Our mission? To enable robot-driven manufacturing for the future of autonomous industry. Who are we? We believe that robots are set to take centre stage in industrial environments, and we are at the forefront of enabling robot-driven manufacturing that includes autonomous process control – integrating robotics with intelligent automation in smart factories. With Flexxbotics, the robots go far beyond simply talking to the machines: they control and command the machines. Flexxbotics’ solution makes the robots smarter so that they… Can intelligently communicate and control smart factory machinery. Are compatible with many different types of factory machinery and inspection equipment. Enhance the efficiency, sustainability, and adaptability of manufacturing systems. Minimise waste, scrap and rework. Reduce energy consumption and improve safety. Streamline production workflows. Carry out automated inspections of parts processed. Carry out real-time autonomous process changes. Attain the highest quality levels in precision manufacturing. Ensure manufacturing processes are highly optimised and evolve toward greater sustainability. The lightbulb moment? While working at a global manufacturer implementing robots with automation equipment; our co-founder and CTO, Tyler Modelski, described the complexity he immediately encountered of integrating robots with machines and business systems like an anvil dropping on his head. The idea for Flexxbotics emerged from that moment. We knew that the rapid advancement of robotics would force a series of fundamental changes in factory automation scenarios – so, we set out to rethink the robots’ role. This led to the realisation that in order for fleets of robots to successfully run the factories of the future in fully automated “lights out” operation, they would need to be able to connect with and orchestrate the machinery. Why did you apply for Sixth Sense? Our collaboration with Hexagon in the Sixth Sense program provides us with the opportunity to work with and learn from the industry leader in smart factory solutions and coordinate measuring machine technology. We believe that the integration of our Flexxbotics solution with Hexagon’s cutting-edge inspection equipment has the potential to set a new standard in closed-loop autonomous process control – which is a critical prerequisite to achieving autonomous industry. Together we can further accelerate the adoption of robot-driven manufacturing. Where do we hope to be in five years’ time? Our goal for Flexxbotics is to become the global leader in SaaS/Hybrid solutions for robot-driven manufacturing. We envision our solutions setting the standard for intelligent robotics in manufacturing with Flexxbotics being integral to factories worldwide, driving new levels of efficiency, quality and sustainability. Which emerging technologies excite us? Humanoid robotics with artificial intelligence. Their potential to perform a wide range of tasks and process vast amounts of data will completely change the manufacturing landscape – significantly increasing productivity, adaptability and safety. For true autonomous manufacturing, these robots will need to communicate directly and securely with all different types of smart factory equipment – and our patent-pending FlexxCORE technology represents the key to enabling this.

Our mission? Manufacturing made easy – using AI and advanced simulation technologies to automate and revolutionise the future of manufacturing.  Who are we? Launchpad is developing AI-powered automation for product assembly systems. We automate and streamline design, procurement and manufacturing processes – enhancing assembly precision and efficiency, addressing manufacturing labour shortages and reducing reliance on overseas production.  Set up during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve had a distributed team from day one – but despite forming our working relationships online, our company culture is really strong. When we all met in person for the first time, it was like we’d known each other forever! Launchpad’s technology… Uses AI-driven, self-programming robots known as Digitools. Serves as an innovative and efficient automation solution. Reduces the need for human intervention in assembly programming. Cuts carbon emissions through manufacturing reshoring. Champions a sustainable, collaborative, and smart manufacturing future. Quickly adapts to different product designs – unlike traditional methods. Streamlines production and ensures consistent precision and quality in product assembly. The lightbulb moment? Founding Launchpad was driven by our firsthand experiences in the manufacturing sector. What were they? Repeatedly observing outdated technology and a lack of automation. We recognised the untapped potential of AI in revolutionising assembly processes, and this realisation led to the birth of Launchpad, which aims to combine advanced AI with practical manufacturing knowledge to create our innovative Digitools solution.  Why did you apply for Sixth Sense? We believe that transformative change in manufacturing comes from strong alliances with like-minded entities. Our goal is to align with the program’s network, introducing our technologies to a broader range of customers and partners – enhancing our impact in the industry and accelerating the adoption of sustainable and efficient manufacturing practices on a larger scale. Where do we hope to be in five years? At the forefront of manufacturing innovation, with thousands of Digitools deployed worldwide. Our technology will be pivotal in designing superior products and enabling rapid, local product launches through flexible factories. Alongside our focus on mass customisation, this approach will increase customer value and significantly reduce inventory, setting a new industry standard for efficiency and innovation. The strategic investment we’ve recently secured from Lockheed Martin Ventures will help to scale and develop our innovative technology further. Which emerging technologies excite us? The potential of large language models and AI image generation – especially when integrated with advanced simulation techniques. These technologies hold immense promise for the manufacturing sector – enabling designers to bring their ideas to life. Our technology plays a crucial role in this ecosystem, validating that these innovative designs are feasible and efficiently scalable. This combination of AI-driven design and practical manufacturability is set to revolutionise the speed and responsiveness of manufacturing processes. 

Who are we?  Founded in 2019 – with eight nationalities represented – TOffeeAM stands for ‘Topology Optimisation For Fluids Engineering for Advanced Manufacturing.’ TOffeeAM’s cloud-based physics-driven software for manufacturing design helps engineers innovate and improve their designs while ensuring new products meet all manufacturing requirements. Put simply, physics-driven means that the software uses the principles from physics (usually through highly accurate simulation) to help create better designs or solve engineering problems. This helps to quickly produce components carefully optimised for their use, such as cooling electronics or EV batteries, more efficient aircraft engines, or more effective carbon capture. We help engineers to: ⏳ Streamline design approaches, which can traditionally be time-consuming. ♻️ Optimise designs to reduce waste and increase energy efficiency. 📈 Generate innovative designs and maximise performance. 🗺️ Overcome time and resource constraints to explore more design options. 💸 Minimise the cost of manufacturing by selecting components that are cost-effective in the long run. 🌎 Collaborate on designs, even if located in different regions. 💡 Produce cutting-edge products to stay ahead of the competition. ⚡ Push the boundaries of what’s possible in engineering design. Our mission?  To help engineers go further, faster – enhancing their creative power. The lightbulb moment?  Before TOffeeAM, engineers struggled to fully take advantage of the creative possibilities of additive manufacturing to optimise the performance and efficiency of components. TOffeeAM was created to fill this gap in the market. But that’s not the end of the story. As customers seek new ways of mass-producing better-performing designs at lower costs for more traditional manufacturing methods – the market demand for TOffeeAM continues to grow rapidly. We’ve risen to the challenge, with a new brand set to launch with evolved capabilities to meet these needs. Where do we hope to be in five years?  Helping many organisations – from the most promising start-ups to the world’s leading companies – design more efficient, higher performing, lower lifetime cost products that make the world a better place. Which emerging technologies excite us?  The progress with AI has been dramatic – the possibilities are unimaginable, and processes are being improved in every possible way, including in the field of manufacturing. Another one is Fusion Energy – the impact of which on manufacturing would be paradigm-shifting. It has the potential to vastly increase the supply of energy while greatly reducing costs, all while being sustainable and non-polluting.  

Sixth Sense has announced the nine manufacturing startups chosen for its third cohort at the Showcase Day event on the 20th of September.  The selected companies were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants, distinguishing themselves with groundbreaking solutions addressing critical manufacturing challenges with a focus on sustainability and digital reality.  The selected startups, which hail from seven countries, bring unique approaches to some of today's most critical manufacturing challenges, such as improving product sustainability, eliminating waste, capturing real-time data, automating design, and incorporating robots into production lines. The nine startups are: Acerta Analytics, Canada: Acerta Analytics provides advanced analytics solutions that leverage machine learning and artificial intelligence (ML/AI) to turn complex product data into actionable insights. The solution enables automakers and suppliers of complex vehicle parts to improve quality in manufacturing processes and support early defect detection. Circularise, Netherlands: Circularise offers digital product passports for end-to-end traceability and secure data exchange in industrial supply chains. Their technology helps companies achieve transparency and sustainability by tracking the lifecycle of products and materials. Dessia, France: Dessia offers a platform featuring virtual "bots" that serve as companions to assist engineers in designing mechanical systems. These virtual assistants provide support and insights throughout the design process. Flexxbotics, Boston, US: Flexxbotics specializes in enabling high-mix automation-intensive manufacturers to create flexible next-generation machining environments. They utilize their breakthrough FlexxCORE™ technology to seamlessly connect and coordinate collaborative robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems, and personnel to deliver autonomous process control. Launchpad, Los Angeles, US: Launchpad utilizes AI and advanced simulation technologies to automate aspects of the design, procurement, and manufacturing process. They focus on concepts like mass customization, micro-factories, and software-defined robotics to create shorter supply chains, reduce waste, and deliver new features faster in the manufacturing industry. Rafinex, Luxembourg: Rafinex’s groundbreaking innovation is the AI stochastic topology optimization for safe, lightweight designs. This technology actively manages uncertainty and risks of real-life variability to create uniquely robust designs that remain safe even in off-design load conditions for application in safety-critical performance sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and tooling. RV Magnetics, Slovakia: RV Magnetics has developed the world's smallest passive sensor based on MicroWire technology. This sensor combines unique capabilities from electromechanics, electronics, chemistry, physics, applied magnetism, and industrial design, offering diverse applications. ToffeeAM, London, UK: ToffeeAM provides state-of-the-art multi-physics generative design software for engineering. Their mission is to empower engineers to optimize engineering components and systems efficiently, enabling them to go further and faster in their design processes. Zaptic, Manchester, UK: Zaptic provides job instruction and collaboration tools for frontline teams, along with a no-code toolkit designed to accelerate the digital transformation of daily operations. Their solutions help organizations streamline processes and improve communication among their frontline workers. These startups will embark on an intensive 16-week journey as part of the Sixth Sense program, collaborating closely with Hexagon to refine their offerings. As part of the Sixth Sense program, they will gain access to Hexagon's market insights, accumulated over decades of collaboration with industry-leading