If we automate textile handling, can we make the textile industry more sustainable?
At sewts, we are bridging one of the last gaps of automation and opening up entirely new spheres of application for robotics. By providing robots with human-like perception skills, we make the automatic handling of easily deformable materials possible. Our mission is to simplify complex manual labor into streamlined automation. Why can humanity shoot rockets into space, but some of the most repetitive work is still done manually? This is the idea behind sewts. We’re developing software that combines commercial robots, grippers and cameras into an intelligent system to enable the automation of processes - such as the handling of textiles - that were previously not technically feasible.
Our first product is the VELUM system, a solution for industrial laundries. Industrial laundries wash and dry textiles in a highly automated environment to cope with the large quantities of dirty linen. There are even machines for folding laundry. But they have one major drawback: Each machine requires an employee to feed the laundry spread out and without wrinkles.
That’s where our VELUM system comes in. sewts VELUM feeds towels into existing folding machines, closing this gap in automation. Our inhouse developed AI analyzes textiles and translates the findings into robotic commands. VELUM is optimized for adaptability and handles all towels up to 1x2m in size.
A company who believes in sustainability and prosperity through automation. Processes involving the handling or production of textiles are often performed far away from the place where the textiles are actually being used, requiring an enormous transportation effort. By automating these processes, we can move them back right to where they’re needed in a cost-efficient way. This way, we will shorten transportation routes, create more reliable supply chains, save CO2 emissions and tackle the issue of overproduction.
We are using the 3DEXPERIENCE platform in our development process by creating a virtual twin of our system, which ensures everyone in the team is working with a single source of truth. We also use the platform to perform FEM simulations. This allows us to simulate the behavior of textiles and generate synthetic image data for our AI models.
We are striving to continually improve our team collaboration and communication. Using tools like the 3DEXPERIENCE platform can support this goal, but even more important for us are our common company values and behaviors, development principles and our team organization.
Recently, we introduced an integrated product development process and created a cross-functional product team with both hardware and software development in order to facilitate smooth configuration management and to avoid problems due to dependencies between software and hardware in the development process.
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