Research
Our Research
Our research serves one overall purpose: supporting product and production innovation within the Flemish manufacturing industry. That's why we perform industry-driven, pre-competitive technological research into the vehicles, machines and factories of tomorrow. As such, we stimulate the digital transformation of our companies – big and small.
Initially, this research leads to actual applications for companies (innovation leaders) participating in the research project. Next, we also share results with the rest of the industry so that innovation followers can make the transition to Industry 4.0 as well.
This is how our research strengthens the competitiveness of the entire industry.
Types of research
Within Flanders Make we conduct different types of research. Do you want to know more about ICON, SBO, COOCK or TETRA research?
Four competence domains for successful digital transformation
Flanders Make’s expertise focuses on four domains. In each single one of them, modelling and virtualisation play an important part. These four domains have been translated into competence clusters in which companies, other research institutions and knowledge centres work together. To each of these competence clusters, a number of core labs have been assigned that perform concrete research projects.
DECISION & CONTROL
Mass production is giving way to customised production.
Production environments must be able to produce in a highly modular fashion,at the lowest possible operational cost and without any machine downtime.
Customers expect zero-defect products and total flexibility. Moreover, systems are becoming increasingly autonomous. Examples include fruit-picking robots,autonomous vehicles in logistics, unmanned patrol boats, and many others.
Sensors play a major role in these areas. However, it doesn’t end with measuring. Data must be interpreted and applied in robust, self-learning measuring and knowledge instruments to improve mechatronic systems. Artificial intelligence plays a major role in these areas. This is the only way in which we will be able to develop intelligent products and highly effective production environments – smart products and smart factories that are characteristic of Industry 4.0 – necessary to remain competitive in Flanders.
DESIGN & OPTIMISATION
Demand for customised production is rising dramatically, and introducing a single product to market is no longer enough. Using model-based design methods and supporting software, we help developers improve the increasingly-complex design process. An entire product family is expected from the outset. This is only possible if the design process is aligned accordingly, right from the very first phase. After all, the further you are into the design process, the more expensive and time-consuming it is to implement any changes.
Specific tools give designers near-instant insight into the different possible concepts and optimal design choices. We also offer support for production environments, in which we take the impact of production on the design into account.
FLEXIBLE ASSEMBLY
We support businesses in their digital transformation to become ‘factories for the future’. To satisfy increasing demand for quality, personalised products at the cost price of mass production, and taking into account high wage costs as well as the ageing population in Western Europe, we’re focused on getting smart machines and people to work together. To achieve this, we perform research into flexible assembly units that can cope with multiple product variations.
People continue to play a key role in the modern production environment, but are supported by robots for specific tasks. This interaction is a must for any factory that wants to survive tomorrow and ensure the work continues to be manageable.
MOTION PRODUCTS
Many companies in Flanders work around products with a motion component such as vehicles and machines. We apply this competence to help them develop new ‘future-proof’ products which are smart, automatically adapt to the environment to provide optimal performance, and use digital, Industry 4.0 technology.
The focus is on the architecture and the validation of systems, as well as the combination of autonomy and automation (autonomation) for professional applications. For businesses, this leads to improved, better-performing products that last longer and deliver better quality.