Hexagon has announced Nexus, its Cloud platform to connect its wide range of design and engineering softwares, as well as third-party apps, billing it ‘the foundation’ for Hexagon’s new solution offerings in the smart manufacturing space going forward.
At present, Hexagon Nexus is capable of leveraging Hexagon data sources from across its portfolio; connecting hundreds of Hexagon design and engineering, production and metrology software tools and unlocking new insights from metrology devices and connected machines.
Additionally, cloud-native visualisations and data management solutions such as HxGN Metrology Reporting and MaterialCenter have been built as cloud-native connected applications, and will be connected through Nexus.
Hexagon says that it is also developing further purpose-built solutions through the platform that combine multiple technologies to help users to improve productivity and digitally optimise complex processes and workflows.
One example is a workflow for 3D printing an optimised reverse-engineered part that could be used to streamline the repair of grounded aircraft components. This workflow connects data from a 3D laser scan to Hexagon products such as RECreate, MSC Apex Generative Design, MaterialCenter and Simufact Additive, as well as connecting to a third-party market-leading application called CADS Additive to significantly improve productivity and enable rapid collaboration to address production issues.
Parth Joshi, chief product and technology officer for Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division, said: “Our customers are managing increased complexity in the market, which is demanding faster innovation than ever.
“Siloed tools, rigid systems and inaccessible data are increasingly ill-suited to the manufacturing industry’s needs and pressures. Our vision for Nexus is to enhance the products our hundreds of thousands of customers have come to know and love with additional capabilities, powered by the cloud, AI and Machine Learning, real time collaboration and advanced visualisation.
“Nexus will allow manufacturers to build more agile and resilient processes so they can respond positively to change and take advantage of new opportunities, create faster pathways to products and develop increasingly autonomous workflows – realising the full potential of smart and sustainable manufacturing.”
