Four top companies from the manufacturing industry work together and exchange knowledge

These are agricultural machinery manufacturer CNH from Zedelgem, weaving loom manufacturer Picanol from Ypres, frozen food company Crops from Wielsbeke and textile machine builder Vandewiele in Marke. The aim is for all companies that produce to move with the times. The project leader is the research center Flanders Make, which is making 11 million euros available.

Textile machine builder Vandewiele from Marke is one of the six companies taking the lead in the digitization project. The high-end machines that are located here are not only used to weave carpets, but also for the production of cushions, textile shoes or artificial grass. Charles Beauduin, CEO Vandewiele: “When I started here, there was one motor per weaving machine. Today the largest machines have 13,000 servo motors. The movements are fully automated and digital.”

Gaining efficiency

Flanders Make, the research center for the manufacturing industry, provides 11 million euros in the context of the Flemish Resilience Recovery Program to further optimize and digitize production lines. Dirk Torfs, CEO Flanders Make: “The new technology with data and artificial intelligence allows us to do much more. To centralize and also to develop knowledge and insights, so that we gain efficiency in energy, production technology and productivity.”

Over the years, Vandewiele has taken over all the important links of the production process, from grain to finished product. 10% of the annual turnover goes to research and development. “It is very important that we can pass on experiences and learn from each other. Because the challenges are not easy. We have to be able to compete against strong Chinese and American competitors and you can do that better together.”

In the meantime, the construction of a Flanders Make co-creation center is progressing well in Kortrijk. With 6,000 square meters, this will be the largest and most modern knowledge and research hub for the manufacturing industry in our country. It should open in 2023.