GE Additive has entered a partnership with Stryker, a medical technology firm, to support the company’s growth in additive manufacturing.
Announced at GE’s Minds + Machines event, the agreement will cover new additive machines, materials and services for Stryker’s supply chain operations around the world. Minds + Machines is GE’s premier industrial internet event which provides a focus on software, innovation and other digital industrial outcomes.
Since Stryker has previously invested in the machines of two of GE Additive’s subsidiaries, Concept Laser and Arcam, this announcement acts as an extension to an already healthy relationship between the two parties. Stryker entered the additive manufacturing market in 2001, and has since formed collaborations with a number of educational institutes within the UK and Ireland, to promote the use of 3D printing technologies in the healthcare sector. The company also recently opened a global technology development centre, which concentrates on additive technology, among other things, in Carrigtohill, County Cork, Ireland.
Now, Skyler is aligning itself with another company with a clear and committed approach to additive manufacturing, in GE.
“Working with GE Additive and leveraging their expertise is a very compelling propositions for Stryker,” said John Haller, Vice President of Global Supply at Stryker. “We believe this collaboration will accelerate our additive manufacturing journey and support our mission to make healthcare better."
Mohammad Ehteshami, General Manager of GE Additive, adds: “GE and Stryker share a similar vision and both of us understand the transformative power of additive design and manufacturing. We regard Stryker as one of the most experienced practitioners of metal additive, with a range of commercialised medical products. We will continue to innovate with new additive products, materials, and technologies, which will support their growth.”
GE
GE MINDS AND MACHINES
Minds + Machines
Also at the Minds + Machines event was announcements from subsidiaries GE Digital; GE Ventures; and GE Power.
GE Digital unveiled an integrated solution which will deliver an innovative, contemporary service model. Combining the power of ServiceMax, its cloud-based field service managements (FSM) solution, with its Asset Performance Management portfolio, GE Digital will is giving customers the ability to transform how they predict, manage and service the entire asset lifecycle.
“The Industrial Internet is enabling companies to take advantage of possibilities that previously seemed out of reach. But in many ways, we are still in the early stages of this transformation journey as companies seek to move from gaining insight to taking action and as automation gives way to autonomous systems,” said Bill Ruh, CEO, GE Digital. “GE Digital is helping companies use technology and information to transform how they operate and create new possibilities – from delivering the industrial service model of the future to creating entirely new business models.”
GE Digital's APM and FSM offerings automatically collect and analyse service data to move industrial companies towards advanced predictive maintenance and asset performance management, from traditional methods.
Meanwhile, GE Ventures launched Avitas Systems, a new data-driven company that will use predictive data analytics, robotics, and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver advanced inspection services to the oil and gas, transportation and energy industries.
GE Power unveiled the 'Digital Utility', a suite of Predix-based applications that connect real-time machine data with a utility's profitability and a partnership with Dalkia to reduce carbon dioxide emissions equipping more than one-third of Dalkia's 170 Jenbacher has engines with GE's myPlant APM solution, powered by Predix.
Speaking at the event in Berlin, Germany, GE Chairman and CEO, Jeff Immelt said: "Europe can lead the digital industrial era. Investment in technology, such as automation, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence – along with new skills – can transform industry and drive productivity. GE has long been committed to Europe, and we are invested in its future."
