Q5D

Q5D automates the assembly of wiring harnesses for the consumer electronics, industrial electricals, automotive, and aerospace markets. Q5D’s initial release CY1000 is a CAD/CAM manufacturing cell within a 5-axis gantry robot designed for flexibility and very high accuracy. This manufacturing cell replaces a traditionally-manual assembly process. The company's customers can now automate the application of wires, printed conductors, and connectors directly onto their products’ surfaces—no matter how complex or non-planar those surfaces are.

The company offers its hardware as a subscription package. Under this model, Q5D delivers the hardware, software, and services customers require to manufacture their products—all for a monthly fee. Customers build a subscription package to suit their needs. These typically include the manufacturing cell, a software license for computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) and equipment health monitoring, online and telephone support, field service visits, and add-ons such as productivity monitoring and data analysis. Customization of the package includes a selection of heads to feed specified types of insulated or bare wires.

“We’re a young company, our technology is developing fast, and we have lots of exciting plans,” says CEO Steve Bennington. “We believe the HaaS model is the best way to deliver the benefits of all our latest developments to our customers. What’s more, HaaS allows hardware businesses to continue investing in innovation the same way as SaaS companies.”