Alright, folks, listen up! We’ve got some mind-blowing news coming straight out of Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering in the good ol’ US of A. This bad boy manufacturing startup called StilFold just sold their very first “industrial origami” metal-folding machine to these brains over at Georgia Tech.
Now, listen to this, studies show that manufacturing is responsible for more than half of the environmental impact in the entire US economy! It’s a serious problem that needs some serious solutions. And that’s where StilFold comes in. These guys from Stockholm are revolutionizing the game by using curve folding and robotics to create more sustainable structures.
Here’s the deal. StilFold has come up with some cutting-edge technology that involves using a special robotic cell and computational design software to fold flat sheet metal over curves. And the result? You get these complex, lightweight, and sustainable structures with only a minimal number of parts. It’s like origami meets engineering, my friends.
And get this, they’re not messing around. StilFold’s technology is already being put to the test in building a wicked cool electric motorcycle called the StilRide 1. But they’re not stopping there. Oh no. They’ve got their eyes set on even bigger things, like trains, cars, and believe it or not, constructing things in outer space! I mean, who knows what these guys can achieve?
But wait, there’s more! StilFold’s technology is so mind-blowing that they’ve managed to patent it earlier this year. And guess who’s got their hands on this revolutionary technology? Yep, you guessed it. Georgia Tech. They’re the first lucky bunch to purchase and use the StilFold technology outside of the workshop.
At Georgia Tech, they’re using this badass tooling for education and innovation purposes. Students get to design and build stuff as part of their “Origami Engineering” program. It’s hands-on experience with advanced technology, cutting-edge structural engineering, and sustainable manufacturing, all rolled into one.
Dr. Lauren Stewart from Georgia Tech’s School of Civil and Environmental Engineering is super stoked about this collaboration. She thinks this StilFold technology is the real deal, ticking all the boxes from cost-effectiveness to environmental adaptation. And hey, she’s spot-on! We need this kind of game-changing tech for the future of manufacturing.
And of course, StilFold’s CEO and co-founder, Jonas Nyvang, couldn’t be more thrilled. He’s pumped to see their technology expanding overseas and being put to use in new contexts. StilFold is designed to be flexible and adaptable, bringing innovation to big and small projects alike. They’re on a mission to drive a greener future for the manufacturing sector, and this collaboration with Georgia Tech is a major stepping stone.
Now, hold onto your seats, because StilFold has been working hard to make their patented manufacturing software and hardware available to all you designers, architects, manufacturers, and engineers out there. Since they announced their plans to commercialize this game-changing technology back in 2022, they’ve been grinding to make it happen.
And guess what? They’re making moves, my friends. In May 2023, StilFold was granted a Swedish patent that covers not only their robotic hardware but also their proprietary software, which allows designers to create folding instructions for 3D shapes. But that’s not all, folks! They also scored a European patent for their origami-inspired curve-folding method, their StilFold robotics machine, and their design software.
So, buckle up because StilFold is taking the manufacturing world by storm, and they’re not letting up. The future is looking greener and more sustainable, thanks to these badass minds and their “industrial origami” revolution. You better believe it, my friends!
