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GE Research Demonstrates World’s 1st Quantum-Secure Blockchain Network for Securing Digital Transactions in 3D Printing
GE’s Blockchain Network recognized with prestigious National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) 2019 Manufacturing Leadership Award for Supply Chain leadership.
- GE Research Blockchain Team sees broad application of its Blockchain framework to critical commercial and government operations
- Will present results at 2019 CONSENSUS Blockchain Conference in New York City
A multi-disciplinary team at GE Research has pioneered the development of a quantum-secure Blockchain Network for 3D printing, or additive manufacturing, which can manage digital transactions for making parts from powder to finished part. The team’s work has been recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) with a 2019 Manufacturing Leadership Award for Supply Chain Leadership.
Benjamin Beckmann, GE Research’s Blockchain Leader, will present the team’s results at the 2019 CONSENSUS Blockchain Conference being held in New York City. With additive being a principally digital-driven process and its increasing use to make critical industrial parts, Beckmann noted that a blockchain-enabled supply chain provides an ideal framework for managing these additive transactions reliably and securely.
Beckmann says, “The demonstration of Blockchain for Additive is an excellent use case to build out our blockchain framework. We can create networks that allow for fine-grain control of materials flows, data, intellectual property and identity along the entire additive digital thread. The goal here is to provide security for the entire additive process from powder to print.”
The manufacture of high value metallic components with unique additive manufacturing production-only designs in industries such as aviation and power generation require a new level of sophistication at every step along the supply chain, manufacturing floor and post production process.
The additive manufacturing process depends upon a consistent supply of high-quality feedstock that includes highly reactive metallic powders that have a defined shelf life and limited reuse characteristics. Efficiently managing the source, quality level and history of each part of the supply chain is mission critical in any high-tech additive manufacturing operation.
The GE Research team pioneered its blockchain-enabled transactional platform for additive manufacturing in its innovative Forge Lab, which explores what’s possible at the edge of feasibility. The platform combines the need for pervasive data integration with a high degree of cryptographic communications and data storage enabled by quantum communication channels and ultra-fast quantum key distribution technologies.
Beckmann says that this first-of-its kind Blockchain Framework developed at GE Research could have much broader impact across a wide range of critical applications in commercial and government operations. “We’re working on a range of applications addressing industrial-grade requirements for industrial, energy, healthcare, and the defense industries.”
John Carbone, Principal Engineer at GE Research and colleague of Ben’s, says the team has built an industrial-grade blockchain implementation that runs over a rugged, quantum-secure network. “In the network, each identity associated with devices, designs, machines, materials, components and people can be quickly verified, qualified, documented and managed in an automated fashion with the highest degree of data integrity and assurance,” Carbone says.
“The system is based on modern cryptographic methods focused on data integrity, data ownership and rights plus automated workflow capabilities through distributed ledger technologies for contracts and transactions.”
GE Research’s Blockchain Team will be formally recognized at the 15th Annual Manufacturing Leadership Awards Gala of the 2019 Manufacturing Leadership Summit, June 10-12, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa in Huntington Beach, CA.
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