Hexagon AB, a global leader in digital reality solutions that combine sensor, software, and autonomous technologies, has announced a US$ 100 million investment in Divergent Technologies Inc., a pioneer of green manufacturing technologies and the creator of the first modular digital factory for the automotive industry. This investment complements Hexagon’s solutions for autonomous and sustainable manufacturing.
Divergent, founded in 2014 and headquartered in Torrance, California, USA, transforms automakers into agile, design-driven organisations free of capex constraints. Its proprietary end-to-end solution, as a tier-one supplier, is widely applicable to any structure-based, discrete manufacturing process and has already proven to meet the most demanding automotive and aerospace applications.
Divergent Technologies’ Divergent Adaptive Production System
Divergent has developed DAPS® (Divergent Adaptive Production System), an alternative production process to traditional vehicle manufacturing that addresses economic and environmental challenges head on. DAPS is a software and hardware solution that creates a fully modular digital factory for complex structures.
To create lightweight automotive parts and frames, the patented process combines AI-optimized generative design software, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and automated assembly.
Vehicle models’ weight, strength, and cost are optimised by design software. Parts are autonomously 3D printed and assembled, reducing manufacturing time and human intervention. Part manufacturing and assembly can be performed using the same hardware infrastructure regardless of design, allowing for quick design iterations or seamless switching between different vehicle models without downtime. The design-agnostic process consumes less energy and resources, produces more efficient structures faster, and achieves weight reductions ranging from 20% to 70%, resulting in dramatic improvements in vehicle efficiency.
Autonomous and Sustainable Manufacturing through Hexagon
All of Hexagon’s solutions are created as an ecosystem in which numerous companies from various industries collaborate to deliver integrated solutions on behalf of customers. Hexagon generates, captures, and distributes value in two mega-ecosystems: people and production. Cities and nations, defence, buildings, and infrastructure are among the ecosystems that have the greatest direct impact on people. Manufacturing, industrial facilities, mines, and farms are examples of production ecosystems.
“Manufacturing a car’s parts has a much greater impact on the environment than the car’s exhaust emissions, which is why new manufacturing concepts will win. We must find ways to empower car makers with more efficient and environmentally friendly manufacturing processes that minimise material usage and total system cost. Incremental steps are simply not enough to save the planet.”
– Ola Rollén, President and CEO, Hexagon
Rollén continued, “In my keynote speech at HxGN LIVE Global 2022, I delivered a message of hope for a sustainable future by naming the culprit aloud: all of us. While the steep climb in emissions over the last 30 years happened on our watch, none of us want to go down in history as the CO2 Generation – the one that polluted and warmed this planet. For that reason, Hexagon continues to invest in disruptive and unconventional technologies that make giant leaps forward. We are the perfect partner to ensure quality is delivered throughout this new, innovative manufacturing process. Together, Hexagon and Divergent will deliver the smart manufacturing concepts of the 21st Century.”
“We are humbled and honoured to be partnering with Hexagon. Having their vote of confidence in what we’ve built and our vision for the future of manufacturing brings new energy and enthusiasm to our team.”
– Kevin Czinger, Founder and CEO, Divergent Technologies
Lukas Czinger, Divergent’s SVP of Operations and Czinger Vehicles Co-Founder commented, “This significant investment will allow us to accelerate our plans to build a global network of DAPS factories, each serving multiple OEM clients. We look forward to a long-term relationship with Hexagon as Divergent and Czinger Vehicles scale.”
Divergent’s digital, modular, flexible, and automated production solution, which is protected by over 500 patents, produces significantly fewer lifecycle emissions than traditional manufacturing. Not only does the company lead the automotive industry in removing capital, geographic, and environmental barriers, but it also has its own portfolio of hypercars, Czinger Vehicles, which produces the world’s fastest production vehicle, the 21C.
