In just 75 years, Israel has emerged as a powerhouse in industrial and advanced manufacturing start-ups, redefining the global landscape of technology-driven innovation. With a combination of entrepreneurial spirit and cutting-edge technologies, Israel has transformed into the hi-tech capital of the world with strength in industrial and advanced manufacturing.
The country’s industrial manufacturing sector has transformed remarkably, integrating cutting-edge technologies with traditional manufacturing processes. Driven by the recent Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Israel is positioned as a leader in advancing and transforming traditional manufacturing processes.
In just 75 years, Israel has emerged as a powerhouse in industrial and advanced manufacturing start-ups, redefining the global landscape of technology-driven innovation. With a combination of entrepreneurial spirit and cutting-edge technologies, Israel has transformed into the hi-tech capital of the world with strength in industrial and advanced manufacturing. The country’s industrial manufacturing sector has transformed remarkably, integrating cutting-edge technologies with traditional manufacturing processes. Driven by the recent Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), Israel is positioned as a leader in advancing and transforming traditional manufacturing processes.
The 4IR, as defined by McKinsey, represents the digitization of the manufacturing sector fueled by disruptive trends such as data, connectivity, analytics, human-machine interaction, and robotics. This concept closely aligns with advanced manufacturing, which utilizes innovative technologies to enhance products and processes. The 4IR develops solutions for manufacturing challenges such as operation optimization, maintenance, inspection and testing, and supply chain. Industry 4.0 technologies such as sensing and imaging, 3d printing, robotics, and platform connectivity are part and parcel of developing innovative solutions driving advancement in the manufacturing sector.
Israel’s focus on advanced manufacturing and its ecosystem of innovation and R&D centers have the potential to transform manufacturing processes on a global scale. Large multi-national companies like Applied Materials, Intel, Teva Pharmaceutical, and HP Indigo have established manufacturing sites in Israel, creating technologies that are revolutionizing global processes.
Israel’s highly skilled and educated workforce and entrepreneurial culture provide an environment for technological breakthroughs. Additionally, government support from Israel’s Innovation Authority to remodel the manufacturing industry through infrastructure programs, technological implementation at the factory level, capital investment, and financing, and the development of skilled human capital have been instrumental in driving innovation in advanced manufacturing.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Israeli technologies rose to the challenge when the world faced supply chain challenges and global manufacturing shortages. For example, during the outbreak of the pandemic in Israel, @3BY, a company located in the Tefen Industrial Park that manufactures medical devices, initiated a process to develop a mold for swabs and produced millions of swabs rapidly. Israeli technology systems have adapted and changed to the global market’s needs throughout the fourth Industrial Revolution.
As the world progresses into the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Israel drives transformative changes in the global manufacturing landscape. There are over 650 advanced manufacturing and industrial technology start-ups in Israel.
Below are just some of the companies leading the way in the advanced manufacturing sector:
- EcoPlant is a leader in operation Optimization. EcoPlant offers a software solution that utilizes AI technology to optimize the performance of compressed air systems. By connecting to controllers and sensors, it can continuously monitor and control the system, reducing energy waste and improving maintenance. The platform includes a dashboard that provides insights on system operation, energy consumption, and machinery analytics, allowing users to identify inefficiencies, track idle time, and improve production reliability. Most recently, American industrial company Ingersoll Rand just announced their acquisition of EcoPlant with a deal valued at $40-$50 million.
- Matics develops real-time plug-and-play operational intelligence solutions for digital manufacturing. Through the secure, cloud-based solution, Matics provides leading technologies for operation optimization designed for small and medium-sized enterprises. Matics provides a real-time window into the manufacturing environment for instant control and visibility over operations. The platform deploys industrial IoT devices; secure, cloud-based connectivity, smart, connected apps to gain live OEE control; and real-time manufacturing analytics.
- Augury provides end-to-end maintenance solutions making machines more reliable by combining artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. The intersection of these two key trends allows Augury to provide machines with a mechanical nervous system and the awareness to optimize their health, thereby increasing human productivity and safety. Augury’s end-to-end solutions provide industry leaders with early, actionable, and comprehensive insights into machine health and performance. These insights provide early warning of developing machine issues and help determine what is wrong at the component level, the root cause, and which corrective action to take.
- Inspekto’s technology is innovating the inspection and testing space. Inspekto’s innovative solution is designed to automate visual inspection on the production line for manufacturers of any scale and profile. Their autonomous machine-vision systems are powered by AMV-AI technology, enabling the deployment of out-of-the-box QA systems without requiring vision experts or intensive production data.
- Highcon Systems develops and sells digital cutting and creasing machines for the folding carton industry. As a leader in the supply chain sector, its machines are based on a proprietary technology called Digital Adhesive Rule Technology, which allows for producing high-quality, complex packaging without the need for traditional dies. This makes it possible for customers to quickly and easily produce new designs, as well as to make changes to existing designs without having to incur the high costs associated with traditional die production.
This article was written by Emma Hantgan, Business Development Intern at the Israel Economic Mission to the USA- East Coast. If you are interested in learning more about the Industry 4.0 sector, please connect with Max Coën, Business Development Lead at Max.Coen@israeltrade.gov.il.
Sources:
What is industry 4.0 and the Fourth Industrial Revolution? | McKinsey
investinisrael.gov.il/HowWeHelp/downloads/ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.pdf