AM-Flow will provide services in the context of AI-Matters, the Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) Network that aims to make the latest developments in Artificial Intelligence and robotics accessible to European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in manufacturing.
AI-Matters aims to increase the resilience and flexibility of the European manufacturing sector by deploying the latest developments in AI and robotics, and intelligent, autonomous systems for flexible production. It does this by establishing a Manufacturing Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) network. The AI-Matters network can be found at various locations across 8 countries in Europe and has 25 partners: mostly large research and innovation organizations. The extensive services that these organizations offer in the various areas of interest under attractive conditions are always adapted to the needs and expectations of the European manufacturing industry. AI-Matters is co-financed by the EU and national and local governments.
Brainport Industries Campus
The Dutch node, of the AI-Matters network is located at the Brainport Industries Campus (BIC), where various high-tech manufacturing companies and technical suppliers can be found to produce and innovate together. It is coordinated by Brainport Industries, also located at BIC. In addition to Brainport Industries, there are two other Dutch AI-Matters partners, namely Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and TNO. The Dutch node continues to build on existing facilities and infrastructure and offers services in the field of human-robot interaction and optimization at factory level.
Collaboration with Brainport Industries
AM-Flow and Brainport Industries offer SMEs an unique opportunity to accelerate their transition towards Industry 4.0 and autonomous manufacturing. Through a range of cutting-edge AI-based systems and modules provided by AM-Flow, SMEs can learn how to deal with the complexity of the infinite variety of parts, quality control and flexible and innovative manufacturing processes they will encounter while transforming their operations into on-demand, local or distributed, personalized, and sustainable manufacturing processes. These services enable SMEs to understand how they could apply new manufacturing technologies in different steps of production of, for example, additively manufactured, re-manufactured, and/or medical parts.
New services
The services are based on unique systems and modules that form the core of workflow automation in high-mix Industry 4.0 manufacturing. These include key modules for identification, sorting, quality inspection, and complementary material handling and bagging, all designed to handle the infinite variety of parts encountered in modern manufacturing processes.
The services will encompass various configurations of modules with different goals:
- Demonstration of modules: SMEs can witness firsthand the capabilities and functionalities of different modules within the workflow.
- Feasibility Study: Together with the SME, AM-Flow would conduct analysis of the SMEs factory processes to evaluate the feasibility of integrating specific modules into the factory workflow, aiming at a specific goal, for example to reduce complexity and manual labor.
- Testing & Experimentation: A service allowing SMEs to test whether their parts can be processed by the current modules under the pilot line setting. When required, minor adjustments can be done to the pilot line setting to make testing with specific parts possible.
- Experimentation at SME site: SMEs can further experiment with module configurations in their operational settings, gaining practical insights and optimizing workflows for their specific needs.
- Customization for New Use Cases: This service will typically require customization of modules to address new and impactful use cases, providing a tailored concept demonstrator to identified manufacturing challenges.
Through these services, SMEs will gain valuable insights into factory transformations, including technology integration, data management, cost implications, risks, development timelines, and potential opportunities. They will also learn how to navigate high-mix manufacturing while adhering to industrial standards such as speed, cost efficiency, quality assurance, and traceability. This knowledge will empower SMEs to make informed decisions and develop tailored business cases for their investments in AI manufacturing infrastructure.
About AI-Matters
AI-Matters is a Flagship Digital Europe Programme initiative for the creation of a Manufacturing Testing and Experimentation Facility (TEF) Network, including the leading entities at EU-level in Artificial Intelligence for the manufacturing sector.
AI-Matters is a network of seven nodes and one satellite aiming at increasing the resilience and the flexibility of the European manufacturing sector through the deployment of the latest developments in AI and robotics, and intelligent, autonomous systems for flexible production.
AI-Matters brings together a consortium of major Research & Innovation organizations from eight European countries (Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, The Netherlands and Spain) including 25 beneficiaries. All consortium members bring their expertise in manufacturing for different sectors such as automotive, space and mobility, textile, recycling, etc.
AI-Matters offers its customers an extensive service catalog spanning the topics above that evolves through continuous updates, as needs and expectations of the European manufacturing industry progress.
The Dutch node has the ability to build on already existing facilities and infrastructure. The services provided are within the fields of human-robot interaction and factory-level optimization. The Netherlands has 3 beneficiaries in AI-Matters: Brainport Industries, TNO and Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e).
TNO is an independent not-for-profit research organization, stimulating innovation on topics that are relevant to a company and to society. TNO focuses on topics that contribute to a digital, healthy, safe and sustainable society.
TU/e is a research university, specializing in engineering science and technology. AI research at TU/e focuses on the use of data and algorithms in machines, such as robots, autonomous cars and medical equipment, and on the interaction between humans and systems.
Brainport Industries is a unique high tech ecosystem of tier one, tier two and tier three high tech suppliers for high-mix, high-complexity, low-volume manufacturing industry. Together with its members, Brainport Industries is active in projects in human capital, technology and market, to increase the innovative strength of the supply chain in the Netherlands and the Brainport region in particular.