Eastman Machine Company collaborates with SAM|XL, a European research centre

Smart Advanced Manufacturing XL (SAM|XL), an industry-leading provider of cutting machines and solutions, has signed a technological collaboration agreement with Eastman Machine Company.

SAM|XL is a prominent European collaborative research facility based on the TU Delft Campus. It is a non-profit foundation with an innovation community.SAM|XL's objective is to create, demonstrate, and de-risk smart manufacturing solutions for and with low-volume, high-variation production.

Eastman will collaborate with SAM|XL to develop and test an improved communication protocol for integrating pick-and-place robots with its automated cutting machines as a technology partner.

The first project in this collaborative environment using Eastman's S125 Static Table will be an automated lay-up project with GKN Fokker, the premier Dutch aerospace firm. “We are pleased to be one of the latest technological partners to SAM|XL,” said Elizabeth McGruder, VP of European Sales and Marketing at Eastman. The ability to exchange resources and cooperate with SAM|XL's inventors are a significant step forward for Eastman in the composites industry.”