Electrolux Innovation Factory now open for collaboration
Stockholm, Sweden, September 12, 2018
Yesterday evening, the Electrolux Innovation Factory welcomed its first partners and officially opened its doors as a creative, agile space designed to boost innovation through experimentation and new collaborative models.
The Electrolux Innovation Factory is the Group’s first Open Innovation Center that will serve as a hub for working with external partners to accelerate innovation within products and manufacturing.
“Shaping the Innovation Factory from an unused factory building into a state-of-the-art collaborative space in just a few months has been an inspiring journey,†says Ernesto Ferrario, Senior Vice President, Global Industrial Operations. “The opportunities for innovation are limitless – from increased focus on connectivity and advanced analytics to finding solutions that drives our vision of the smart factory.
In May, a public call for ideas was announced to find cutting-edge solutions from external players such as start-ups, SMEs and university spin-offs. This #Call4Innovation, supported by business incubator Digital Magics, attracted as many as 100 interested partners from around the world on the theme ‘Smarter Appliances, Easier Operations‘.
On September 10, ten companies were invited to pitch their ideas to a jury, and the following five companies have been selected as the first set of Innovation Factory partners:
3DNextech: Develops innovative 3D printing technologies to make the production process more efficient and automated.
Aera: Develops technology that allows companies to be self-driving through a cognitive operating system.
DigitalViews: Provides a calibration system for correcting optical precision limits, learning the response model from inspection illuminators, and detecting anomalies independently.
LinUp: Develops systems for body monitoring with the aim of profiling the posture, movements and activities of employees while working in production.
ROLD: Develops innovative solutions in various fields (advanced mechatronics, intelligent devices, human-machine interaction and advanced materials).
“We’re truly excited about the level of global interest our first public call for ideas generated,” says Jan Brockmann, Electrolux Chief Operations Officer. “Our Innovation Factory will help drive Open Innovation and transform great ideas into real solutions that will lead to new value for our consumers.”
The official ribbon cutting ceremony was attended by over 250 local and international participants and was officiated by Massimiliano Fedriga, President of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia region and Ernesto Ferrario in the capacity of CEO of Electrolux Italia.
In line with Innovation Factory’s vision of harnessing creativity, guests were treated to an exciting inauguration experience directed by Carlo Zoratti, award-winning producer and local artist Michele Bozzana. The activity involved a chain reaction sequence where Electrolux appliances, digital tools and a collaborative robot worked seamlessly to reveal the space to the public.
“If the creative energy at our opening ceremony is any indication we can’t wait to get started working on solutions together with our innovative partners,†says Andrea Corda, Senior Vice President, Global Connectivity and Technology.
About Electrolux Innovation Factory
The Electrolux Innovation Factory is the Group’s first Open Innovation Center designed to accelerate innovation within Electrolux, both from a product and process perspective.
A collaborative program will connect employees and external partners, and enable them to create, share and accelerate innovation together.
Located at Electrolux Global R&D and Manufacturing Center in Porcia, northern Italy, the Innovation Factory will provide an agile, open environment where solutions can be tested instantly at production lines and labs next door.
Public calls for proposals and partners as well as specific project briefs will be regularly announced on the Electrolux Innovation Factory website: www.innovationfactory.digital.
Multimedia from launch ceremony
Please see official images and video from the launch of the Innovation Factory in here.
Electrolux shapes living for the better by reinventing taste, care and wellbeing experiences, making life more enjoyable and sustainable for millions of people. As a leading global appliance company, we place the consumer at the heart of everything we do. Through our brands, including Electrolux, AEG, Anova, Frigidaire, Westinghouse and Zanussi, we sell more than 60 million household and professional products in more than 150 markets every year. In 2017 Electrolux had sales of SEK 122 billion and employed 56,000 people around the world.For more information go to www.electroluxgroup.com.
