Many SMEs stall before reaching full-scale production, not because the technology is weak, but because they lack the right competence, capacity or direction. The transition from prototype to industrial productionis demanding, and this is where the most common pitfalls arise:
Factor47 was established to reduce this risk.
Factor47 is part of Kongsberg Innovation and the Norwegian Catapult programme. Through industry-near test and pilot infrastructure,companies gain access to facilities developed by industry, for industry.
Building on the Kongsberg region’s long industrial historyin sectors such as defence, space, energy, maritime and advanced manufacturing,Factor47 provides access to both infrastructure and deep industrial expertise.As part of a national consortium within the Norwegian Catapult programme, smalland medium-sized enterprises also gain access to a broad network of industrialand technology partners.
For many SMEs, the main challenge is not technology, butcompetence and capacity. Many lack the right internal expertise or are unsurewhere to begin. Through Factor47, companies gain not only access to facilities,but also mentors, advisors and experienced industry experts who support thedevelopment journey. Companies do not need to have all competencies in-house toget started.
When scaling products, it is not individual components thatdetermine success, but how everything works together. This is often referred toas Systems Engineering and involves viewing the entire product lifecycle as awhole.
From idea and requirements definition, through design andtesting, to production, operation and continuous improvement. In parallel,financing, scaling and market readiness must also be addressed.
This requires coordination across disciplines such as IoT,data and cloud, software and firmware, electronics, mechanics and materials.Supporting systems like PLM, ERP, MES, CRM, CAD and simulation tools arecritical to make this work in practice.
Everything must work together.
Challenges rarely appear in drawings or simulations alone.They become visible when solutions are tested in realistic productionenvironments.
At Factor47, practical pilot and test activities are a core part of the offering. Typical challenges addressed in the pilot line include:
Through simulation and testing, supported by a complete digital thread from machine to cloud and throughout production, companies can validate assumptions early, before they turn into costly mistakes.
Factor47 consists of approximately 1,000 square metres of industrial facilities, four industrial robots, two production lines and a dedicated logistics area.
Rather than building a production line around a singleproduct or process, the facility is designed for flexibility. Production setupscan be adapted to different technologies, products and manufacturing needs.
This flexibility allows companies to test differentconfigurations, combine manual and automated operations and make adjustmentsalong the way. For many companies, this is essential for making informeddecisions before committing to full-scale production.
In the Technology Readiness Level scale, the transition from lab to industry is often the most capital-intensive and risk-exposed phase.
Factor47 acts as a bridge between research and industrial-scale production, where technology can be matured, tested and documented in relevant environments before full deployment. This significantly reduces both technological and commercial risk and provides a stronger basis for investment decisions.
Lack of resources is a common barrier for SMEs. Through theNorwegian Catapult programme, parts of the work can be financially supported,enabling companies to test and develop without tying up significant internalresources.
Through pre-qualification and clarification projects,companies can explore feasibility, scope and next steps with limited risk.
By using Factor47 as a pilot and test arena, companies canidentify pitfalls early, validate technology, processes and businessassumptions, and bridge the gap between idea and industrial reality.
Full-scale production is not the place to discoverfundamental flaws.
Early testing is what gives innovation the best possible conditions to succeed.
Factor47 supports companies in bridging the gap between development and industrial production. By combining industry-near pilot facilities, Systems Engineering and practical testing, companies can validate critical assumptions early and make better decisions before scaling.
Located in the heart of Kongsberg Technology Park, one ofNorway’s most competence-intensive industrial environments, Factor47 providesaccess to real production environments where technology, processes and systemscan be tested under realistic conditions.
