Quantum Computing – Does it have anything to offer?

5 lokakuun, 2020

Quantum computing sounds like science fiction and has nothing to do with our daily lives. 70 years ago, when the first transistor computer experiments were done, I’m pretty sure that people had similar thoughts¹. “Everything can be calculated with pen and paper, why do we need computers to do the job?” After a while, the benefits of computers and IT-systems were noticed. Nowadays we would be helpless without an embedded system in our pockets.

Smaller isn’t always better

The same will probably happen to quantum computers during the next 70 years. As we are demanding more and more from the traditional binary computing, the physical limit of transistor size is getting closer². The past five decades or so, electronics have obeyed “Moore’s law”. It says that computers double in speed every two years, which has been correct at least for now³.

Photons or qubits to the rescue?

As transistors are getting smaller, electrons have trouble getting through the smallest components. We could replace the electrons with significantly faster photons⁴. But it doesn’t solve the issue limiting us from making “infinitely” fast computers. Photon chips would still use a binary system, which is limited to 0 and 1. 

With quantum computers using qubits instead of bits, the state can be in principle both 0 and 1 at the same time, in superposition⁵. Without getting deeper into the details, this allows fast computing. For example, Google made an experiment with their 53-qubit system. They solved a numeric problem in 200 seconds that would have taken 10 000 years from the fastest supercomputer⁶.

Enabling scientific breakthroughs

The result itself didn’t have much use, but it demonstrated the power of quantum computing. As a species, we are comfort-seeking and therefore we use brute force to solve the most complicated scientific issues. Faster computers would thus allow us all sorts of scientific discoveries. Ranging from vaccines, antibiotics, AI, weather and climate models to cosmological findings.

Enjoy the ride

It takes years before quantum computers are practical. And they’ll probably never be on our desktops due to technical issues such as cooling. But as we have enjoyed the progress of binary computing, we can enjoy the progress of quantum computing too. In the future we may not have to worry about global pandemics due to more efficient vaccine development. Or to carry an umbrella just in case because weather forecasts are 99,9 % correct.  

In the meantime, we could start to organize chaos due to the randomness of quantum behavior. Thanks to global co-operation we at TT Gaskets are becoming experts at organizing chaos and coping with difficult circumstances. Therefore, we are pioneers of quantum systems and still providing you Smarter Seals for a Safer Future⁷.

Sustainability – Has the pandemic taught us anything?

4 syyskuun, 2020

Among all this hassle with the pandemic, we have had time to think about what’s important and what could be done differently. Reduced need for commuting and working remotely has given us more free time ¹. Facilities and businesses around the world have been closed due to health reasons ². Radical decline in air traffic has caused the popular tourist attractions to be abandoned ³. And the list goes on.

Fragile economy and reduced emissions

Of course, this has not been a good thing for individuals who have lost their jobs (or lives/health for that matter) or for companies who have gone bankrupt. But in a larger scale, this has shown the fragility of our economy and that our actions can make a difference in a global scale. During the peak lockdown a couple of months ago, the daily global CO₂ emissions were reduced by 17 % ⁴. Although this change was not permanent, and the emissions are likely to grow back, it showed us how large an impact we have on our planet. 

Magical resources

And to go even further, this lockdown leads us to think how we can ensure resources for our local economy in the future, if our global suppliers are out of the equation. Before the lockdown we were nearly blind to the fact that stuff doesn’t just magically appear in our warehouses. Someone actually manufactures it, and it requires resources such as energy, raw materials and elbow grease. If these aren’t available, stuff can’t be done, no matter how many emails we send to them.

Closing the loop

One essential way to ensure resources for the future is to take care of materials we have available, not to consider them as junk after a while. Recycling is important of course, but things should be stepped up to create a circular economy model, where materials cycle in a closed loop as long as possible. Instead of our current linear model, where products are mostly landfilled after use, the products are either renewed or recycled to create new products.

Giving example

Doing a major change like this isn’t easy but taking small steps towards the goal of a more sustainable and stable future is beneficial. We at TT Gaskets are also concerned of the environment and are planning to start a sustainable development program that can be taken into action in other companies as well. The actions include for example investing in solar energy, enhancing material use and recycling as well as finding biobased alternatives for fossil materials. First steps towards a greener, smarter and safer future has already been taken, and we hope that you join us in this journey.

Sensors – Trouble or Peacemakers?

4 elokuun, 2020

You have probably come across with sensors at some point in life. At least if you are reading this, I’m pretty sure that you have, knowingly or not. Car owners, especially the ones that own a car manufactured in Southern Europe, probably know the trouble sensor issues can cause. Particularly, when you are in a hurry and your car won’t start.

Crank windows and a hammer

Whether we liked it or not, sensors are a fundamental part of modern technology ¹. And automobiles are not an exception to this ². Personally, I don’t remember the times when you could repair all cars with a hammer and a wrench, but some say that those were the days. Manually choking the carburetor and using crank windows as air conditioning had character. No sensors at sight to ruin the genuine automotive experience. 

But very few of us are actually willing to drive a car without functions that were considered luxury a few decades ago. The same goes with another devices. Who would want to have a smart phone that does not automatically switch between portrait and landscape view? Or use a paper map instead of GPS while driving?

Or elegant but simple technology?

Dozens of incomprehensibly small sensors make our lives easier on a daily basis. And the number of sensors in devices is certainly not decreasing as we are moving towards IoT environments ³. 

And even though the size of sensors may be difficult to perceive, the functioning of them is not that complex. They are simply components that sense physical phenomena and transmit the information forward ¹. If you know how to wash your hands, which is especially important nowadays, you know how sensor circuits function. If the water is too hot, the “sensors” in your hands tell us so and we adjust the temperature from the tap. 

So, remember to wash your hands thoroughly and think about sensors when the water temperature feels pleasant. We at TT Gaskets are also doing so to stay safe and provide Smarter Sealing for a Safer Future with sensors. 

Services – Problem or solution-based selling?

2 kesäkuun, 2020

My latest blog talked about how manufacturing companies are gradually transforming into service businesses. Let’s continue around this topic by concentrating on sales.

Transformation from a manufacturer to a service provider doesn’t happen overnight. It requires a change of heart throughout the company, a new way of thinking. Traditionally manufacturing businesses have sold products and services have been a separate branch of economy. Sales in these traditional companies have been product oriented.

Catalog prices or solution selling

But in order to sell products as services or to create a combination of both, the sales process requires more than just technical details and knowing catalog prices by heart. Instead of selling a product as such, you need to understand the needs of a customer and their business. Traditionally this is known as solution selling which has been around since the 1980s. 

In solution selling, the sales process is problem based instead of product based and the salesperson tries to provide a solution. This is usually a better sales strategy than just providing technical details and list prices. Depending on the customer needs of course. But selling solutions is not enough as so many are doing it, at least on their marketing materials.

Understanding business instead of problems 

Creating ad hoc solutions for certain issues the customer has is usually not productive, at least in the long run. Usually we know the problems we have, but we are not sure how to fix them. Knowing the business of the customer on the other hand creates fruitful possibilities for co-operation. Instead of asking “What keeps you up at night?” you should ask “How do you make money?” from your customer, figuratively speaking. 

Understanding the logic behind the business (or anything else, for that matter) allows you to create solutions that truly create value throughout the chain, instead of fixing issues here and there. And that’s what TTG Smart Lab is all about. We want to create ideas that are gradually formed into solutions. We also want to truly understand our customers to enable co-operation. 

The best solutions are created when an idea is shaped in different minds, gradually developed and agilely tested before bringing a solution to the market. That’s what solution selling should be and that’s what we at TT Gaskets want to be, bringing Smarter Sealing for a Safer Tomorrow.

Services – Why XaaS is a thing?

1 toukokuun, 2020

XaaS seems to be a hype term used by many instances and in different contexts. It has gradually moved from the original meaning of cloud computing services to a much wider use¹. Different branches of industry have begun to offer traditional commodities as a service. There must be a catch in offering services.

Mostly services, less products

If you check the annual reports and financial statements of large global companies that are considered as conventional equipment manufacturers, you notice a common trend.  A noticeable share of the revenue come from services, in some companies up to 50 %.  Some of these companies have already stated themselves as service providers instead of manufacturers. 

The first impressions to these statements were a bit suspicious, but over the years, attitudes have changed.  Now there probably isn’t a manufacturing company that doesn’t mention services in their websites. What makes service providing so attractive then?

Steady cash flow and less care of expenses

I think that the most important factor is the continuous cash flow that services offer. Most of the equipment manufacturers offer for example maintenance with a monthly or annual charge that acts as an insurance. If something unexpected happens, the company promises to offer maintenance without separate expenses to the customer. The same applies to scheduled maintenance and other fixed costs. 

This is at least in my opinion a win-win situation as the service provider gets a steady cash flow and the customer is carefree from any unexpected maintenance costs. Carefree use of products is probably a crucial factor for many and the companies offering services are trying to fill this need.

New services in progress

We at TT Gaskets are also considering service providing as a potential way to improve our business. Many of our current development projects are related to new services in one way or another. The use of novel technology and new business models open possibilities for our products that seem simple to untrained eyes.  

But there’s more to the life cycle of gaskets than expected. Gaskets as a service or GaaS may one day be realistic. At least that is our target for the future of Smarter Sealing. 

¹ https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/XaaS-anything-as-a-service

2020 – 2010s at a Glance

1 huhtikuun, 2020

The start of the new numerical decade 2020 hasn’t been optimal by any means. Things have gone off the track at the very start of the year and continued doing so throughout the first quarter. Let’s see if this year has anything good to offer. We probably just have to wait patiently.

Nokia forecast the future

In the meantime, we could look back how things were ten years ago and see how technology has developed in a decade. Back in 2010 one of the biggest releases was the first iPad that started the era of large screen handheld devices. Now most of the tablets lie in our cupboards as we are used to mobile phones and only a few of us need a larger screen to play Angry Birds.  

Stranger still, Nokia actually had a tablet nine years before the release of iPad, the Nokia M510¹. It was never commercialized, but a prototype series of 1 000 pieces was made. It seems like Nokia had a crooked crystal ball, as this wasn’t their only project that got shelved and years later some other company did a breakthrough with the idea.

3D printing and fancy eyewear

2011 had nothing mentionable to offer in this context, but in 2012 the first commercially available 3D-printer for consumers was released². It started a boom of 3D printing back then and the swell has continued to this day. The materials and equipment developed throughout the decade, but it is still one of the technologies that hasn’t lived up just yet. Hopefully this decade will be a breakthrough for 3D printing, and we can harvest the crops in our business. 

The year 2013 was a year of eyewear. Both Google Glass³ and Oculus Rift (DK1)⁴ were introduced to the audience. Google Glass has remained as promising technology for years, but Oculus Rift is still de facto standard in the VR industry. For true commercialization of VR technology, we probably need another decade.

The last half flew by 

Back in 2014 the must have technology for all was the selfie stick and in 2015 it was the hoverboard. Both of them now lying in the cupboard with the tablet. In 2016 the trendsetters had AirPods and in 2017 Tesla Model 3. 2018 and 2019 offered a few mobile phone releases, but nothing groundbreaking. And I’m forecasting that the hit gadget of 2020 will be a cure/vaccine for COVID-19. But due to the clinical trials, it probably won’t come out until late 2021 or early 2022.

Still and all, we at TT Gaskets have a few tricks up our sleeves. In the best case, our inventions will be in Time magazine’s best of 2020 list of gadgets. But we’ll see. If you are interested, feel free to ask for more. We are here to help you also during these harsh times. 

¹ http://www.youmobile.org/blogs/entry/Meet-the-Nokia-M510-tablet-that-Never-saw-the-light-since-2001-Photos 

² https://www.3dsystems.com/press-releases/3d-systems-debuts-first-consumer-3d-printer 

³ http://glassalmanac.com/history-google-glass/2/ 

⁴ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oculus_Rift 

Batteries – Are lithium-ion batteries Goodenough?

3 maaliskuun, 2020

John B. Goodenough¹. You have probably never heard of him, but I can tell you that he is a good enough bloke. He’s nearly a hundred years old but still rocks in science like a 20-year-old. During his lifetime Goodenough has developed commodities such as computer RAM-memory and lithium-ion battery technology. So, John basically provided us laptops and smart phones. Not bad I would say.

But that’s not all folks, as usual. He is cooking something new for us to tackle one of the most important challenges of our time. As we all probably know, electricity is the noblest form of energy, but it is difficult to store. Lithium-ion batteries are satisfactory energy storages especially for small applications, but in larger scale the weaknesses become evident.

Resource intensive but moderate technology

Manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries is energy and resource intensive business and harmful to the environment with our current craving for batteries. The need for rare-earth metals for the batteries causes ethical and environmental issues as well as the chemicals in the electrolyte are not actually intended for internal use².  

The energy density of lithium-ion technology is moderate, but there’s much room for improvement in large scale storing of energy³. The lifetime of the batteries is also not optimal as renewing batteries every couple of years in for example solar energy plants isn’t economically feasible. But despite the weaknesses, lithium-ion still remains de facto standard of battery technology as there are no other options, yet.

A solid option for lithium-ion 

Goodenough recipe for solving the issues of lithium-ion technology is called a solid-state-battery. The battery is in solid form, hence the name, unlike the lithium-ion which has a liquid electrolyte. Solid electrolyte removes the potential leakage of flammable chemicals and suits better for harsh conditions. The battery composition wouldn’t also require rare-earth metals. The energy density and lifetime should also be significantly higher than with the lithium-ion counterpart. ⁴ 

But how these yet fulfilled promises affect our lives then? In practice not that much I would argue, but in the scene things do change. High yield batteries have the potential to revolutionize our energy production and logistics as storing energy from renewable sources would become feasible and battery-driven vehicles significantly cheaper.  

Batteries with high energy density and long lifetime with low costs could provide more intelligent IoT-systems than we have planned in TT Gaskets, as energy consumption wouldn’t be that big of an issue. We are patiently waiting for breakthroughs in this interesting field of technology and keeping options open for applying it in our innovations. After all, sustainable energy is the solid base of our future. 

¹ https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-B-Goodenough 

² https://blog.energybrainpool.com/en/is-there-enough-lithium-to-feed-the-need-for-batteries/ 

³ https://www.epectec.com/batteries/cell-comparison.html 

⁴ https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/materials-science/solid-state-battery