Advertise on podcast: The Third Angle

What if you could transform any standard bicycle into an e-bike in seconds, then switch back just as easily? That's the concept behind Skarper, a company based in Camden, North London, who have developed a groundbreaking clip-on disc drive system that is changing everything we know about e-bikes. Skarper co-founder Dr. Alastair Darwood wanted the power of an e-bike without the bulk and expense. But when Skarper was founded in 2020, there were literally no components on the market small enough to fit their vision. The team spent years designing and developing their own ultra-compact speed controller to create some of the smallest, most powerful components in the e-bike industry. The device is small enough to fit in a shoebox, rather than the massive boxes traditional e-bikes require, making the Skarper system much more sustainable than other solutions. Every Skarper sold means one less heavy e-bike manufactured. Plus, Skarper extends the lifespan of bicycles for years, embracing the circular economy by reusing what's already built, and adding only what's needed. We travel to Skarper’s headquarters in Camden to meet Alastair and COO Uri Meirovich, who show us their sophisticated bike testing rigs, and tell us about how their development partnership with Red Bull Advanced Technologies brought Formula One-grade engineering rigor to consumer cycling. Alastair also takes us on a short bike ride around North London to demonstrate how riders can switch seamlessly between eco, cruise, and turbo modes using the Skarper app. Find out more about Skarper here. Find out more about Arena here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Geoff Marsh. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if you could build a yacht that combined the speed and efficiency of a racing craft with the grandeur of a floating villa? That was the vision founder Peter Johnstone brought to life when he launched Gunboat in 2002, creating an entirely new category of high-performance cruising catamaran.  Gunboat's twin-hull design provides remarkable stability compared to traditional monohulls, allowing the deck to stay flat and maintain pace even in challenging sea conditions. Carbon fiber is used to construct the catamarans for extreme lightness and exceptional durability that lasts forever. The lightweight design isn’t just about speed, but also sustainability. Lighter boats sail more and motor less. With solar integration, electric systems, and ongoing research into recycled composites and bio-resilient materials, these vessels represent responsible seamanship for the future.  We traveled to Gunboat’s purpose-built shipyard in La Grande-Motte in southern France to meet Rodolphe Cadoret, Marketing Director at Gunboat. Rodolphe walks us through every stage of the building process, from the composite workshop through to assembly, carpentry, and the meticulous painting rooms where flawless metallic finishes emerge. He gives us a full picture of how, supported by PTC partner 4CAD, Gunboat uses digital precision to transform physical performance on the water. PTC's Brian Thompson then joins us to explain how Creo's model-based approach and integrated surfacing capabilities enable Gunboat to accelerate time to market dramatically.  Find out more about Gunboat here. Find out more about Creo here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Mat Eric Hart. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Space is becoming dangerously crowded. With Goldman Sachs predicting 70,000 low Earth orbit satellites could launch in just the next five years, the risk of catastrophic collisions is escalating rapidly. Unlike cars or planes, satellites have no drivers on board to react in real-time, making precise orbital tracking absolutely essential. Enter ARCA Dynamics, who provide crucial space-based surveillance of orbiting objects. Discover how ARCA Dynamics uses satellites equipped with advanced cameras to observe other satellites and debris from space, providing crucial "state vectors". These state vectors are mathematical snapshots that pinpoint exactly where objects are and how fast they're moving in space. Unlike ground-based observations that can only track satellites when they pass directly overhead, ARCA's space-based approach offers continuous monitoring with multiple observation opportunities. This helps operators prevent collisions, reduce unnecessary fuel-burning maneuvers, and keep vital services online. We traveled to ARCA Dynamics' headquarters in Rome, Italy, where co-founder Marco Moriani and his team showed us how they are revolutionizing how we monitor space. They also told us about their groundbreaking plans to integrate AI directly into satellites in the future, eliminating transmission delays and dramatically increasing detection capabilities.   Find out more about ARCA Dynamics here. Find out more about Creo here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Danny Mitzman. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Picture a farm where robots work through the night, eliminating disease without a single drop of chemicals. It sounds like science fiction, but it's already happening on strawberry farms across Britain and vineyards throughout California, thanks to a remarkable robot called Thorvald. Thorvald is an autonomous robot that uses UVC light as a preventative treatment for crop diseases. Thorvald's unique horseshoe design allows it to glide autonomously through polytunnels and vineyards at night, emitting precisely calibrated UVC light that damages mildew spores while leaving crops unharmed. The modular platform not only eliminates chemical use but also collects valuable crop data through onboard cameras and machine learning, giving farmers unprecedented insights for harvest planning and yield optimization. Saga Robotics treated roughly 20% of the British strawberry harvest this year, and is expanding to 30% next season.  We traveled to Lincoln, the UK headquarters of Saga Robotics, to meet Chief Product Officer Damian Flynn and his engineering team. Discover how cutting-edge robotics and digital technology are reshaping the future of sustainable agriculture. Find out more about Saga Robotics here. Find out more about Onshape here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive Producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Helen Lennard. Sound design and editing by Louise Morris. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if the thrill of Formula One racing could inspire tomorrow's engineers? That's exactly what's happening with Scalextric4Schools, a nationwide initiative that's transforming how students engage with STEM subjects across the UK. The iconic slot car racing brand Scalextric is challenging secondary school students to design, build, and race their own cars. From aerodynamics to weight distribution analysis, students learn real-world engineering principles and experience the same technical challenges faced by professional Formula One teams. The program includes over 30 UK schools, with growing international interest from the US and Australia. Students use the same tools and techniques used by major engineering companies, including professional CAD software, 3D printing and laser cutting.  Our host Paul Haimes travelled to Hornby Hobbies in Margate, UK, to speak with Simon Owen (Head of Brand at Scalextric), Simon Hooker (Project Lead for Scalextric4Schools), Anthony (a dedicated teacher from Bishop's Blue Coat School), and Izzy, a student whose engineering journey was sparked by the competition. He discovered how the program is bridging the engineering skills gap, inspiring students who might never have considered STEM careers, and connecting classroom learning with real industry practices.  Find out more about Scalextric4Schools here. Find out more about Creo here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Hannah Dean. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

What if your motorcycle wasn’t just electric, but designed to evolve with you? That’s the question Ryvid, a California-based electric vehicle startup, is answering with their bold new approach to urban mobility. Their modular, lightweight motorcycles are built not only for performance and style, but for sustainability across the full product lifecycle. The electric battery at the heart of the vehicle is swappable and can be easily detached to use as an off-grid power source.   We traveled to Ryvid’s headquarters in Fountain Valley, California, to meet CEO and co-founder Dong Tran. Dong shares how Ryvid is reimagining the entire lifecycle of electric transport. We also learn how their bikes are connecting with a passionate community of tech-savvy commuters and lifestyle riders, including celebrity fans like Lana Del Rey and Chris Hemsworth, and PTC’s own VP of Sustainability Dave Duncan.  Find out more about Ryvid here. Find out more about Creo here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.  Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Susan Valot. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Mazak Europe is part of the Yamazaki Mazak Corporation, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of CNC machine tools and laser cutting machines. These machines use ultra-precise multi-axis tools to shape the components used in everything from medical devices to Formula One cars.  But Mazak’s focus is not just on performance, it is on sustainability, with a bold goal to halve its carbon footprint by 2030. We visit Mazak’s European headquarters in Worcester, UK to meet Engineering Manager Chris Johnson. He shares how the company is transforming its operations through it’s "Go Green" strategy. From solar power and electric vehicles to energy-efficient machines and smart factory dashboards, Mazak is reducing not only their own carbon emissions, but the carbon emissions of their customers too.  Find out more about Mazak UK here. Find out more about Windchill here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.  Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Helen Lennard. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Ronna Medical is an advanced technology company revolutionizing neurosurgery with advanced robotic systems. These robots assist in making surgeries such as biopsies more accurate, safe and efficient. The RONNA (short for Robotic Neuro-Navigation) robotic arm is controlled remotely by the surgeon and is able to make the surgeries more cost-effective and lead to better success rates and shorter recovery times for the patients.  We travel to Ronna Medical’s headquarters in Zagrab, Croatia to meet co-founder Dr Bojan Sekoranja, a mechanical engineer with a PhD in robotics. He tells us more about the Ronna system and how it could be used in the future on a wide range of different surgeries, not just neurosurgeries, and may one day not even need a surgeon present.  Find out more about Ronna Medical here.  Find out more about Windchill here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.  Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Will Aspinall. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

H55 is a Swiss company pioneering electric propulsion systems for aircraft, from energy storage to battery management. Founded in 2017, they operate across Switzerland, Canada, and France. With roots in the groundbreaking Solar Impulse project, H55’s technology promises to help to decarbonize air transport. H55’s vision is for a cleaner, quieter, more efficient aviation industry. We head inside H55’s headquarters in Sion, Switzerland with co-founder Gregory Blatt. He tells us more about their B23 aircraft, a two-seater training aircraft powered by electric propulsion. Gregory also explains how PTC’s Codebeamer software allows H55 to ensure compliance and scalability.  Find out more about H55 here.  Find out more about Codebeamer here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.  Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Giles Pitts. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

At the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa, humanoid robots are no longer just science fiction, they’re being developed for tasks such as assisting human workers in factories and even flying into disaster zones. Researchers are pushing the boundaries of robotics with innovations like ErgoCub, a robot designed to support industrial workers which can carry loads of up to 10kg, and iRonCub, a jet-powered robot built for emergency response. We head inside IIT’s robotics lab with Daniele Pucci, Head of Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence to say hello to some of the robots and explore how these advanced machines could become an integral part of our world in the next decade. Find out more about IIT here.  Find out more about Creo here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.  Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Location recording by Carola Haupt. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Open Bionics is a UK-based company developing low-cost, 3D printed prosthetics designed to enhance people’s lives and display their creativity. Their products include the Hero Arm, a lightweight prosthetic arm, the Gauntlet, a partial hand prosthesis, and the Hero Flex, an activity arm. Rather than making prosthetics which attempt to look like real limbs, Open Bionics are unashamedly robotic. Their products are fully customisable and include designs from popular brands like Marvel and Disney. We head to the Open Bionics headquarters in Bristol, UK to talk to Chief Technology Officer Damian Axford. Damian walks us through their clinic, labs and offices to explain how they are using technology to make their products more accessible and why Open Bionics were pioneers in the 3D printing of prostheses. Find out more about Open Bionics here.  Find out more about Onshape here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.  Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Sound design, location recording and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Music by Rowan Bishop.

Iconic British designer Dame Vivienne Westwood set up her fashion brand in the 1970s, reflecting the rebellious spirit of the era and embracing punk and counterculture. With a design record spanning over fifty years, Vivienne Westwood is now recognized as a global brand. Their motto is “buy less, choose well, make it last.” This sets them apart as pioneering a more sustainable form of fashion, discouraging the over-consumption which can be caused by following trends.  We head to the Vivenne Westwood headquarters in Milan to talk to meet Giorgio Ravasio, the brand’s Country Manager for Italy. Giorgio walks us around the shop floor of their flagship store and explains the company’s commitment to sustainability, rooted in Dame Vivienne Westwood’s own activism. He also talks about how the company is embracing technology to stay at the forefront of a highly competitive fashion industry.  Find out more about Vivienne Westwood here. Find out more about Flex PLM here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Location recording by Dany Mitzman. Music by Rowan Bishop.

In this special episode of Third Angle, we’re looking back at some of the innovative tech, toys and gadgets we have featured on the podcast. From model kits that contain life-like details of fighter jets, to ear buds with 360 degree spatialized sound, to top-of-the-range electronic keyboards, to interactive robotic toys, we are celebrating the future of gifting. We head to Copenhagen to talk to Morten Urup, the VP of Consumer Devices at communications company Jabra, then to the HQ of consumer electronics company Casio in Wembley, London to hear some beautiful music from their latest Privia keyboard range. We then hop across the pond to Rhode Island for an inside look at the magical world of Hasbro and their innovative Furby toys, and finally to Airfix’s HQ in Kent, UK, where Product Designer Chris Joy tells us about the work that goes into their model kits. Find out more about Jabra here. Find out more about Casio here. Find out more about Hasbro here. Find out more about Airfix here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Sound design and editing by Clarissa Maycock. Location recordings by Lærke Sivkjær, Hannah Dean and Georgia Wright. Music by Rowan Bishop.

“We are at the forefront of innovation.” In this episode of Third Angle, we’re heading over to Gröbenzell to explore hydrokinetic power generation with Energyminer. The Energyfish is a crucial part of Energyminer's offering, providing turnkey power plants composed of schools of Energyfish, which harness river currents to produce sustainable energy 24 hours a day, all without disrupting aquatic ecosystems. We spoke to Chantel Niebuhr, CTO of Energyminer, about the development of innovative technology and how it aims to decentralise energy production for a cleaner future. With modular, fish-friendly turbines, Energyfish is designed to adapt to various water environments, making clean energy accessible even in remote locations. Find out more about Energyminer here.  Find out more about OnShape here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC.  Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and X for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Sound design and editing by Rema Mukena. Location recording by Marleen Kaesebier. Music by Rowan Bishop and stream sounds by Mike Stranks, freesound.

“When those rockets light, the air just vibrates. You feel the sound permeating your body in waves… It’s magical.” NASA has been pushing the boundaries of space exploration for decades, and today, the Artemis program is the next giant leap. With a mission to return humans to the moon and venture even further into space, NASA is embracing cutting-edge digital engineering to make this vision a reality. In this episode, NASA give us very special access behind the scenes at Kennedy Space Center. Meet Terry Hill (NASA’s Digital Engineering Program Manager),Trish Nicoli (NASA’s Digital Engineering Deputy Program Manager) and Christal Jolly (Core Stage Operations Manager) as they guide us around three of the most iconic sites in the history of space exploration. Discover how tools like CAD models, simulation, and digital twins are revolutionizing the way rockets are designed, tested, and launched. From inside the massive VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building), built to assemble the Saturn V rockets; to the mammoth crawler that transports spacecraft and launch tower to the iconic launchpad that’s been re-designed to accommodate Artemis, NASA’s most powerful Space Launch System to date. Find out more about NASA’s Artemis program here. Explore PTC’s technology here. Your host is Paul Haimes from industrial software company PTC. Episodes are released bi-weekly. Follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter for updates. This is an 18Sixty production for PTC. Executive producer is Jacqui Cook. Sound design and editing by Sara Joyner. Location recording by Gareth Evans. Music by Rowan Bishop. Image: NASA