The
MassTLC/MassRobotics/MassMEP team under the Advanced Manufacturing Futures Fund Program grant, funded by
MassDevelopment, held our 4th “Manufacturing Rocket Pitch for Solutions” on 16 March
2017 at WPIs Gateway Park in Worcester.
Our
goal: to help hardware and
mechanical/electrical device start-ups and scale-ups grow and commercialize
their products by connecting them with the local manufacturers and supply chain
– turning great ideas into great products Made in Massachusetts.
terrific A-Team Expert Panel available to offer advice to presenting startups
and help them with their manufacturing challenges. The panel was moderated by Peter Russo from
MassMEP and included:
Joe
Peters – Universal Plastics Corporation
Mark
Smithers – Boston Engineering Corporation
Zack
Johnson – Mack Technologies
Eddie
Freitas – Algonquin Industries Inc. / Hi-tech Metals Inc.
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Figure 1 Peter Russo
with panelist Joe Peters, Mark Smithers, Zach Johnson and Eddie Freitas |
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Figure 2 Terrific space at 1002 Gateway
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discussion and each panelist offered tips to startups about what they should
know about manufacturing and offered best practices.
WPI professors and students discussed challenge they were encountering –
everything from connectors, to plastic parts, to box assembly. These included students from the Popovic Lab
with a Gyroscope for shoulder prosthesis and a hydro bone (synthetic muscle
simulation) for a lower leg soft exoskeleton. Others from WPI discussed challenges with a powered arm orthosis, a
modular motion control system for MRI compatible robotics and an assistive hand
exoskeleton.
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Figure 3 Eddie offers advice to Chris Nycz
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Figure 4 Paulo discusses his challenges with his box
assembly |
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Figure 5 Peter offers options for cable assembly
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companies pitching included:
Line
Health is building a connected pharmacy: it leverages data and a proprietary
IoT device to drive better medication adherence, outcomes and help payers and
providers in their journey to value-based healthcare. Current investors and
partners include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Baptist Health and Bolt. www.linehealth.com
monitoring smartphone mobile device and cloud-based mobile APP. The SmartDiiet
device leverages several different technologies such as 3D imaging,
spectroscopy and AI machine learning others, to enable a user to take a (scientific
analysis) image of their entire meal and instantly see displayed on their
smartphone the food’s actual weight, USDA calories, fats, carbohydrates,
sugars, sodium and other nutritional values of the meal in a format similar to
the FDA’s Nutritional Facts label. The device also allows the user, with a
swipe of the screen, to instantly segment or separate the food types of the
meal (e.g. salmon, mash potatoes, carrots …) to determine the nutritional facts
of each, all from the one initial image. WWW.SmartDiiet.com
Boston
develops and designs products that add science and whimsy to the everyday at
home. Their first product is a two minute light up timer to motivate children
to brush their teeth more thoroughly.
