The requirements for future coating and production systems are continuously increasing. The cooperation between the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST and Feng Chia University (FCU) in the "Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Surface and Production Engineering for Optical and Electrical Systems at Feng Chia University" (FIP-SPE@FCU) is intended to meet this demand. The cooperation partners want to develop cross-industry technical solutions for surface and production engineering. They are focusing on optical and electrical systems.
Cooperation extended
The FIP-SPE@FCU was officially launched in Taiwan on October 28, 2024. The cooperation expands the collaboration between the Fraunhofer IST and Feng Chia University, which has been in place since 2015. The aim of the "Fraunhofer Innovation Platform" is to develop solutions for sustainable production systems for high-precision coatings. Simulation and modeling as well as process monitoring, control and automation, taking into account human-computer interaction, play an important role here. The range of services for industry also includes further training in the areas of surface technology and production.
Utilizing the possibilities of AI
Using AI methods, the cooperation partners are planning to develop new solutions for the production of high-precision interference filters. With the Enhanced Optical Sputtering System EOSS, the Fraunhofer IST already has a production platform for manufacturing precision optical filters. In conjunction with the MOCCA+ software for process monitoring and control, also developed at the IST, this system can produce highly complex filters with hundreds of layers. The technology has already been commercialized. The cooperation with the Production Automation Laboratory at Feng Chia University, which has special expertise in artificial intelligence and intelligent manufacturing systems, is now opening up new opportunities to significantly improve the performance of the EOSS through the integration of AI.