VTT SMACC Smart Machines and Manufacturing Competence Centre

Finland: West Finland

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

SMACC ecosystem hosts a network of research infrastructures and test facilities. It offers one-stop-shop for manufacturing industry ecosystem to reach Finland’s most advanced facilities and knowledge.SMACC offers unique services for SME`s in the field of machinery, manufacturing and digitalisation. The key features are rapid solutions, cutting-edge research expertise and extensive partnership networks.

SMACC consist of versatile research facilities, equipment and laboratories of VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd, Tampere University of Technology (TUT) and Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK) available for SMEs. The research infrastructure can be utilised for various purposes such as product prototype creation, demonstrations and laboratory piloting in conjunction with production renewals or introduction of new technologies.
SMACC includes over 20 different laboratories with different expertise. Each laboratory can offer their diverse equipment to be utilized in various projects, pilots, demonstrations and other activities. SMACC-Labs’ infrastructures are grouped under 5 themes: Digital Factory, Robotic Village, Digital Systems, Materia Insight and Smart Machines.

The facilities and equipment of SMACC-Labs cover are continuously extending including, but not limited to:

Over 15 industrial robots with varying payloads from 2 to 225kg, e.g. ABB IRB 120, ABB IRB 4600, Comau NM 45-2.0, Kuka KR 110-150, Kuka KR 2500-150, Schunk Powerball LWA 4P, mir100, UR10

Extensive software selection for technical computing, design, simulation and monitoring.
Tools and software for production simulation and planning, off-line programming, and dynamic safety system definition for human-robot collaboration.
A variety of VTT developed open tools for digital factories (https://www.simulationstore.com/)

Virtual Reality….
Pilot line / demonstration line / scale-up and pre-series
Full-scale production modelling, simulation and planning. Order and delivery process development
Proofs of concept and Lab testing of basic experimental set-up for e.g. machine and production systems, robotics and automation and IoT
Prototyping (integrated system/ sub-system) development & testing
Scientific & technological development
Product validation, certification and characterisation
Study / initial design / Simulation
Renting of available & selected infrastructure for SMEs
Awareness creation, scouting, brokerage, networking
Ecosystem building, program and project services, co-creation, international networking
Visioning and Strategy Development for Businesses
Digital Maturity Assessment
Incubator/accelerator support
Market intelligence
Education and skills development

. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

CAMT - Centre for Advanced Manufacturing Technologies

Poland: Dolnośląskie

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Research areas and competencies of CAMT are within the most recent development, manufacturing and informatics systems trends known not only in Poland. A broad extent of carried out research programmes and implementation projects assures a constant technological improvement and enhances the scientific and research potential of CAMT – over the centre's existence (since 2000) it has grown from 16 to 76 employees (2 full professors, 3 associate professors, 28 assistant professors, 23 postgraduates and 23 scientific-research workers, paid of commissions and projects). This trend is highly conducive to establishing a close cooperation with industry and enables to carry out research projects in national and international associations – several projects within the frame of FP6/FP7/H2020 and commissioned directly from industry, chiefly German, were carried out. Unprecedented so far international contacts, involving staff exchange (dozens of people a year, some of whom come to the Centre from abroad), create… Technological part of CAMT is organized in the form of five laboratories:

LASER – laser technology laboratory – to perform research of processes and laser technologies, mainly: welding, cladding, laser surface treatment, micromachining, precision cutting, laser beam quality monitoring.

BadMat – material testing laboratory – to perform research in the field of inspection and control of materials and mechanical relating to the identification of important factors affecting technological process (macro- and micro material properties, mechanical properties, surface properties, chemical composition, etc.).

LRPD – rapid prototyping laboratory – rapid prototyping (RP) and tools for prototype series (RT) technologies development, which are used in the early stages of production development, which helps reduce time and cost associated with the introduction of the product on the market.

LRE - reverse engineering laboratory (accreditation PCA No. AB 969) – digitizing of physical objects to the three…. CAMT provides as the University and Research Centre both training and R&D in areas actively investigated in CAMT which may be classified as follows:

1. Product design and development
a.  Computer Aided technologies: CAD, CAM, CAE, Virtual Prototyping
b. Modelling, simulation and optimisation in mechanical engineering
c. Product Lifecycle Management, Production Management
d. Knowledge Management
e. Standardisation in design, product development and manufacturing

2.  Materials engineering
a. New materials (alloys, composites, smart materials, magnetic materials, powders of metals, ceramics and polymers, etc.)
b. Materials technologies (micro-metallurgy, composite manufacturing, 3D printing, etc.)
c. Characterisation of materials (static, dynamic, thermal, chemical, etc.)

3.  Manufacturing technologies
a. Casting
b. Forming
c. Injection moulding
d. Machining (difficult-to-machine materials, micro-machining, precision machining, etc.)
e. Surface engineering
f. Bonding (welding, joining,…. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Toulouse White Biotechnology

France: Occitania

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Toulouse White Biotechnology (TWB) is a pre-industrial demonstrator which facilitates the interface between companies and academics, offering R&D projects from laboratory research to pilot scale (biocatalysis, synthetic biology, process engineering), in the field of biomaterials, chemicals and biofuels. TWB is an administrative body supported by French National Institute of Agronomy (INRA) with an association agreement National Institute of Applied Sciences (INSA Toulouse) and Scientific Research National Center (CNRS). The activities foster the creation and design of biological tools (enzymes, microorganisms, microbial consortia) for use in industrial processes. TWB offers collaborative public / private R&D projects and services. The projects are based on a continuum of expertise: from research and proof of concept to pre-industrial development and industrial technology transfer including business creation. The expertise covers a broad scope of industrial biotechnology: enzyme engineering, synthetic biology… The Microbial strain engineering platform is equipped with two automated colony pickers and specific equipment dedicated to the high-throughput analysis and preparation of nucleic acids, proteins and microorganisms, e.g. capillary electrophoresis systems, spectrofluorometer, custom-made cloning and transformation stations, flow cytometer analyzer/sorter, high capacity transfer liquid systems. The Biotransformation and culture process platform has a whole range of instrumented bioreactors with capacities from 50 mL to 300 L (batch, fed-batch, continuous). These reactors are coupled to an adapted at-line or on-line analytical system characterizing liquid, solid and gas phases. TWB is equipped with a custom-made high-throughput culture station. It consists of a robotic device fully automated and equipped with 24 mini-bioreactors (50mL). The Analytical platform includes chromatographic separation devices (liquid, ion, gas and size exclusion) and conventional and new-generation detectors (UV, infrared,…. TWB delivers a broad scope of services based on its experience in industrial biotechnology: enzyme engineering, synthetic biology, metabolic engineering, fermentation, separation and purification processes and analytical techniques.

TWB offers research and development contracts to private companies from research to pilot scale (metabolic pathway design, strain optimization, process optimization and scale-up), in connection with researchers from the top public laboratories.

TWB develops standard and customized service offers: technical and support services on TWB technical platforms, access to equipment, hosting and training.

Technical and support services are (i) High-throughput colony picking, (ii) Plasmid and strain engineering, (iii) Single cell characterization and high throughput screening of microbial cells by cytometry, (iv) Rapid optimization of microbial and enzymatic bioprocess, (v) Scale-up of the microbial culture process, (vi) Amino acid quantitative assay, (vii) Determination of the…. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

CITCEA-UPC

Spain: Catalonia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

CITCEA-UPC is a technology transfer centre which was created in 2001 within the UPC (Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaTech), and it is specialized in responding to electrical and electronic technological challenges. The aim of the centre is to receive these challenges and solve them by creating a functional prototype that will serve the companies to eventually develop a new commercial product or to solve a new technological problem created by the growth and evolution of the society.

The centre is formed by 9 UPC professors, 7 PhD, 15 hired engineers and 30 undergraduate and postgraduate students.  The centre received on 2001 the TECNO certification, created by the Government of Catalonia, through ACCIÓ. This certification recognizes CITCEA-UPC as a Catalan technology reference centre with high capacity and experience to carry out projects of all kinds, whether from commercial projects with private companies to European projects in cooperation with various institutions and companies… Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya has multiple facilities and equipment for the development of research activities, this equipment can be consulted in the following web:

Http://www.upc.edu/sct/ca/

For its part, CITCEA-UPC also has the necessary equipment for the development projectes in its expertise fields. The most important are listed below:

Microgrid: An experimental microgrid, designed and built by the CITCEA-UPC team, is available for the testing and validation of new technologies in the field of electrical engineering. This microrred is composed by different battery emulators, photovoltaic system emulators, diesel generator emulators and different load emulators. So it is possible to test multiple configurations and equipment with real electricity, not just by simulating.

Simulation equipment: Specialized computers with high calculation power are available for the development of those modellings, simulations and calculations with greater complexity, reducing calculation and development…. CITCEA-UPC is able to provide different types of services to the industry and the SMEs:

- Technology studies: Tecnology scouting,  validation of concepts, legal and economic possibilities...

- Prototype design and development: Power electronics systems, PCBs, converters...

- Training: Masters, professional courses and customized courses.

 

 
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

MCIA Innovation Electronics

Spain: Catalonia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The MCIA is a reference center of research, development and innovation for its scientific research, applied research and technology transfer activities in the areas of energy efficiency, electromobility and industrial systems. The activity of the MCIA center is based on research and knowledge generation to allow a technology transfer of high innovative value and significant competitive level to the industrial sector. The MCIA center provides solutions for the creation of new products, and optimization of the existing ones, in the areas of electrical, electronic and ICT engineering. The MCIA is member of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia Technology Center, CiT UPC, from where the MCIA cooperates and leads multiple research and technology transfer activities.
Four specialized laboratories (electronics, mechatronics, high voltage and simulation), highly qualified staff, infrastructure and professional technical equipment. Some of the relevant equipment are: electronic systems prototyping, fully equipped benches for electric motors testing, high-performance acquisition and monitoring systems, HIL platforms, electromechanical chains characterization benches, supply sources (700V-60A), current transformer up to 10kA, 400l corrosion chamber, traction bench up to 10 tons, DC generator up to 1400kV, AC generator up to 130kV, FEM and CAD design and modelling.
. The MCIA Center covers the whole innovation and development chain: conceptualization, design, implementation and validation. Thus, a high quality technology transfer till TLR 7 around: (i) Electric traction chains; powertrain, energy management of electric vehicles, charging systems and communications. (ii) Energy efficiency; intelligent management, micro-networks, integration of renewable sources, forecasting and optimization. (iii) High voltage systems; Dielectric, current and mechanical testing, life cycle assessment, 3D electromagnetic design and simulation. (iv) Industrial electronics; power converters, control, smart electronics, communications and measurement equipment. (v) Advanced maintenance; decision support, predictive maintenance, reliability, sensor networks. (vi) Mechatronics; electric machines; control, diagnostics and fault tolerant systems.
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Fraunhofer Institute for Microelectronic Circuits and Systems IMS

Germany: North Rhine-Westphalia

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

Devices & Technologies
ASICs
High Temperature Electronics
IR Imagers
CMOS Image Sensors
Pressure Sensor Systems
Biohybrid Systems
Wireless and Transponder Systems
Electronic Assistance Systems

Clean room
ASIC manufacturing
Microsystems technology MST Lab&Fab
inHaus-Center for intelligent rooms and building systems

.
Scientific & technological
Study / initial design / Simulation
Proof of concept / Lab testing of basic experimental set-up/ Characterisation
Component/ breadboard / process development & testing
Prototyping (integrated system/ sub-system) development & testing
Pilot line / demonstration line / preseries

. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Robotized X-Ray tomography for NDT , CEA tech region platforms

France: Loire Region

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

CEA Tech is the CEA’s (the French Atomic Energy and Alternative Energy Commission) technology research unit. CEA Tech’s three labs—Leti, Liten, and List—develop a broad portfolio of technologies for ICTs, energy, and healthcare.
CEA Tech leverages a unique innovation-driven culture and unrivalled expertise to develop and disseminate new technologies for industry, effectively bridging the gap between the worlds of research and business.
CEA Tech also provides businesses with access to Key Enabling Technologies developed by other CEA operating divisions.

Since 2013, CEA Tech has opened branch offices in Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Nantes, and will step up its activities in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region.
The regional branch offices will work closely with local stakeholders and the main CEA Tech platforms in Grenoble and Saclay.
Their mission is to:
• Disseminate the KETs developed at the CEA to meet the needs of all industries
• Develop local research programs that round out existing programs and… Robotized X-ray tomography  for NDT :

A large scale shielded housing (9mx 6mx 4m)
Two cooperative robots moving on rails, with high precision and high repeatability
A micro-focus 225 kV X-ray generator
Various detectors: large FOV (400 mm x 400  mm), high pixelized (50 µm pixel size), multi-spectral (material discrimination)
A fatigue machine for in-situ cracks development imaging
Image processing and fast 3D reconstruction algorithms
Software simulation for inspection parameters optimization

. Robotised XR imaging facility

2D and 3D  NDT
Novel means to image, control and monitor large and /or complex parts 
Object adapted inspection (acquisition time decrease, high zoom-in over defined ROI)
Support to further developments of manufacturing technologies and emerging  processes (composites, blending , metal)
Non destructive characterization of internal defaults (inclusion, porosity, cracking) and their development  after mechanical  and/or acceleration weathering tests
in-situ mechanical study
Porosity mapping of additive manufacturing parts
Quality control
Structural integrity monitoring
Reverse engineering for numerical modelization inputs

. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

AIN - Asociación de la Industria Navarra

Spain: Navarre

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

AIN (www.ain.es/en/) is a private non-profit Technological Center, owned by 120 industrial companies in Navarra, from all sectors: automotive, agro-food, paper, chemical, metal-mechanics, renewable energy and ICT. These companies stand for 72% of Navarre´s GDP. The company has participated in more than 40 funded European projects. AIN employs 75 people and 2016 turnover was nearly € 6M.

Main activities:

Advanced Surface Engineering

Advanced tribology

Coatings and intelligent materials

Biomaterials

Nanoparticles and nanocomposites

Mechatronics

​Vision and intelligent systems

Predictive Maintenance

Measurement, control and communications. Remote sensing

Advanced Engineering

Integrated project management (turnkey plant projects)

Energy efficiency, renewable energy and cogeneration studies

AIN is associated to ADITech (Advanced Innovation and Technology… http://www.ain.es/en/ 

AIN has a complete set of vacuum processing techniques and characterization systems for thin film tribological evaluation. A vacuum hybrid system PVD equipped with sputtering DC and cathodic arc evaporation can be seen in the picture below. The system allows the coating processing of medium size parts for stamping operation. Coating formulations attainable include tribological carbon-based materials, and the incorporation of additives such as W, Ni, Cr, or Si which permit to enhance the thermal stability of the carbon. 

Tribological, mechanical, chemical and microstructural analyses can be done in facilities present at AIN, such as nanoindentation (Hysitron), tribometers (CSM), SEM (Hitachi4800), AFM (Veeco), XRD (BrukerD8). All them allow a comprehensive analysis and diagnosis of coating performance against specific tribosystems and establish correlations with processing parameters. 
. Research + Development + Industrial Application

Differential Added Value

AIN works in collaboration with other Technological Centers, Universities and Companies in the development of projects aimed at increasing the competitiveness of our customers by offering products and services with a differential added value:

•Cross – approach expert advice in technology development and industrial implementation

•Advanced Surface Engineering

•Information – Communication Technologies – Mechatronics

•Advanced Engineering
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS, Division Engineering of Adaptive Systems EAS

Germany: Saxony

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS is one of Germany's most important industrial applied research facilities for the development of microelectronic systems. The scientists in the Division Engineering of Adaptive Systems EAS, located in Dresden, develop key technologies for the connected world of tomorrow. They work on design solutions for complex electronics as well as on intelligent components and innovative systems. The work of the Division is used in a broad range of industrial applications such as communications, automotive and automation technologies.

http://www.eas.iis.fraunhofer.de/en

 
The division offers a number of design software tools for faster and more effective IC design. These are compatible with typical standards, permitting easy integration into the design process of electronic systems. One goal of particular importance is a high design quality despite ever more complex systems. Thus, we take account of the growing requirements concerning reliability and robustness of systems.
. The services of Fraunhofer IIS/EAS in the business areas Design Methodology, Efficient Electronics and Distributed Data Processing & Control range from training and studies to the development of design methods and tools or even the realization of system components and systems.

The division assesses ideas for functionality or suitability for everyday conditions and analyzes the technical and technological feasibility of product ideas. Customers profit from outstanding know-how in the field of design automation for electronic systems. By applying knowledge and innovative solutions, the researchers aim at achieving a faster, more efficient and last but not least a more cost saving design of ICs and electronic products. 

Fraunhofer IIS/EAS offers comprehensive consulting in the development of systems. After an analysis phase, the researchers create a design concept and bring ideas to life, for example in the form of prototypes. They also assist and advise customers during the final series production.
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology

Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technologies and Innovation

Czechia: North-East (Czechia)

Overview

Mission/Objectives of the cluster organisation

The Institute for Nanomaterials, Advanced Technology and Innovation is a research centre of the Technical University of Liberec (TUL). Its aim is to contribute to the development of the region, which is traditionally oriented to technical industries. The Institute connects the laboratories of the technical disciplines at TUL and cooperation with major players in industry. Research programs are focused on areas of material research and competitive engineering with an emphasis on the usability of the research and development results in practice. To search for a specific person or 3D visualization of our building use this application.
Institute for nanomaterials, advanced technology and innovation (CxI) is equipped with unique and modern machinery and equipment. CxI utilizes state-of-the-art equipment in laboratories to research projects developed under the flag of European Union and private business.

 

Analytic equipment

Microscopes and Visualization equipment

Measuring and digitizing equipment

Technology equipment

 

 
. The technical University in Liberec is the largest and most comprehensive research organization in the region of Liberec. The newly created Institute offers cutting-edge technology in the field of material research and engineering technology research. Research and technological base, at the Institute, meets the strictest criteria of the current requirements for research and serves as demanded support for commercial and other entities, in the form of contractual research. TUL has a tradition of long-term cooperation with the industry, which means an experienced staff and professional approach to our partners.
. Yes. service.

Sectors
Technology