Prof. Anja Boisen

Technical University of Denmark, DK

Microdevices for oral drug delivery

Our research center of excellence IDUN – Intelligent Drug delivery and sensing Using microcontainers and Nanomechanics combines research in nanosensors/centrifugal microfluidics and microfabricated devices for oral drug delivery. This allows us to explore the synergy between sensor development and search for new pharmaceutical delivery tools and materials. We will show examples of recent findings and results within microdevices for drug delivery. Here we hypothesise that oral drug delivery can be improved significantly by utilizing micrometer sized devices loaded with drugs and sealed by lids that open at specific locations in the body. The containers protect drugs during passage through the stomach and facilitate adhesion to the intestinal wall for controlled and unidirectional release. We will show our recent findings and results within polymer fabrication and in vitro/in vivo characterization.

Prof. Bianca Maria Colosimo

Politecnico di Milano, IT

Complex data as the new normal in precision engineering: opportunities and challenges

Precision engineering is facing a new renaissance, due to the widespread adoption of emerging process technologies (e.g., additive manufacturing, micromanufacturing) combined with paradigm shifts in metrology (e.g., X-ray CT), sensing and computing (e.g., Industry 4.0 and big data mining).

A new generation of massive, highly unstructured, multi-sensor, spatially and temporally correlated data represent the “new normal”, i.e., the basic ground to develop novel solutions for quality inspection, monitoring and control.

Two main dimensions of data complexity will specifically be discussed in this keynote: i) data describing product quality, where freeform, topologically optimized shapes and lattice structures have to be modelled, monitored and inspected; ii) process data, available as multiple streams of signals, images and video-images, that have to be modelled and monitored to prevent and possibly correct flaws. Starting from real industrial scenarios, opportunities and challenges of complex data mining will be discussed to highlight directions for future research.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Gisela Lanza

Institute of Production Science (wbk) at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), DE

Sustainable production enabled by remanufacturing: Production under uncertain product specifications

The current social, economic and global political situation is characterized by great uncertainty. The periods of time in which humanity is undergoing profound changes are becoming increasingly short-cyclical. In view of the growing population worldwide and the increasing scarcity of central raw materials, the course must be set today in order to look into a sustainable future. This is especially true for manufacturing companies, as there is no doubt that the traditional linear economic approach “take – make – use – dispose” is no longer a recipe for success in the long run. Closed-loop models such as remanufacturing offer the opportunity to continue to operate economically but also ecologically. In remanufacturing, used products are recovered, dismantled and selected components are returned to the production process. In particular, the decision as to whether an used product is suitable for a further life cycle is nowadays mainly made by skilled personnel following an inspection, since the use of the products results in a high variance in the states of the declining old products. In addition to possibly missing product components, signs of aging and wear and tear such as corrosion or cracks must be detected and evaluated at the same time. This poses unprecedented challenges for automated quality assurance concepts, as they have to adapt to constantly changing conditions. At the same time, new methods, such as artificial intelligence, offer the opportunity to master these challenges.

Jonathan Pearce PhD FInstP

National Physical Laboratory, UK

New perspectives on applied thermometry

Traceability of temperature measurements to the International Temperature Scale of 1990 (ITS-90) is a critical factor in establishing low measurement uncertainty and reproducible measurements. Unfortunately, in a large number of temperature measurement settings traceability is lost due to factors relating to the measurement situation e.g. unknown sensor calibration drift, surface emissivity, reflected thermal radiation, and heat flow effects. Some developments at NPL to facilitate in situ traceability are described, including novel low drift and self-validating temperature sensors, traceable surface temperature measurement methodologies using thermographic phosphor coatings, an in situ combustion reference standard (portable standard flame) of known temperature, traceable fibre-optic thermometry, a 3D thermal imaging capability, and a practical driftless ‘primary’ Johnson noise thermometer which measures temperature directly without recourse to any temperature scale. In addition, implementation of the developments in process environments are outlined. The unifying factor is that the measurements are aimed at being traceable to the ITS-90 with the linkage maintained through understanding and quantifying the uncertainty of measurement.

Peter Fuglsang

Siemens Gamesa, DK

Offshore blade development research needs

The Wind Energy Industry has undergone a dramatic development during the latest two decades and is now a main stream energy source and seen as one of the handles the World has to reduce carbon footprint and there is a rising need for energy capacity. The cost pressure in the wind market has increased significantly due to the fierce competition among OEMs combined with auction based tenders leading to fewer subsidies. This leads to a need for innovation on every element of the balance of plant and on the entire value chain in order to reduce cost, at the same time it also leads to OEM cash constraints and short term and incremental thinking.

With focus on large blades for wind turbines, this presentation will provide an understanding of the wind energy sector and market together with the major industry trends. The presentation will demonstrate the value of setting a long term agenda for innovation and development of new technologies. Also, it will be discussed how this long term agenda defines research topics and collaboration between Industry and Academia. Here, one important research topic is new composite materials.