NEWS SA STARTUP MAKES TOP 100 LIST OF MOST PROMISING AI COMPANIES IN THE WORLD CB Insights has named South African company DataProphet, a leader in AI that enables manufacturers to step towards autonomous manufacturing, to the fourth annual AI 100 ranking, showcasing the 100 most promising private artificial intelligence companies in the world. ‘It’s been remarkable to see the success of the companies named to the Artificial Intelligence 100 over the last four years. The 2019 AI 100 saw 48 companies go on to raise $4.9B of additional financing and nine got acquired,’ says CB Insights CEO Anand Sanwal. ‘It has been gratifying to see that CB Insights’ data-driven approach to identifying the top AI companies using patents, customer traction, investor quality, market sizing and more has become so effective at picking the AI winners of tomorrow. We look forward to seeing what the 2020 AI 100 companies will accomplish over the course of this year and beyond.’
In addition to disrupting core sectors including healthcare, retail, and finance, the 2020 AI 100 companies are revamping the broader enterprise tech stack. These companies span the globe, from the US, UK, China, Chile, and South Africa, and are supported by more than 600 investors. ‘We’re delighted to be recognised by CBI Insights as one of the most promising AI companies in the world, with only four AI companies in the manufacturing sector selected,’ says Frans Cronje, CEO at
Automation in a manufacturing plant
DataProphet. ‘We’re committed to helping manufacturers achieve their Industry 4.0 goals and build a solid foundation for autonomous manufacturing.’ Through an evidence-based approach, the CB Insights research team selected the AI 100 from nearly 5 000 companies based on several factors including patent activity, investor quality, news sentiment analysis, proprietary Mosaic scores, market potential, partnerships, competitive landscape, team strength, and tech novelty. The Mosaic Score, based on CB Insights’ algorithm, measures the overall health and growth potential of private companies to help predict a company’s momentum.
APEX STRIP CURTAINS OPTIMISE WORKFLOW As the manufacturing industry pays closer attention to best practice, quality control and safety in the workplace, PVC strip curtains are playing an increasingly valuable role. Apex Strip Curtains & Doors sales executive, Wim Dessing highlights how the company’s locally produced strip curtains are used to enhance workplace demarcation and workflow. ‘Internal entry and exit points are common places for accidents to occur in the workplace,’ Dessing says. ‘Similarly, points of transition between various sections in a manufacturing or storage facility can also be a safety concern.’ Usually supplied as transparent, the PVC strip curtains maximise visibility while still meeting the need to cordon off sections and optimise the flow of work. This considerably lowers the risks related to vehicular traffic moving in and out of different areas of the workplace. The curtains also reduce the ingress of dust, smoke and insects, while also helping prevent the entry of hot or cold air.
Manufactured locally in South Africa for over 45 years, these premium products from Apex Strip Curtains & Doors feature the patented Balledge on both sides of the individual strips. This reinforced rounded edge on the strips is a major differentiator, ensuring an optimal thermal close. It also allows the strips to part easily, which improves access for pedestrians, pallet trucks, forklifts and other motorised equipment.
‘We produce our general purpose strip curtains with specially formulated PVC material,’ Dessing says. ‘Apart from its transparency for increased visibility, it is also highly resistant to discolouration, cracking or tearing.’ While they are commonly used at permanent entrance and exit points, these industrial PVC strip curtains are also a popular way of creating temporary partitions within large manufacturing facilities.
Apex Strip Curtains are transparent allowing optimal visitbility
INDUSTRIAL BUYER MARCH/APRIL 2020
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