Spanish-Swiss collaboration improves transport manufacturing process

Talgo and incon.ai have advanced production workflows and increased precision

Saving time and increasing precision in assembling complex train carriages – this was Talgo‘s goal when it launched its Open Innovation Challenge as part of the BoostUp! Europe 2023 initiative. Now, after the proof-of-concept phase, the results suggest that Swiss startup incon.ai’s technology could address the challenge Talgo identified.

While it’s still too early to put a number on the impact this process improvements will bring to production costs, the feedback from a pilot test involving engineers and operators has been positive. “We’re ready to explore options to move into production phase,” says Lander Iraragorri, Corporate Venturing Manager at Talgo.

Engineers and operators at Talgo’s Rivabellosa factory used mobile phones and tablets to visualise assembly instructions through Augmented Reality (AR) during a four-day pilot test.

For incon.ai’s CEO and Co-founder, Fadri Furrer, direct feedback from production employees was key. “We’ve participated in other challenges and applied for grants before, but what made this experience unique was that it was industry-driven,” he explains. Seeing their technology have a direct impact on a real-world product has been satisfying.

From innovation challenge to real-world application

Founded in 2021, incon.ai is a small but ambitious team of four. In fact, they had decided to step back from innovation challenges, feeling that many lacked tangible results. But when EIT Manufacturing reached out, asking if their Augmented Reality (AR) technology could be adapted to Talgo’s needs, they saw real potential and took on the challenge.

At the scouting stage, EIT Manufacturing West’s Business Development & Innovation team did not just focus on laser solutions – Talgo’s original idea. “We conducted a broader market scan to explore other technologies to bring more options to the table” says Gala Maturana, Senior Manager for Business Development and Innovation at EIT Manufacturing West.

Alfredo González Moreno, Head of the Corporate Venturing Unit at Talgo – Talgo INSPIRE – appreciates this approach: “The experience of working with EIT Manufacturing has been positive – it’s an effective way to find suppliers.” More than a year after BoostUp! Europe, Talgo is still in touch with other companies part of the first scouting effort and plans to collaborate on a related project in the future.

AR technology streamlines complex assembly steps

Talgo INSPIRE plays a key role in identifying real challenges on the factory floor and turning them into innovation opportunities. In this case, employees found that traditional 2D assembly drawings couldn’t effectively convey the steps for highly complex assemblies. A projection system was considered to pinpoint precise intervention points.

CEO and Co-founder Fadri Furrer (left) with the rest of the incon.ai team during their visit to Brussels for the BoostUp! Europe event in 2023.

incon.ai’s AR technology is often used in the wood construction industry to project assembly instructions directly onto surfaces. However, it’s not the only option – assembly instructions can also appear through AR glasses or on smartphones. For Talgo, tablets turned out to be a suitable fit, as employees were already using them daily.

Clear communication was essential in adapting the technology to real needs. Both Lander Iraragorri and Fadri Furrer highlight the BoostUp! Europe pitch session in Brussels and the four-day pilot test at Talgo’s Rivabellosa factory as key moments in the process. They see these experiences could be the beginning of a continued collaboration sparked by EIT Manufacturing.