People And Stories: Ambitious Advancement of AI and Digitalization

Accompany five Exyte employees and their ambition to use technology to get the best result for our clients.

Tam Wing Hung stands confidently with his arms crossed, wearing glasses, a striped sweater, and a wristwatch. He smiles subtly while posing in a well-lit indoor setting.

Tam Wing Hung and Mark Stephens share not only an office at Exyte in Shanghai but also a love for technology. In their work and also their spare time, they try out different methods and digital tools to enhance Exyte’s competitiveness and elevate client satisfaction. “Finding a digital solution for a problem always comes with an investment in time, but when you find the right one, you can save thousands of hours over the long run while achieving better results,” says Tam, a Design Manager and building information modelling expert.

This is echoed by Mark Stephens, the company’s Principal Architect in Asia: “For us at Exyte, it’s about embracing technology. And personally, I believe that we need to push boundaries all the time and to occasionally fail when you test something. Because if you’re never failing, then you’re not pushing hard enough.”

Mark Stephens stands in front of a bright backdrop of office windows, wearing a dark suit and shirt, with his hands casually in his pockets. He smiles slightly, exuding a professional yet approachable demeanor.

Harnessing the power of technology

Both are very excited about the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) applications for their daily work. “Imagine a company that wants to expand its semiconductor or pharmaceutical facility. What you need for that, above all, is accuracy for your drawings, your 3D model, and the later facility that wraps around the existing structure,” says Mark Stephens. So instead of sending a costly site surveyor, Exyte uses a drone that captures thousands of photographs from different angles and altitudes. These are then used by AI algorithms to create a geolocated 3D model. “The most fascinating thing is the level of accuracy that is typically in a span of a few millimeters. That is much more precise than you would get if measured by people in the field, at a fraction of the time and the cost,” the architect describes.

The clients benefit from cost-effectiveness, and the speed facilitated by computer assistance. “We can quickly create an intricate 3D model out of 2D drawings. This allows us to swiftly simulate a multitude of processes, such as the flow of personnel and materials, both in the construction and later in the operating phase,” Tam elaborates. “While these capabilities have been available for some time, continuous enhancements in programs and algorithms now allow us to deploy these services with great efficiency. Consequently, our clients and we, as professionals, can engage in detailed design considerations at a significantly earlier stage of the project,” Tam adds.

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Antonello Finucci stands confidently with his arms crossed in a modern office setting. He wears a navy blue sweater and dark jeans, exuding a relaxed yet professional demeanor.

Building a room layout in minutes

ExyVision is another tool Exyte has created to get into the design phase as early as possible. With a focus on biopharma and life sciences facilities, ExyVision is the perfect complement for the traditional 3D model. “ExyVision’s big advantage is its simplicity,” Antonello Finucci, Exyte’s Director of Technology Management, emphasizes. “After a short introduction anyone can use it to develop the rough initial design of their own facility – the tool is very intuitive, and one will learn its features very quickly.” Following that, Exyte’s Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) and designers step in to refine the layout design and develop it further.

With ExyVision, clients and Exyte can collaborate on the design of a new facility from day one. Either by choosing from templates created by Exyte’s SMEs, or designing a layout from scratch, the user can set-up the layout of their facility. They can easily switch between 3D and 2D visualization and choose from an ever-growing database of process and manufacturing equipment.

Olga Fischbein smiles softly while standing indoors. She wears a teal blouse with a bow at the neck, her long brown hair gently resting on her shoulders. The background is softly lit, creating a calm and welcoming atmosphere.

“A layout that gives the client a realistic visualization of how the facility will look like.”

“An exact 3D model usually comes at a later stage of the planning process. ExyVision on the other hand serves to create a layout of a facility in a matter of minutes. A layout that gives the client a realistic visualization of how the facility will look like,” Olga Fischbein says. The Process Lead Engineer regularly collaborates with clients on facility design and has programmed new functions for the tool, such as the operator training in first person view. “Clients can use this to try out work processes in the facility or at a later stage to teach their personnel how to operate the process equipment.”

ExyVision is also the first step in realizing digital twins. A digital twin is an accurate replica of the real-world counterpart, encompassing its physical equipment, operational processes, the entire site, and it is linked to field data. It can simulate and predict process outcomes in real-time through advanced data analytics and visualization. A digital twin can be a valuable product for Exyte’s clients in all business areas.

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Martin Wenz stands in a construction setting, wearing a high-visibility jacket and protective gear, including a helmet and safety glasses. His Exyte-branded attire, along with his focused expression, highlights his role on-site.

The future of construction

Designing a facility is one step; building the facility is what brings it to life. Even with decades of experience in engineering and building high-tech facilities, Exyte never stops evolving. Testament to this is the introduction of a Boston Dynamics mobile robot. Called “Rexyte” by employees, the robo “dog” can monitor the physical progress of projects. By utilizing AI technology, it captures and maps out the construction sites in real-time.

“Having these detailed visualizations of a construction site allows us to closely monitor progress and make informed decisions,” says Martin Wenz, Technology Manager at Exyte. “Equipping the robot with a laser scanner helps to early detect potential clashes between the design and the structure and avoiding rework.”

The robot dog, named "Rexyte," is seen in a construction environment. Branded with "Exyte" and developed by Boston Dynamics, Rexyte's agile frame highlights its advanced capabilities for navigating complex worksites.

Robots are set to become a more usual sight on Exyte project sites. “There will be more technological tools on-site,” Wenz predicts. This will range from exoskeletons, with motorized joints to enhance the strength and protection of workers, to autonomous construction vehicles such as diggers. It can even include robots that transport materials, build, plaster and paint walls. “Robots will in the not-so-distant future take over the more menial repetitive tasks on a construction site and free up the human labor force to focus on the more challenging parts of their work,” Wenz says.

Integrating technology into the design and construction process is not only an objective for Exyte, but a pathway toward becoming a more efficient and innovative company. By embracing new technologies and tools, Exyte’s employees always have the ambition to advance the capabilities of the company. Not only keeping pace with but moving the industry forward by harnessing the power of innovation.