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FOCUS
OCTOBER 2015
research & Innovation in Luxembourg
Future
manufacturing
technologies
N°10
KEYNOTE INTERVIEW FOCUS ON Entrepreneurship
A driver for the innovation Leading global innovation and innovation
economy strategies How to do well in business
Small size, outstanding effects. Fall in love. In the heart of Europe the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg gleams with its multitude of facets. Innovation-driven companies, state-of-the-art technologies and cutting-edge R&D make Luxembourg a diamond of timeless beauty. An irresistible, trustworthy and flawless partner for your international business. Luxembourg. Small country, safe values. www.luxembourgforbusiness.lu
FOCUS
EDITORIAl Over the past 30 years, Luxinnovation has built up the
knowledge, expertise and networks that enable us to pro-
vide enterprises in Luxembourg with solid practical sup-
port. This is our mission; to act as a strong and trusted
partner for companies aiming to drive forward their re-
search, innovation and business development.
Our goal is to put Luxembourg on the international map
as a recognised centre for the highest quality research and
innovation, underpinned by the firm backing of a com-
mitted and responsive governmental structure. It is in-
creasingly important to establish relationships between
our companies and their counterparts abroad, and we
welcome and provide the highest level of assistance to in-
ternational actors interested in setting up innovation and
research-based activities in Luxembourg.
FOCUS – Research and Innovation in Luxembourg, which
we first published in 2008, is the perfect showcase for our
country’s research and innovation capabilities. It gives a
regular snapshot of important developments here and
enables us to draw the attention of readers worldwide
to the potential for new R&D, innovation and business
partnerships with Luxembourg companies and research
organisations.
This 10th edition of FOCUS has as its main theme the pro-
duction technologies of the future. Luxembourg has a
proud manufacturing tradition, centred around the pro-
duction and processing of materials. Materials manufac-
turing accounts for a large proportion of the R&D activi-
ties of the country as a whole, and the sector is constantly
searching for and investing in new production technolo-
gies aimed at enhancing competitiveness and productivity.
The following pages cover cutting-edge activities related
to the production of composite materials, lean manufac-
turing, robotics, high-tech laser applications and many
others. We also take a look at the issues that will come un-
der the spotlight at Manufuture 2015, where policy makers,
business leaders, innovators and academics from all over
Europe will converge to discuss the future of manufactur-
“We welcome and provide ing. The conference, organised by Luxinnovation, takes
the highest level of place on 23-24 November in Luxembourg City.
assistance to international Would you like to know more about research and innova-
actors interested in
tion in Luxembourg or set up a meeting with our special-
ists? Please contact us; our teams are there to help you.
setting up innovation and
research-based activities
in Luxembourg.” Jean-Paul Schuler
Managing Director, Luxinnovation
Jean-Paul Schuler National Agency for Research and Innovation
3 – Issue 10
interested in establishing innovation
and researCh-based aCtivities
in luxembourg?
Personalised services to help
ensure your success:
Networks
Partners, clients, suppliers,
research, sectors, events
Company Creation
Procedures, permits,
recruitment, office space,
mentoring, business
plans, incubators
Access
Authorities, companies, decision-
makers, Clusters, R&D communities
Business
development
R&D, innovation, academia,
technology, partners
Technology
developmenT
Partner searches, technology transfer
We provide • AUTOMOTIVE
high-level • BIOMEDICINE
expertise
• ECOTECHNOLOGIES
in the
Funding folloWing • ICT
National funding schemes, European fields: • MATERIALS AND PRODUCTION
funding schemes, venture capital TECHNOLOGIES
• SPACE TECHNOLOGIES
SpecialiSt advice
Law, tax, labour, Market developMent
customs, finance Studies, databases, multi-sector expertise
Contact Ian Cresswell
Luxinnovation GIE National Agency for Innovation and Research International Partnership Development
T: +352 43 62 63 – 664 ian.cresswell@luxinnovation.lu
TABLE OF CONTENTS
News from innovative Luxembourg 07
Keynote interview 10
A driver for the innovation economy
Future manufacturing technologies
Focus on 44 Future manufacturing technologies 13
Leading global How to grow the manufacturing sector 14
innovation strategies Constantly reinventing manufacturing 17
New room for growth 20
Leading innovation in a specialised niche 23
Modelling the future 25
99.99% reliable: robotics for total quality control 28
The rewards of perfection 30
Lean techniques, high performance 32
Research meets industry: advanced materials science 34
Excellence through collaboration 38
Innovative spaces 40
Learning-by-doing at The Learning Factory
Entrepreneurship and innovation
Entrepreneurship and innovation news 49
How to do well in business 51
Driving manufacturing forward 53
Did you know it’s from Luxembourg? 55
Contacts 58
Editor-in-chief Sponsors
Lena Mårtensson Luxembourg Ministry of the Economy
lena.martensson@luxinnovation.lu National Research Fund
Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce
Journalists
Susan Alexander, Stephen Evans, Lena For a free subscription, please contact
Mårtensson, Kasia Trzcinska-Draper info@luxinnovation.lu
Copy-editing The publisher has tried to ensure that all information is accurate but cannot be held respon-
Ruth Bloomberg sible for the use that might be made of the information, for omissions or for any mistakes
FOCUS on Research and Innovation in that might appear.
Luxembourg is published by Graphic design and layout
Luxinnovation GIE Cropmark Reproduction is authorised, provided the source and copyright are acknowledged.
National Agency for Innovation © 2015 Luxinnovation GIE
and Research Photographers
Boshua, Eric Chenal, Marion Dessard This publication is cofinanced by:
Director of publication
Jean-Paul Schuler Printed in 15,000 copies
6 – Issue 10
FOCUS
News
from innovative
Luxembourg
Luxembourg and the neighbouring
regions for the purpose of iden
tifying predictive and progressive
disease biomarkers. The Centre
also plans to work with the US
National Institute of Health to
develop a platform to host and
analyse whole genome sequencing
data from Parkinson’s disease
cohorts drawn from countries
worldwide.
www.fnr.lu
Highest proportions
of innovative enter-
prises in Germany and
Luxembourg
According to the latest Community
Innovation Survey from the EU
statistical office Eurostat, 66.1% of
Luxembourg companies reported
© 06photo - shutterstock innovation activity in the period
2010-2012. This ranks Luxembourg
erable expertise in this area, the second in the EU only to Germany,
programme will focus on the two and compares extremely well to
A Centre of Excellence most urgent challenges in the the reported 48.9% average across
in Parkinson’s field; improving early-stage the EU as a whole.
research diagnosis and gaining a deeper
understanding of disease stratifi Luxembourg also reported the
The Luxembourg National Research cation (the differences in the highest proportion – 53.5% – of
Fund (FNR) has launched an 8-year ways patients are affected). enterprises engaged in organisa
programme with estimated tional and/or marketing innova-
financing of €20 million to establish In the first stage of the programme, tion. For share of companies con-
Luxembourg as an international the new National Centre for Excel- ducting product and/or process
centre of excellence in research lence in Research on Parkinson’s innovation, Germany ranked first
into Parkinson’s disease. Building disease will recruit a cohort of with 55% and Luxembourg second
on the country’s already consid- Parkinson’s disease patients from with 48.5%.
7 – Issue 10
News
© IBBL
cancer was present. Should these
Transnational Potential biomarkers findings be confirmed, they could
partnership for for early stage colon form the basis for a new and much
functional coating cancer identified more accurate early detection test.
World-leading Swedish tooling and A joint research project between www.ibbl.lu
tooling systems company Sandvik the University of Luxembourg, www.uni.lu
Machining Solutions has set up IBBL (Integrated BioBank of
a research partnership with the Luxembourg), the Luxembourg
Luxembourg Institute of Science Institute of Health and the Testing the circular
and Technology (LIST). The National Health Laboratory has economy
company, part of a 47,000-strong identified two molecules that
global group, aims to harness the may indicate the presence of A circular economy describes an
expertise in advanced materials early-stage colorectal cancer. economy that actively aims for a
and nanotechnology offered by This is potentially a vital turning positive ecological and economic
LIST’s Materials Research and Tech- point; this type of cancer is often impact, as opposed to a simple
nology department to develop undiagnosed before symptoms reduction of harmful effects.
new types of innovative functional appear, while early screening Luxembourg is already a testing
coating for tooling systems. LIST is is not very effective. ground for circular solutions and
currently extending its network of knowledge, mainly in the steel and
partnerships with industry, both at The research team, set up to construction industries but also in
home and abroad. analyse whether certain proteins sectors such as primary manufac-
could serve as disease biomar- turing, logistics, ICT, robotics and
www.list.lu kers, found reduced levels of 3D manufacturing.
www.sandvik.com proteins SOCS2 and SOCS6 in the
colon in cases where colorectal
8 – Issue 10
FOCUS
A recent study initiated by a joint Careers”, will focus on the MSCA
committee of the Luxembourg COFUND action, which co-
EcoInnovation Cluster, Ministry finances high-quality cross-border
of the Economy and Ministry for fellowship or doctoral programmes.
Sustainable Development and The conference is organised by
Infrastructure concluded that Lux- the Luxembourg National Research
embourg has significant potential Fund.
for further development in this
direction. Citing the country’s www.msca2015.lu
economic stability, responsive
government, manageable size
and in particular, the efficiency, High ranking for
drive and commitment of its local Horizon 2020 funding
players, the study recommended
the implementation of a much Luxembourg is currently among
wider-scale testing programme. Europe’s top performers in terms
© Luc Deflorenne
As a result, new pilot projects are of successful applications to Ho-
to be implemented in a variety of rizon 2020, the EU’s highly com-
economic sectors. petitive framework programme
for research and innovation. In the In a solar cell, light passes through
www.ecoinnovationcluster.lu first 14 months of the current a conductive oxide film to the ac-
programme, 19.71% of the propos- tive material beneath. Ideally, the
als submitted by private and public film would be 100% transparent
International Luxembourg-based entities were to allow maximum light to pass
conference to fuel successful. through, but in practice, some of
researchers’ careers the light is absorbed by the impuri-
Even more encouragingly for the ties added to the film to make it
As president of the EU, Luxem- country’s evolving public research conductive. The team modified the
bourg will host the annual Marie sector, both the number of proj- film by substituting the impurities
Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) ects and the amount of funding with a gas plasma, rendering the
conference on 10-11 December obtained were higher than in the film as conductive as before but
2015. full first three years of the previous considerably more transparent.
Seventh Framework Programme.
MSCA, which has a budget of The still-young University of Similar attempts have been made
€6 billion, is a major plank of the Luxembourg scored a particularly in the past, but this is the first time
Horizon 2020 programme to notable success with the award of the film has been prepared in a
recreate the European research its first-ever European Research one-step process and proven to
community as a vital international Council (ERC) grant. be stable in air. “This is a fantastic
force. MSCA funds research result, not only for solar cells, but
training, fellowships and career also for a range of other techno
opportunities for researchers of Improving the logies,” says Professor Susanne
all ages and in all disciplines, with efficiency of solar Siebentritt, head of the University’s
an emphasis on innovation skills cells laboratory for photovoltaics.
and cross-border/cross-sector
mobility. It is expected to finance A team of University of Luxembourg www.uni.lu
around 65,000 researchers researchers and visiting scientists
between 2014 and 2020, including from Japanese electronics com
25,000 doctoral candidates. pany TDK have made a vital modifi
cation that could radically enhance
This year’s event, “COFUND: the efficiency of solar cells.
Synergies to Fuel Researchers’
9 – Issue 10
Keynote interview
A DRIVER FOR
THE INNOVATION ECONOMY
The creation of the Luxembourg Institute research, create real products and services and send them
of Technology (LIST) in January 2015 out into the world. This is how I see LIST – as an innovation
engine, giving companies the support they need to realise
marks a significant next phase for the their innovative R&D projects and speed their prototype
country’s ambitious and to date very products and services into the global market.”
successful research strategy. New CEO
Professor Gabriel Crean has a clear
Professor Crean describes LIST as a Research and Technol-
ogy Organisation (RTO) with an international reach and
vision for LIST as an engine for standing. “We have 630 research development and innova-
innovation and reindustrialisation, using tion staff from 42 countries,” he says. “We aim to achieve
to the full its scientific and technological deep critical mass and a strong impact in our target re-
search areas. LIST has the potential to make a big difference.”
excellence and international profile
to provide the strongest support for
innovative businesses in Luxembourg More than the sum of its parts
and beyond. LIST was established in early 2015 through the merger of
the Public Research Centres Gabriel Lippmann and Henri
“If the 2008 financial crisis taught us anything, it was that Tudor, both established in 1987 and each with strong repu-
Europe’s economies need to be more resilient,” says Pro- tations for the quality of their research and their staff. The
fessor Crean. “There is only one way to do this – recognise merger provided Luxembourg with a unique dual oppor-
the value in new ideas, do the cutting-edge technological tunity, not only to streamline and harmonise the work of
10 – Issue 10FOCUS
the two centres, but also to target the strategy of the new
organisation even more firmly at providing support for an “This is how I see LIST –
innovation-driven Luxembourg economy. LIST therefore as an innovation engine,
giving companies
places a very strong emphasis on working with the private
sector via strategic research partnerships.
To achieve this, LIST focuses on the research fields that
the support they need to
make the most significant contribution to economic diver- realise their innovative
R&D projects and speed
sification in Luxembourg. The new LIST is structured into
three main areas: Materials, including advanced materials
and nanotechnology; IT, with a particular emphasis on in-
novation in services; and Environment, with a brief to fo-
their prototype products
cus on ways of monitoring and safeguarding natural and and services into
renewable resources. “I am particularly excited about our
new premises in Belval,” says Professor Crean. “It’s ideal – the global market.”
we will be in the same district as the University, Luxinnova-
tion and the Technoport business incubator.” Gabriel Crean
From plant fibre to bio-bricks
Professor Crean uses a practical example to describe the
process from applied research to commercial product.
In the case of “Bio-bricks” – materials created from plant Multinational experience
fibre and used in sustainable construction – researchers
first develop a means to enhance the crop yields of the Professor Crean has a degree in Electrical Engineering from Trinity College, Dublin
plants providing the fibre. Next, they conduct a full analy- and a PhD in Physics and Material Science from the Université Scientifique, Tech-
sis of the fibre’s properties, behaviour and suitability for nologique et Médicale de Grenoble. In Ireland, he served as Director of the Tyndall
intended use. Third, they produce prototypes of the final National Institute, the country's leading ICT research centre, as Professor of Mi-
product and subject them to a series of tests. With this croelectronics at University College Cork and as Vice President for Research and
process complete, the bio-brick process technology can Innovation at the Athlone Institute of Technology. In France, he joined the CEA as
be handed over to Luxembourg’s industrial sector; in this Scientific Director, later becoming Vice President for Technology and Director for
case, to concrete products manufacturer Chaux de Contern. Europe, and he is a visiting professor and research policy adviser to the President
of the Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble. He holds an honorary doctor-
ate from the University of Technology of Wroclaw, Poland.
A test lab for the world
Professor Crean chaired the Sherpa Group on the European Commission’s Key
Enabling Technologies (KET) initiative and is on the board of the European
“The fact that Luxembourg is small is actually one of its
Commission Mirror Group on Smart Specialisation. He also has experience as an
biggest strengths,” says Professor Crean. “And the gov-
entrepreneur and has launched several start-up companies.
ernment is very accessible and responsive. The way I see
it, Luxembourg can be a European test lab for innovative
products and services. We can develop and test them here
in Europe and rest of the world.”
As a further example, Professor Crean points to LIST’s col-
laboration with local start-up Airboxlab on its air quality
Luxembourg Institute of Science
predictor Foobot. This system, designed to help users re-
and Technology (LIST)
duce their exposure to pollution, uses smart devices to
measure the levels of humidity, temperature, volatile or- +352 275 888 1
ganic compounds and fine particles in indoor air. The e- info@list.lu
Science unit at LIST is working on the analysis and visualisa- www.list.lu
tion of the data and developing algorithms to produce the
air quality reports.
11 – Issue 10DISCOVER
INNOVAtE
FINANCE COLLABORAtE
All you need to know about
innovation and research
Discover innovation and research “made in Luxembourg”. Get advice on innovating
in your company. Secure financing for your R&D and innovation projects.
Find research or business partners and collaborations.
www.innovation.public.lu
Innovation and research start here.Future
Manufacturing
Technologies
Luxembourg’s manufacturing sector
was established over a century ago
during the heyday of the nation’s steel
industry. Over subsequent decades,
the focus shifted from traditional
materials to high added value niche
products, many of which have become
the market leaders of today. The
materials and production technologies
sector, which currently accounts for
8.3% of total national employment
and 4.6% of GDP, focuses on highly-
automated production lines, robotics,
additive manufacturing and the
reduction of energy consumption and
© Fanuc Europe
waste production. Global names active
in the sector include ArcelorMittal,
DuPont de Nemours, Goodyear, IEE,
EURO-COMPOSITES, Tarkett and
CERATIZIT.Future Manufacturing Technologies
How to grow the
manufacturing sector
Determined to “reindustrialise for the Encouraging long term innovation
21st century” to reverse the current
As part of its reindustrialisation drive, the EU is making
downward trend, the EU aims to raise nearly €80 billion available for research and innovation via
industry’s share of EU GDP to 20% its 7-year Horizon 2020 programme. One of the aims of the
by 2020. Luxembourg, which over Manufuture platform is to publicise Horizon 2020 and so
the course of the last few decades has
encourage European industry to think strategically about
the longer-term benefits of investing in product and pro-
succeeded in creating a high skill, cess development.
high value-adding manufacturing sector,
will host the bi-annual Manufuture The EU expects the Horizon 2020 funding to encour-
age private companies to invest in R&D, especially as it is
conference in November this year. hoped that the programme will stimulate targeted sup-
FOCUS spoke to three of the principal port and initiatives on a national level. Similarly, companies
movers behind the event. – in particular small and medium-sized enterprises – may
feel more confident about pursuing a potentially ground-
breaking idea if there is a prospect of securing public co-fi-
The chairman of the European Manufuture platform, Pro- nance. As an example, Mr Gentili cites eight public-private
fessor Heinrich Flegel of Daimler AG, describes Europe’s partnerships set up by the European Commission within
mission as “to encourage research and development in or- the framework of Horizon 2020: “For each euro of public
der to speed up industrial transformation.” The EU’s strat- funding invested in this particular programme, we expect
egy is to create a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy the private sector to invest a further three to ten euros in
delivering high levels of employment, productivity and so- developing new technologies, products and services.” This
cial cohesion. To do that, says Professor Flegel, “We need and similar projects will be looked at in detail at the Manu-
to secure high value-adding employment and win global future 2015 conference.
market share.”
Showcasing Luxembourg
Knowledge and industry together
Michel Wurth is chair of the Manufuture 2015 program-
The EU’s target is to raise industry’s share of EU GDP from ming committee and a board member of Luxembourg-
the present 16% to 20% by the year 2020. “The economic based world leading steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal.
importance of industrial activities is much more significant “This event offers Luxembourg a unique opportunity to
than these figures suggest, because industry accounts for showcase its manufacturing sector and potential for inno-
over 80% of Europe’s exports,” says Professor Flegel. Ac- vation,” he says. “Sectors such as steel, ICT, plastics, logis-
cording to Andrea Gentili, Deputy Head of Unit with the tics, automotive components and a network of small and
Directorate General for Research & Innovation at the Eu- medium-sized industries in different fields are very well
ropean Commission, this will be no easy task: “We have a developed in Luxembourg. The numerous start-up initia-
knowledge advantage in Europe, but we have difficulties tives taken may also have a long-term influence on the
translating that into new products and services. The finan- structures of industry.”
cial crisis made those difficulties more acute.”
Luxembourg is a logical choice for this year’s conference.
“Manufacturing companies need to invest in replacement, As Mr Wurth says, “Given that Luxembourg is the largest
rationalisation – to stay competitive – and expansion. About investment fund centre in Europe, special attention will be
the same amount needs to go into each one,” says Profes- paid to EU financial tools that may be used to stimulate in-
sor Flegel. He emphasises that Europe cannot simply rely on dustry.” Moreover, the country’s current presidency of the
strong R&D performance: “We have to bring our innovative EU Council of Ministers is expected to generate an extra
ideas to market before anyone else, and we cannot do that level of interest on the part of national and European deci-
without an equally high-performing manufacturing base.” sion makers.
14 – Issue 10FOCUS
© Shutterstock - Apples Eyes Studio
On top of that, Mr Wurth sees Luxembourg as an interest-
ing example of what a country can do: “The Grand Duchy
has achieved international standing for its high quality Manufuture 2015
manufactured products and cutting-edge R&D competen- 23 & 24 November in Luxembourg
cies in the manufacturing industry. Today, about 820 com-
panies are fuelling this still highly promising economic pil- “The conference is a forum for all stakeholders in the manufacturing sector,” says
lar whose production output has remained stable and even Michel Wurth, chair of the programming committee. “Participants will discuss future
increased over the past decade. The manufacturing indus- project cooperation and determine an approach that allows actors to better exploit
try has thus proven capable of reinventing itself continu- the opportunities offered by Horizon 2020.”
ously, which I consider an auspicious feature to compete
on a European and global scale in the future.” Manufuture 2015 will:
• Assess the progress of European manufacturing research and development
• Define the conditions needed for successful reindustrialisation in Europe
• Identify and endorse new policy instruments, business models, support mecha-
“Europe's mission is to nisms and technologies
• Develop recommendations for policy makers.
encourage research
and development in order
Manufuture is a pan-European network of business leaders, researchers, innovators,
representatives of key technologies and European and national policy makers. Up
to speed up industrial to 800 senior manufacturing industry players will attend the event, to be held at the
European Convention Center Luxembourg in Luxembourg City.
transformation.” www.manufuture2015.eu
Heinrich Flegel
15 – Issue 100 1 5
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CONFERENCE SUPPORTERS PRESIDENCY ORGANISERS
Horizon 2020
European Union Funding
for Research & InnovationFOCUS
Constantly reinventing
manufacturing
Knowing the market
“We have a good understanding of the types of firm that
gain the most benefit from investing in Luxembourg,” says
Patrick Nickels, Director for Industry at the Ministry of the
Economy. “What we look for are high value-adding, usually
capital-intensive businesses.”
In many ways, Luxembourg is seeking investment partners
in its own image: internationally connected, highly expe-
rienced, skilled and ambitious. One such company is In-
ternational CAN SA, part of the German cosmetics group
Maxim, which set up in Luxembourg in 2001 via its acqui-
sition of manufacturing and services firm Cosmolux. In
May this year, the company invested €35 million in a new
aluminium spray-can production plant in the eastern town
of Echternach, a move that will lead to the creation of 200
new jobs in the next two years, almost tripling the Maxim
group’s headcount in the Grand Duchy.
© Shutterstock - Nikkolia
Manufacturing is in Luxembourg’s soul. Our businesses, our ambassadors
Although fundamentally a services
The fact is, companies like working in Luxembourg. Howev-
economy — particularly in finance —
“With more it is committed to positioning itself
er, it can be hard to convey that message above the clamour
of the competition, and particularly tough to reach senior
than 800 as a world class location for high-tech executives from Asia and the Americas. “We work hard to
satisfied industrial production. Luxembourg
take this message to the world, and with more than 800 sat-
isfied manufacturing companies based here, our best am-
offers a unique blend of benefits
manufacturing for capital intensive, high value-adding
bassadors by far are their senior managers,” says Mr Nickels.
companies businesses — once they come here, Decades of reinvention
based here, they rarely leave.
our best Supported by a tight network of international investment
Luxembourg’s experience has been hard won. By the
1970s, the country had been primarily dependent on steel
ambassadors offices, government ministers and business representa- for over a century, with half its national income gener-
by far are
tives travel the world in the drive to attract and retain more ated from exports. When the 1970s steel crisis hit, this tiny
high-tech manufacturing firms to Luxembourg. Once here, country was in no position to even consider subsidies to
their senior even the smallest companies have easy access to the gov-
ernment’s decision makers. As a small country, Luxem-
keep businesses afloat. “As an export economy with a very
small domestic market, it took us no time at all to grasp
managers.” bourg has to respond fast to changes in the business envi- the implications,” says Nicolas Soisson, director of Fedil
ronment, and no-one understands the market better than – Business Federation Luxembourg, the group which rep-
Patrick Nickels business leaders facing tough international competition. resents the manufacturing sector. “We began a controlled
restructuring of the steel industry, and embarked on a na-
tional mission to create economic diversification.”
17 – Issue 10Future Manufacturing Technologies
Early investment came from tyre manufacturer Goodyear,
which set up in Luxembourg in 1949, materials group Du-
Pont de Nemours (1962) and General Motors – now Delphi
Automotive – which began operations in 1979. “Much of
this early investment was mainly about US industry seeking
a foothold in the European market,” explains Mario Grotz,
“Industry was always central to our plans,” he adds, “but we director general for research, intellectual property and
knew we needed innovative ways to develop other special- new technologies at the Ministry of the Economy. “For us,
isations and we cast our net very wide.” Today, of course, however, it was more about looking for new directions in
Luxembourg’s main export earner is its diverse, world-class the wake of the steel crisis.”
financial sector, but the country is also very active in oth-
er, perhaps more surprising fields. “Many people thought “In the 1980s, we began to invest much more heavily in re-
a satellite project was crazily ambitious,” says Mr Nickels, search and development, primarily by supporting the pri-
“but now, SES is not only a world leader but one of the cor- vate sector and setting up public research centres,” adds
nerstones of our growing space industry.” Mr Grotz. In response, companies across all sectors started
to ramp up their research and the country began to attract
a wide range of high-tech businesses. One of the earliest
Diversification past and future arrivals was Canadian firm Husky Injection Molding Sys-
tems, which opened a Luxembourg branch in 1984; another,
Manufacturing diversification has been a central plank of in 1986, was US firm Guardian, one of the world’s largest
government policy since the late 1940s, when the focus manufacturers of float glass and fabricated glass products.
was very much on attracting US companies into Europe. Both companies maintain their Luxembourg bases today.
Manufacturing industry in Luxembourg Largest manufacturing companies
ArcelorMittal
4,260
Goodyear/Dunlop Tires
3,250
4.6% €8.4 CERATIZIT
GDP billion turnover 1,300
DuPont de Nemours
1,150
Husky Injection Moulding Systems
890
3.2% 32,000 EURO-COMPOSITES
740
annual growth rate employees
Source: STATEC
18 – Issue 10FOCUS
“By the time of the upturn,
many of our companies Why is Luxembourg
had actually made massive the place for
knowledge based,
improvements to their capital intensive
product ranges.” manufacturing?
Mario Grotz
Multinational, skilled workforce:
From adversity to opportunity We can talk to global clients in their own language.
“The competition in Europe for foreign investment in-
creased radically after the fall of the Iron Curtain,” says Mr
Soisson. “It became clear that we had to up our game even
further and focus our industrial strategy even more tightly Centre of Western Europe:
on high technology, high skills and high capital intensity.” Luxembourg is culturally and geographically
During the post-1990 period, Luxembourg increased its close to Europe’s main business capitals, all
support for R&D and innovation tenfold, founded its re- of which can be reached easily by plane, train
search-focused University and introduced tax breaks on or road. As a small country, it is commercially
capital investment to help boost the productivity of the neutral.
manufacturing sector.
The government also provided intelligent practical sup-
port in the period after the 2008 crash. “The state pro-
vided employment subsidies so that firms affected by the Knowledge economy:
slowdown could hang on to valued employees,” says Mr Earnings are high because the economy is
Soisson. “With output down, staff could concentrate on driven by clever people working in a high-tech
innovation; by the time of the upturn, many of our com- environment.
panies had actually made massive improvements to their
product ranges,” adds Mr Grotz. “Anyone with an ambi-
tious business really ought to come and talk to us; they’ll
be very pleasantly surprised.”
Engaged decision makers:
Politicians and civil servants are ready
to listen and respond to requests from
Fedil – Business Federation even the smallest firms.
Luxembourg
+352 43 53 66 1
fedil@fedil.lu
www.fedil.lu
Focused on innovation:
Our public research infrastructure is shaped in
partnership with the private sector.
Ministry of the Economy
+352 24 78 41 37
info@eco.public.lu Financial and practical support is
www.eco.public.lu available from the government, public
bodies and partners in private industry.
19 – Issue 10Future Manufacturing Technologies
New room
ucts. “Great things have come out of our R&D work over
the years,” explains Dr Ralph Useldinger, Manager Group
for growth
Analytics and Fundamental R&D. “Our researchers will have
the time and the tools they need to follow up properly on
their ideas and develop ground-breaking new products,
techniques and production methods.”
CERATIZIT, a long-time pioneer in the
development of hard material products “Luxembourg is a high-tech manufacturing location and
the perfect environment in which to make the most of our
for cutting tools and wear protection, people’s high value-adding skills and push back technologi-
has significantly expanded its R&D cal boundaries,” adds Mr Lanners. “We are building up our
capabilities with the establishment of a brainpower and ensuring there are no practical or physical
limits to what our teams can achieve.”
2,000 m2 dedicated research facility
at its group HQ in Luxembourg. This
will create a fertile environment for new The client, the partner
ideas with the space and facilities to CERATIZIT believes in treating its clients as partners rather
bring them to life. than simply as customers. “They don’t just give us one of
their finished items and ask us to make improvements,”
“In some ways, this is a new strategy for us,” says CERATIZ- says Mr Lanners. “We work together from the design
IT’s Executive Board Co-Chairman Jacques Lanners. “We phase onward to ensure the final product is precisely what
have significantly upgraded our laboratory equipment and they need. With the knowledge we have built up over the
now have 100 research staff.” years, we can look critically at the design, materials and
shape of the product, while our ongoing research helps us
bring to the table a fresh, innovative approach.”
Time, tools and brainpower
“We don’t seek to reinvent the wheel,” adds Mr Useldinger.
The group will engage in fundamental as well as applied re- “However, we can work at the nano-technological level to
search, investigating the basic physical and chemical prop- alter the composition of our bulk materials and coatings.”
erties of the hard materials and coatings it uses in its prod- The company is a firm believer in the benefits of tech-
20 – Issue 10FOCUS
“Luxembourg is a high-tech
manufacturing location
and the perfect environment
in which to make the most
of our people’s high value-
adding skills and push back
technological boundaries.”
Jacques Lanners
niques such as computer simulations, used to analyse and
improve the performance of a material or product. This
knowledge is also applied to improve the efficiency and ef-
fectiveness of the production process.
Invention for growth
The innovation HQ
Owing to its firm commitment to innovation, the
The group spends around 3% of its annual turnover on CERATIZIT GROUP has been a trailblazer in the
R&D. Luxembourg acts as Innovation HQ, supporting oth- hard metal industry for over 90 years. A family-
er research units in Austria, Germany and Italy and at the owned firm, it develops and produces unique
group’s affiliated companies. Being in the Grand Duchy hard material solutions for cutting tools and
helps: “We would invest in R&D anyway,” says Mr Lanners, wear protection, supplying clients in industries
“but with the financial assistance we receive from the state, including automotive, energy and stone working.
we can do a great deal more.” Practical support is also The group is a market leader in numerous sec-
available from the University and the public research cen- tors and holds over 600 patents that are used in
thousands of their products.
tres, which over the last decade have significantly ramped
up their direct collaborations with industry. As a knock-on
The group employs 5,800 people at 23 produc-
effect, these bodies also attract talent to the country.
tion sites and over 50 sales offices worldwide.
About half of its turnover comes from Europe,
Rethinking the new with Asia accounting for 35% and the Americas
15%. The signs indicate that sales in Asia will play
an increasingly important contribution over the
In addition, Luxembourg is an excellent base for high quality
coming period.
manufacturing operations. Its central European location and
skilled multilingual workforce make it easy for companies
to communicate with clients across the continent, and low
employer social charges help to keep costs under control.
As part of the extension to its Mamer headquarters, CERA-
TIZIT has added a further 5,000 m2 of industrial capacity.
CERATIZIT Luxembourg S. à r. l.
According to Mr Lanners, the simple fact of having a ma-
jor production facility on-site promotes new thinking, new +352 31 20 85 376
products and new processes. “Innovation is embedded in ralph.useldinger@ceratizit.com
our culture,” he says. “Even though we have over 100 peo- www.ceratizit.com
ple dedicated solely to research, all our professionals have
the innovative, entrepreneurial attitudes that enable us to
find fresh solutions.”
21 – Issue 10„CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION
ARE KEY TO FUTURE SUCCESS“
Dr. Marc Elsen, Project Manager R&D Department
CERATIZIT – A passionate pioneer in the hard metal industry
For over 90 years, CERATIZIT has been a pioneer developing exceptional hard material products for cutting tools and
wear protection. The family owned company, headquartered in Mamer, Luxembourg, develops and manufactures highly
specialized tungsten carbide cutting tools, inserts and rods. The CERATIZIT GROUP is the market leader in several wear
part application areas and develops successful new types of hard metal, cermet and ceramic grades used for instance in the
wood and stone working industry.
The leader in material technology is continuously investing in research and development and holds over 600 patents.
Innovative hard metal solutions from CERATIZIT are used in machine and tool manufacturing and many other applications
including automotive, aerospace and oil and gas.
CERATIZIT S.A.
E. info@ceratizit.com T. +352 31 20 85-1
www.ceratizit.comFOCUS
Leading innovation
In a NICHE MARKET
Lighter, more efficient and better- Airtech Europe, set up in Luxembourg in 1991, is a division
performing, composites are rapidly of California-based Airtech Advanced Materials Group,
founded in 1973. Airtech, which also has facilities in Ten-
replacing metals as the material of nessee, England and China, supplies industries including
choice in the air transport, wind energy, aerospace, wind energy, maritime, printed circuit board,
marine, motor and sports equipment solar energy, sports and leisure equipment and high-per-
industries. California-based Airtech,
formance automotive and motorsport.
the world’s leading manufacturer of
vacuum bagging and tooling materials A one-stop-shop
used to make composite parts, spoke Airtech supplies not only individual components such as
to FOCUS from its European HQ bagging film and pressure-sensitive tape, but the com-
in Luxembourg. plete portfolio for making composite parts. The materials
supplied vary depending on the size of the part, the pro-
“Airtech does not manufacture products using compos- cess used and the temperature at which the materials are
ites, nor does it supply resin or carbon fibres. It supplies combined.
the processing materials required in the composite pro-
duction process,” says Airtech Europe’s General Manager “Composite production is a labour-intensive process, so we
Carl Christiaens. also offer customised kits – film cut to the exact final size,
23 – Issue 10Future Manufacturing Technologies
for instance – and collaborate with the client to come up
with the best bespoke solution. We can also train our cus-
tomers in how to use our materials,” says Mr Christiaens.
Continuous improvement
“To stay competitive, we need to be extremely efficient
and keep our people highly motivated,” Mr Christiaens
explains, adding that the company uses the Japanese “Kai-
zen” continuous improvement method. Airtech’s custom-
ers have high expectations: “We have to keep on being
proactive and finding solutions. Even though composites
cost more than, say, aluminium, there is increasing de-
mand for them in many sectors because they offer greater
energy efficiency.”
Doing business the easy way
“Airtech had initially been thinking about England for a
European base, but chose Luxembourg because of its cen-
tral location, the approachability of its government and its
multicultural, multilingual workforce,” says Mr Christiaens.
“We’ve found that Luxembourg is easy. It’s easy to do busi-
ness, easy to network and easy to get access to key people.”
Airtech has worked with Public Research Centre Henri
“We’ve found that
Tudor, now LIST, and is a member of Luxinnovation’s Ma-
terials and Production Technologies Cluster. “We have cer-
Luxembourg is easy. It’s tainly seen benefits from the government’s programmes
to fund innovation,” says Mr Christiaens. “We’re also very
easy to do business, easy much behind the idea of setting up a composite compe-
to network and easy to
tence centre in Luxembourg, which we think is a tremen-
dous initiative.”
get access to key people.”
Airtech Europe Sarl
Carl Christiaens
+ 352 58 22 82
sales@airtech.lu
www.airtech.lu
Composites
A composite combines two or more materials with
different physical or chemical characteristics to
form a new material that can be lighter and stron-
ger than the individual constituents.
24 – Issue 10FOCUS
Modelling the future
e-Xstream engineering’s award-winning shorter timescales for development, prototyping and test-
Digimat software has virtually eliminated ing, decreased time-to-market and a significant reduction
in development costs.”
the painstaking trial-and-error method
of creating new composite materials Of the world’s top 20 OEMs – original equipment manu-
in the laboratory. Digimat is now used facturers – 17 use Digimat. “Our clients include automotive
and aerospace companies, consumer electronics manu-
by leading international manufacturers facturers, materials suppliers and medical device manufac-
to model the advanced composite turers,” says Dr Assaker. “Digimat is also widely used in the
materials needed to produce lighter, world’s top universities and research institutes.”
more energy-efficient cars and aircraft,
thereby shortening development time A truly international company
and significantly reducing costs.
Dr Assaker, who has a PhD in aerospace engineering
and an MBA in international business, set up e-Xstream
“e-Xstream Digimat software is for state-of-the-art engineering in 2003 as a spin-off of Belgian Université
modelling of composite materials and structures,” says catholique de Louvain. The company decided to set up a
co-founder and CEO Dr Roger Assaker. “It allows our second HQ in Luxembourg in 2004, attracted by the fa-
clients to analyse and predict the behaviour of com- cilities on offer at the Ecostart business incubator in Foetz
posite materials and to design and manufacture high- (now Technoport 2). “We have received a lot of support
performance, innovative composite parts. This means from the Ministry of the Economy,” says Dr Assaker.
25 – Issue 10Future Manufacturing Technologies
e-Xstream draws its employees from the Belgian, French typing simulation software for the aerospace, automotive,
and German regions surrounding Luxembourg. “43 of our electronics, and medical sectors, among others. “Our
current 46 employees are engineers – 26 have PhDs – and companies fit together well,” says Dr Assaker. “Our in-
at the moment, we’re taking on around 10-13 new staff a creased capital base makes us a better partner for our larg-
year. Our engineers develop our software, of course, and er customers and has enabled us to grow faster. I am MSC’s
also provide composite engineering consultancy, either Chief Materials Strategist as well as e-Xstream’s CEO.”
for analytical projects on our company premises or for full-
time assignments on our clients’ sites.”
Award for enhancement
Dr Assaker rates Luxembourg highly as a business loca-
tion and is an active member of Luxinnovation’s Materials In line with the rapid development of the composite sec-
and Production Technologies Cluster. “With 95% of our tor and the ongoing pressure for weight reduction in
business coming from outside Luxembourg, we are a truly planes and motor vehicles, e-Xstream has been operating
international company. We have clients in America and a six-monthly schedule for new Digimat software releases.
Asia as well as in Europe, and have even done a project in Meanwhile, in 2015, Digimat-VA (Virtual Allowables) was
New Zealand.” awarded the JEC “Top Innovation” award for composite
manufacturing. JEC, the world’s largest composites indus-
try group, launched this award 14 years ago to recognise
Partnership, synergy, growth the leading contributors to “improving composites tech-
nology and enhancing value for end-users”. “We are proud
In September 2012, e-Xstream was acquired by MSC Soft- to be included in this distinguished group,” concludes
ware of Newport Beach, California. MSC develops proto- Dr Assaker.
“Our clients include e-Xstream engineering sàrl
aerospace companies,
consumer electronics
+352 26 17 66 01
info@e-xstream.com
manufacturers, materials www.e-xstream.com
suppliers and medical
device manufacturers.”
Roger Assaker
26 – Issue 10䌀爀攀愀琀攀 琀栀攀 昀甀琀甀爀攀 ꀀ 䨀漀椀渀 愀 氀攀愀搀椀渀最 最氀漀戀愀氀 猀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀爀 漀昀 琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最椀攀猀 昀漀爀 琀栀攀 愀甀琀漀洀漀琀椀瘀攀 椀渀搀甀猀琀爀礀℀ ꀀ 䐀攀氀瀀栀椀 椀猀 漀渀攀 漀昀 琀栀攀 氀愀爀最攀猀琀 愀甀琀漀洀漀琀椀瘀攀 猀甀瀀瀀氀椀攀爀猀 搀攀氀椀瘀攀爀椀渀最 愀搀瘀愀渀挀攀搀 攀氀攀挀琀爀椀挀愀氀 愀渀搀 攀氀攀挀琀爀漀渀椀挀Ⰰ 瀀漀眀攀爀琀爀愀椀渀 愀渀搀 猀愀昀攀琀礀 琀攀挀栀渀漀氀漀最椀攀猀ꀀ 琀漀 瘀攀栀椀挀氀攀 洀愀渀甀昀愀挀琀甀爀攀爀猀 愀爀漀甀渀搀 琀栀攀 眀漀爀氀搀 攀渀愀戀氀椀渀最 琀栀攀洀 琀漀 洀愀欀攀 瘀攀栀椀挀氀攀猀 琀栀愀琀 愀爀攀 猀愀昀攀爀Ⰰ 最爀攀攀渀攀爀 愀渀搀 戀攀琀琀攀爀 挀漀渀渀攀挀琀攀搀⸀ ꀀ 䰀漀漀欀椀渀最ꀀ昀漀爀 愀 挀栀愀氀氀攀渀最椀渀最 愀渀搀 爀攀眀愀爀搀椀渀最 挀愀爀攀攀爀㼀 䐀攀氀瀀栀椀 椀猀 愀 最爀攀愀琀 瀀氀愀挀攀 昀漀爀 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 眀栀漀 攀渀樀漀礀 ǻ渀搀椀渀最 椀渀渀漀瘀愀琀椀瘀攀Ⰰ 爀攀愀氀ⴀ眀漀爀氀搀 猀漀氀甀琀椀漀渀猀 昀漀爀 挀漀洀瀀氀攀砀 瀀爀漀戀氀攀洀猀⸀ 圀攀 愀爀攀 漀瘀攀爀 㘀 Ⰰ 瀀攀漀瀀氀攀 最氀漀戀愀氀氀礀 愀渀搀 漀瀀攀爀愀琀攀 椀渀 ㌀㌀ 挀漀甀渀琀爀椀攀猀Ⰰ眀椀琀栀 㔀 洀愀樀漀爀 琀攀挀栀渀椀挀愀氀 挀攀渀琀攀爀猀⸀ ꀀ 䄀瀀瀀氀礀 渀漀眀 漀渀 搀攀氀瀀栀椀⸀挀漀洀⼀挀愀爀攀攀爀猀
Future Manufacturing Technologies
99.99% reliable: robotics for
total quality control
From its home campus in Oshino, Japan, Fanuc has devel-
oped a significant European presence. “We have around
200 staff here in Echternach and a further 1,000 in 16 sites
throughout Europe,” adds Mr Ramsden. “Our largest and
longest-established offices are in Western Europe, and we
have a network of new and rapidly-growing Eastern Euro-
pean offices stretching as far as Russia and Ukraine.”
Versatility and strength
Articulated robots are used mainly for factory-floor tasks
such as assembly, bin picking, loading and unloading,
painting, palletising, packing, testing, measuring and
welding. The corporation supplies a wide variety of robot
types to industries including aerospace, automotive, elec-
tronics, food stuffs, plastics, metal casting, medical and
pharmaceutical.
© Fanuc Europe The European automotive industry – one of Fanuc’s ma-
jor clients – imposes stringent performance criteria on its
vendors. While Fanuc robots are produced in Japan, test-
When most people hear the word ing against client specifications is conducted at the corpo-
“robot” they think of R2-D2 and C-3PO ration’s Echternach site. “Fanuc robots are 99.99% reliable,
from Star Wars or the more menacing which is why there are over 360,000 Fanuc robots at work
worldwide,” says Mr Ramsden. “We are proud of our cus-
Terminator. Friendly or frightening, tomer-centric culture and of taking the long-term view in
the robots of popular culture are usually our client relationships.”
portrayed as having personalities and
Fanuc also produces Delta robots, which have hand-like
qualities that make them seem as much dexterity and are used for high-speed, small part handling
human as machine. The robots at Fanuc that requires great versatility. Their compact size allows
Robotics in Luxembourg, however, them to be easily integrated into a production line for use in
electronics, food, medical and pharmaceutical production.
are not anthropomorphic, but powerful
industrial machines that lighten the tasks
of workers and significantly improve Collaborative robots: safety at work
production efficiency. In most production lines, people need to be protected
from robots. The machines work behind barriers and
“Fanuc is a world leader in robotics and unusual in that workers are careful to keep out of their way.
we are completely vertically integrated,” says Nigel Rams-
den, Engineering Manager at Fanuc Robotics Europe. “Ev- Collaborative robots are a game-changer. A single glance
erything we use, we make ourselves, down to our circuit at Fanuc’s CR-35iA indicates that here is a different kind of
boards. It gives us total quality control.” Fanuc also pro- robot. Fanuc robots are traditionally yellow. “Welcome to
duces robotic injection moulding, wire electro-discharge the Yellow world!” Fanuc’s website announces. But this ro-
cutting and high speed milling machines. bot is green. “We wanted the CR-35iA to be distinct from
our other robots,” says Mr Ramsden.
28 – Issue 10FOCUS
© Fanuc Europe
Touch the pliant rubber covering of this robot and the ma-
chine immediately stops, which means it can work safely
“We are proud of our
side by side with a human collaborator. It can lift up to 35 customer-centric culture
and of taking the long-
kilos, significantly more than the 23 kilo safe limit for a hu-
man worker. It can be fitted with a vision sensor, which
means that if a robot is, say, moving wheels from one lo-
cation to another and one of the wheels is out of align-
term view in our client
ment, it will automatically readjust to the different position relationships.”
and continue with its task. The human/robot team is ideal
for the heavy repetitive jobs common in the automotive, Nigel Ramsden
packaging and distribution industries. “And they have Fa-
nuc’s ultra-reliability,” adds Mr Ramsden.
FANUC Europe Corporation S.A.
+352 72 77 77 1
info@fanuc.eu
www.fanuc.eu
29 – Issue 10Future Manufacturing Technologies
The rewards of perfection
Perfection is crucial in the aerospace and Saturne specialises in the design and manufacture of high-
medical industries, where even the tech laser applications for cutting, drilling, welding, re-
surfacing and laser sintering. “Our laser machines give us
tiniest fault in a part can literally put lives precision at less than one-hundredth of a millimetre on a
at risk. A leading aeronautics client wide range of materials, including metals, ceramics and sil-
recently gave high-tech components icon,” says Mr Grzymlas, adding that with the current pace
provider Saturne Technology an award
of technological development, investing in innovation is
key to staying ahead of the market. The firm mainly sup-
for supplying 300,000 ultra-high plies the aeronautic, space and medical industries, but also
precision parts a year, each one 100% works with a diverse range of other businesses.
flawless. The company’s founder and
CEO Walter Grzymlas spoke to FOCUS Shaping the future
about the revolution in production
and technology, and Luxembourg as a Saturne leads in configuring a new generation of systems
along similar lines to 3D printing, in that they add material
location for high-tech manufacturing. during the production process as opposed to taking it
30 – Issue 10FOCUS
away. Techniques such as additive manufacturing and la- A very good choice
ser fusion work on the principle of gradually building up
microscopic layers of metal or ceramic powder material to Mr Grzymlas was born in Maizières les Metz in France and
create three-dimensional parts and components in sizes was working for a local company when he took the deci-
ranging from 2-600 cubic millimetres. sion to set up on his own. “I looked at Luxembourg as a
possible location and was pleasantly surprised by how at-
“This is truly revolutionary technology – it can create any tractive it was,” he says. “I started in 2000 with a team of
shape, no matter how complex,” says Mr Grzymlas. “You three. We’ve got 11 staff now, which we’ll double by the
can’t mould a shape like a hollow form, or make one on a end of the decade, and our annual turnover is €3 million.”
machine. Or if you did, it would be prohibitively expensive The company predicts around 30% annual sales growth
and nowhere near accurate enough.” and is currently setting up international offices in Canada
and Dubai.
Infinite possibilities “Luxembourg was a very good choice for us,” he adds.
“Even though we are relatively small, we have received sig-
Processes of this type open up possibilities far beyond the nificant personal and practical support. In particular, the
reach of traditional manufacturing. Products are of the financial assistance we have received from the government
highest quality, reasonably priced and supplied on time, has enabled us to maintain a very high-quality research
while the flexibility of the process allows for speedy modi- and development programme, essential in this industry.
fication and customisation. There are no nasty surprises for We have also collaborated with the public research centres
the client – each part is scanned, verified and thoroughly on a number of projects, and we are setting up something
tested, and performs exactly as it is supposed to. similar with the university. All in all, we are very happy in-
deed to be in Luxembourg.”
Saturne recently configured and commissioned the world’s
largest additive manufacturing machine, unveiled at this
year’s Paris Air Show. “We have embarked on a five-year in-
Saturne Technology
vestment and development programme,” says Mr Grzym-
las. “As part of that, we will launch a new additive manufac- +352 26 17 94 1
turing machine every year.” w.grzymlas@saturne-technology.com
www.saturne-technology.com
“This is truly revolutionary
technology — it can create
any shape, no matter how
complex.”
Walter Grzymlas
31 – Issue 10You can also read
