Airbus and LM Industries launch mobility start-up, Neorizon
October 12, 2019
Airbus and LM Industries, parent company of Local Motors and Launch Forth, San Francisco, California, USA, have partnered on the establishment of a new mobility start-up, Neorizon, which aims to provide new products with a focus on local mobility and autonomy. According to the partners, the start-up will combine LM Industries’ digital manufacturing capabilities with Airbus’ expertise in metal Additive Manufacturing, materials, and prototyping and serial production capabilities.
A new Neorizon ‘microfactory’ is expected to produce products at unprecedented speeds through a combination of co-creation and cutting-edge technology. With access to the technological innovations of both partners, such as LM Industries’ open AV shuttle platform and Airbus’ positioning system for drones, enabling easier and safer take-off and landing, Neorizon hopes to create entirely new solutions such as ‘urban cargo’.
Neorizon’s headquarters and microfactory will be built at Airbus’ Ludwig-Bölkow-Campus near Munich, Germany, in conjunction with an Innovation Campus set to include a new campus of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). The opening of the microfactory is expected to create 150–200 jobs, along with design and engineering apprenticeship opportunities.
Jay Rogers, CEO and founder of LM Industries, stated, “Every local and state government is faced with challenges such as rapid urbanisation and congestion, inefficient and pollutive transport, and ever-changing and evolving technology. Current transport infrastructure and existing mass manufacturing are too inflexible and capital intense to service evolving technology trends and changing consumer demands.”
Peter Weckesser, Digital Transformation Officer, Airbus Defence and Space, added, “We’ve been working with LM Industries’ team at Local Motors since early 2016, when we realised the unique value proposition surrounding direct digital manufacturing and open-source design. Both parties recognised the commercial opportunities for pooling resources and expertise, specifically combining LM Industries’ digital manufacturing with Airbus’ materials expertise, metal 3D printing and Additive Manufacturing and prototyping and serial production capabilities.”
Benjamin Queisser has been appointed CEO of Neorizon. Alongside Queisser, Albert Ishak, formerly Financial Controller within the Airbys A400M programme, has been named CFO.
Queisser commented, “Together with our employees, shareholders, and leading mobility and innovation companies in Germany and abroad, we will address local mobility issues by rapidly producing concepts, prototypes, products, and solutions, in collaboration with the local technological ecosystem.”
