In my role as a business development manager for Invest Buffalo Niagara, I tour manufacturing facilities for a variety of different industries. During these tours, I always learn how regardless of the type of product produced, they are evaluating how can they make their product better, faster and more affordable. Many of these companies are small and medium sized businesses that may not have the expertise, equipment or time in-house to evaluate their process and investigate new manufacturing techniques, or have access to high-level engineers. Buffalo Niagara is fortunate to have a great resource available to assist and collaborate with these types of companies and explore the future of manufacturing.
Buffalo Manufacturing Works, operated by EWI, helps innovation-driven organizations across North America excel by partnering with their internal manufacturing, engineering and R&D teams to deliver better products, grow, and compete. Since opening in April 2015, EWI’s Buffalo operation has engaged 50 companies from Buffalo, Southern Ontario and beyond.
Located in downtown Buffalo, the facility has invested $13M in state-of-the-art equipment to facilitate applied R&D projects with manufacturers, as well as a team specializing in three primary technology focus areas: Advanced Automation, Additive Manufacturing and Metrology & Inspection.
Advanced Automation Case Study: Small Machine Shop
Challenge: The need to select and deploy the company’s first multi-purpose human collaborative robot (cobot).
Solution: An on-site “technical review” with EWI’s advanced automation experts designed to help Staub ensure successful automation of certain production tasks in the machining environment. EWI continues to support the company’s engineers as they explore ways to boost the cobot’s utilization and flexibility to achieve increased capacity and production.
Metrology & Inspection Case Study: Large Aerospace Company
Challenge: The need for a non-contact, extremely accurate, and fast solution for in process inspection of critical surfaces on a family of aerospace components.
Solution: Working with the company’s in-house engineers, EWI’s advanced automation team at Buffalo Manufacturing Works developed a human-collaborative, robotic multi-sensor metrology tool to demonstrate the automated inspection of 50+ different parts. The company is currently in the process of implementing this unique solution in their production environment to achieve both increased inspection speed and 100% parts inspection.
As EWI looks to continue growing its Buffalo operation in 2017, expect to see an additional $6M in unique, best-in-class metal additive manufacturing capabilities integrated into Buffalo Manufacturing Works. The launch of a new pilot technology road mapping offering with Insyte Consulting for small and medium sized manufacturers and continued recruiting of top engineering talent to Buffalo.
For more information about Buffalo Manufacturing Works, contact them at 716.710.5500 or Info@BuffaloManufacturingWorks.com.
