A sneak peek into the future of materials and coatings at MES 2023

By Elcke Vels

Whether it’s the wheels of a car, the gas turbines of an aircraft, or a food packaging, the world cannot go without innovative materials and coatings. Currently, the industry is evolving rapidly. On 15th June, manufacturing companies, architects, and engineers can immerse themselves in the changing world of materials and coatings at MES 2023 (Materials, Eurofinish, and Surface). The event will take place at the NH Eindhoven Conference Centre & Hotel Koningshof.

The scarcity of raw materials, the climate crisis, and the energy transition make investing in sustainable materials and coatings essential. However, there are infinite possibilities to upgrade a production environment. Industrial robots, innovative materials, and artificial intelligence ensure that the industry is far from stagnant.

MES 2023, organized by Vereniging ION, VOM Belgium, and Mikrocentrum, bridges the knowledge gap faced by many companies. The event brings together manufacturing companies, architects, builders, and process engineers. It focuses on six main themes (such as energy and environmental management and lifespan and quality) and encourages companies to align their offerings accordingly. MES guides visitors through these themes.

With this new coating, cardboard replaces plastic packaging material

Sterre Bakker, researcher at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), has developed a sustainable cardboard food packaging with a single coating.

Innovative maintenance in aviation

Marcel van Wonderen, a master engineer at KLM, is one of the speakers at MES. During his presentation, he will discuss the maintenance of gas turbines and an innovative coating technology: Gas Dynamic Cold Spraying (GDCS). “Conventional repair processes (such as welding processes, thermal spraying processes, machining processes, etc.) generate tensile stresses, which we don’t like in aviation,” he explains. “This can lead to micro-cracks, which ultimately affect the lifespan of an aircraft component.”

In the GDCS process, the coatings are applied under compressive stress, significantly reducing the likelihood of such cracks. “The Americans, Germans, and Australians are quite advanced in applying this technique, especially in the military maintenance field. I want to see if it’s possible to introduce this process in commercial aviation.”

Marcel will also discuss other emerging developments, such as predictive maintenance of aircraft. “At KLM E&M, we have a new Engineering department (Big Data Team). That team looks into the possibilities of artificial intelligence to make predictions about when a component needs to be replaced. Ultimately, aircraft maintenance should be as efficient as possible, which also saves costs.”

Van Wonderen has often succeeded in implementing a new process at the KLM maintenance company, where they were the first in the world to do so. “And that’s always very exciting,” says the engineer.

A six-axis robot system

Botko is one of the exhibitors at the event. The company, specialized in the automation and integration of production processes such as powder coating and painting, will present a six-axis robot system. “The robot has exceptional flexibility and maneuverability, making it suitable for non-flat surfaces and complex objects. Think of bicycle parts or window frames,” explains Botko founder Emile Derache. The robot contributes to further automating production environments, making the process more efficient.

The robot operates based on an innovative vision system. This system scans and generates a path for the robot based on the characteristics of the object, allowing for precise coating or painting applications. “By participating in MES and showcasing our technology, we want to stimulate its application in the industry,” says Derache.

A broad target audience

Veerle Fincken, manager of VOM, is looking forward to this cross-border (NL and BE) event. “Our starting point is the market: what solutions are needed? What technology can a customer apply to make the production process more sustainable? We share knowledge not only through seminars and the conference program but also through companies that come to talk about the technology they employ.”

In addition to companies, educational institutions are also present, examining new materials and how they can be processed. Take, for example, the rise of additive manufacturing. How does the finishing of such material work? The institutions can provide answers to such questions. In short, “There is more than enough to see for every visitor, from architects to automotive companies and chipmakers. So be sure to stop by!”, concludes Fincken.

Are you an engineer or architect interested in innovative materials and coatings? Register for free via the website. Want to know more? View the program and floor plan here.