The project partners combine complementary world leading expertise in Laser R&D and manufacture (Innolas) robotics R&D and manufacture (KUKA systems UK Ltd), laser ultrasonic technology and its applications (RECENDT GmbH) and signal processing for defect characterisation as well as adaptation of robotic systems through software and hardware development for complex aerospace NDT solutions (TWI).
The partners have experience in the R&D in the production of the component parts hardware for such inspection systems and the processing of the associated large data sets. In addition INNOLAS and KUKA have a track record in bringing developed hardware and software to market.
INNOLAS
InnoLas GmbH was founded in 1995 and develops and manufactures high quality laser sources for scientific and industrial applications. It is one of very few laser manufacturers worldwide with the ability to develop specialized laser technology for all pulsed YAG lasers in the high power ns regime. Since 2008 InnoLas Laser has operated separately from the InnoLas Group.
InnoLas Laser has around 24 employees, 13 of who are dedicated to working on research and development, specializing in building lasers for research exactly tailored to their applications. The lasers are either diode or flash lamp pumped, with repetition rates from 1Hz up to 1kHz, and pulse energies from a few millijoules to several joules.
As the company is historically a buy out from the scientific department of GSI Lumonics, one of the pioneers in YAG Lasers, the expert knowledge in the field of Q-Swiched YAG Lasers is very high. The first own developed product, the SpitLight 600 with its monolithic design, entered the market in 2002 and since then development has constantly continued in areas such as beam profile single mode and many more.
During 2006: The DPSS 250 was launched as one of the first commercial high power DPSS series witch more than 250mJ per pulse (OPUS Project)
In 2010: The SpitLight amplifiers were used to amplify a ps Laser. This was achieved via collaboration with HQ as the Oscillator was the HQ Pico and our amplifiers went on to form part of our own product range, the PSA.
Recently in 2014: The EVO series was launched as one of the first commercially available systems with 1J 100Hz.
As well as this track record of innovation, InnoLas have developed some products which are considered bench marks in the market – such as fast switching OPOs for industrial and medical purpose. These state of the art products were possible because of constant development by well-educated personnel and help from public funding.
Role in project:
· InnoLas’ role in the project is as follows: ACCURATE - JTI-CS2-2016-CFP04-AIR-02-36 11
· Develop lasers to meet inspection requirements
· Collaborate with RECENDT on developing the full laser system
· Assist in implementing improvements to the complete robotic laser system when installed and undergoing trials
· Commercial, exploitation and dissemination activities.
KUKA
KUKA Systems UK Limited is the reliable specialist for innovative joining and forming processes for a wide range of materials as well as one of the world’s leading suppliers of automated production and assembly solutions for sustainable industrial manufacturing. Not only does KUKA supply automated production solutions for use in a wide variety of applications not only for general industry, but also the aerospace and nuclear sectors. With the KUKA Systems Group achieving an order volume of over €1.1 billion in Europe, Asia and the Americas in the 2012 business year.
KUKA are an international system integrator who stands out in systems, tool & die and special-machine engineering thanks to customer focus, technological leadership and superior solutions. Around 3,900 employees across all market sectors are working on automation solutions for the products of tomorrow — from engineering, project management and systems implementation through to after-sales service.
It is renowned for designing and developing intelligent, state-of-the-art systems with automated, robot-based components specially engineered to offer better productivity, more flexibility and lower costs.
As part of the KUKA Group, its reputation is firmly established on delivering better reproducible quality, maximum process reliability, optimal process speed and maximum cost-effectiveness.
Role in project:
· KUKA Systems’ role in the project is as follows:
· Design, manufacture and install the robotic arms and part tooling for the inspection at the Topic Managers facility.
· Assist TWI with installation of the LUT system on the robotic arms
· Assist in implementing improvements to the complete robotic laser system when installed and undergoing trials
· Commercial, exploitation and dissemination activities.
RECENDT (Research Center for Non Destructive Testing GmbH)
The company Research Center for Non Destructive Testing GmbH (RECENDT), which used to be the research department for sensor technology of Upper Austrian Research GmbH, became an independent company in early 2009. Its shareholders are Upper Austrian Research GmbH (74%), Johannes Kepler University Linz (20%) and FH OÖ Forschungs und Entwicklungs GmbH (6%).
As an internationally well recognized Research Center for Materials Characterization and Non-Destructive Testing, RECENDT GmbH operates very successfully on the Austrian and international market since 2009.
Milestones in the early years were to become a non-university Christian Doppler laboratory (CD-lab) for Photoacoustics and Laser Ultrasonics (until 2016 RECENDT operates one of only two non-university CD-labs in Austria) and the "special award for Research" at the Innovation Awards of the federal state of Upper Austria in 2010.
RECENDT gained internationally acknowledged reputation as a partner as well as a coordinator in numerous national, EU- and international projects. The company is well established as a popular partner for local SMEs as well as multinational enterprises.
Role in project:
RECENDT’s role in the project is as follows:
· Technical Lead to develop the LUT system to inspect the composite parts
· Assist with the installation of the LUT system on the robot arms
· Assist in implementing improvements to the complete robotic laser system when installed and undergoing trials
· Commercial, exploitation and dissemination activities.
TWI
Established in Cambridge, UK in 1946 and with several facilities across the globe, TWI is one of Europe’s foremost independent research and technology organisations, employing 740 scientists, technologists, administrative and support staff world-wide (540 in the UK and Europe) and with annual (2014) group turnover of £80million (€94million).
TWI works across all industry sectors with expertise in key aspects of materials, materials joining, structural integrity, static and dynamic testing and Non Destructive Testing (NDT) and Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and has representation on over 100 standards committees.
The majority of TWI’s activities (65%) are contract research, funded by industry and built around the development of advanced technologies. TWI is also an active participant in collaborative research programmes in Europe and the UK.
TWI has been involved in over 90 European framework projects, many of which have been in the field of NDT and Condition Monitoring involving ultrasonic testing and Eddy Current Testing. Projects of this type are normally targeted at the aerospace, automotive, oil & gas and energy related industries. TWI has been consortium/project or technical project leader on at least half the collaborative projects on which it has worked from Framework 5 and onwards through to H2020.
TWI’s NDT activities focus on bespoke and technically challenging inspection solutions. One example of this is the first commercial guided wave pipe inspection system, Teletest, which is available through TWI’s subsidiary Plant Integrity Ltd, and is now in its fourth generation. Through Plant Integrity Ltd, TWI has manufacturing, assembly and production capabilities in the NDT and electronics areas.
TWI Technology Centre (Wales) specialises in the development and application of cutting-edge non-destructive testing (NDT) and inspection methods, providing real world solutions to inspection challenges across a broad range of industries. These technologies are particularly important for industry, where there is potential growth in sectors such as aerospace, petrochemical, road and rail transport, energy, and healthcare.
TWI therefore has the ideal credentials to deliver a successful project, on time and within budget with a high chance of product exploitation at the end of the project and particularly where the project developments are highly relevant to their industrial membership that is currently around 3000 organisations in over 60 countries.
Role in project:
TWI’s role in the project is as follows:
· Project management and co-ordination.
· Technical lead to develop the inspection software
· Technical lead in robotic control of laser ultrasonic testing, and integration of post processing software.
· Technical lead in the complete robotic LUT system composites inspection trials
· Commercial, exploitation and dissemination activities.