At I-Form, the SFI Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing, our mission is to shape the future of manufacturing through high-impact research into the application of digital technologies to materials processing. 

We work in close collaboration with our industry partners (start-ups, SMEs and MNCs) on research projects (2 to 4 years duration) that augment their technology roadmaps and deliver impactful results that enhance their long-term manufacturing competitiveness.

A major focus area for I-Form is the development of efficient and sustainable Additive Manufacturing (AM) processes. Our research focuses on deep materials, in-process and post-processing characterisation; development of advanced predictive modelling tools; and application of machine learning to process feedback and control.

We also support research into the application of digital technologies in the wider materials processing space; including precision machining, surface engineering, bonding/joining, casting and moulding.

I-Form… Additive Manufacturing

Metal laser based powder bed fusion (LB-PBF)
Polymer steriolithography (SLA), fused filament fabrication (FFF), PBF and jetting processes
Laminated Object Manufacturing (paper based)
Robot arm for multi-axis FFF

Other Materials Processing

Multi-axis precision engineering equipment
Plasma Surface Treatment systems
 

Metrology

Micro and Nano X-Ray CT Scanning
High resolution SEM, TEM, XPS, EDX, FIB, XRD, OES
3D Optical Profilometry
Metallurgical Microscopy
Various mechanical property tests (hardness, fatigue etc.)

https://www.i-form.ie/
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Advanced manufacturing research
Training, undergraduate,post graduate and industry upskilling/reskilling
Prototyping for feasibility demonstration as part of a research collaboration

. Yes. service.

RTI - Regional Technological Institute is a new research centre affiliated with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. It was built between 2011 and 2015; and since then has grown to comprise nearly one hundred young and talented researchers, engineers, and members of administrative staff. Our scientists develop numerous research projects, many of them in collaboration with partners from industry. On behalf of manufacturing companies, RTI conducts contract research, which includes complex testing, measurements, and calculations. We also develop prototypes and verify new manufacturing processes.

RTI cooperates with a number of companies, research institutions in the Czech Republic and seeks and continues to establish new relationships with foreign organisations. An overview of our laboratories is part of this offer.

The collaboration may take the form of direct contract collaboration or joint R&D projects. We are ready to prepare study visits, lectures and… RTI forms these very modern equipped laboratories:

•Virtual prototyping laboratory (including printing plastics)

•Technological manufacturing planning laboratory

•Industrial metrology laboratory

•Machining technology laboratory (including 3D metal printing)

•Experimental machining laboratory

•Experimental forming laboratory

•Metallographic laboratory

•Mechanical testing laboratory

•Transport vehicle components testing laboratory

•Strength and fatigue life testing laboratory

•Laboratory of experimental methods for mechanical engineering
. RTI - Regional Technological Institute provides industrial research and development, testing and technology verification, design and virtual prototyping, training.
. Yes. service.

Chilab is the main micro and nano technology laboratory of the Materials and Processes for Micro & Nano technologies, group (DISAT department Politecnico di Torino). The services are addressed to the following topics: Micro and nano Technologies, Technologies for bio, Energy & Environment,Industry 4.0 and smart manufacturing. The related competences and facilities are widespread over different fields including: 

MEMS & Microsensors
Laser Micromachining
Microfluidics
Rapid Prototyping & Additive Manufacturing
Plasma assisted surface modification at the nanoscale
High Power Electronics
Photonics
Atomistic Simulations
Chemical & Biochemical Functionalizations
Nanomaterials Synthesis
FVM & FEM Simulations
Bioprinting

Partners and Companies, which were included in the network of the Chi-Lab are:

Microla - Optoelectronics: a Spin-off of the Polytechnic of Turin proposing solid-state laser is now an established company working in synergy within the lab network
IMEM -…
Micro and Nano technologies:

Thermal & E-Gun Evaporation
Sputtering
Rapid Thermal Annealing (RTA)
Electroplating
Low Pressure Plasma Polymerization System
RF Magnetron sputtering (monotarget)
Atmospheric Pressure Plasma System
Single-layer Graphene growth
Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD)
ICPCVD
Parylene Deposition
Front & Back-side UV Lithography
Laser Pattern Generator
Plasma Etcher
Reactive Ion Etching (RIE)
Deep Reactive Ion Etching (DRIE)
Wet Etching
Micro Powder Blasting
Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP)
Electrospinning

Rapid Prototyping, Additive Manufacturing and polymer technologies

3D InkJet Printing
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Milling
Micro Electro-Discharge Machining
FDM 3D Printer
Micro Stereo Lithography
3D Plastic Sintering
Micro Stereo Lithography (custom)
Ink-Jet Printing
Two-Photon Polymerization (2PP)
Hot Embossing
Micro Injection Moulding
Elastomers Casting in-situ

…. The Chi-Lab is currently able to supply services of training, prototyping, development and testing in: MEMS, microsystems, microfluidics, 3D printed polymer objects, thin films growth, microanalysis, spectroscopies. For more information please visit:

https://areeweb.polito.it/ricerca/micronanotech/competences

Also device small production is possible using our network partners.  
. Yes. service.

Axel’One is the French collaborative innovation platform in the Chemistry and Environment sector created in 2011 and dedicated to smart processes and innovative materials. Located in Lyon, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region.  Axel’One is an independent association (French law 1901, private and public partnership) whose main missions are to provide shared facilities, tools and services for collaborative research and development projects. In 2020, Axel’One hosts around 20 SMEs and provides its services to 30 collaborative projects representing more than 250 people located on the platform ( 4.9 M€ turn over).

The platform offers access to 40 M€ shared tools from basic research to pre-industrial stage (from TRL 3 to 6) in the field of catalysis, smart processes, on-line analysis, digital solutions and advanced materials. Spread over 3 different sites (9000 m²), its activities support industrial companies from the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical sectors, but also with other industrial sectors such as textile … The technologies developed on Axel'One are based on 3 main strategic areas: Smart Process Advanced Materials and Catalysis. For each of these axes, Axel’One offers pilot lines operating in industrial conditions  and expertise accessible to all innovation projects. Some of these tools are unique in France or even at a European level.

Smart Process technology pilot lines and tools :

Online Industrial Analysis and process monitoring (Liquid & gas experimentation benches, online separative techniques, online spectral techniques, physical and physico-chemical sensors, online rheology, instrumented corrosion bench)
Digital solutions and simulation (Chemometrics, data processing and fusion, advanced process control , mechanical numerical simulation CFD)

Solids and Industrial catalysis pilot lines (from 10 g to 50 kg):

Synthesis Line (ligands synthesis, mineral synthesis, grafting)
Shaping Line ( spray dryer, single screw extrusion, reactive extrusion, pelleting);
Thermal Treatment Line …. Axel'One offers 2 types of services : R&D services and hosting

R&D services : The platform works as an innovation hub offering R&D services through a large pool of  scale-up pilot lines that are accessible to all members. It provides turnkey R&D services adapted to the needs of each project (access to shared tools, operators, expertise…). Axel’One does not claim intellectual property and is accredited for French research tax credit.

Projects and SMEs hosting : Axel’One provides spaces adapted to R&D collaborative projects (offices, laboratories, technological halls) as well as daily support services  (HSE, logistics, maintenance, implementation of labs and pilots) in complete confidentiality.
. Yes. service.

A technology pioneer and provider for companies that want to digitally boost their competitive edge, b<>com addresses several industries: culture & creation, digital infrastructures, health, defence and industry 4.0. Its laboratories bring together talented people from a variety of disciplines and cultures in areas like artificial intelligence, immersive video and audio, content protection, 5G networks, the Internet of Things, and cognitive technologies. b<>com's researchers and engineers, drawn from the ranks of industry and academia, work at its Rennes campus and at its sites in Paris, Brest, and Lannion. Thanks to its world-class engineering team, its technology platforms and its unique mix of scientific and industrial knowhow, b<>com offers its clients technology solutions that give them invaluable competitive edge.
b<>com is partner of 5G EVE H2002 ICT-17 project and provides a 5G outdoor radio access network in Rennes (France) connected to a Core Network operated by b<>com in the scope of this project. This testbed is also accessible under b<>com *Flexible Netlab* service offer which is described on web site: https://b-com.com/en/bcom-flexible-netlab .
. b<>com Ngagement is a new generation of interaction design to boost your systems’ conception. To reduce costs and deadlines, explore new concepts of interaction and reduce the risk of usability of innovations, manufacturers are searching for new user-centric solutions. b<>com *Ngagement* revolutionizes the interaction design of complex systems by the integrated combination of agile design tools, natural immersive technologies and AI behavioral analysis. It helps human factors experts, complex systems designers and innovators to assess their interaction concepts, simulate human-machine collaboration, change on the fly tests scenarios and monitor users’ behaviors and cognitive states (such as workload or stress), in early steps of design.
. Yes. service.

Shannon ABC is a commercially focussed, state of the art, Research Centre and Technology Gateway. It is a collaboration between Limerick Institute of Technology and the Institute of Technology Tralee.

Shannon ABC’s vision is to be a leading centre for the development and application of science and technology to applied settings, in collaboration with external organisations, and based on our own research.

The Centre brings together a multidisciplinary team of researchers with commercial specialists so as to provide a centre of excellence in applied research, capable of exploiting opportunities in science and technology to the benefit of the Regional and National economy.

Shannon ABC has developed significant expertise in bioresources – detection, identification, characterisation and valorisation – and collaborates with industry and other research centres in order to deliver this expertise in applied settings.

Shannon ABC responds to the challenges of Biotech, Food and Life Science Industries… Shannon ABC’s expertise, state of the art facilities and equipment are available to assist companies to address specific challenges.

The facilities at Shannon ABC are co-located between the South Campus of Institute of Technology Tralee and the Hartnett Enterprise Acceleration Centre of Limerick Institute of Technology. This co-location allows our Industry and Research Partners to take advantage of the synergistic skills and wide range of equipment available at the two locations.

Shannon ABC laboratories are customised and future-proofed for wide ranging biotechnological and analytical capabilities including dedicated research bench space, analytical suites, raw material processing, HEPA filtered microbial suite and tissue culture suite, fermentation suite. Access to laboratories is controlled and restricted to authorised personnel only.

Below is a list of some of the equipment we have at Shannon ABC:

HPLC
GC-MS
Bioreactor Suite/SUB/Fermentation Suite
…. Shannon ABC’s key area of expertise is in bioresources – from both a practical and policy perspective. The better utilisation of bioresources is fundamental to a successful bioeconomy. There are many different types of companies that are involved in a flourishing bioeconomy, from a range of different sectors. Shannon ABC has an extensive national and international network of companies and partners involved in and associated with the bioeconomy.  

The key aim of Shannon ABC Technology Gateway is to assist in the continued prosperity of industry by offering access to wide ranging expertise and know how, state of the art equipment and facilities and access to a wide variety of national and international funding programs. As a Technology Gateway, Shannon ABC delivers close to market solutions for industry and acts as an access point to wider research resources and infrastructure. Shannon ABC has developed significant expertise in bioresources – detection, identification, characterisation and valorisation – of…. Yes. service.

Innovation Centre Nikola Tesla (ICENT) is a technology transfer and research institution acting as an innovation incubator in sectors of power engineering, transport, automation and robotics, information and communication technology. ICENT is the host of Croatian Robotics Digital Innovation Hub (CROBOHUB), the key Croatian non-profit facility to support companies to become more competitive by improving their business/production processes as well as products and services by up-taking digital technologies and robotic solutions http://www.icent.hr/en/crobohub.

ICENT is actively participating in the I4MS initiative of the European Commission through several H2020 funded projects, all fostering and supporting Pan-European network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs). ICENT is a grant beneficiary in projects L4MS, DIH2 and KITT4SME, which all aim at developing sustainable network of European robotic DIHs. ICENT is a part of AI DIH NETWORK, European Network of Digital Innovation Hubs (DIHs) with focus on Artificial… According to partnership agreement ICENT is entitled to use all the equipment and infrastructure from the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. There are several laboratories that share its infrastructure for the benefit of ICENT:

Laboratory for Autonomous Systems and Mobile Robotics (https://lamor.fer.hr/lamor/research/equipment)
Laboratory for information security and privacy (https://www.fer.unizg.hr/en/lisp)
Integrated Circuits and Electromagnetic Compatibility Laboratory (https://www.fer.unizg.hr/en/icdt/laboratorijska_oprema)
Laboratory for Mechatronic Systems (https://lames.fer.hr/)
Laboratory for Image Processing (LOS)-Image Processing Group (https://ipg.fer.hr/)
Laboratory for Underwater Systems and Technologies (https://www.fer.unizg.hr/zari/labust/about)
Laboratory for Robotics and Intelligent Control Systems (https://larics.fer.hr/)
Laboratory for Renewable Energy Systems (https://www.lares.fer.hr/lares/about_lares/equipment)
Internet of….
Awareness creation
Ecosystem building, scouting, brokerage, networking
Collaborative Research
Concept validation and prototyping
Testing and validation
Incubator/accelerator support
Mentoring
Education and skills development

https://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/digital-innovation-hubs-tool/-/dih/…
. Yes. service.

“The DNA of HiLASE is composed of the three main virtues: Uniqueness, Usefulness, and Credibility. Therefore, members of HiLASE are expected to push the frontier of laser technology beyond its current limits, serve as a bridge between the academic world and industry, and be a reliable partner in doing so. These virtues embody our mission slogan of Superlasers for the real world.” — Tomas Mocek, Head of HiLASE

HiLASE core activity is research, design and building of thin disk laser systems with high average power. At the same time HiLASE is developing applications that are the most suitable for use of such laser systems such as multibeam processing methods for micromachining and laser surface structuring.

Besides that HiLASE operates Bivoj laser, that is the first kW, nanosecond laser system build in cooperation with STFC, UK. The Bivoj laser is used mainly for research and development of new applications of LSP (Laser shock peening) processes.

Bivoj laser allows HiLASE to operate LIDT (Laser Induced…
Laser systems Bivoj and Perla.
Micromachining station
LSP station
LIDT station
Scanning Electron Microscope
X-ray Diffractometer
Atomic Force Microscope
Raman Spectroscopy Station
Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope
ZYGO Interferometer

. Research, development and design of thin disk high average power laser systems

Micromachining and surface functionalization - research and process development

Laser Shock Peening - research and process development

Laser Induced Damage Threshold testing
. Yes. service.

INSA Lyon is an Engineering School dedicated to Applied Sciences, which makes it a large and unique research center which joins education activities, research laboratories and socio-economic partners (over 1.000 industrial contracts a year). As an academic oriented to industry, our institute carries out research in engineering sciences for companies looking for technological solutions

Research at INSA Lyon is organised around five main areas:

1) Energy for a Sustainable Development

2) Environment: Natural, Industrial, and Urban Environments

3) Global Health and Bioengineering

4) Digital Society and Information

5) Transport: Structures, Infrastructures, and Mobilities

INSA Lyon research ecosystem is completed with the scientific and technological platforms which provide the industrial sector with advanced technology and expertise.

INSA Lyon is a member of different European Technology platforms (SUSCHEM, WaterEurope)
The equipment, facilities and laboratories available at INSA Lyon cover a broad range of applications and techniques:

Additive manufacturing and 3D printing
Mechatronics, automated production, industrial information systems and digitization control
Surface treatment pilot site (liquid and powder coating processes, UV polymerization, robotised pistol and bowl)
Non-destructive testing (experimental and numerical equipment)
Electroactive materials and systems (3D printing technique, characterizations)
3D characterization of material microstructures (X-ray tomography, In-situ tests under mechanical loading and thermal loading)
Formulation and characterization of advanced materials (polymers, ceramics, composites and biomaterials); relations between microstructures and properties
Operando microscopy for materials microstructural characterization
Micro & Nano-technological facilities
Platform for biotechnology, synthetic biology and synthesis chemistry

. The range of services are mainly focused on:

applied R&D,
scientific and technological services and expertise (study, characterization…),
development of process,
prototype development and testing
access to specialized equipment.

Our institute works with all industrial sectors: Transport (aeronautics, rail, road), Nuclear, Space, Metallurgy, Mechanics, Chemical industry, Food industry, Energy, Water, Health, …..
. Yes. service.

The Institute of Security Technologies "MORATEX" is  specialized in R&D projects realization and scientific research in the field of broadly understood security technologies for services and citizens. Our area of experience includes solutions from uniforms, personal  and infrastructure protection (i.e. ballistic and anti-trauma protections), from the design of our own advanced materials, risk management and simulations, to medical devices used in the security area . Our technologies are used by state security and defence services, such as the Police, Border Guard, State Fire Service and State Protection Service. The key to the Institute success is close, active and long-term cooperation with LEAs, thanks to which the needs and expectations of these services are well known to us. MORATEX has many years of experience in designing technical and technological solutions, such as: ballistic and anti- trauma head protections, bullet- and fragment-proof vests, arm and leg protection and other products such as…

The Chemical Research Laboratory equipment:

a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass detector GCMS-QP2010 Ultra (prod. Shimadzu) and with flame ionization detector (FID – prod. 2010 PLUS/Shimadzu);
UV-VIS spectrophotometer, V-670 model with integrating sphere, MODEL ILN-725 (prod. Jasco);
FTIR Nicolet iS10 spectrometer (Thermo Scientific) with transmission and reflection (ATR) test attachment; 
VIS Datacolor TM 400 spectrophotometer; 
Automatic extractor B-811 (BUCHI);
Microscope with B4-313 camera (Motic);  and  Optical microscope LAB 50M (Opti-tech);
KINEXUS PRO oscillating and rotational reometer (MALVERN);
Differential scanning calorimeter with DSC-3 equipment (Mettler-Toledo);
Thermogravimetric analyser with TGA/DSC 3+ equipment (Mettler-Toledo);
Dynamic mechanical analyser with DMA-1 equipment (Mettler-Toledo);
ICP spectrometer – OES 5110 ICP – OES with autosampler SPS 4 (Agilent Technologies INC.);
MARS 6 microwave….

Our services

certified laboratory tests in the areas of chemistry, ballistics and metrology;
expert analyses and opinions;
carrying out R&D and R&I projects;
raising funds for the implementation of research and development projects;
design and development of dedicated technologies and products;
improvement of production processes;
technical consulting;
supporting standardization processes;
trainings.

Our partners & customers:

Industry;
Security Services;
Scientific and research units;
National and international consortia.

We provide services in the following areas of specialization:

clothing and protective products:

bullet and fragments-proof vests;
special clothing and uniforms;
protective products (helmets, shields, equipment sets, etc.);
product individualization.

infrastructure protection:

…. Yes. service.