Pangloss Labs receives the “Manufacture de Proximité” label from the Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires
As part of its Nouveaux lieux, Nouveaux liens programme, the French National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT) unveiled 61 new Manufactures de proximité on 18 July.
The Pangloss Labs association is proud to have been selected in the 3rd and final wave to become the only Manufacture de Proximité in the entire French Genevan metropolitan area and the 3rd in the department of Ain.
This is the second label received by Pangloss Labs, which has been a Fabrique de territoire since October 2020! Pangloss Labs is also the only manufacture de proximité with a renewable energy sector.
There are currently 100 third-places with the Manufacture de Proximité label, deployed throughout France.
The "Manufactures de proximité" scheme was launched in July 2021 by the National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT) and the General Directorate for Business, in conjunction with France Tiers-Lieux, to provide long-term support for entrepreneurs and craftsmen throughout our territories, and to provide impetus, within the framework of France Relance, for a programme of economic and engineering support for third-space production sites.
As a reminder, third-spaces are physical spaces for doing things together (coworking, connected campus, shared workshop, fablab... Third spaces are the new places for social links, emancipation and collective initiatives.
What is a Manufacture de proximité ?
Manufactures de proximité are productive third-spaces, which animate and provide services to a professional community. The aim of these local manufactures is to support local economic activity by enabling craftsmen, entrepreneurs and very small businesses to come together in small local production units and to benefit from services and training. The Local Manufactures will become a resource for local industry in order to relaunch the manufacture of products in France.
The Manufactures de proximité will receive grants of an average amount of 250,000 euros over two years to help them invest in local production machinery and equipment to improve their manufacturing capacity, consolidate their business model and purchase equipment for their professional community. The selected Local Manufactures all benefit from an engineering programme that has two components: A four-month incubation phase for project leaders to consolidate the project presented; a two-year tailor-made support phase for each factory, once the funding has been granted, to accompany the implementation of each project. This support aims to create a local economic dynamic and to encourage the promotion of trades, skills and know-how.
Manufactures de proximité are at the heart of the revival of business through territories and the revitalisation of territories through business. I have long defended these third-spaces that bring together VSEs, SMEs and craftsmen around sectors, objectives and values of the future, anchored in people's daily lives. These first 100 labelled structures contribute to our economic sovereignty: they must therefore inspire new ones
Manufactures de proximité are unique places where production tools and techniques can be shared, and they help to create a new economic and social dynamic in our territories. They are a lever for promoting our unique heritage and know-how. Our territories are a wonderful breeding ground for initiatives: I am delighted that these first 100 manufactures de proximité are helping to revitalise them!
"Facilitating access to a world of possibilities".
This is the raison d'être of Pangloss Labs, a non-profit association created in 2014. The mission of the association, based in Ferney-Voltaire in the Pays de Gex (Ain), is to create laboratories for experimentation and prototyping to support local entrepreneurial activities.
Pangloss Labs is a third-space that offers easy access to multiple physical spaces to share and pool tools, machines and workspaces, and provide opportunities for collaboration on different projects. Currently, we offer a Fablab, a Coworking space, and a shared wood workshop (the Woodlab), and are developing a metal workshop (the Metal lab) in beta test. The Pangloss Labs association has about 100 members with various skills. They include professionals (engineers and scientists, designers, creators, artists and entrepreneurs), but also students, retirees and passionate amateurs. By offering production tools, machines and professional skills that are simply not available elsewhere in the Pays de Gex, Pangloss Labs has a lighthouse role and thus responds to a need of companies, social actors and citizens of the territory.
Our action plan as a "Manufacture de Proximité" foresees the increase of the manufacturing capacities of our Fablab, the development of a professional services pole to support local companies and the development of professional training activities.
We are developing cross-border cooperation with various universities and schools: USMB, UNIGE and HEPIA. We are providing prototyping and experimentation support for the new renewable energy eco-system that is being developed in and around Hotspot, the first building of the Ferney Genève Innovation project.
Guillaume Cabrié, co-founder of Pangloss Labs and co-director of the Fablab, said: "We have already helped hundreds of local entrepreneurs with their businesses and increased the number of digital fabrication machines in the region. This award is recognition of this and will help us to move quickly to the next stage, making more and better products right here in France. "
For more information, see our Manufacture de Proximité Project or contact us.
Coffee Machine
HP 775z 2D Printer
Pangloss Labs receives the “Fabrique de territoire” label from the Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires (National Agency for Territorial Cohesion)
Pangloss Labs and COVID19
So what is feasible to do in a Fablab?
We have 3D printers, laser cutters and mechatronics capabilties. We are not, for the most part, medically trained. We have collected together some of the open source designs that would be feasible to fabricate in our fablab :
3D printed door handle extendersThese are designed to make it so doors can be opened with arms instead of hands - reducing the spread of COVID19. Materialise have created an open source collection of designs for different types of doors. These take 2-4 hours to 3D print. |
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3D printed door openersthis time so a person can carry it from door to door and not have to touch them with their hands to open it. Thingiverse has a collection of designs. These take roughly 30 minutes to 3D print. |
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FacemasksMaking filters for facemasks is a simple process of cutting the correct shape from the appropriate filter material. In the event that facemasks and the proper materials are really not available, studies have been done to find "last resort" replacements For cloth facemasks, you don't really need a fablab. Scissors and a sewing machine will work fine. |
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3D Printed FacemasksMany enthusiastic 3D printing communities have designed and printed facemasks on the grounds that they are better than nothing. . There are a number of different designs from HEPA filter based, to simple frames for a cloth mask. It's impossible to choose which ones would be useful locally, but if there are clear local needs, there are plenty of open source designs available for us to use or modify. |
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Face shieldsIf masks are not available, then face shields can protect medical staff against direct droplet infection - like from a cough. Face shields can be laser cut from clear plastic which is much faster than 3D printing. There are even designs which use A4 plastification sheets. |
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VentilatorsIn a more serious pandemic situation, we could certainly provide small scale production of open source ventilator designs to help patients breathe. |
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Oxygen concentratorReprap has started work on an open-source Oxygen Concentrator. |
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Valves and other complex partsThere has been at least one case where a hospital in Italy has had valves for reanimation devices 3D printed when they weren't available from the supplier. We have machines in our fablab that can do this. |
We are willing to do our part
Our production capacity in the fablab is limited but we have links with other fablabs/makerspaces/hackerspaces around us. To local doctors, the Pays de Gex medical centres, local hospitals, and the Mairies around us we make this simple statement."If you need us, we will help".If any of this will help you, contact us at fablab[at]panglosslabs.org and we will be in touch to discuss your precise needs. And if it turns out that we have all the medical equipment we need, so much the better, we will stay home like everyone else.
Designjet Printer
(Hosta) HP Designjet 5500 Printer
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Vinyl Cutter
The Roland GS-24 Vinyl Cutter is a desktop cutting machine able to cut vinyl, card and paper, precisely. Machine Status: Working (more…)Saxifrage Mini CNC
Closing the loop: Innovation for a Circular Economy
Introduction to 3D Printing
Training : Introduction to 3D Printing
Price for this trainingMost Popular€50
Price for Pangloss MembersPangloss membership is €30 per year€30
Learn about the world of 3D printing from one of our fablab experts. In this introduction course you will learn the basics of 3D printing and how to use a filament-based 3D printer, including the all important first print.
What the course covers
This is a two hour course including hands on exercises with a Pangloss expert.
At the end of it you will be able to use the Pangloss Labs 3D printers, and be much more expert with your own 3D printer at home or work.
The course includes:
- 3D Printing Technologies
- 3D Models
- Slicing into layers
- Controlling the printer
- Your first print
- Print Designs
Pre-requisites
No specific knowledge is needed for this course. Your technical ability should be "can click a mouse".
Practical
Bring a laptop computer or tablet if you can. If not, you can use one of ours. We will use open source software "Cura" on this course so if you like you can install it on your computer before you come.
This course is available on demand and take place in the Fablab in Ferney-Voltaire. Fill in the form below to indicate interest and we will arrange a date to suit you. Payment is only due once the date has been arranged.
This course is available in both English and French.
Pangloss @ #UNHCRNGOs
Calendula 3D scanner
Trefle 3D printer
Primula 3D printer
Oak CNC
Blue Lotus Laser Cutter
Forget-me-not 3D printer
Comfrey CNC
Making things for a good cause
Is Lake Geneva ready to make stuff again?
Globalisation only flows one way. At least that’s the experience of the last 30 years. Manufacturing fled Europe, looking for more and more economies of scale, making millions of identical objects for the cheapest possible price.
Fab Lab
Fablab
Hands on building of (almost) anything. Prototyping, finished products and repairs. With digital fabrication machines from 3D printers to lasers to large format CNC machines.
A Fablab is a space for learning new skills and sharing your skills. We do not have resources to fix things for free, but will happily show you how you can learn to repair and make things. To find out more, visit us on one of our regular open days.
So far we've had projects including Art & Design, Prototypes & Repairs, Furniture & Decoration, Electronics & Automation, Experimentation & Research, Robotics, along with DIY & Education. If you're not sure where to start, we even have group projects where you can learn with others.
You don't have to start from zero. Come and learn how about the world of digital fabrication with our regular training courses. Our introduction courses are suitable for everyone, with reduced prices for Pangloss members!
We have a range of different machines in the fablab, suitable for different types of project, from hobbyist to professional. To use one of our machines, you will need to be a member of the association. We do not (yet) sell material for making your projects, but may have small scrap/leftover pieces for testing. Before reserving a machine, you will need to be trained in one of our training courses. Use of machines is on a first come first served basis and requires payment. Hand tools, table saw, scroll saw, drill press etc are available in the space and are free for members to use. Fees are displayed in the fablab and, for members, on the appropriate web page, but start at €2/hour for filament-based 3D printers.
Lab Managers
The Fab Charter
What is a fab lab?
Fab labs are a global network of local labs, enabling invention by providing access to tools for digital fabrication
What’s in a fab lab?
Fab labs share an evolving inventory of core capabilities to make (almost) anything, allowing people and projects to be shared
What does the fab lab network provide?
Operational, educational, technical, financial, and logistical assistance beyond what’s available within one lab
Who can use a fab lab?
Fab labs are available as a community resource, offering open access for individuals as well as scheduled access for programs
What are your responsibilities?
safety: not hurting people or machines
operations: assisting with cleaning, maintaining, and improving the lab
knowledge: contributing to documentation and instruction
Who owns fab lab inventions?
Designs and processes developed in fab labs can be protected and sold however an inventor chooses, but should remain available for individuals to use and learn from
How can businesses use a fab lab?
Commercial activities can be prototyped and incubated in a fab lab, but they must not conflict with other uses, they should grow beyond rather than within the lab, and they are expected to benefit the inventors, labs, and networks that contribute to their success