SPREAD on Its Mission to Streamline Engineering

The world of engineering and manufacturing is rapidly evolving, driven by advancements in technologies like 3D printing. In this interview, we sit down with Robert Göbel, co-founder of SPREAD GmbH, a pioneering force in simplifying access to product information through their Engineering Intelligence Network. As industries strive to innovate and streamline processes, the synergy between engineering insights and 3D printing technologies becomes increasingly vital. Join us as we explore how SPREAD’s innovative approach not only bridges the gap between these realms but also revolutionizes how companies like Mercedes, Porsche, and VW are shaping their futures through development, quality enhancement, efficiency gains, and a commitment to sustainability.

3DN: Could you introduce yourself and tell us about your company?

Hey everyone, I’m Robert Göbel, co-founder of SPREAD GmbH. SPREAD is committed to simplifying the access and application of product information for everyone. Through our Engineering Intelligence Network, we transform your product data into user-friendly, intuitive, and actionable insights. Our platform seamlessly integrates various forms of product information, facilitating engineering teams in comprehending intricate systems such as automobiles, aircraft, and machinery. Catering to a range of applications from Research and Development to Aftersales, SPREAD’s Engineering Intelligence Network has been instrumental in propelling the advancement of esteemed clients like Mercedes, Porsche, and VW. By expediting development cycles, enhancing quality, minimizing inefficiencies, and fostering sustainability, our platform is reshaping the landscape for these industry leaders.

Meet co-founder of SPREAD GmbH, Robert Göbel

3DN: How does your software function?

Imagine a complex product like a car. You need thousands of highly specialized engineers and millions of lines of code to bring it from development to production. It is almost impossible to understand the interplay and the connections of all the mechanics, the electronics, and the software components. Engineers spend 70% of their time manually searching for product information. This is because their tool landscape is fragmented, causing essential information to be isolated or difficult to access. They need this information to get a complete understanding of how their product works. If you think about the huge effort that goes into manually building this contextual understanding, it is remarkable that engineers can make such innovative and complex products work. SPREAD’s Engineering Intelligence Network combines all separate product information sources into a knowledge graph of the product. This graph acts like a middle layer that interconnects resources or data streams with Opensource and open APIs data that are relevant for different use cases.