RIGHTWEIGHT - Novel advanced materials solutions for affordable lightweight to meet automotive and aerospace makers’ needs
Applying lightweight solutions is the most efficient approach to make transport greener (Lucintel’18; McK’12). However, SME suppliers of automotive and aerospace parts in NWE encounter severe challenges to define optimal lightweighting: automotive struggles to integrate the most advanced materials; aerospace, to reach acceptable costs and production speeds. Each sector uniquely excels in specific areas: e.g. automotive leads automated mass manufacturing and aerospace, materials performance. To effectively adopt feasible lightweight solutions, more affordable and environmentally-friendly innovations must be co-developed across the value chain: market-pull from demand side will stimulate a competitiveness increase of supplier SMEs, while contributing to reduce overall CO2 transport emissions.
Expectations
RIGHTWEIGHT will support 50+ manufacturing SMEs in automotive and aerospace value chains to deliver components meeting car/aircraft makers’ needs. 20+ novel lightweight products will be incubated to TRL7 by 2022, improving environmental performance and greater value-for-money via an open cross-sectorial process combining educational activities and transnational thematic competitions in 5 cross-cutting areas within lightweight:
Partners will provide dedicated training in specialised complementary fieldlabs.
5 countries with automotive and aerospace relevance (RIS3) will be involved, leveraging leader-follower synergies: FR (aero), DE and BE (auto), NL (both) and IT (strong in both). 50+ end-users (large demand actors) from 7 regions are already committed (assoc. part.).
RIGHTWEIGHT will pioneer to stimulate cross-sectorial transfer between actors now operating in one value chain with dedicated transnational sessions (also inviting peer projects) and a novel database of success cases.
We will anchor €10M turnover & 100 jobs in NWE, while generating €2M turnover & 50 jobs by 2022.
Objectives of RIGHTWEIGHT
The overall objective of RIGHTWEIGHT is to increase the competitiveness of automotive and aerospace SMEs delivering new solutions that meet environmental and affordability targets. Cross-sectoral collaboration and dedicated support will help them increase capacity to co-develop solutions meeting car/aircraft makers’ needs. RIGHTWEIGHT will set up a transnational ecosystem connecting 7 partner regions with complementary expertise (FR aero, DE & BE auto; NL & IT both), to be expanded with 3 additional NWE regions (LU, IE, UK).
Cross-cutting areas within lightweight:
The RIGHTWEIGHT 1st call is now open, to view the challenges and to find out what support is being offered to SMEs please visit the website below.
Join the ecosystem of entities working in automotive and aerospace industries, register to the NMWP portal and explore the synergies and opportunities transnationally.
10 Kaiserstr
Karlsruhe
76131
Germany
133 Oude Diestersebaan
Lommel
3920
Belgium
Rue Léonard de Vinci
Changé
53810
France
22 Piazza Giovanni Bovio
Naples
1 Merowingerplatz
Düsseldorf
40225
Germany
30 Automotive Campus
Helmond
5708 JZ
Netherlands
70000 Postbus
Enschede
7500 KB
Netherlands
Lead partner
| Organisation | Address | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saxion Hogeschool |
70000 Postbus Enschede 7500 KB Netherlands |
j.h.d.voerman@saxion.nl | www.thermoplasticcomposites.nl |
| Name | Contact Name | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Karlsruher Institut für Technologie - Institut für Produktentwicklung (IPEK) | Markus Spadinger | markus.spadinger@kit.edu | Germany |
| Flanders Make | Ger van den Kerkhof | ger.vandenkerkhof@flandersmake.be | Belgium |
| Polymeris, pôle de compétitivité Plasturgie & Composites | Annabelle Sion | annabelle.sion@polymeris.fr | France |
| IMAST – DISTRETTO SULL’INGEGNERIA DIE MATERIALI POLIMERICI E COMPOSITI E STRUTTURE SCARL | Evelina Milella | presidente@imast.it | |
| Cluster NanoMikroWerkstoffePhotonik.NRW c/o NMWP Management GmbH | Jörg Jansen | joerg.jansen@nmwp.de | Germany |
| AutomotiveNL | Gerard Koning | g.koning@raivereniging.nl | Netherlands |
UPCOMING
To promote the RIGHTWEIGHT challenges a selection of regional workshops were organised. Watch the workshops below from AutomotiveNL, IMAST, NMWP and KIT! Discover more about the support programme and hear from a selection of the challenge providers themselves. Read More
On the 27th of May, we held our RIGHTWEIGHT Global Workshop! The event highlighted the RIGHTWEIGHT support programme, the challenges and how to apply. Read More
Saxion TPAC partners in a University of Twente-led consortium that will be working on research into technological innovations with real economic potential that could help us to achieve a more sustainable world. The research project ENLIGHTEN (Enabling Integrated Lightweight Structures In High Volumes) aims at ‘Reducing CO2 emissions by making vehicles lighter’. Read the full article below over on the TPAC website. Read More
NMWP.NRW: Printed miniature loudspeaker with a future perspective It has six corners and is about the size of a 1-cent piece: In an additive manufacturing process, miniature loudspeakers as part of piezoelectric, microelectromechanical systems - so-called piezo-MEMS - can be efficiently and inexpensively manufactured using a combination of inkjet printing and laser technology. This is proven by scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT, the Institute for Materials in Electrical Engineering 2 (IWE2) at RWTH Aachen University and the Fraunhofer Institute for Silicon Technology ISIT. A corresponding demo component was created as part of the recently completed BMBF joint project »Generative production of efficient piezo-MEMS for microactuators (GENERATOR)«. Piezo-MEMS are real technical all-rounders, because the wafer-thin piezoelectric layers fulfill either actuator or sensor functions: either they expand when an electrical field is applied or they convert mechanical movement into electrical voltage. They are accordingly in demand in communication or medical technology, for example as sensors or actuators in pumps, valves or speakers - each in miniature format. The thin layers usually consist of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), currently the most powerful piezoelectric functional ceramic. Piezoelectric layers a few μm thick are preferably used, which can be structured very precisely, for example by etching or direct printing. - CHECK FOR MORE INFORMATION: Read More
World record drive with electric car ends on Sylt Medicine, aviation and the automotive industry are often dependent on very complex plastic components. With the help of additive manufacturing processes, often also called 3D printing, these can be produced individually, easily and in the right quantities. A widespread and high quality process in this area is so-called laser sintering. A laser first melts a polymer powder and then builds up the desired plastic component in layers. But there is a catch: So far, only a few materials are available for the process, as the production of very fine polymer powders is very complex and corresponding processes are only established for a few materials. In a research project, scientists at the University of Paderborn want to develop new processes for the production of any plastic material in powder form. For this purpose, a laboratory hall was extensively converted, equipped with the necessary equipment and machines and now completed after around two years of planning and construction. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is funding the three-year project with a project volume of around 3.8 million euros. "Industrial Manufacturing in North Rine Westphalia" (iAMnrw-Materials), so the project title, bundles the competencies of Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP) and the Chair for Particle Process Engineering (PVT) as well as the Chair for Material Science (LWK) for another project for the production of Metal powders and is located centrally in the Paderborn Institute for Additive Manufacturing (PIAF). Read More
Medicine, aviation and the automotive industry are often dependent on very complex plastic components. With the help of additive manufacturing processes, often also called 3D printing, these can be produced individually, easily and in the right quantities. A widespread and high quality process in this area is so-called laser sintering. A laser first melts a polymer powder and then builds up the desired plastic component in layers. But there is a catch: So far, only a few materials are available for the process, as the production of very fine polymer powders is very complex and corresponding processes are only established for a few materials. In a research project, scientists at the University of Paderborn want to develop new processes for the production of any plastic material in powder form. For this purpose, a laboratory hall was extensively converted, equipped with the necessary equipment and machines and now completed after around two years of planning and construction. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is funding the three-year project with a project volume of around 3.8 million euros. "Industrial Manufacturing in North Rine Westphalia" (iAMnrw-Materials), so the project title, bundles the competencies of Kunststofftechnik Paderborn (KTP) and the Chair for Particle Process Engineering (PVT) as well as the Chair for Material Science (LWK) for another project for the production of Metal powders and is located centrally in the Paderborn Institute for Additive Manufacturing (PIAF). - CHECK FOR MORE INFORMATION: Read More
IPEK News: EU-funded innovation project RIGHTWEIGHT started as part of Interreg Northwest Europe On October the 15th and 27th, the official kick-off for the RIGHTWEIGHT innovation project funded by the EU as part of Interreg Northwest Europe took place. Together with six project partners from Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and the Netherlands, the IPEK - Institute for Product Development works to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing affordable and environmentally friendly innovations for lightweight construction in order to make the region more competitive To ensure northwest Europe. RIGHTWEIGHT will play a pioneering role in promoting exchange and cooperation between actors in the automotive and aircraft industries. As part of RIGHTWEIGHT, more than 50 SMEs from 7 different regions of Northwest Europe are supported in developing products that address the challenges of the respective companies. The 20 most promising lightweight innovations are also funded to achieve technology maturity level (TRL) 7. In this way, RIGHTWEIGHT makes an important contribution to generating and securing jobs and sales for companies in the Northwestern Europe region. - Text by Patrick Haberkern Read More
UPCOMING
Flanders Make is organising a one-hour webinar session on the 14th of October at 13:00 pm.
Learn how the advanced techniques of Structural Design Optimization can be used to your benefit and discover what structural design optimization entails and which methods to use for which purpose with examples from past projects. Flanders Make and IPEK (DE) will also discuss the current state of the art and present case studies of ongoing research.
Take a look at the agenda:
| Time | Topic | Presenter |
| 13h00 | Introduction to structural design optimization | Flanders Make |
| 13h15 | Classification and application examples | Flanders Make |
| 13h35 | State of the Art: Case studies | Flanders Make, IPEK |
| 14h00 | Q&A |
PAST EVENTS:
RIGHTWEIGHT is an Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) project that will intensify the cooperation between the automotive and aerospace sectors aiming at fostering the cross-cutting transfer of knowledge which will allow the development of cost-effective solutions with a reduced environmental footprint. The project will apply innovative lightweight solutions to make mobility greener.
Challenges should address at least one of the five cross-cutting topics below:
One of the core activities included in the RIGHTWEIGHT project is the organisation of challenge-based competitions for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
A new campaign looking for end-users as well as Tier1 or Tier2 companies working on automotive and aerospace sectors within North-West Europe countries is currently open.
The RIGHTWEIGHT project could help you to unlock innovation in the field of lightweight materials in your company by supporting SMEs which will provide technological solutions to the challenges you are facing.
As part of the Interreg North-West Europe (NWE) programme, the RIGHTWEIGHT project aims to strengthen the collaboration and competitiveness of businesses in the region and lead NWE to the forefront of innovation in the field of lightweight while reducing the carbon footprint.
A search campaign for these challenges is now open!
The RIGHTWEIGHT project aims to find lightweight solutions with improved environmental and affordability criteria. These solutions, either products and/or technologies, are aimed to be co-developed by SMEs from both sectors in close collaboration with car and aircraft makers. The project will organise 2 rounds of challenge-based competitions arranged in 5 categories.
Participating SMEs will have the chance to present their solutions to challenges and the winning ones will receive dedicated transnational support through training materials and access to specialised field labs. More than 50 SMEs will be supported with at least 20 of them co-developing solutions to TRL 7, meeting car/aircraft makers’ needs.
