ASML, Julia, and Knapen Trailers: our best-read stories of the week

By Laio

1. ASML’s epicenter expansion

Tech titan ASML is set to revolutionize Brainport Industries Campus (BIC) with an expansion that could welcome 20,000 new jobs, fuelling the region’s high-tech ecosystem. Amidst the burgeoning innovation at BIC, a tech haven where the full supply chain of manufacturing converges, ASML’s move highlights a strategic effort to maintain proximity to its Veldhoven headquarters while boosting local growth. The commitment to BIC North, part of a €2.5 billion ‘Project Beethoven’, underlines ASML’s position as a cornerstone of Dutch economic and technological prowess. As Brainport Eindhoven braces for a transformative surge in employment, the community is poised for a renaissance in infrastructure and social amenities, affirming the Netherlands’ status as a global high-tech hub.

ASML wants to locate at BIC. ‘Great news, but the campus is more than an attractive location for ASML’

That a figurehead like ASML wants to locate at BIC, John Blankendaal, director of Brainport Industries, considers “great news.” But, he warns, the campus must be careful to ensure that BIC does not become just the location for ASML – for it is much more than that.

2. Julia: A new chapter in programming

In the realm of software development, a new programming language is capturing attention. Julia, with its promise of bridging the gap between the efficiency of C and the user-friendliness of Python, is set to have its spotlight moment at JuliaCon in Eindhoven this July. The conference will draw a thousand attendees to the Philips Stadium, illustrating Eindhoven’s growing reputation as a nerve centre for cutting-edge technology and innovation.

There is a new coding language in town: meet Julia

Programming languages are the core of all the software we have today. Despite the power and accuracy the leading ones give us, such as Python, MATLAB, and C, bugs and shortcomings exist, which is why new coding languages emerge. 

3. Regional expansion and strategic positioning

The news of ASML’s expansion dovetails with other regional developments. Weert, a municipality with an eye on the future, has committed to becoming a full partner in the Metropoolregio Eindhoven (MRE). This move is strategic, aiming not only to influence decision-making processes but also to drive economic stability and growth within the region. The MRE’s plan to invest an additional €2.5 billion in facilities, infrastructure, and housing is poised to generate 22,000 jobs for ASML and countless others in the surrounding ecosystem.

City of Weert aims for full participation in Brainport Eindhoven community

The Weert City Council wants to develop concrete plans to become a full-fledged partner in the Eindhoven Metropolitan Region (MRE), a crucial partnership for the development of the Brainport region. The city council overwhelmingly passed a motion to that effect last week.

4. Innovation and continuous improvement

Meanwhile, Knapen Trailers, a sliding floor trailer market leader, hasn’t rested on its laurels. The company’s CEO, Ton de Haan, recognizes the need for constant development to maintain market leadership. To this end, Knapen has partnered with Holland Innovative for project management and lean product innovation training. This initiative aims to instill a culture of continuous improvement within the organization, ensuring that Knapen remains at the cutting edge of its industry.

Knapen Trailers brought in Holland Innovative to prepare the organization for its next phase

Knapen Trailers, founded by Piet Knapen in 1984, developed into the European market leader in moving-floor trailers in its early years. Along the way, the company was able to chalk up one scoop after another.