Industry: an important part of climate action

The industrial sector currently generates 39% of CO₂ emitted worldwide (International Energy Agency, 2018). Industrial solution and equipment designers like Fives have an important role to play to develop technologies allowing customers to improve their environmental performance.

For this purpose, Fives devises innovative technologies creating value for industry in numerous sectors, where the carbon footprint is sometimes very significant (specifically aluminum, glass, cement, steel).

The Solar Impulse Foundation shares this vision of an industry fully committed to identifying solutions to tackle climate change. Fives approached the Foundation to propose some of its technologies as part of its “#1000solutions” project.

Two Fives solutions recognized by the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label”

Two products developed by Fives have been awarded the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label”:

• AMELIOS Suite: a complete digital suite, based on data from advanced sensors to control the entire anode manufacturing process, and thus optimize carbon consumption associated with primary aluminum production. This solution ensures a high-quality anode, and potentially reduces the amount of CO₂ emitted per ton of aluminum produced by 35 to 70 kg, whilst also reducing anode production costs by 2.5%. These gains lead to a return on investment of between two and four years.

• Virtuo^TM OptiScale: an advanced digital solution combining smart sensors and models. It is used to adjust the steel furnace production parameters in real time to control and reduce scale loss, which is a problem in terms of product quality, manufacturing line productivity (and therefore cost) and the environment (extra consumption of raw material and processing of the byproduct). Virtuo^TM OptiScale scans the steel slab as it travels to the rolling mill using lasers and thermal cameras, and automatically adjusts furnace parameters. A smart system, the software uses machine learning to continually develop its models with the latest information from the furnace. Thanks to this technology, scale loss can be reduced by 30% in existing furnaces.

To receive the “Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label”, the solutions were thoroughly assessed by a pool of independent experts according to 5 criteria covering the three main topics of Feasibility, Environmental and Profitability. All labelled solutions are part of the #1000solutions portfolio that will be presented to decision-makers in business and government by Bertrand Piccard, Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation. The aim of this initiative is to encourage the adoption of more ambitious environmental targets and fast-track the implementation of these solutions on a large scale.

Other Fives technologies are being assessed to obtain the label.

Fives, committed to make industry more virtuous

AMELIOS Suite and Virtuo^TM OptiScale are two examples of the numerous solutions developed by Fives contributing to industry’s environmental performance. In this regard, R&D teams are also working to tackle challenges to limit human and environmental harm (climate change, reducing polluting emissions and particles), protect natural resources, and guarantee equipment sustainability or the transition to new energies (electrification, hydrogen, etc.).

“This constant innovation to reduce the impact of industry and transform it into something positive is one of Fives' core Corporate Social Responsibility commitments,”

confirms Ingrid Jaugey-Ndiaye, Group CSR Director.

“It reflects our mission statement “Faire aimer l’industrie” and the Group’s desire to create long-term value for all its stakeholders.”

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An integrated smart automation solution to automate DHL’s air gateway hub at Milan Malpensa airport

On March 5, 2021 DHL Express Italy has inaugurated the new Hub, Gateway & Service Center at the Milan Malpensa Airport in northern Italy.

As a partner of DHL Express Italy, Fives designed the ultimate solution based on proprietary technologies of next generation to meet customer’s requirements.

DHL Express Italy selected Fives’ cross belt technology that stand out for its high speed and extraordinary accuracy. The solution integrates the following innovative systems:

• 4 GENI-Belt^TM cross belt sorters with a development of more than one and a half kilometers
• 30 GENI-Feed^TM high capacity induction lines
• 11 X-ray machines
•  313 destinations
• Over 2,250 meters conveyor belts and rollers

The hub receives DHL express shipments from both air traffic and road traffic to process and reload on board DHL vehicles and airplanes for the transport to their final destination in a very short time.

Fives’ cross belt sorters receive parcels and envelopes from the high capacity introduction lines and with extreme accuracy and speed transport each item to the assigned destination, where it is gently discharged into the outlet without tilting or rolling.

The conveyor systems connect the sorting equipment with all other handling and processing points inside the hub.

Fives is pleased to announce the signing of a sponsorship agreement to restore the central nave of the musée d’Orsay. This commitment highlights the Group’s historic ties with the building, whose structure was built by Fives-Lille teams at the end of the 19th century.

Once a station, now a museum, which showcases Fives expertise dating back to the 19th century – An exceptional steel structure produced by Fives

Built in the late 1890s, the building now home to the musée d’Orsay originally served as the terminus of the Paris-Orléans railway line for 39 years before being transformed into a national museum in 1986 which today welcomes more than 3 million visitors every year.

The monumental station was designed by architect Victor Laloux based on an enormous metal structure that is 173-m long and 74-m wide. The structure was built using around 12,000 metric tons of steel – a challenge achieved by Fives-Lille and Moisant-Laurent- Savey who were called on for their expertise in mechanical construction.

Large-scale restoration plans for a building that symbolizes the industrial revolution

Today, the exceptional steel structure shelters a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts and photographs highlighting the diversity of artistic creation of the Western World from 1848 to 1914. The structure, which has never been restored since it opened, is beginning to show signs of age.

In 2019, the musée d’Orsay initiated a major project to renovate the central nave and its glass tympanum, notably to improve impermeability, which in turn will ensure the durability of the steel structure and vault, and protect the art collections housed in the museum.

Support that demonstrates Fives’ aim to promote industrial heritage

As a sponsor, Fives will contribute financial support to restore the exceptional building that showcases the Group’s long history of expertise in metal construction.

Frédéric Sanchez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fives Group, explains,

“We are delighted to contribute to the restoration of this exceptional building that has become a center of international culture, and whose transformation echoes the Group’s ability to reinvent itself and adapt to successive industrial revolutions. The partnership with the musée d’Orsay further supports our aim to promote industrial heritage and highlights that industry can do it – our motto.”

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At the first Expo, with the theme of intelligent manufacturing and the focus on industrial digitalization, Fives displayed its state-of-the-art technology and industrial intelligent solutions in aerospace, automobile, steel, logistics, energy, glass, aluminum and other industries in the high-end intelligent manufacturing hall. In this second Expo, Fives is demonstrating more comprehensive R&D achievements focusing on the reduction of environmental footprint and digitalization.

Fives first launch of NeoKoil® SmartLine at CIIE

The NeoKoil® SmartLine from Fives completely changes the way the operation and process are controlled in the steel industry. The unique offer includes predictive metallurgical models combining physical laws and artificial intelligence with appropriate IT architecture and machine learning algorithm to achieve the best quality and productivity.

Thinking beyond to increase profit

The NeoKoil® SmartLine maximizes the operational performances in terms of the increase of quality yield by several points, productivity and production flexibility. All these have a positive impact to increase profit. Consistently. Every time.

Mr. Sanchez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fives said: “The NeoKoil® SmartLine gives Fives a great competitive advantage in our Steel business. The enthusiastic reaction of our clients on the CIIE is confirming the adequacy of the solution to their needs. We are approached by many steelmakers in China who want to reap the yield and productivity benefits from a fully automatic line control which allows them to achieve first choice, first time, every time, consistently, with Fives !”

An increasing commitment against climate change

During the interview by CCTV, Mr. Sanchez said: “China is determined to be a key player to fight against climate change. It is a very positive signal for a group like Fives, because we are developing technologies which have the objective to reduce the carbon footprint of our clients’ activities. We promote an open world where all parties can contribute to demonstrate that Industry can do it, which is our motto.”

In the first day of CIIE, Fives signed six contracts and two strategic agreements, involving more than 150 million US dollars. The first launch of the product will be available in the new product release center in the North Hall of CIIE on November 8. The introduction of new product release will be broadcast live by omnimedia platform. Our friends who can't come to the site can also pay attention to the online release platform of CIIE for interaction!

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The World Industrial Investment Monitor was established in 2016 by Fives, EDF, the Institut de la réindustrialisation and Trendeo. It is part of the DEFI&CO project implemented by CESI as part of the GPI (Grand Plan d’Investissements - Major Investment Plan).

This monitor lists significant investment announcements, supplied by a database which collects information in real-time. Its objective is to measure trends at an international level in terms of investment, either in new production units or existing industrial units. To do this, it identifies the projects and achievements which contribute to the development of the “industry of the future”, based on technological and societal criteria: flexibility, digitalization, energy efficiency, environmental efforts, as well as territorial and social efforts.

2018 data

In 2018, the Barometer recorded 12,095 investments amounting to nearly $5 billion, and representing over 2,600,000 jobs. Nearly half (48%) of these projects were announced in Asia, a quarter (26%) in the Americas and 17% in Europe.

By analyzing the factory of the future criteria, we can distinguish between initiatives developed more specifically by certain industries or in certain regions worldwide:

• Industrial investment projects which are most committed to factory of the future criteria are concentrated in countries with the highest GDP. Denmark, Austria and Finland lead the pack in Europe, with France in 7th place.
• Digitalization is specifically emphasized in the agriculture and intralogistics sectors; the fast-growing intralogistics sector - underpinned by the boom in e-commerce - is aiming to improve productivity at sorting centers by using digital technologies.
• Energy efficiency is cited as an important criterion for paper and cardboard industries, as their production generates organic waste which is then recovered. This sector is followed by the information services sector, which aims to reduce the energy consumption of data centers.

France: consolidated industrial growth

The barometer identified 239 projects worth over 30 million USD in France, behind the United Kingdom (309) and Russia (245), and ahead of Germany (236). 116 of these 239 investment projects in France mention at least one industry of the future criterion. They mainly cover the energy (energy generation and/or distribution), food processing, plastic and rubber, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Industrial investments in France reflect industrial “maturity”, with the share of foreign direct investment (FDI) below average.

Gwénaël Guillemot, Director of the Institut de la réindustrialisation, notes: “France remains an attractive option for French or foreign investors. The investment projects underline ongoing changes to the industrial geography of our country. Traditional industrial regions are losing out to new regions. The investments clearly show that industrial sites are modernizing: greater efficiency and innovations in terms of safety, the environment and performance. ”

Electric vehicles: a fast-growing sector

The Monitor underlines the importance of the automotive sector in the data collected since 2016: 4th sector in terms of number of projects and total investment, and 2nd in terms of jobs created. The tool also helps accurately ascertain the share linked to hybrid or electric vehicles: 17% of projects, which represent 38% of these investments.

Asia - and China in particular - received half of the sector’s investments (20% went to Europe), whether international or local investors.

At Fives, Denis Mercier, Deputy General Manager, offers clarification on these figures: “The automotive sector is the example of an industrial sector in the midst of a transition. As a result of increasing investments in the hybrid or electric engine, increasingly demanding environmental requirements, and new trends such as vehicle personalization, the industrial tool must change. Fives, which stands at the heart of the development of the industry of the future, continues to adapt to offer new solutions in a sector that is constantly evolving, in terms of markets, industrial geography and innovation. "

The full details of the 2018 results are available upon request.

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About the Institut de la réindustrialisation

The Institut de la Réindustrialisation was founded in 2015 by two engineering schools – EPF and CESI, and two professional federations: GIM and Syntec-Ingenierie.

The Institut aims to develop and circulate knowledge and expertise on the future of industry, its skills and know-how through conferences, workshops, student awards and publications.

In view of the new challenges in industry, after three years the Institut is redefining its position based around more specific objectives, whilst remaining realistic: 

• considering teaching on the industry of the future;
• promoting the industry of the future through research;
• circulating information and promoting industry amongst young people, particularly young women.

The global barometer of industrial investments is part of an initiative to use data focused on the industry of the future in an educational manner.

From the start of the 2019 academic year, the database will be used as a resource for a CESI general engineering learning project, and as a result it will be consulted by hundreds of students.

About EDF

A key player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated electricity company, active in all areas of the business: generation, transmission, distribution, energy supply and trading, energy services. A global leader in low-carbon energies, the Group has developed a diversified generation mix based on nuclear power, hydropower, new renewable energies and thermal energy.

The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 39.8 million customers, 29.7million of which are in France. It generated consolidated sales of €69 billion in 2018. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

About Fives

As an industrial engineering Group with a heritage of over 200 years, Fives designs and supplies machines, process equipment and production lines for the world’s largest industrial players in various sectors such as steel, aerospace and special machining, aluminium, automotive and manufacturing industries, cement, energy, logistics and glass.

The effectiveness of its R&D programs enables Fives to design forward-thinking solutions that anticipate industrials’ needs in terms of profitability, performance, quality, safety and respect for the environment.

In 2018, Fives achieved a turnover of €1.95 billion and employed close to 8,700 people in about thirty countries.

www.fivesgroup.com

About Trendeo

Trendeo was created in 2017 to collect data in real time abut economic tendencies and trends: investment and jobs were the fort events tracked in France, followed by startups, fundraising and now industrial investments worldwide in a new database.

In France, we find a good correlation between our data and data collected by the national institute of statistics (INSEE).The data published by Trendeo about the French economy is regularly used by various customers and newspapers as an indicator of the status of the French economy.

Different customers, among them a global leading consultancy, use our worldwide industrial data for research activities.

www.trendeo.net

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For the aerospace sector, Fives designs and supplies metal cutting and machining solutions for large complex part, and composite processing machine-tools. The Group also provides corrective, preventive and upgrade maintenance solutions for production means such as emergency repairs, suggestion of machine enhancements, spare parts and on site spare parts stock management. Those are associated with maintenance contracts and essential for our customers.

Providing solutions, machine-tools and maintenance services for the aerospace sector

At this years’ Paris Air show, Fives will showcase unique technologies that support the growth and advancement of the aerospace industry, bringing productivity, quality and safety.

• In-Process Inspection (IPI), a unique inspection technology developed by Fives and the National Research Council of Canada; This next-generation profilometer positioned directly in the production chain, will allow quicker and more accurate inspection during the production of aircraft composite parts, therefore limiting shutdowns.
• Supercharger
  Fives is now offering its new and high speed, compact, and commercially positioned flat charge laminator.  It aims a new level of productivity in its class and a new level of accessibility for those in the market considering to enter or upgrade their automated composite layup activity.
  It combines mechanical engineering, an understanding of various materials, and the application of laser technology as means of validation.
• Robotic Viper – Robotic Automated Fiber Placement
  Fives takes automated fiber placement to the next level with a completely new head design and delivery means. Smaller, previously not considered parts, inside or outside, highly radial and complex parts can now be considered. The new robotic platform also complements the needs of today by being increasingly flexible, smaller, and less monumental. The advance accuracy and positioning technology Fives is offering in combination with their new AFP head technology, is what is making the Robotic Viper a game changer.
• A cobot to improve fluid filling machine reliability
  Fives has joined forces with the company E-Cobot to experiment a collaborative robot equipped with Fives’ latest Twin adaptator, which can be used to fill refrigerants. By reproducing the action of a human wrist and simulating coupling / recoupling actions, this application improves the reliability of the fluid filling machine, at a higher speed.
  This application will be showcased in Hall 4 – Booth F37 (Région Pays de la Loire).

Presentations are scheduled at Fives booth about IPI on Tuesday 18th at 11.30 am and on Thursday 20th at 3.00 pm, about Supercharger on Wednesday 19th at 11.30 am and Robotic Automated Fiber Placement on Thursday 20th at 11.30 am.

Fives creates a Center of Excellence in 5 axis hard metal milling heads manufacturing and repair

Based on the multi-decades expertise in milling head design and manufacturing of Forest Liné in Albert, Fives Machining is launching a Center of Excellence in design, manufacturing and repair of heavy duty milling heads.

Accuracy and stiffness as keywords

This dedicated team is focused on the design and supply of best in class, high accuracy and high stiffness heads, for Fives machines as well as for other machine-tool builders. Fives is also setting up a dedicated team of experts able to address quickly, cost efficiently and with the highest level of reliability any request for repair or overhall of mechanical heads, of any brand.

A full and integrated service in industrial maintenance

Service throughout the equipment’s lifecycle

Besides machines and systems, Fives offers maintenance services that aim to optimize productivity throughout the equipment’s lifecycle, with the intervention of skilled technical staff. This includes:

• Lump sum and results-based maintenance contracts
• Maintenance methods and operational excellence supporting equipment performance
• Artifical intelligence – based predictive maintenance: Fives combines technical expertise and data science to develop predictive maintenance for machine tools, allowing the reduction of scrapped parts, improving availability and controlling the consumption of spare parts.

Fives welcoming three start-ups as a pooling of expertise and resources

In terms of Research & Development, Fives has adopted a collaborative approach, built on partnerships and joint ventures with public and private players, to accelerate new product development.

A collaborative R&D approach

In this spirit, within the Paris Air Show, Fives will sponsor three start-ups for the Paris Air Lab, an original exhibition space showcasing innovation and prospective in the aerospace industry. The Paris Air Lab is organized at the initiative of SIAE, a subsidiary of GIFAS, the French Aerospace Industries Association.

• AddUp – The Fives-Michelin joint-venture company, leader in metal additive manufacturing, brings experience and expertise in developing and integrating machines and industrial production lines using metal additive manufacturing technology. www.addupsolutions.com/en/
• Fives CortX – The Fives internal start-up combines data expertise (IoT, machine learning, etc.) with solid industrial experience to bring Smart Devices and advanced analytics to Real-time processing. It aims to provide digital solutions that enhance process optimization and allow to take an actual step towards predictive.
• I-MC – Innovative Manufacturing & Controls, a spin-off of the CEA’s Nuclear Energy Department and the ‘Ecole Centrale of Nantes’, offering innovative numerical flow and flexible hardware solution in the field of control correction loop. I-MC designs and manufactures a robotic optical sensor control-correction solution for machining centers. www.i-mc.fr/en/

CampusFab, the learning platform to train the future workers of the industry of tomorrow

Fives wants to share its passion for industry and the technological solutions of tomorrow and thinks it has to play a role in spreading and sharing its expertise in building the factories of the future. With this ambition, the Group is a founding member of CampusFab, a pole of excellence aiming to train young people and professionals, which is due to be opened in September 2019.

Investing in training to build the plants of the future

Apart from Fives, this initiative brings together other industrial companies, including Safran dans Dassault Systèmes), industry groupings, employment partners and training institutions.

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The machines were received in July 2018 and all the refurbished grinders have been sent back to the customer this March 2019 according to the schedule.

The project capitalized on harnessing our significant installed base to reutilize 3 existing SGM assets along with the supply of 3 new Landis machines, offering customer a more flexible and optimized solution for their project compared to the competition. This kind of project was feasible thanks to Fives’ Grinding | Ultra Precision Service Center in China.  

With the efforts and the simultaneous work of Grinding | Ultra Precision teams in United Kingdom and China, the project has been successfully completed.

The engineering capabilities at both Fives Landis in the UK and Grinding | Ultra Precision Service Centre in Guangzhou help to strengthen the service capabilities offered by Grinding | Ultra Precision to support the local customers and the GrinderCare services.

The project execution was highly evaluated by Mr Zuo Xinjun, the lead M.E. Engineer of SGM Wuhan, after his team signed the pre-acceptance of the project in the Fives’ Grinding | Ultra Precision Service Center in Guangzhou.

“It is really an excellent workshop, good working environment and professional team of Grinding experts. The retooling of SGM CSS Phase 3&4 projects is successful thanks to the work from you and your team.”

The Grinding | Ultra Precision Service Center is the first dedicated service facility for Fives in China, thanks to the investment by Fives to focus on growing services globally.

This is one of the two Fives’ Grinding | Ultra Precision service centers in the world. This facility focuses primarily on refurbishment projects – the other being located in Mexico.

It will be the center of excellence, providing full GrinderCare services for all customers. It aims to support them through their equipment lifecycle and enable them to maximize the performance of their installations.

Along with the growing Grinding | Ultra Precision team, the 4200m² Chinese Service Center offers a newly dedicated workshop, specialized training room with simulators, open plan offices to provide technical and administrate support, metrology and measuring capabilities, and plans to develop a showroom and technology center.  

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This agreement develops and refines, with concrete commitments, the collaboration plans drawn up in January between CNBM, the world’s leading cement plant manufacturer, and Fives, the international engineering group. It forecasts a volume of business of the order of minimum €600M over 3 years, and forms part of CNBM’s stated strategy of developing in partnership with western companies.

An alliance to create high-performance plants

With this agreement, CNBM is showing recognition of Fives solutions and technologies that deliver energy efficiency, reduced CO₂ emissions, no water consumption and a high-quality finished product.

Fives technologies to reduce environmental impact

The complementary qualities of the two groups will deliver high performance installations that respect the environment while guaranteeing production quality at an optimum price. This agreement also shows the mutual trust between the two companies, notably with respect to intellectual property.

Collaboration to implement projects in China and other countries

This strategic agreement focuses mainly on three axes of collaboration:

• First in China, where CNBM is committed to a wide-ranging program of modernization and upgrades to its production lines. Specific projects have been identified where Fives technologies, in grinding in particular, will significantly improve performance and return on investment.
• And internationally, where CNBM is working on numerous projects for which the two groups will combine their expertise and technologies to create modern, high performance plants.
• CNBM and Fives have created a "Joint Engineering Center" to implement these projects and promote the best technologies: an exchange platform bringing together experts from both companies. The Joint Engineering Center was inaugurated on February 28 in Shanghai.

Collaboration between the two organizations’ technical experts

This agreement is in full alignment with the Paris Agreement, and in the spirit of projects focused on the Industry of the future. It is an illustration of Franco-Chinese multilateralism, featuring balanced partnerships and mutual cooperation to deliver innovative projects in other countries. 

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