CONTENTS 3 4 5 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 29 30 Welcome to the Precision Fair Precision Fair’s DNA Colophon Precision as Brabant’s foundation The need for cooperation From a 2D drawing to a 3D model Visibility of the industry abroad Timeline: 20 years of Precision Fair 20 years of sharing knowledge A crucial phase Meet our speakers HTSM & precision industry 5 trends in precision technology What exhibitors from both the first and 20th edition say Collaboration with Big Science organizations Who is where? 2
WELCOME TO THE PRECISION FAIR Dear reader, This year we are celebrating the twentieth edition of the Precision Fair. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, but precision technology is something that fascinates me immensely. It is all around us - in smartphones, mechanical engineering, and medical technology - without being visible to us. Without it, the world would be nowhere. The magazine in front of you is a collection of articles that looks back at the past, reflects on the present, and looks ahead to the future. A big Thank You is in place towards Geert Hellings and Hans Houdijk, without whom this Fair would never have been what it is right now. You will meet both of them further on in this magazine. In recent times, the industry has made great strides towards becoming even more compact and precise. It went from micrometer to picometer and the demand for even smaller measurements, manufacturing and construction kept on rising - and continues to do so. For a brief retrospective of the most important innovations and technologies, we spoke with Hans Krikhaar (DSPE). In the 20 years that the Precision Fair has been held, precision technology has secured a permanent place in the industrial sector. Jan Visser, Industrial Liaison Officer at CERN and coordinator of the ILO-net, knows better than anyone else that we, as the Netherlands, are participating in the chain on a world-class level. In this magazine, he tells us all about the special collaborations happening in this sector. Another trend is that more and more companies are gravitating towards a life-long learning path. After all, technology is moving so fast that people regularly need further training. In this issue, we spoke with Hans van Kimmenade, one of the most inspiring lecturers in the sector. For many years, he has been giving the ‘Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing’ course on behalf of Mikrocentrum. You will also find a visual timeline in this magazine that takes you back in time. You can read an interview with delegate Martijn van Gruijthuijsen (Province of North Brabant) and we introduce some of the speakers at the Precision Fair. Speaking of which, I would like to take this opportunity to cordially invite you once again to the Precision Fair. Meeting people, working together, and sharing knowledge is indispensable if we want to grow as a sector. Our team has been organizing this event with plenty of enthusiasm for the past 20 years and we hope to add at least another 20 more editions to that list. Last but not least, a special mention goes to the Province of North Brabant as the partner of this magazine. Thanks for making this possible! I hope you enjoy reading this magazine and look forward to seeing you on the 10th and 11th of November in the Brabanthallen! Kind regards, Bart Kooijmans Manager Precision Fair Mikrocentrum 3
ABOUT THE PRECISION FAIR’S DNA The Precision Fair can be characterized in three ways: unburdening the exhibitors and help them make connections, offering our speakers a great audience, and making sure our visitors are inspired and informed. These goals are closely connected to Mikrocentrum’s main objectives: sharing knowledge, connecting people, offering help in doing business. A good fair, like the Precision Fair has proven to be for 20 years already, brings all these three functions together. Exhibitors should not have to worry too much about the organization but should be able to focus on their business activities, their customers, and other relations. That is why a total all-in package is offered by us. To accompany this, large numbers of Mikrocentrum staff are always present during our events. This also strengthens the personal relationships between the exhibitors and Mikrocentrum, but also with the speakers and visitors. Among foreign exhibitors, in particular, this is often mentioned as a specific plus of the fair. This process of relationship-building between exhibitors, speakers, and visitors goes well beyond the exhibition floor itself. For example, the evening programs of the Precision Fair, in which invariably hundreds of exhibitors take part, have always been a great success. It gave exhibitors who had had (too) little time to see their colleagues during the day the opportunity to talk to each other. It’s hard to measure how many additional contacts and new business that led to. Not to speak about the hundreds of new contacts - made during the fair - which are turned into a real business or fresh knowledge in the months following the event. 4
COLOPHON PRODUCTION: Innovation Origins: Frans van Beveren & Bart Brouwers Mikrocentrum: Susanne van Doornik & Anouk Brekelmans TEXT: Bart Brouwers Aafke Eppinga Milan Lenters Elcke Vels TRANSLATION: Helen Crowe Brenda Arnold DESIGN: Frans van Beveren ABOUT THE COVER An enormous microscope, surrounded by dozens of ‘Pietjes Precies’: This is the heart of the cover created by John Heijink for the 20th Precision Fair. “My work always consists of future-oriented parodies of existing situations. This assignment gave me the chance to go all out, especially since precision technology is literally taking our world into the future.” Heijink calls his style the “Clear Line on Turbo”. He first draws all the individual elements, then shrinks them digitally and ‘sticks’ them onto the final drawing. This creates the typical, unique John Heijink technique. As a result, there is always a lot to discover in all of Heijink’s works. “I always hear that people like that the most about my drawings,” he says. 5
‘PRECISION TECHNOLOGY IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION REGION THAT NORTH BRABANT WANTS TO BECOME’ The longer Martijn van Gruijthuijsen remains the delegate for Economy, Knowledge and Talent Development for the province of North Brabant, the more objectively he looks at ‘his’ region. But when it comes to the precision industry in ‘his’ province, he feels a sense of pride. “When I visit companies in this sector, I am often amazed. That’s what I find intriguing about innovation - you often wonder why it didn’t exist before. It takes something to come up with it.” To get straight to the point: how important is precision technology for North Brabant? “The precision industry is one of the foundations on which our claim that the province is a knowledge and innovation region is built on. We have been named one of the world’s smartest regions on several occasions. Reaching the top is one thing, but staying there is another. I think it is very impressive that we are still there and that the sector is doing everything in its power to stay there. After all, it is becoming increasingly complex, difficult and challenging to stay on top. Can you explain why it is becoming more and more of a challenge to stay at the top? “It has to do with international competition, but also because it is more and more about those last few percentages. The time when it was relatively easy to take big steps is over. Being at the top in the high-tech sector entails increasingly smaller, more complex material. There is no ceiling.” 6 What is it that makes the North Brabant province so good at this? “Collaboration is in the DNA of Brabanders, but our leading position in high-tech is not just due to that. We have built up a solid reputation and that attracts specialists. I always call this ‘the law of proximity’ - so much expertise has accumulated in our region that it attracts other high-tech companies. So the sector is doing well. Where do you think there is room for improvement? “I think that the sector could think a bit more broadly about applications. For example, it would be good if social applications around high-tech were better explored. Consider digitalization, healthcare and the energy transition. These are sectors where precision technology can mean a lot. A good example of where this is already happening is the Holst Centre. They’ve developed a new generation battery - LionVolt - which is based on 3D technology and layers of solid material. These batteries recharge quickly, have a high energy density and a long lifespan. With this, Holst Centre is making a huge contribution to the energy transition.” How does the province support precision technology? “In addition to financial support, we also look at where we can make connections not just in Brabant, but also on a national and European level. For
©Ilse de Wolf example, two weeks ago I was in southern Germany together with the director of the Holst Centre. This is how we, as a regional government, try to open doors to international cooperation and innovation.” It is difficult to keep highly educated people in Brabant and many of them leave for the Randstad region. What are you doing about that? “We need those bright minds so that in the future, we can secure the earning power, prosperity and well-being of the Brabanders. Whether it’s an econometrist from Tilburg University or an automotive student from the Eindhoven University of Technology - we need all kinds of talent. Unfortunately, many of them are admittedly leaving. We are doing our best to turn that tide, for example, by working on housing projects for the major cities, arranging public transport as effectively as possible and supporting the cultural climate. We also believe it is important to encourage entrepreneurship. For instance, there is the Brabant Startup Fund, which financially supports start-ups. All these measures together should ensure that the province becomes even more attractive.” This year marks 20 years of the Precision Fair. How do you view Mikrocentrum’s role? “I see Mikrocentrum as the hands and feet of the high-tech ecosystem in the province, the PR. Experts from the precision industry are often looking for more depth and for new innovations. Those things are extremely important, but it is also crucial to see what else is going on in the industry. That is what Mikrocentrum is there for. The Precision Fair is a perfect example of this, as a place where the sector can meet, catch up and have discussions. I just mentioned that it is important that the sector also starts looking at applications in the social sphere and the trade fair can play an important role in that as well.” Martijn van Gruijthuijsen Van Gruijthuijsen (1972) was born and raised in Megen in the Netherlands. He started out at a MAVO vocational secondary school and eventually earned his VWO diploma (university entrance) at a HAVO secondary school. In 2002, he completed his studies in public administration at Tilburg University. From 2005 to 2019, Van Gruijthuijsen worked for the Tilburg University as a policy officer, coordinator and program manager. In 2011, he also became a member of the VVD party for the Provincial States of the Netherlands. Here he was, among other things, party chair and vice-chair. After eight years as a member of the Provincial States, he took over the position of Provincial Executive member for Economy, Knowledge and Talent Development in June 2019. 7
‘INNOVATION LEADS TO INNOVATION, BUT IT DOES REQUIRE COOPERATION’ 8
In the 1990s, Hans Krikhaar, now Professor of Smart Manufacturing at the Fontys University of Applied Sciences and President of DSPE, began his career in precision technology at Philips. In the 12 years he worked there, he saw the company change. “Around 20 years ago, the company started to fall apart. Numerous spin-offs arose: ASML, Assembleon (now K&S) and Thermo Fischer, to name just a few. Those spin-offs led to a large and diverse precision industry in Brabant.” When Krikhaar looks back on the past 20 years of precision technology, cooperation runs through it like a common thread. “In my time at Philips, there was lots of very good internal communication and knowledge sharing. Back then, the company was still a unified whole.” From light bulb to laptop The hydraulic spindle, for example, was originally developed to make VCR heads. Later, the spindle was used in the first lithography machine at ASML. “I myself used the spindle in a machine that produced shaving heads at Philips Drachten. And a later version of the same spindle was used to spin contact lenses.” The radio tube has a similar history. Initially a derivative of the incandescent lamp, it eventually led Philips to a world-class product: the radio. “Later, that same technology led to the creation of the television. Then Philips furthered the technique with the transistor and the IC, technology that has enabled us all to communicate via our laptops today.” The broad applications of one technology are the result of good internal communication and illustrates how an innovation can be applied in multiple ways. Diverse ecosystem The fact that 20 years ago, more and more spin-offs from the parent company Philips emerged, made for a very diverse ecosystem. Krikhaar: “All kinds of start-ups were created that were working on high-tech systems. We became good at factory automation, systems engineering, photonics and mechatronics. Our open style of cooperation and out-of-the-box thinking in particular has brought Dutch precision technology to where it is today.” When Krikhaar compares the Netherlands to Germany, England and France, he sees a clear “We need to keep that attitude. I see that more and more companies and start-ups are wary of sharing knowledge. That’s not a good thing for precision technology in the Netherlands. An SME that is worried about its innovation being stolen locks the door to outsiders. It won’t get them or the industry any further,” Krikhaar emphasizes. The industry’s reluctance to share knowledge is a vastly different from the situation 20 years ago, when fearlessly sharing knowledge within Philips led to one innovation after another. As president of DSPE, Krikhaar has made it his mission to remove the apprehension surrounding the exchange of knowledge. “We do that by bringing skilled professionals together. We even go so far as to want them to become friends. We organize knowledge days, publish the professional journal ‘Mikroniek’ six times a year and organize conferences in mechatronics and optomechanics. That basis for knowledge sharing is important. Mikrocentrum’s Precision Fair important expression of that.” 9 is also a very “I see that more and more companies and start-ups are wary of sharing knowledge. That’s not a good thing for precision technology in the Netherlands.” difference: in those countries, companies are much more hierarchical and divided into separate fields, while in our country different fields are far more integrated. Wary of sharing knowledge
FROM A 2D DRAWING TO A 3D MODEL, WHAT DOES THAT IMPLY FOR ME AS A DESIGNER? By Hans van Kimmenade Lecturer Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing A technical drawing specifies the requirements that a designer sets for a workpiece. These workpiece specifications are still commonly executed via 2D drawings. It took time to make the 2D drawings and they had to be printed. Also, the handling of an order was mostly done by hand and was often cumbersome. In the event of a change, all these steps have to repeated again and again. More often the specifications are incorrect or incomplete which in turn results in unnecessary extra effort in the manufacturing and measuring process. Incorrect specifications can lead to needless waste. If everything went right, the mechanical designer’s mistakes were usually taken care of by the skilled worker in the manufacturing process and questions may have cropped up during the measurement stage because only things that were correctly specified can actually be verified. Model Based Definition In recent years, we have seen that people are willing to make the step to paperless communication. This is not entirely new. In 1989, steps were already being taken in the direction of Model Based Definition. At that time, it was expected that the transition to being paperless could be made within two years. By 1991, we were supposed to be fully Model Based. Model Based Definition (MBD) is a way of not traditionally putting the workpiece specification on a drawing but in a 3D model instead. MBD can include things like dimensions, tolerances, geometric specifications, surface treatments, references and general 10 notes. When manufacturing information and information also become relevant for verification, then this is referred to as Product Manufacturing Information (PMI). “Why designers need to start paying more attention to ensuring that their workpieces are complete and correctly specified.”
With the introduction of PMI MBD, the 3D CAD model with all of the relevant information, prepared by the mechanical designer, is the only characterization of the workpiece that the subsequent CAM and CAI steps can make use of. The creation and printing of drawings is dispensed with. In these further steps, we will start to see progressively greater levels of automation. It is essential that the communication between these systems aligns with each other. CAM and CAI software must be able to read the CAD information. This requires the information to be semantically stored on the CAD model. A widely used file format for this is STEP 242. Complete and correct workpiece With the introduction of PMI MBD, it is more imperative than ever that the designer specifies their workpiece “completely and correctly“ according to valid, up-to-date standards. For geometric specifications, these standards are defined in the ISO Geometric Product Specifications (GPS) matrix and in the American ASME standards. Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing constitutes part of the geometric product specification and form a symbolic language that the CAM and CAI software are capable of reading. These ISO GPS standards have been subject to frequent changes in recent years. The reason for this is that the standards are not always unambiguous. We also see changes due to the steps ISO is taking to apply the independence principle in a consistent manner. Lastly, the move is being made to base standards on rules rather than examples. In that respect, the end is not yet in sight. Complicating factor A designer then needs to be proficient in the use of this geometrical dimensioning and tolerancing language. Its use is not merely a matter of knowing the symbols, but also having the skill to use them. In this context, the frequent changes in the standards act as a complicating factor. Given the fact that the CAD, CAM, CAI software is based on these ISO standards, it is necessary that designers are aware of the updated standards. Mikrocentrum offers, among other things, Dutch and English Geometrical Dimensioning and Tolerancing training for designers at HBO (University of Applied Sciences) and TU (University of Technology) levels. As an introduction, attention is paid to being able to interpret the geometric tolerance symbol. Nevertheless, the task of the designer is to be able to define and outline the workpiece requirements. The focus of the training is therefore on developing the skills to unambiguously define such requirements. “All requirements that are not semantically standardized on the model necessitate intervention.” 11
THE TRADE FAIR INCREASES THE VISIBILITY OF THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY ABROAD 12
For John Blankendaal, director of Brainport How does the trade fair manage to do that? Industries, it is already the tenth time that he is attending the Precision Fair. No matter how busy he is, Blankendaal always makes room in his schedule to drop by. What makes this trade fair so special? “It is a large trade fair by Dutch standards, but despite this size, it is still intimate. It’s not an ordinary trade fair but really more of a networking event for business relations where you get to see lots of familiar faces but also make new contacts. I think that is what makes it so distinctive and unique. Where you see other events struggling with declining visitor numbers and exhibitors, they are not affected by that here.” Why is this event so important for Brainport Industries? “It is one of the few trade fairs that showcases what suppliers have to offer across the full spectrum of the manufacturing industry. That is catching on, because there was nothing before this. The manufacturing industry was very much invisible. The network of Brainport Industries has grown partly because of these kinds of get-togethers. The great thing about it is that everyone is always looking forward to this trade fair. Not only to be able to speak to each other again, but also as far as the content is concerned. This is where they update each other about the latest developments or make contacts that can lead to future business or new customers.” Isn’t this a case of everyone knows everyone? “It’s a nice mix. The supply chain is always looking for new customers, so you tend to look abroad fairly quickly as wellv. From within Brainport Industries, we are working with Mikrocentrum to attract more international visitors to the Precision Fair. We have seen especially in recent years lots of German, but also Belgian and Danish visitors coming back. And that interest is only increasing. The visibility and exposure of the Dutch manufacturing industry is consequently on the rise abroad.” “The program content is of course very strong. Speakers from all corners of the industry are always coming to talk about the latest developments. It is also interesting for visitors from abroad to see what the Dutch manufacturing industry has to offer. With matchmaking events, such as special breakfast sessions for international visitors, we are able to emphasize our added value. There is a very positive response to this.” What have been your personal highlights? “Personally, I always love walking around the trade fair and talking to people I haven’t seen in a while. You can schedule all kinds of meetings through Teams, but nothing can compare to chance meetings and personal encounters. It can lead to business or provide you with good ideas. And sometimes you link certain people together because you think they have something in common. That all happens here; I really enjoy that.” “Moreover, I like the fact that the trade fair is becoming more and more well known abroad. It opens up opportunities for our manufacturing industry. At this trade fair, you can show neighboring countries like Germany how strong the Dutch manufacturing industry actually is. If one of those German delegations is impressed by what’s happening here, then that’s really nice to see.” “It is one of the few trade fairs that showcases what suppliers have to offer across the full spectrum of the manufacturing industry.” 13
PRECISION FAIR 20 YEARS FROM MICROMETER TO PICOMETER → 2002 2001 ← 2010 2011 ↓ 2012 ↓ → 2013 14 2014 2015 ↑ → 2016 → ← ← 2009 →
→ → 2004 2003 ← 2007 ← 2008 → → → 2018 2017 20 years of.... ...development in tech: The Precision Fair has grown along with the developments within precision technology. It is the platform where the latest innovations have been shown to the public for 20 years. ...meeting: To achieve innovation and technological development, a meeting between people is essential. The Precision Fair is the place where, in just two days, you can renew old contacts and make new ones. ...collaboration: (Chain) collaboration is essential to come up with new ideas and technologies. Every meeting can be the starting point for a fantastic collaboration. Twenty years of Precision Fair have shown how this works. ...sharing knowledge: No progress without knowledge. From the beginning, the Precision Fair has had a strong content knowledge program. From ASML to Philips and TNO and from Nikhef to the Big Science projects of CERN, ITER, ESRF, and ESA: the Precision Fair offers you all the insights. ...growth: In its 20 years, the Precision Fair has shown that precision technology has grown considerably and still has a lot of potential to grow further - we’ll show this to you in the next 20 years! 15 2019 → ← 2005 ↓ 2006
TWENTY YEARS OF PRECISION FAIR SYMBOLIZES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRECISION TECHNOLOGY ITSELF Hans Houdijk was one of the people who had a role in organizing the Precision Fair right from the start. He was Mikrocentrum’s head of the organization for the fair between 2004 and 2016. Together with him, we take a closer look at the importance and value of 20 years of the Precision Fair. 16
Even before the first edition of the Precision Fair was taken care of, Mikrocentrum was already active in the fields of metrology, laser technology, and optics - all important aspects within precision technology. “In addition, we had already built up experience with the Plastics Fair and CADCAM System”, Hans Houdijk recalls. “So at some point, we thought that it would be very logical to organize such an event around precision technology as well.” In 2000, the necessary decisions were made, so that in the following year the first Precision Fair could actually take place. “Because such an exhibition did not yet exist, the acquisition of exhibitors was quite a job. But everyone in the sector understood that we could offer significant added value with the fair. With about sixty exhibitors, we had a great start.” Sharing knowledge, connecting people and doing business together From the start, Houdijk and his colleagues made sure that the Precision Fair was more than ‘just’ an event. “It’s not only about selling a product. It is, as always at Mikrocentrum, about sharing knowledge, connecting people, and doing business together. That meant that from the beginning, our conference program was also an important part of the event. As were the opportunities to be, or become, part of our large network.” The selection of participants also always played an important role. “Apart from perhaps the first few years, we have always had to deal with a waiting list. That made it possible for us to have a strict selection of participants. Of course, we want to prevent industry-strange participants from making an appearance. That would quickly diminish the value of the event.” At the same time, the fair has always looked for opportunities to grow. Until the 19th edition, that was always within the walls of NH Conference Center Koningshof in Veldhoven; this year the Precision Fair takes place in the Brabanthallen in Den Bosch. “NH Koningshof always helps us very well, for example in the years when we added a semi-permanent hall to make our wishes come true. This allowed us to accommodate almost 300 exhibitors. Due to the coronavirus, we needed extra space to meet the Dutch government’s regulations. Therefore, we’ve moved the Precision Fair to the Brabanthallen in ‘s-Hertogenbosch. This also gave us the opportunity to create extra space for current and new exhibitors.” Motion control, Mechatronics and Module building Houdijk has seen and enabled many developments over the years. “To name a few of them: from paper and fax, we went to completely digital processes. The universities and knowledge institutes made their appearance, as did - very importantly - the Big Science program with CERN in it, among others. A Vision Pavilion was added and medical technology made its appearance. But the most fundamental, underlying development has to do with the change of focus: it went from the separate parts of our playing field to a more comprehensive, combined approach. Motion control, Mechatronics, and Module building now play an important role with almost all participants: that provides an integration of all the separate functions.” When asked if there is one highlight he wants to point to specifically, Houdijk has to think for a moment. “Then I would choose the very first edition. When we immediately demonstrated the value of the fair to all participants and visitors, including the well-attended lectures and presentations, then we knew for sure: we’ve got something lasting here. And it turns out that even after 20 editions we are still growing.” “It’s not only about selling a product. It is, as always at Mikrocentrum, about sharing knowledge, connecting people, and doing business together.” 17
A CRUCIAL PHASE FOR THE PRECISION FAIR When former director of Mikrocentrum Geert Hellings looks back on 20 years of Precision Fair, the years around 2012, in particular, were crucial to him. We spoke with him on the eve of the 20th edition. The success of the Precision Fair has not always been self-evident. “There have also been the necessary critical and defining moments”, Geert Hellings remembers. The most crucial phase is halfway through the history of the event, he says. Four causes can be identified for this. 1 The early winter of 2010 “A nationwide weather warning caused the second day of the Precision Fair in 2010 to be much less crowded than usual. We wanted to prevent this from happening again. It was solved by gradually moving the fair to earlier dates in November. It did mean though, that the Precision Fair sometimes started to coincide with German trade fairs, where some of the Precision Fair exhibitors also participated.” the Precision Fair during those years. To accommodate more exhibitors, a solution was found in building a temporary extra aluminum hall, the so-called ‘Dommelhal’. Because of the high costs and because our Plastics Fair was also struggling with the use of space, this hall was already built in September and remained until after the Precision Fair. During the first version with the extra hall in 2012, the ground was not ideal and there were some showcases where the products slid slowly from one side to the other due to the vibrations of the floor. That problem was remedied in the second year. Both the Plastics Fair and the Precision Fair were, therefore, able to grow from 200 to about 300 exhibitors. In order to facilitate lunch for the exhibitors, there was also a second temporary hall that was also used for the evening program from then on.” 3 2 18 Waiting lists “The Precision Fair had been fully booked for years by making the best use of all available space in NH Conference Center Koningshof. This led to other organizations launching proposals for alternatives of “Around the same period, Syntens started thinking about moving the successful Meet & Match talks to another fair. After good coordination with them, the Meet & Match could be retained for the Precision Fair.” Syntens
4 Internationalization “Companies were looking for further expansion after the crisis of 2008, not only in the Benelux but also beyond. In order to further promote the Precision Fair in Germany, cooperation was established with some German trade organizations and a special Frühstück meeting was organized several times on the second day of the fair. However, the main internationalization was found in CERN, which was not as well known around that time as it is today. As a physicist, it was clear to me that incredibly complex things were needed to make the CERN particle accelerator possible. This was certainly true in terms of precision technology as well. Moreover, CERN spent a great deal of money on technology and engineering. The Dutch government contributes about 50 million euros annually, but relatively little of that flowed back to Dutch companies. After two visits from us, CERN was convinced of the possibilities that the Precision Fair offered them and an extensive delegation was sent to our fair in 2012. This all led to several interesting contacts with companies in the Netherlands. After the Precision Fair, this was continued in working groups held at Mikrocentrum about every 2 months. Since then, more than 50 CERN representatives have been guests at the Precision Fair.” Looking back, Geert Hellings is proud that the challenges around this crucial phase for the Precision Fair were countered - and turned into an advantage. “Now, in 2021, we can still enjoy the consequences. That’s why I am, again, looking forward to an inspiring Precision Fair.” 19
MEET OUR SPEAKERS Keynote speaker Kai Cheng: Ultra-precision machining of high-precision appliances Renowned engineer Professor Cheng, Professor of Manufacturing Systems at Brunel University London, will guide you through the world of ultra-precision machining. His current research focuses on high-precision machine design, nanofabrication and smart machining, among other topics. What technologies are needed for ultraprecision machining of high-precision components and equipment? And how should ultraprecision manufacturing systems be developed and designed? These are the questions that will be the focus of Cheng’s presentation. He will delve deeper into industrial applications, such as varifocal lenses made of a silicone hydrogel material that is extremely oxygen-permeable, ICT hardware, and engine components. Keynote speaker Jelm Franse on applications for precision engineering at ASML The road map for product performance at ASML is demanding ever more accurate and faster motion and stable imaging capacity. After all, modules and components that barely wear out are needed in order to maintain performance throughout the processing of millions of wafers in factories. Jelmer Franse has worked at ASML as Senior Director Mechanics since 2010 and is responsible for numerous mechanical precision modules in ASML’s machines. During his presentation, Franse will discuss precision engineering at ASML and the hot topics, trends, challenges and breakthroughs that are involved. The presentation will outline how precision engineering is facilitating the road map for ASML lithography machines, the challenges involved and the work in progress on various breakthroughs in materials and manufacturing techniques. 20
Johannes Jobst of Demcon: How do you handle 2 MW of energy in an object the size of a matchbox? The most commonly used medical radioisotope in the world is the Mo-99/Tc-99m system, which is used in healthcare for the diagnosis and treatment of various conditions and diseases. Tens of millions of diagnostic procedures are performed with it each year. However, this production method has one major drawback: it generates a lot of nuclear waste. Within the SMART project, the National Institute for Radioelements (IRE) is developing a new production facility for Mo-99 that relies on irradiation without the use of a nuclear reactor. Demcon is playing an important role in this and is developing the molybdenum irradiation module, which releases extremely high levels of energy, and the harvesting machine, where the activated Mo-99 is extracted. Johannes Jobst, Senior Mechatronic System Engineer at Demcon, explains all the ins and outs of the latest developments. Ramón Navarro on the new James Webb Space Telescope For more than 31 years, the Hubble Space Telescope has been producing stunning images. Its successor will be launched in just over a month: the James Webb Space Telescope. The Netherlands made a major contribution to the development of the MIRI scientific instrument, namely the Mid InfraRed Instrument for the telescope, specially made for radiation in the mid-infrared spectrum. In this lecture from the Big Science Program, Ramón Navarro, Head of Optical Infrared R&D for NOVA, will present the enhanced capabilities of MIRI and the new telescope and will go into more detail about the concept, its realization and the launch process. 21
© Holland High Tech PRECISION INDUSTRY CAN BENEFIT FROM THE DUTCH EFFORTS AROUND HTSM The precision industry is an important part of the High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM) sector. Chairman of the Dutch HTSM Top Team Marc Hendrikse tells us about the national ambitions. “It’s in our culture to combine different technologies.” 22
Since 2011, Marc Hendrikse has been involved in the top sector policy of HTSM, since 2017 as the chair of the Top Team. Among the most important achievements in that period is igniting the will to collaborate, Hendrikse says. “We found each other. And that, given the hugely fragmented constituency, is really special. It goes from aerospace to automotive to lab-on-a-chip, organ-on-a-chip, nanotechnology, semiconductor, quantum technology… it’s about technologies, it’s about applications, it’s incredibly broad. There was no umbrella hanging over it, people hardly knew each other. We started profiling ourselves under the name Holland High Tech.” Too big to grasp Holland High Tech has chosen countries like Germany, France, the United States, Japan, and China as target countries. “Together with Foreign Affairs, we have drawn up an agenda. We have now realized that it is precisely in Europe that we must maintain our independent technological base. This also requires cooperation within Europe. For example, look at the innovation cooperation that has now been established with France and Germany, resulting in cooperation on hydrogen development, lightweight materials, and emission-free transport. These are important processes and we have noticed that these countries, in particular, are now well aware of what we in the Netherlands have to offer in these areas. For photonics we are doing something similar with the American west coast, for automotive we are focusing not only on the aforementioned countries but also on Michigan and for nano on Japan. It is precisely this logic of content that is important, otherwise, it will be too big to grasp.” Being complementary It’s also about showing where you are complementary, Hendrikse says. Even for parts of the industry where our country is not the biggest player, as is the case around Hydrogen projects. “For example, the Netherlands is very strong in thin-film technology and optomechatronics, and we could develop new technologies in the field of electrolysis that complement the expertise that the Germans have to offer in this area. By doing it together and by investing serious money into this, you can make great strides, together.” What helps, Hendrikse says, is that our country is very good at combining different technologies. “The process may be familiar, but you have to come up with something new. To realize that, that’s in our culture. We are the least hierarchical country in the world, and that works both vertically and horizontally. The implementer is in close contact with the inventor, but that also works between sectors, partly because it is accepted that each of the specialists involved is stubborn enough to think that they can solve the other’s problem. That leads to systems engineering, in which we are unbeatable. It is precisely this systems engineering that you need because in many of the areas that are important now the existing systems no longer work. But if you need another subsystem, you have to have the courage to look at the whole system. You’re not going to solve it by just looking at the separate elements from it. And whether it’s emission-free transport, the hydrogen transition, or a lab-on-a-chip, you have to combine technologies that didn’t know each other before. For example, by connecting the chemical industry with the high-tech industry. By bringing Shell and ASML together you can take steps that were previously unthinkable.” “You have to combine technologies that didn’t know each other before.” 23
The hunger for precision remains strong in the semiconducter industry 5 TRENDS IN PRECISION TECHNOLOGY In 1993, Henny Spaan founds a small company in precision engineering: IBS Precision Engineering. From his office in a start-up barracks at TU/e, he devises measurement solutions. With those solutions, he helps his first clients achieve the precision required for their machines or processes. Almost thirty years later, the company is still located in Eindhoven, but also has branches in Germany, France, and England and the portfolio has expanded considerably. Henny Spaan has been involved with the Precision Fair right from the start. With his input, we can designate five major trends in precision technology. 24
1 Hunger for precision The first trend that strikes Spaan is the hunger for precision. One sector where this comes across well is the semiconductor industry. “For the production of integrated circuits, a typical layer-to-layer accuracy during manufacturing is about 1.5 nanometers. To illustrate, that’s fifty-thousandths of the width of a hair.” The engineering behind electronics wasn’t part of precision technology when Spaan began his career. By now, that sector also operates at thousandths of a millimeter. The application of precision technology is therefore becoming increasingly widespread. “Even in the automotive and medical sectors, while those sectors were previously not part of our market.” As an example, Spaan mentions the transition of the automotive industry to electric driving. An electric vehicle consists of far fewer components than a petrol car, but the accuracy of those components is two to five times greater. “So fewer components, but much higher requirements are placed on the components.” Additive Manufacturing 2 Increasing complexity In addition, Spaan also sees that the complexity of the technology is increasing significantly. Companies in the sector have to take into account more and more facets, such as cleanliness, when it comes to accuracy. “We can no longer consider those facets as separate. Ten years ago, we were making single models that were either thermal or dynamic. Nowadays we have to combine the two and they are intertwined. That’s pretty complex. Someone who has been working with thermal models for 20 years suddenly finds himself standing next to a dynamic expert. That transition has been going on for years, but it’s certainly not complete yet.” A third trend is Additive Manufacturing. It offers the precision industry a ton of new possibilities, according to Spaan. “You can print a model directly nowadays. In the past, it was much more complex, because everything had to be milled and welded. If we need to produce something complex, we go to someone with expertise in AM.” As an example, Spaan mentions a cooling module, which can now be fully optimized for thermal behavior. “Without AM, we wouldn’t have been able to make that module. So it gives us more freedom as designers.” Henny Spaan 3 25
4 Computing power & Digital Twins “It’s an upward spiral: because precision is getting higher and higher, companies like ASML are able to make components with higher performance and computing capacity. We, in turn, benefit from that greater capacity. It enables us to combine dynamic and thermal models, allowing us to make better machines. This, in turn, allows ASML to expose chips more accurately.” Increasing computing power is leading to the emergence of digital twins. Or in other words, virtual representations of a product or machine that can simulate an entire machine. “For example, today we create simulations for machine parts. In them, we combine thermal, dynamic, and control behavior. It is fair to say that this is a simplified version of the machine part. We build a FUMO (function model) with limited functionality, but one that is very accessible. With that FUMO, we conduct an experiment and can optimize the model. In this way, we arrive at the end result step by step. We couldn’t do that in the past; there wasn’t enough computing capacity for that.” This is a positive development, but companies must make sure to keep both feet on the ground and check whether the simulations and predictions are actually correct. So a digital twin cannot be adopted as truth without question. “We firmly believe in the simulations, but you have to make sure that you get feedback from reality and verify what is real. Only when you do that can you improve the models.” A well-known example where computers and AI were believed instead of people, according to Spaan, is the Dutch scandal around the ‘Toeslagenaffaire’, the Benefits scandal. “Computer models were adopted blindly and people were not listened to. Verification with reality was skipped. You have to avoid that at all costs.” “We firmly believe in the simulations, but you have to make sure that you offer feedback to reality and verify what is real. Only when you do that can you improve the models.” Microsoft Teams can work, but face-to-face works better 5 A final trend is related to the corona pandemic. The past year and a half have shown that a lot is possible digitally: week openings, online meetings, and even social gatherings. “For a while, we thought: do we still need to go to a customer? It’s more efficient via the screen. But I also see that a bit of awareness is emerging. If everything happens online, you miss the human factor.” For real networking, you need face-to-face contact, Spaan says. He also had that feeling 20 years ago when he contacted Mikrocentrum with the idea of setting up a Precision Fair. “I felt displaced in the Netherlands. There were fairs, but I missed precision. Moreover, I thought it was important to bring together the different disciplines you need for precision. So that’s what we did. Meanwhile, the fair has grown into a place where everyone from the industry can pick up the latest status of technology. I think that need for direct contact will always exist in our industry.” 26
“We like to meet people face-to-face because we are convinced that together we can apply our creativity, skills, WHAT EXHIBITORS FROM BOTH THE FIRST AND 20TH EDITION SAY “The Precision Fair is an excellent opportunity for Sioux Technologies to meet our partners, customers and new employees. We are happy that the fair will take place again this year!” - Monique Klooster, Sioux Technologies “Renishaw designs, develops and delivers solutions and systems that offer unrivaled precision, control and reliability. That’s why the Precision Fair is the place to be for us!” - Petra Koolaard, Renishaw “We strive for excellence with an innovative spirit in all we do. Together we can make a difference, welcome to our booth at the Precision Fair!” - Gitta de Keijzer, FMI “The Precision Fair is of great value to ILT Fineworks and means our annual “Meet and Greet” with our network.” - Alex Cloo, “The Precision Fair is for all our colleagues the best event in the year where we can fully show our strength and latest developments on precision measurement - not only ILT Fineworks your customers and peers from the high-tech industry.” - Philip Bakker, Hittech Multin “The Precision Fair is primarily a relationship fair for us. It allows us to meet many of our customers and prospects.” - Jeroen Jansen, “It is the most relevant trade fair in the Benelux for us which attracts an interesting audience due to the attractiveness of its offerings. It brings us new contacts who are looking for partners/producers with new developments.” - Harrie Sneijers, Formatec Aalberts Surface Technologies “For Mecal, the Precision Fair is an interesting, fun, and efficient opportunity to meet both customers and suppliers and exchange new developments and insights.” - France Erhardt Mecal
‘WORKING WITH BIG SCIENCE INVOLVES A LOT MORE THAN JUST MONEY’ Every year, the Netherlands contributes more than a hundred million euros to the European Big Science Organizations (BSOs). As Industrial Liaison Officer at CERN and coordinator of the ILO-net, Jan Visser connects the Dutch precision industry to tenders stemming from the Big Science institutes. For Visser, connecting the high-tech industry with the scientific world is the most enjoyable part of his job. “Basically, I am a kind of broker,” he says. No wonder that since 2012, the Big Science organizations have been working closely with the Precision Fair. They have a prominent role in the lecture program where they share the latest developments within their projects with the industry. The research that BSOs are doing requires complex and extensive research facilities. The construction and maintenance of those facilities offer larger and smaller companies the chance to be part of fundamental and groundbreaking research. Making use of know-how In the conversations that Visser has with companies which are interested in connecting with a BSO, two things stand out to him. “If companies really want to get something out of the relationship, they also need to put something in and invest in contacts with a BSO so that they know what’s going on.” Moreover, according to Visser, it is important to keep in mind that BSOs are not merely parties that companies can sell something to. “You can also see them as technology suppliers. Those organizations have a huge amount of know-how and technology. As a company, you can learn a lot from them. Many 28 Working with a BSO: more than just about money Consequently, for companies there is more to be gained from teaming up with a BSO than just money. “When a company works for CERN, it is showing that it is playing in the Champions League. What’s more, these are often complex projects, so it’s a time for companies to learn and stretch their potential.” In addition, it can be a way for companies to keep their best people on board, Visser points out. “Assignments for a BSO are almost always challenging and exciting.” companies see CERN as difficult, expensive science and also feel that the threshold is high. It is up to ILO-net, in cooperation with Mikrocentrum, to paint a more realistic picture. Because what’s happening there is very exciting and basic building blocks are needed for that.”
Visser knows that Dutch industry and research organizations like Nikhef are well regarded at CERN. “They deliver quality and are reliable.” One thorny issue is that Dutch companies are often not among the cheapest, while competitors from other countries often come up with more opportunistic deals. According to Visser, it would be good if CERN did not decide solely on the basis of cost price, but also factored quality in. “Companies can in any case submit alternative offers to CERN. This is a way of saying: ‘We can make the product for X number of euros.’ But, if we look closely at what you need, we will also offer you an alternative. That might cost more, but in our opinion, it’s a better deal in the long run.” Precision Fair Visser has also noticed that there is a great appetite from within the industry to meet up with each other. “Whenever a Big Science organization puts out a tender, companies have very little time to respond to it and submit a competitive bid. If a company wants to compete for a complex tender, it is imperative that it knows its potential partners really well. Once a tender is issued, you can then act quickly.” As part of ILO-net, Visser is involved in the organization of the Big Science lectures at the Precision Fair. This collaboration started in 2012 and the purpose of these lectures is to show companies what is happening or about to happen at research organizations so that industry is able to prepare for it. 29
WHO IS WHERE? µTOS GmbH Oberflächentechnik 2-S Service & Specialties B.V. A. Brans Metaalbewerking BV Aalberts Surface Technologies Eindhoven Acclon Technologies ACE Stoßdämpfer GmbH Adruu BV Aeronautical & Precision Engineering, Inholland Delft AJB Instrument B.V. alimex Benelux B.V. Alumeco NL BV Aluro cnc n.v. Analis Andes Meettechniek B.V. Anteryon BV Anvil Industries ART-CCG Caulil Cylindrical Grinding BV Astro Controls ATM Oirschot attocube systems AG AVT Wiring & Connecting Axxicon B&S Technology Bestronics BV BIBUS Romicon Biersack Technologie GmbH & Co. KG Big Science ILO-net Binder connector BKB Precision BKL Blum-Novotest GmbH Bodycote Hardingscentrum BV Bouman High Tech Machining Brabant Engineering - Neitraco Groep Brainport Industies Brecon Cleanroom Systems B.V. Bronkhorst Nederland b.v. Bruker Nano Surfaces & Metrology Bumax AB Busch B.V. C3 Tooling BV Capable BV CCC Projects & Engineering Cematec Engineering bv Ceratec Technical Ceramics BV Connect 2 Cleanrooms Ltd Conway Nederland B.V. Cryoworld BV CZL Tilburg D&M Vacuumsystemen B.V. DAHANAN mould concepts Danobat Danobat-Overbeck DCD De Ploeg Techniek BV DE Ridder De Rooy Slijpcentrum B.V. Dekracoat BV Demaco Holland bv Dematech B.V. DEMCON DIXI Polytool DKAT DMS Doeko B.V. Draadvonk.nl Draline B.V. Dratec Vonkerosie DSPE Dutch Precision Technology Ecoclean Edmund Optics Edwards Vacuum EKK Eagle Simrax BV Eltrex Motion EMS Benelux BV 30 312 332 384 163 375 246 387 408 523 174 514 144 247 105 439 549 122 558 326 376 231 131 349 572 202 103 416 138 548 549 321 239 367 158 403 229 581 328 504 497 339 256 339 158 563 479 212 508 511 162 251 525 525 133 225 363 512 121 567 583 575 252 365 503 447 297 383 211 404 513 350 533 375 556 175 455 ENCOMA BV Enterprise Europe Network Netherlands Epilog Laser B.V. ERIKS B.V. Ernst & Engbring GmbH Erowa Ertec Etchform Euro-Techniek EUSPEN Ewellix Benelux B.V. Exakt Fijnmechanika Faes FARO Benelux B.V. FAULHABER Benelux B.V. Feinmess Suhl GmbH Festo FMI Fontys Centre of Expertise HTSM Formatec Frencken Group Ltd Frerotech B.V. FRT Metrology GBneuhaus GmbH Gereedschapmakerij GMI Germefa GF Machining Solutions BV Gibac Chemie BV Gibas Gimex technische keramiek GOM Goorsenberg Fijnmechanische Industrie GROB Benelux BV Groneman B.V. GTB Finish Harry Hersbach Tools BV Hawo B.V. Hegin Metalfinishing BV HEIDENHAIN NEDERLAND Hemabo Precisie Kunststoftechniek Hembrug Machine Tools Hexagon Hfi B.V. Hittech Group B.V. Hiwin Linear Technologie GmbH Holland Innovative Hositrad Vacuum Technology HQ Precision Cleaning IAC Geometrische Ingenieurs B.V. IBS Precision Engineering IKO Nippon Thompson Europe B.V. ILT Fineworks IMPA Precision Indoles Precision BV Infinite simulation systems Innovar Cleaning Control Interflow B.V. IPS Technology JAT - Jenaer Antriebstechnik Jatec JENOPTIK JEOL (Europe) BV Jeveka Job Precision Johann Fischer Aschaffenburg JPE KC Precision Technology (Dongguan) Co.,Ltd Keyence International Belgium KeyTec Netherlands Kistler BV Benelux KMWE Group KSM KUK Wijdeven Kusters Goumans B.V. Kusters Precision Parts B.V. KUZUFLEX Metal Hoses and bellows High Purity Product 445 415 213 359 206 333 259 466 118 402 304 373 232 301 474 551 465 535 409 139 492 238 377 344 155 106 259 561 168 260 127 484 536 208 577 104 550 203 146 490 525 120 116 159 235 480 200 566 204 459 461 392 331 323 316 221 113 221 547 116 476 249 450 549 472 478 308 360 451 157 135 171 559 112 116 366
LAB Motion Systems Landes High End Machining BV Larsen & Buhl Lasertec BV LaserTechnology Janssen B.V. Laumans Techniek Leidse instrumentmakers School Lemmens Metaalbewerking BV LEMO Connectors Benelux Levitech Technology Leybold Nederland B.V. LLT Applikation GmbH LM Systems BV LOA Full Surface Group LouwersHanique Lucassen Groep bv M.G. Twente B.V. Mad City Labs GmbH Magnescale Europe GmbH Mahr GmbH MARPOSS GmbH Masévon Group Matrho Metals Mat-Tech BV maxon Mazak Nederland B.V. MCA linear motion robotics Measuretec BV Mecal High-tech / Systems Melotte Meopta-Optika S.R.O. Merrem & la Porte Hitech Metals Metaalhuis Eindhoven MetaQuip BV Mevi FMI B.V. Micro-Epsilon Messtechnik GmbH & Co.KG MIFA Aluminium bv Mikrocentrum Mikrocentrum Photonics Community Millux MI-Partners MKS Instruments Newport Spectra-Physics GmbH Molenaar Optics Moor Filtertechniek MTA B.V. Multivalent Plating & Etching BV / INNPLATE BV MuRaad BV Mytri BV NB Europe BV Nebo Special Tooling b.v. Neways Electronics International Nijdra Group Nikhef NTS Oerlikon Balzers Okuma Benelux BV Olympus Nederland Omneo Systems B.V. Optics11 Oude Reimer Outsourcing Parts Supplies B.V. PCB Piezotronics Pfeiffer VAcuum Benelux B.V. Phantom / Van Ommen Philips Innovation Services PHYNICX METALLURGICAL SOLUTIONS PI Benelux Pi metal Parts Piezosystem Jena PM PMP Lichtenvoorde BV Poelman Precision PolyWorks Benelux B.V. Precision Micro Precitec Optronik GmbH Pressure Control Solutions ProCleanroom Prodrive Technologies Pronexos B.V. qutools GmbH Reliance Precision Ltd Renishaw 342 218 545 468 242 477 407 327 141 519 362 344 305 115 531 372 156 489 587 310 230 565 493 471 216 309 209 341 255 482 586 553 388 571 578 470 108 401 414 148 302 460 442 315 596 222 147 529 580 534 560 128 417 137 485 353 248 324 354 446 369 346 167 201 546 325 593 515 476 123 240 370 111 114 364 576 243 507 542 597 488 165 Rodriguez GmbH Romex B.V. RVS Finish & RVS Clean Saint Gobain - HTMS SBN Nederland Schut Geometrische Meettechniek BV Sentech Settels Savenije Group of Companies SFC Energy b.v. ShapeFab GmbH & Co. KG Sierra Instruments - Voegtlin SigmaControl B.V. Sinomatch bv SIOS Meßtechnik GmbH Sioux Technologies Slijptechniek Enter BV SmarAct GmbH SMC Nederland B.V. Smink Group BV SMS son-x SpartnerS organisatieadvies Special Tools Benelux/Innotools Benelux SpectraPartners State Development Corporation of Thuringia STT Products bv TB Precision Parts B.V. Te Lintelo Systems B.V. Technische Universiteit Eindhoven Technobis Technosoft Tecnotion Teesing Tegema B.V. an Etteplan company Telerex temicon GmbH Ter Hoek Vonkerosie Rijssen B.V. Tevel / Enduteq Thalens PPS BV The House of Technology Thermal Focus Thorlabs TNO Tooling Specialist Derksen B.V. Trescal TSG Group TTL group TU Delft Aerospace Engineering TU/e High Tech Systems Center Tuinte supplying b.v. UCM Ultra Clean Technology (UCT) Vacom Vakuum Komponenten & Messtechnik GmbH Vacutech b.v. Van den Akker Fluid Service B.V. Van der Hoorn Buigtechniek Van Hoof Groep VAT Group AG VBTI VDL ETG BV VDL TBP Electronics VDMA EMINT Vermo B.V. VI Technologies Via Engineering Deurne B.V. VIRO Visietech Technical Products Vögtlin Instruments Vossebelt precisiebewerking BV Weiss Nederland bv Weiss Technik Nederland B.V. Werth Messtechnik Wilting Wilting 3D Competence Center Witec Motion & Precision Witzenmann GmbH ZEISS Zentrum für Innovation und Technik Zest-Innovate Zilvertron B.V. ZME Fijnmechanisch Atelier 579 357 385 390 591 101 483 520 509 344 590 119 107 476 449 494 526 552 540 130 313 381 348 541 344 539 380 476 411 457 317 456 136 443 557 314 495 258 335 496 110 263 261 329 166 143 132 406 410 254 350 554 336 172 315 386 226 205 555 453 307 412 391 440 382 319 116 590 355 153 356 499 116 161 573 224 126 311 510 537 518 31
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