Altair announced a new partnership with Gruppo Cimbali centered on using digital twins to develop industrial coffee machines. The Altair Activate software platform will use data, simulation and the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize the espresso makers.
Activate takes a holistic approach to its simulations and utilizes a system of systems methodology to find interactions between those systems. Using a combination of one- and three-dimensional models, the tool works to give a better understanding of the operation as a whole. Activate breaks down sensors, actuators, feedback mechanisms and logic relays into their model components to create block diagrams that reimagine control systems. Other Altair software plug-ins like Modelica, Flux, and MotionSolve can be linked with Activate to provide better outcomes.
The Cimbali machines were already known for their slogan “Italian excellence, beautifully automated,” and this new venture will only bring the industrial coffee world further into new technology fields. Even the simplest machine I could find on their website comes with a technical data sheet (yes, it’s written in Italian) and an assortment of buttons, knobs, LED alerts, levers, temperature indicators and, of course, space to stow several coffee cups. There’s an extensive page dedicated to coffee preparation, because the best equipment deserves to be used in the best possible manner to create the best coffee.
The other thing that jumps out at me is Cimbali’s strong commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability. The company is a member of the Waste from Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) initiative and follows its commitment to prevent unnecessary electronic waste. The company’s extensive Environment and Safety Policy outlines its dual goals of minimizing energy use and respecting the environment. Material selection supports its sustainability goals with eco-compatible plastics, ecological detergents and recyclable materials used wherever possible. Design decisions are made with an eye toward saving energy, ranging from insulated boilers to cup warmers with adjustable temperature to low-consumption LEDs. So, even before starting this alliance with Altair, Gruppo Cimbali was already heavily invested in technological advancement and environmental citizenship.
Altair remains a leader in simulation technology with a huge selection of tools, including data analytics, industrial design, fluid and thermal capabilities, manufacturing consulting, systems modeling, and many more. It’s wild to see how broad its offerings are, ranging from things we think of as general consulting functions to the heavily in-depth multiphysics simulation applications. What’s even more striking is that for every one of these branches of the company there are several case studies or customer testimonials demonstrating how Altair’s software tools have been used. These tools are built for engineers, data scientists, and educational use from Fortune 500 companies to new startups.
Gruppo Cimbali’s mission focuses on leading the espresso beverage machine industry, staying true to its historic roots as a company and anticipating the future needs of its consumers. Just based on those company ideals, this partnership makes total sense. The press release showed off a few analysis examples—a block diagram examining the different components and phases of a flow system, and a more photorealistic diagram showing different possible outputs for a machine.
Cimbali is getting world-class digital twin and simulation tools to bring its already-connected machines even deeper into the future, and Altair is notching up another partnership that it can use as a case study for its huge portfolio. As the press release mentions, the hope is that this collaboration will “reduce the need for physical tests, shortens time-to-market, and increases the energy efficiency of the machines.”