, to understand correlations between powder properties, plant/sensor parameters, part complexity and production builds and generate AM optimisation insights.”

The development will see Valuechain build on its long-standing partnership with UK-based additive manufacturing company, FDM Digital Solutions, to open an Innovation Centre in FDM’s Lancashire facility whereby the technology developed through the Innovate UK funding shall be trialled prior to commercialisation.

Graeme Bond, CEO at FDM Digital stated: “Valuechain’s DNAam technology has enabled us to streamline complex aerospace traceability and provide business intelligence that will accelerate FDM’s growth in the global AM industry.”

Valuechain offer several software solutions for the advanced manufacturing sector, including ERP systems, CRM, and data visualisation tools, which the company believe will enable further advancement of the AM sector.

Dawes added: “With the work we’re doing with our supply chain collaboration platform, we’re looking at the secure sharing of best practice knowledge and processes throughout complex multi-tier supply chains. This UKRI innovation funding and partnership with FDM, combined with some of the work we’re already doing will enable us to deploy AI to optimise and scale AM throughout the global advanced engineering sector.”

https://valuechain.com

http://www.fdmdigitalsolutions.co.uk