EUREKA PROJECT > 5800 E!-SURF 

Project Description

The subject of this proposal is to set-up a European EUREKA Umbrella E!-SURF network targeting the development of new, innovative and sustainable developments in surface engineering technologies, leading to the sustainable processing of products with ever better performance and ever more functionalities, using ever fewer material and energy resources. Our mission is to develop new, industrially viable technologies in the field of surface engineering for implementation in resource efficient, sustainable production and products. Advanced surface engineering is our defined technology field. Our societal drivers are resource efficient, sustainable production and products, where we discern sustainability opportunities both for the in-plant processing as for the final products: * Process (in plant manufacturing) - profit: robust, flexible, automated, resource efficient, competitive manufacturing - people: safe & healthy jobs for skilled workforce, education and training - planet: less material & energy resources, less waste * Product (ex plant use phase and beyond) - profit: added value in value chain - people: safe & healthy, personal benefits like biomedical, etc. - planet: recyclable/biodegradable, durable, reduced carbon foot print, etc. With emphasis on enhanced competitivity, since without sustained competitiveness of EU economy, opportunities for social & environmental improvements will be lost! Our primary goal is to bring viable, innovative surface technology into industrial processing, products and services via the generation of industrially relevant RTDI projects. And we want to achieve this by organising the following five activities: * Industry demand - technology offer matchmaking; * Monitoring and assistance in research funding opportunities; * Website, e-bulletins and promotion material; * Partnering/networking; * Training tailored to industry demands managed by a committed and experienced steering group. Keywords: Surface engineering, surface treatment, coatings, tailored surface properties, multifunctional surfaces, technology transfer, industrial processes, products and surfaces, resource efficiency. REMARKS: This new EUREKA umbrella action builds upon the experience gained in the completed ENIWEP action (2005 - Jan. 2010). Within ENIWEP, we passed the positive EUREKA learning curve in: * firm international contacts & networking between active partners; * launching of original project ideas; * promotion of new production related technologies; * organisation of research brokerage events; * proposal partner search via national & international networks; * support in using and gearing of different funding programmes; * feel home in EUREKA organisation, ESE, and good contacts with NPCs; * set-up of VTI as independent non-profit organisation for its members. However, we also encountered several learning points still to overcome: - few active partners; - 'inbreeding' because of limited scope: friction, wear and lubrication, with limited application areas; * scope not always in the centre of the core activities of partners; * limited interaction with other (EUREKA) networks. Based on these experiences within the ENIWEP network, and the newly gained insights, we will ensure that the new E!-SURF EUREKA action will become an even larger success! This will enhance the visibility of EUREKA and make its contribution to the ERA more visible.

Technological Development Envisaged

1. Manufacturing of nano-surfaces Nano-surfaces can be realised by material ablation, material deposition, material modification or by material forming. This results in the elaboration of nano-surfaces with new chemical, physical and biological properties specific to the nanometre scale (e.g. catalytic, magnetic, electronic, optical and antibacterial). Among the sub-fields of nano-science, surface engineering has already made the transition from fundamental science to real world applications in many existing and emerging fields such as material science, optics, microelectronics, MEMS, solar cells, PEM and SOFC based fuel cells, power engineering, sensor systems and bioengineering. Efforts have to be made to improve and simplify the production processes so that high quality nano-surfaces can be manufactured at low costs. Reproducibility, control of the size, shape, homogeneity and robustness of the manufactured structures have to be considered as key parameters for industrial use of the processes. 2. Major technology drivers and exploitation opportunities The major technology drivers within the Surface Engineering sector are [see e.g. A strategic review of the surface engineering industry in the UK, by A. Clarke and A. Partridge at NAMTEC for the DTI, 2006, and references herein]: * Environmental: The need to develop products and processes that eliminate harmful emissions and the use of proscribed chemicals and elements, ensure low carbon foot print using renewable materials, increase recyclability, taking into account the complete life cycle assessment (LCA). * Reliability and life cycle analysis: The ability to model the behaviour of coating-substrate systems under a range of thermo-mechanical loading conditions and environments to predict coating integrity, life cycle costs and lifecycle environmental assessment. * Performance: The development of surface and coatings technologies to provide enhanced corrosion, wear, tailored diffusion properties, non-stick specifications, opto-electrical and thermal behaviour, etc. * Functional enhancement: The development of high value added functional and smart coatings to create intelligent and long-lasting systems. * Cost reduction: The development of high performance coatings and reliable processes at reduced cost. A number of generic issues have been identified that will form the basis of research and development programmes over the coming years. These are: - The elimination of Cd and Cr VI bearing coatings and the elimination of specific solvent based cleaning processes through the introduction of new coating and treatment processes, such as the sol-gel and plasma based processes. - The development of micro and nano-engineered coatings and surfaces, including the development of multilayer and/or graded composite systems, to optimise mechanical, thermal, opto-electric and magnetic response under specific operating conditions. - The creation of validated design data to accurately predict the behaviour of coating-substrate systems under a range of thermo-mechanical and environmental loading conditions. - The "tailoring" of surface physical and chemical properties by various means (doping, implantation, layering, etc.) to create functionally responsive surfaces that are pre-tuned to respond to specific external stimuli; and the subsequent incorporation of these functional surfaces into a component to create intelligent (SMART) systems. - The deployment of advanced coatings technologies (sol-gel, plasma, ion-beam implanted EBPVD, etc) to provide enhanced corrosion, wear, opto-electrical and thermal behaviour. 3. New material and surface functionalities through manufacturing processes The interaction of new manufacturing processes and new materials can have a considerable influence on the quality and function of new products, providing significant added value. There are several key aspects, all of which require development of new manufacturing platforms and processes capable to transfer RDTI based laboratory processes to high and/or customised volume production facilities [Factories of the future public private partnership - Strategic multi-annual roadmap, by the Ad-hoc industrial advisory group Factories of the future PPP, updated draft 11 November 2009]: * Using manufacturing processes to integrate materials of different scale and functionality to provide completely new products with new functionalities. * Incorporating smartness into new structures by 'manufacturing-in' sensing and actuation technologies in new materials. * Enhanced processing of new materials with novel laser sources including new wavelengths based on improved understanding of light / matter interactions. * Roll-to-roll manufacturing of large area and high throughput flexible plastics electronics products such as OLED for lighting, displays and technical textiles, Organic PV, Organic sensor arrays using new organic functional polymers and hybrid materials. 4. Meeting Europe's sustainability objectives Novel surface engineering technologies have a vital and wide ranging role for Europe in the rapidly developing fields of nanotechnology, advanced materials and new production technologies. These technologies arguably offer the greatest potential of all the cooperative programmes for providing practical solutions for meeting the greenhouse gas emissions GGE2020 = 0.8GGE1990 target. Examples of these include: photovoltaics for energy generation, batteries for electric cars, materials for low-energy computing, products based on renewable materials with low carbon footprints, nano-catalysts for energy efficient combustion processes, PEM and solid oxide fuel cells, system for cleaning air and/or water, and dynamic nano-solid lubricant systems for transport and power generation efficiency. Not only do these new technologies have a significant impact on the major "energy consuming" industries, they also provide the underpinning technologies essential for the EU's ICT, environmental, energy and transport industrial sectors targeting to meet their respective sustainability goals. RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHER EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES: 1. Is the Umbrella related to any EU Programmes: YES The E!-SURF action will of course make use of the EUREKA programmes E!-RTDI & EuroStars, but we will not neglect other funding opportunities, like: * ERA NETs: MATERA+, MNT, SME², CORNET, MANUNET, and other relevant actions that are being set-up. * EU framework programme: NMP, Energy, Environment, Transport, etc. recovery package Factories of the Future, EFFRA, etc. * National calls for proposals seeking international collaboration, e.g. Austrian COMET programme * Transnational initiatives like the Nordic Innovation Centre (NICe). * Matching national activities to go significantly beyond critical mass. * Bilateral industrial contract research. E! and EuroStars projects will be formally registered in the EUREKA database. Projects funded by other mechanisms (EU FP, ERA NET, transnational programmes, etc.) will be registered in our own database, as will be the other project deliverables. The E!-SURF network will also seek firm liaisons with EU thematic lobbying organisations including the ETPs EuMAT, Manufuture, SusChem and their associate public-private partnerships PPPs within the EU framework programme, and the European factories of the future research association EFFRA, for influencing EU research (funding) policies at the EU level. Standardisation issues for facilitating market and trade at the global level are certainly of concern in the surface engineering field, not the least in the testing of the quality of coatings and surface treatments, e.g. the TriboStand E!3792 project that is nearing completion under the ENIWEP umbrella. In order to facilitate standardisation issues, the E!-SURF partners participate in different relevant standardisation committees including but not limited to: * CEN TC184 WG 5: Methods of Test for Ceramic Coatings. • *EN TC 352: Nanotechnologies. * ISO TC107 SC2: Test Methods for Metallic and Inorganic Coatings. * ISO TC 229: Nanotechnologies. 2. If the Umbrella related to any other European programme(s), such as COST? YES As COST is mainly involved with basic research, it provides a good source to gauge trends and future research exploitation opportunities. The following completed and running COST projects relevant to the E!-SURF actions were spotted: - Molecular structure-performance relationships at the surface of functional materials (End date: February 2011); - Inorganic Oxides: Surfaces and Interfaces (End date: September 2010); - Colloid and Interface Chemistry for Nanotechnology (End date: November 2011); - Electron Controlled Chemical Lithography (ECCL) (End date: May 2011); - Biotechnical Functionalisation of Renewable Polymeric Materials (End date: September 2010); - Composites with Novel Functional and Structural Properties by Nano-scale Materials (Nano Composite Materials-NCM) (End date: March 2012); - Characterisation of Paper Surfaces for Improved Printing Paper Grades (End date: October 2007); - Chemical Solution Deposition of Thin Films (End date: June 2005); - Artwork conservation by Laser (End date: May 2005); - Plasma Polymers and Related Materials (End date: December 2005); - Triboscience and Tribotechnology: Superior Friction and Wear Control in Engines and Transmissions (End date: March 2007); - Materials for Improved Wear Resistance of Total Artificial Joints (End date: March 2009). From the list above trend is clear and linked to hybrid materials, nano-structured surfaces, bio-nanotech, multi-functionality, and in quite all surface engineering field of research. We will establish firm liaisons to make use of the results generated in these actions and to bring them to the market using our EUREKA network.

Contribution to project

The organisation is a technology company and solution provider to high endurance applications of a unique amorphous diamond material; Adm(TM) which gives extended life in high temperature, chemically aggressive and abrasive environments. The company was founded in 2005 by Technical Director, Sergey Aleksandrov who has more than 20 years of experience of developing coating systems using CVD and PVD and is a multiple patent holder in this area. Using our unique patented process we are able to coat substrates from steel to thermoplastics giving components enhanced friction, wear resistance and load carrying characteristics over and above traditional materials and other coated surfaces. The low temperatures at which the coating can be applied mean that there is minimal effect on the substrate material and the process is applicable to a wider range of materials. Unlike other coatings, Adm diamond hard surfaces do not require sophisticated and lengthy sub-layer preparation nor any post processing such as polishing. Components with our coatings are currently under test with many blue chip companies in the markets in which we operate. Our technology has been protected by patent and the manufacturing process has been developed in the company's laboratory facilities. We have knowledge of functionised coatings to enhance mechanical, electrical and optical properties amongst other.

Expertise

We have extensive knowledge of applications of coating and surface engineering requirements in the following sectors: Oil and Gas, Petrochemical processing, Industrial process, Aerospace, Defence and Medical. We have specialised knowledge of the requirements of markets where low friction, good adhesion, and extreme abrasive wear resistance are important factors for ensuring maximum lifetime benefit. We can bring an industrial application and customer focus to the project.

Contribution to project

The organisation has the Mission of helping the Spanish industry to increase its competitiveness through the transfer of technology and the international cooperation. And for that AIDO develops technology to be applied in several industrial sectors according to the necessities of the companies, especially the SMEs and promotes their participation in European R&D initiatives. In this line, the EUREKA projects give the Spanish SMEs a great opportunity of cooperate with other European companies to develop added value projects that generate innovations that could be transferred to the market. According to its Mission AIDO will participate in the following work packages of matching and funding. But moreover AIDO will share and increase its knowledge through its participation in work packages of dissemination and training as well as partnering. - WP1, Industry demand - technology offer matchmaking by organising an event and by attending to the events organised by other E!-Surf partners. - WP2, Monitoring and assistance in research funding opportunities by communicating funding opportunities to collaborate in projects. - WP3, Website, e-bulletins and promotion material by providing news of the interest for the E!-surf community. - WP4, Partnering/networking (WP4) by promoting the incorporation of research centres and companies to develop initiatives and projects in collaboration. - WP5, Training tailored to industry demands by providing information about the most new initiatives of training available for companies to update their knowledge in industrial technologies.

Expertise

AIDO - TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF OPTICS, COLOUR AND IMAGING is a private, non-profit making association founded by businessmen and institutions that develop their professional activities within the field of optics applied to industry. The Institute started its activity in 1988 as an initiative of the Valencia Government. The main purpose of AIDO is to encourage the research and the latest technological development of the industries within the fields of Optics, Imaging, Colour and Design, to improve the quality of production and all that contributes to the industrial development of its associates, improving the quality of their final products and the production processes, thus, finally promoting the industrial innovation. AIDO will participate in the present project through its Laser department of AIDO which i more than 15-year experienced in developing applied research in the laser and optical field to the needs of its associates. It is mainly focused on macro (laser cladding, surface treatment, cutting and welding), micro applications (milling, marking, cleaning, etc.) and optoelectronic design (focusing head, optimisation of optical paths, beam shaping, etc.). Other auxiliary services include the use and adaptation of techniques for measuring and controlling the laser processes, such as high power laser beams characterisation and diagnostics, characterisation of optical components, monitoring and control of the laser processes, etc. The Laser Department of AIDO has a large experience in EUREKA projects. Specifically AIDO has participated in the following EUREKA projects: - EUREKA: E! 643 (EUROLASER SEGURIDAD INDAL), - E! 1269 (EUROLASER CHOCLAB), - E! 1823 (FACTORY LAMIMAC), - E! 2317 (FACTORY PROSURF), - E! 2359 (CHOCLAB II). Moreover the Laser Department of AIDO has participated also in other European R&D initiatives in collaboration with other entities and companies like: - Euro-Laser Academia (Leonardo da Vinci Program); - CUSTOCER (CRAFT project, VI PM); - INART (CRAFT project, VI PM); - Fantasia (VI PM, Priority IV NMP, STREP Project). Other projects related to the areas of the EUREKA SURF projects developed at a National scale are: - ALELLA, for the substitution of Cd and Cr for the aeronautics sector. - SURFER, for the functionalisation of surfaces by laser techniques. AIDO is also member of the European Platform Photinics 21 and it is leadering its Spanish mirror Fotonica 21.

Contribution to project

The organisation was one of the partners that has been behind the creation of VTI, ENIWEP and now E!-SURF Umbrella. NPL has been member of the COST 516 action of Tribology, COST 532 Action of Tribotechnology of engines and transmissions. The NATIONAL PHYSICAL LABORATORY (NPL) is a world leading centre in the development and application of highly accurate measurement techniques. As the UK's national standards laboratory, NPL underpins the national measurement system, ensuring consistency and traceability of measurements throughout the UK. Other areas of expertise include the design and characterisation of engineering materials, and mathematical software, especially its application to measurement and instrumentation. NPL has been carrying out research on the development of measurement methods for tribology and surface engineering for 25 years. It now has a well equipped test laboratory covering sliding wear, abrasive and erosive wear and micro-and nano-tribology. It works with industry to find solutions to their tribological problems and issues. The E!-SURF project will enable NPL to network effectively with other key tribological institutes across Europe, thereby bringing benefits to NPL and the UK though the two-way interactions that will be developed.

Expertise

Professor Mark Gee MA, DPhil, MIM, MInstP, CEng is an NPL Fellow and leader for Surface Engineering research. He has recently been Chairman of the Institute of Physics Tribology Group, and is currently Secretary of the Surface Engineering Division of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He is also a member of the International Advisory Editorial Boards of Tribology International, and Tribology - Materials Surfaces and Interfaces. He is a visiting Professor at the national Centre for Advanced Tribology at Southampton University. He is the author of books, 130 published papers, 100 reports and three patents, and has over 25 years experience in development and evaluation of wear test methods for hard and surface engineered materials with particular regard to the influence of machine parameters on wear mechanisms and rates (for which he received the IMechE Donald Julius Groen Prize in 1992 and the Tribology Silver Medal in 2005). He has also been instrumental in the: * Development of micro-structural and surface examination techniques for advanced ceramics, including confocal scanning optical microscopy, non-contact laser profilometry, SEM including backscattered pattern analysis, nano-indentation and image analysis. * Development of mechanical and electromechanical test methods for electronic ceramics, including multilayer structures. * Micro-structural evaluation of ceramics, especially electronic materials, including the development of new techniques; * Mechanical testing of ceramics and cermets, including statistical techniques. Professor Robert Wood, BSc, PhD, CEng, FIMechE, FIMMM, FHEA, MInstP, has 20 years research experience in his field. He has spent several years at BP Research but returned to Southampton in 1993 to re-establish surface engineering/tribology research. He is now Professor of Surface Engineering and Tribology and Director of the national Centre for Advanced Trobology (nCATS) at the University of Southampton. His research interests include surface charge measurements to quantify the influences of carbon black and oil chemistry on diesel engine oil performance; bearing wear detection and alleviation - via application of multi sensors and artificial intelligence; using acoustic properties of hollow nano-composite coatings to enhance AE and ES monitoring of tribo-contacts; microfluidic lab-on-a-chip development for corrosion and structural health monitoring; wear-corrosion interactions and modelling; biomimetic coatings for anti-fouling; electrochemical control of interfacial friction; particle modelling in pipe bends by swirl dispersion of particles; sensing and disruption of biofilm formation; metrology of electron beam sculpted surfaces; biotribocorrosion; aluminium air battery development. He was recently chair of the Tribology Group at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and is a member of the Surface Engineering Division Board of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He is on the editorial board of Tribology International and Tribology - Materials Surfaces and Interfaces. He is a visiting Professor at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics in China and author of over 150 academic journal papers on surface engineering and tribology.

Contribution to project

During its 40 years of commercial service, AIMEN has dedicated its efforts towards the development and strengthening of the competitive capacities of companies through the promotion and execution of R&D&i activities, as well as providing technological services of high added value. The goal of the AIMEN Technology Centre is to be a technological and strategic partner for every one of its members, thus contributing to the improvement of their technological capabilities and increasing their levels of competitiveness. AIMEN will participate in the E-SURF project through matchmaking (WP1), contributing to the dissemination activities of E! SURF (WP3), partnering and networking (WP4) and participating in project meetings (WP6) in order to favours R&D initiatives and knowledge generation in the field of surface engineering for sustainable production and product.

Expertise

AIMEN is a non-profit private research institution performing R&D activities in various fields of activity including Laser processing of materials, Materials testing and analysis and Surface engineering. Each year, AIMEN participates in more than 50 new R&D projects at regional, national and European level, thanks to its high qualified personnel as well as state of the art equipment. Indeed AIMEN has 10 laser sources in order to work on micro-processes (texturing, ablation, engraving, cutting, welding, cladding) and macro-processes (welding, cutting, cladding, forming, heat treatment), but also a complete laboratory for metallographic inspection, chemical analysis, mechanical tests, nano-indentation tests, wear tests.

Contribution to project

LST Software would contribute to Work Package 3 and Work Package 5 by the specialisations the company has gained on web services (such as portal configurations, design, set up and management, network infrastructure, system set up / installation) with the expertise of integration of different platforms and technology to each other and use of different tools and methodologies combined with the quality management system and with its software product called "Distance Learning Platform" developed for Microsoft. Considering Work Package 3 (Website, e-bulletins and promotion material), by the expertise on the related field LST can carry out the realisation and setup of a web portal that allows the members to communicate, download and distribute information through the web based communication system. Considering Work Package 5 (Training tailored to industry demands), LST can offer its R&D software product "Distance Learning Platform (DLP)" developed for Microsoft. DLP eliminates the problem of attending a course delivered at a remote location by offering web-based institutional distance training software that provides execution of synchronous and a synchronous training streams integrated with each other which reduces the training budgets to minimum for organisations.

Expertise

Operating since 2005, LST SOFTWARE ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES LLC is an organisation in the IT sector with the mission to provide competitive advantage and use advanced software and information technology producing the highest quality enterprise solutions based on the most appropriate information technology to respond to the needs of its customers by one to one work on projects and solutions for domestic and international institutions. LST SOFTWARE perfected its web portal operations by completing various projects for government institutions such as Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, Greater Municipality of Ankara, T.R. Prime Ministry State Planning Organisation, Ministry of Interior, T.R Ministry of Labour and Social Security and Ministry of Finance; Presidency of Strategy Development. LST SOFTWARE has also expertise on distance learning platforms with a product called DLP which is web-based institutional distance training software that provides execution of synchronous and asynchronous training streams integrated with each other. Distance Learning Platform enables usage of different education and communication technologies together. DLP exactly meets institutions training needs that are free of time and place and with the help of DLP institutions can also form an information sharing environment. It supports multiple languages including English and existing user authentication infrastructure of the institution (Active Directory). A new user name for users and the definition of password will not be needed. The system enables the users to access the system without user name and password entry with the Single-Sign-On principle. It has the integration with Microsoft Office Communications Server (OCS), Microsoft Office Communicator and Microsoft Live Meeting. SCORM-compliant training materials are also adjusted. This product has been developed in MOSS 2007 platform. DLP has following features; * stores all the data of students, instructors and given lectures; * prints certificates; * education calendar; * exam/questionnaire system; * live lessons; * live lesson record; * document / information share; * Wiki; * Discussion groups. With its knowledge and know-how on distance learning platforms, LST further developed a "Learning Information System (LIS)" which is an advanced web application that provides planning and management of educational activities. LIS supports following features: * Planning of target group personals' education; * Preparation of educational templates; * Access to instructors' and students' information from personal database of the institution; * Preparation of institutional training calendars and informing all users through e-mail; * Constitution of institutions' educational library; * Tracking of Attendance of students; * Conducting Questionnaires such as training evaluations and feedbacks.

Contribution to project

The organisation (AIN) is a Technological Centre with range of Private organisation Non-Profit (PNP) since 1963, gathering more than 150 companies from the North-Spain region of Navarra. AIN provides technological service and assistance for project development to nearly 1,000 industries. In this sense, the creation of EUREKA projects where the needs from Spanish industries, can be jointly combined with European companies meeting synergic needs, is a great tool to match the transfer of the technology to the industry. AIN will be participating in the work package related to information, website, etc. By organising seminars and preparing bulletins addressed to small and medium size enterprises (SME's) in the field of surfaces, being those activities focused on highlighting future trends,, it will be boosted the involvement of SMEs in the creation of new EUREKA projects.

Expertise

The AIN's Centre of Advanced Surface Engineering was created in 1988 upon the increasing industrial demand for the implantation of the novel surface treatment technologies, aimed at improving the productivity of processes requiring optimal quality and long time-of-life surfaces. The Centre is devoted to identify, incorporate, develop and transfer the present and future surface treatment technologies to more than 300 clients located along all the Spanish regions. The Centre has accumulated more than 20 years in ion bombardment surface treatments and more than 10 years of experience in the field of PVD, in particular on arc-discharge and magnetron sputtering deposition methods on hard and on flexible substrates of different natures. The Centre activities are focused to understand the correlations between chemical/structural changes and properties (wear resistance, adhesion, surface energy), set up of new plasma techniques (plasma immersion ion implantation), the development of nano-structured thin films by deposition methods (PVD) and modification of surfaces of metals and polymers by ion beam technologies. Dr. Gonzalo G. Fuentes is the Scientific Manager for national and international cooperative R&D projects in AIN. He is the responsible from AIN for the participation in the E!-SURF Umbrella. He has a broad experience in project management in granted national research programs and for the participation in EUREKA Projects (CREST, DUBIOP, TRIBOSTAND), INTERREG IIIB SUDOE (CHESS), MANUNET Projects (MANUFORM) and EU Projects (MASMICRO, NEWBONE, DEPHOTEX, M3-2S). He is been responsible for the organisation and coordination of international seminars. Then this experience will be used in the E!-SURF Umbrella to push and encourage SME to get involved in new projects. TEKNIKER has experience in the development of coatings to replace Cd and Cr for aeronautic and automotive applications, then this line of work is of high priority for industrial transfer. Surface characterisation capabilities include calotest, scratch tests, AFM, roughness, confocal microscopy, FE-SEM, GDOES, etc. TEKNIKER has also capacity to carry out different tribological tests simulating the wear mechanism of the mechanical components at low and high temperature or vacuum conditions both in rotating or oscillatory conditions. Moreover, TEKNIKER has the capacity to study the corrosion behaviour of different surfaces using potentiostatic and impedance measurements, when necessary in combination with wear tests, in order to study the interplay between corrosion and wear. TEKNIKER is able to study the corrosion behaviour of the surfaces under tension in order to reproduce the behaviour of creep corrosion and to rank surfaces for high temperature applications. Finally, TEKNIKER is able to perform the Life cycle assessment (LCA) of the different surface treatments in order to evaluate the environmental impact of different surface alternatives.

Contribution to project

The organisation (LATARUM) was established as a research centre incorporating researchers from various fields of science and engineering with the aim of carrying out research on academic level, as well as, towards industrial applications on laser related areas. LATARUM was initially organised as a research unit in 2004, and then it was reorganised into a research centre in 2005 to improve the interdisciplinary character of the unit, to focus the research for industrial applications, to enhance the collaboration between university and industry and also to increase the number of researchers studying on laser related subjects. The current researchers at LATARUM come from diverse backgrounds from Department of Physics, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Mechanical Engineering. LATARUM is organised into three groups. These are the Electrooptics Group, the Laser Material Processing Group, and the Modelling and Simulation Group. LATARUM has background on laser material processing such as welding, drilling, cutting, cladding, structuring surfaces and producing nanoparticles. It has various laser sources for applications. In this sense, the creation of EUREKA projects where the needs from Turkish industries, can be jointly combined with European companies meeting synergic needs, is a great tool to match the transfer of the technology to the industry. LATARUM will be participating in the work packages 1 and 5 related to surface processing and training: * Surface technologies to reduce friction and wear. * Bio-active surfaces. * Optical coatings. * Surface treatments for controlled adhesion. * A wide range of education and training courses for both technician and graduate level will be planned for industry and research institutes. By coordinating joint projects on structuring surfaces using fs and ns pulsed lasers. Nanosurfaces can be realised by material ablation, material deposition, material modification or by material forming. This results in the elaboration of nanosurfaces with new chemical, physical and biological properties specific to the nanometre scale (e.g. catalytic, magnetic, electronic, optical and antibacterial). It will be boosted the involvement of SMEs in the creation of new EUREKA projects using LATARUMs infrastructure.

Expertise

LATARUM has very strong cooperation with industries in TURKEY. LATARUM has coordinated more than 10 nationally supported projects on laser applications. There are up to now more than 12 completed and on-going MSc and PhD thesis in the Centre. Currently, there are 2 on-going international projects with Korean, Indian and German partners. Our main interest: * Laser welding; * Laser drilling; * Laser cladding; * Laser fine cutting; * Laser surface structuring; * Laser micro machining; * Producing nanoparticles; * Surface analysis using spectroscopy. There are 3 groups at LATARUM: 1. The Electro - Optics Group; 2. Laser Material Processing Group; 3. Modelling and Simulation Group working on coordinally on developing new technological product projects.

Contribution to project

The organisation is the collective centre of the Belgian technological industry. SIRRIS is a membership organisation with almost 2,500 industrial members of which 95% are SME's. We help companies in the implementation of technological innovations, enabling them to strengthen their competitive position over the long-term. Our experts visit companies on site, offer them technological advice, launch innovation paths, and provide guidance until they reach the implementation phase. It is our aim to find concrete solutions to the real challenges facing Belgian entrepreneurs. Both small companies and large industrial groups from all sectors of Belgian technological industry can count on us. From this mission, the Umbrella project can open up possibilities for SIRRIS to guide the Belgian industry to European research and innovation, strengthening their competitive position on European level. This EUREKA project will give SIRRIS the benefit in finding partners in a short time for projects in the field of surface engineering. SIRRIS will actively participate by organising seminars and making our 'Techniline' bulletin available for EUREKA. From our large industrial member base, SIRRIS will give input for new project proposals and join or guide in European projects when Belgian companies can and want to participate in them.

Expertise

SIRRIS has 25 years of experience in the field of surface treatment doing applied research with a strong focus on implementing research results in applications and processes for the benefit of the Belgian industry. Projects include bilateral, national and EU (CORNET, FP7-SME, etc.). SIRRIS has extensive experience in the development of coatings for wear-resistance (nitrides, carbides, oxides, etc.), tribological and decorative applications. The focus today is on multifunctional and smart (active) coatings. SIRRIS can deposit PVD and CVD coatings. This year, a new hybrid PVD coating equipment will be installed combining (closed field) magnetron sputtering, arc sputtering and HIPIMS. Besides the vacuum techniques, SIRRIS also has a chemical laboratory for the deposition of wet chemical coatings using sol-gel, dipping, etc. techniques with a focus on the development of nano-particle based coatings and properties. SIRRIS has expertise using analytical equipment such as calotest, scratch test, impact test, Vickers hardness, Rockwell hardness, XRF and Betascoop (multilayer coating thickness).

Contribution to project

UMBRELLA SECRETARIAT: Start date: 01/05/2010 End date: 30/04/2015 BELGIUM/VITO will hold the permanent Secretariat of this EUREKA umbrella, as it has done for the completed ENIWEP umbrella action. Moreover, VITO will be WP leader for WP Industry demand - technology offer matchmaking, where it will be (co-)organising matchmaking events on industrially attractive topics related to the E!-SURF priority themes in the attempt to launch concrete RTDI projects in the subject field. Moreover, VITO is active in other national (technology innovation networks, technology advice services, etc.) and international networking actions (Eureka Eulasnet, ETPs ManuFuture, SusChem, COST, etc.), and will establish firm links between such networking actions whenever synergy can be obtained to reach the targets of active partner recruitment and project generation by joining forces. VITO and other Belgian research organisations have extensive expertise in a broad range of innovative surface technologies. Using the E!-SURF umbrella action, we will be able to bring such innovation and competitiveness to the Belgian and European industrial tissue, in a win-win interplay with international complementary partners and companies. We indeed see EUREKA as a flexible, bottom-up and market oriented European platform for implementing research results in production technologies and products, thereby overcoming the European innovation paradox.

Expertise

VITO is active in the development of nano-structured materials and surfaces in various nanotech areas including multifunctional surfaces and particles, bio-functional devices, nano-strengthened structural materials, ultra-porous host media, nano-filtration membranes, etc. Analysis and characterisation tools at the micro- and nano scale such as nano-indentation, scanning probe microscope, XPS, FEG-SEM, complement these research activities. Surface engineering at VITO uses state-of-the-art as well as emerging technologies including laser surface treatment, plasma processing at 1 atm., and wet chemical coating. VITO and Jan Meneve have a proven track record in project management at the EU level, in COST, EU FP, and other international programmes. Jan Meneve also managed the completed EUREKA ENIWEP action.

Contribution to project

UMBRELLA CHAIR: (shared by Spain and Denmark) DANISH TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE and the TRIBOLOGY CENTRE will contribute with a dynamic small and medium size enterprises (SME's) and university as well as RTD contacts all over Europe. Hereto comes an extended project portfolio in the field of surfaces. Furthermore, the tribology centre will be involved in generated projects. The team in and around the Tribology Centre will actively set-up projects in the field of synthesis and development of novel surfaces. These will be carried out using state-of-the-art industrial-scale coating systems. The apparatus park is spanning from: Chemical Vapour Deposition, Plasma Nitriding, Industrial scale ion implantation, to three Physical Vapour Sputtering systems where one of them is dedicated to reactive pulsed sputtering of oxide materials. One of the units is going to be upgraded with the latest High Power Magnetron Sputtering - the so called HIPIMS technology.

Expertise

DANISH TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE and the TRIBOLOGY CENTRE have a huge network to many small and medium size enterprises (SME's) in the field of applied surface engineering. This extended network will be made available for the partners involved in the E!-SURF umbrella. Lars Pleth Nielsen has a proven track record in project management at the EU level in connection with NMT-ERANET, Nordic Innovation Centre and EUROSTARS, as well as being involved in COST actions, FP7 projects, several ERA NET projects, numerous granted national research program (3x High Technology Foundation, 3x innovation consortiums, several Phd and master students). Finally Lars Pleth Nielsen has also been actively engaged as president of the completed EUREKA ENIWEP action.

Contribution to project

* Co-WP leadership WP 5 Training tailored to industry demands, together with KULEUVEN. * Organisation of dissemination actions.

Expertise

Active in the fields of "Physico-chemistry of interfaces" and "Life-cycle of materials" * Bio-corrosion: microbial corrosion, corrosion in living media, corrosion in organic media. * Tribocorrosion: damaging of metallic materials by the combined action of corrosion and mechanical loadings (rubbing, erosion, etc.). Study of properties and behaviour of functional surfaces, corrosion, processes of self-restoration, self-lubrication, wear resistant surfaces, etc. * Metal-hydrogen interactions; adsorption and absorption of hydrogen in metals and their consequence on the mechanical properties (e.g. embrittlement) and hydride formation.

Contribution to project

The organisation (nCATS) was established in 2007 with a research staff of about 50 and is based on an existing research group on Surface Engineering and Tribology in the School of Engineering Sciences at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON. nCATS is a multidisciplinary Tribology Centre and aspires to research and solve next generation tribological design issues and enable surface interactions to occur with minimal energy loss and impact on the environment. nCATS links world class research groups in key disciplines at the UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON, to develop enhanced capabilities in advanced computational and experimental Tribology. Strategic research partnerships with access to facilities have been established with the National Physical Laboratory, Teddington (NPL) as well as the tribology/metrology groups at the Universities of Cambridge, Huddersfield, Sheffield and Leeds. nCATS provides the next generation of underpinning technology in Microsystems, Biomedical Engineering, Engineering and engineering chemistry by developing interdisciplinary collaborations across the University and strategic research partnerships with industry. It will increase the understanding of tribological processes at all scales and apply this to improve surface life. Research includes developing sensors and novel probes for tribological processes, the tribology of renewable energy systems, manipulating complex microbial communities at interfaces linked to tribological issues of fouling, friction and corrosion, and the use of advanced techniques to understand the human cellular and biological reactions and bio-tribological performance of joint implants. New self-repairing, adaptive, regenerative and biocompatible surfaces will be developed for less invasive and smarter joint repair or replacement. Tribology is the essential science of all interacting surfaces in relative motion and is immensely important to the successful operation of engineered machines and natural mechanisms of all scales and demands multifunctional surfaces. Tribology is core to future transport and energy efficient machines, the control of emissions and low maintenance renewable energy systems. The E!-SURF project will enable nCATS to network effectively with other key tribological institutes across Europe, thereby bringing benefits to NPL and the UK though the two-way interactions that will be developed.

Expertise

Professor Robert Wood, BSc, PhD, CEng, FIMechE, FIMMM, FHEA, MInstP, has 20 years research experience in his field. He has spent several years at BP Research but returned to Southampton in 1993 to re-establish surface engineering/tribology research. He is now Professor of Surface Engineering and Tribology and Director of the national Centre for Advanced Tribology (nCATS) at the University of Southampton. His research interests include surface charge measurements to quantify the influences of carbon black and oil chemistry on diesel engine oil performance; bearing wear detection and alleviation - via application of multi sensors and artificial intelligence; using acoustic properties of hollow nano-composite coatings to enhance AE and ES monitoring of tribocontacts; microfluidic lab-on-a-chip development for corrosion and structural health monitoring; wear-corrosion interactions and modelling; biomimetic coatings for antifouling; electrochemical control of interfacial friction; particle modelling in pipe bends by swirl dispersion of particles; sensing and disruption of biofilm formation; metrology of electron beam sculpted surfaces; biotribocorrosion; aluminium air battery development. He was recently chair of the Tribology Group at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and is a member of the Surface Engineering Division Board of the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining. He is on the editorial board of Tribology International and Tribology - Materials Surfaces and Interfaces. He is a visiting Professor at the Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics in China and author of over 150 academic journal papers on surface engineering and tribology.

Contribution to project

The organisation (CFUM) includes most of the teaching staff of the Physics Department from University of Minho (43 PhDs), some 5 staff members of other Higher Education institutions and more than 30 Post-Doctorate researchers and other collaborators, of which 7 are eligible for the Basic Funding provided by the FCT. Among the professional development activities of the CFUM, can be included: training of PhD and masters, hosting and support of research grant holders, hosting and support to researchers hired in the "Science" program; research projects with national and international research institutions and industries (participation in networks); organisation of national and international scientific events and specialised services to the industries. The CFUM will participate in the work package related with industry demand - technology offer matchmaking events, launching and discussing project ideas, as well as in the organisation industry relevant training courses in the field of surface engineering. Besides participation in meetings within the EUREKA network it is intended to participate within European initiatives, especially in the EU 7th FP.

Expertise

The Centre of Physics comprises more than 30 research laboratories and the scientific activity concerns 4 major areas of research, Solid State Physics, Molecular Physics, Optics and Optoelectronics, and Thin Films and Applications. The CFUM has several laboratories such as the ones for Chemical Vapour Deposition, Pulsed Laser Ablation, Ion Beam assisted by electrom beam deposition (IBAD-EB) for nano-materials deposition, magnetron sputtering deposition, pulsed femptoseconds laser, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction, a nanomechanical center (nanotest, microtest, nanoimpact and nanoimpulse), laboratory for corrosion behaviour studies of different surfaces using potentiostatic and impedance measurements and a large scale parallel computing facility. Prof. Sandra Carvalho develops is research activity on Functional Coatings Group (GRF), one of the seven CFUM research groups. GRF - CFUM research activity is focused in research and development of new decorative, protective and functional coatings on various objects made of metals, plastics, glass, silicon, and other materials. The GRF (CFUM) research program is aimed at carrying out basic and applied research and gaining fundamental knowledge for the synthesis of thin coatings from the vapour phase that can enable the development of new material concepts, design of multilayers at a nano-sized level, and deposition processes. Emphasis is placed on those aspects of the science of materials that are concerned with the relationships between synthesis, structure/composition, properties, and modelling/simulation of thin functional nanostructured coatings. The team of CFUM involved in this Umbrella is deeply involved in innovative nano-scale coating architectures for functional and smart surfaces such as flexible devices and bio-sensors, low friction and wear nanostructured coatings, nanostructured materials with barrier and antimicrobial properties, nanoparticles and 3D nanostructures.

Contribution to project

Veneto Nanotech - www.venetonanotech.it : VENETO NANOTECH is the company issued by the Universities of Padua, Venice and Verona, the Veneto Region, with the participation of the Italian Ministry for University and Research (MIUR) as well as other public bodies and private enterprises, to coordinate the initiatives and the strategic interests of the Italian Cluster for Nanotechnologies. Veneto Nanotech aims the promotion of nanotechnology knowledge and diffusion in both productive and applicative fields. It promotes the increase of private investments in research, and supports high technology research centres, to carry on applied research projects and to enhance high technology transfer to industries. Its organisation structure manages the structures operating in the Cluster, and the activities of the laboratories in which research and technology transfer activities are directly performed. According the mission and knowledge of Veneto Nanotech the contribution to the Umbrella is intended to the activities of WP1 "Industry demand - technology offer matchmaking" and WP2 "Monitoring and assistance in research funding opportunities". Moreover, by making our Newsletter available for EUREKA and vice-versa, VENETO NANOTECH can contribute to the WP3 activities "Website, e-bulletins and promotion material", and also can take part to the management WP6 in order to steer and support the E!SURF activities. Besides participation in meetings within the EUREKA network it is intended to cooperate within European initiatives, especially in the EU 7th FP, obtaining the benefit in finding partners in a short time for project in the field of surface engineering.

Expertise

VENETO NANOTECH's activities are concentrated on the following sectors: 1. Development of facilities and technology transfer - Built up of research laboratories collecting resources and knowhow from Universities to be focused on industrial needs. To date, the following laboratories are active: - NanoFab - Nanofabrication Facility: www.nanofab.it: research laboratory focused on technology transfer to enterprises. The main scientific focus is on surface treatments, with the deposition of nano-materials, by using different "nanotechnology" platforms: PVD/magnetron sputtering, PECVD, atmospheric plasmas, Cold Spray, Solgel, Hybrid coatings, paints, and polymer nano-composites. It works in a close relationship with CIVEN, the association of the three Universities from Veneto Region (Padua, Venice, Verona) for the scientific development and the coordination of academic activities in nanotechnology; - ECSIN - European Center for the Sustainable Impact of Nanotechnology : www.ecsin.eu ECSIN is an international centre for the characterisation of the impact of nanotechnologies on environmental and human health issues, and to specifically evaluate ethics aspects in relation to human society. It mainly operates on risk assessment for industries, on nano-ecotoxicology evaluations, and on legal and social researches connected to the use of nanotechnology; - LaNN - Laboratory for Nanofabrication and Nanodevices: LaNN is a research laboratory, active in the strategic collaboration between the Cluster, the University of Padova, and the National Research Council (CNR). The scientific focus of the centre is the application of nano-bio photonics in the area of NEMS, MEMS, lab-on-chip and cleantech. 2. New enterprise start-up - VENETO NANOTECH: Supports the new high tech entrepreneurship through activities ranging from scouting, business training and seed capital investments. One of the main instruments in this field is represented by Nanochallenge (www.nanochallenge.com), an international business plan competition tailored on innovative ideas in the field of nanotechnologies.

Contribution to project

UMBRELLA CHAIR: (shared by Spain and Denmark) Fundacion TEKNIKER was one of the partners that pushed the creation of VTI, ENIWEP and now E!-SURF Umbrella. The Institution has been member of the COST 516 action of Tribology, COST 532 Action of Tribotechnology of engines and transmissions, of the COST 533 action of Biotribology and is now participating in the COST Action promoting the HIPIMS technology. As strategy, TEKNIKER has the mission to develop technologies and transfer them to the industry. In this sense, the creation of EUREKA projects where the needs from Spanish industries, can be jointly combined with European companies meeting synergic needs, it is a great tool to match the transfer of the technology to the industry. TEKNIKER will be responsible for the work package related to funding opportunities. TEKNIKER also participates in the European Platform EUMAT and in the European SUSCHEM Platform trying to push interesting topics also through the 7th FP Programme. The ideas that will merge in the E!-SURF Umbrella that can be addressed due to their pre-competitive character, European Dimension and Impact to this FP will be proposed through the European Platforms. Also the results of the projects from FP7 projects will whenever possible be further developed through the Eureka Projects. The main contribution from TEKNIKER to the Umbrella E!-SURF will be the promotion of Industrial Research Project that address surface technologies to improve the competitiveness of the European Industries. As Technologies, TEKNIKER can offer physical vapour deposition process for Photovoltaic, tribological applications or esthetical, etc., plasma electroxidation of light alloys to improve wear or corrosion resistance, laser cladding for moulding repair, sol gel technologies for corrosion protection, texturing to improve load carrying capacity and extreme pressure lubrication, etc. The knowledge of wear and corrosion protection of the material will be extended also for microelectronic applications and Microsystems. Recently, tribo-corrosion tests have been implemented studying the synergy between wear and corrosion. Also, new testing equipment of the laboratory of Tribology includes the possibility of testing desorption and friction and wear properties under vacuum and also to perform fatigue corrosion tests at high temperature including both high temperature electrolytical conditions and gas oxidative conditions. This knowledge will be combined with other European Partnership to create complementary high added value consortia. TEKNIKER will contribute to organise events like LUBMAT, IBERTRIB or COMADEM.

Expertise

Dr. Amaya Igartua is the head of the Tribology Unit where both tribological and corrosion resistant surfaces are developed. She has been participating in the VTI, COST Actions (516, 532, 533) and ENIWEP Umbrella. She is the responsible from TEKNIKER for the participation in the E!-SURF Umbrella. She was during one year chair of the ENIWEP Umbrella and organised several workshops (one of them in combination with COST 533 in 2008 and another in combination with COMADEM Conference 2009), and one General Assembly Meeting of the ENIWEP Umbrella. She has a broad experience for the creation of EUREKA Projects (EQUIMOTOR Plus, ALMAG, E-CHAIN, MAAC), MATERA Projects (ECOBEARINGS), MANUNET Projects (MANUENGI), EUROSTARS Project (VACUUM DLC) and EU Projects (POWERFUL). Then this experience will be used in the E!-SURF Umbrella to push new initiatives. In the E!-SURF Umbrella will also participate Javier Barriga, head of Unit of Surface Physics, where PVD sputtering and arc technologies are investigated with the possibility to deposit carbide, nitrides or oxide coatings, in which case one of the last developments involves a new semi-continuous coating unit. Plasma electroxidation coatings are another coating technology that is being applied with success to light alloys, sometimes in combination with advanced Sol gel coatings. Laser coatings and laser texturing are other alternative surface treatments that can be applied in order to repair surfaces or enhance the lubricity. Applications of these coatings are not limited to anticorrosion or selflubricant coatings, but also can be applied anti-stick DLC coatings, self-cleaning TiOx, or coatings for photovoltaic applications.

Contribution to project

The organisation is specialised in wear resistant product surfaces and linings. Products ans coatings to prevent sticking a,d caking, arching, bridging. Linigns and coatings for flow promotion. Tribology and coefficient of friction (higher or lower).

Expertise

Contribution to project

Within the SURF research group, we are experienced in setting up, coordinating and managing research projects with (a consortium of) industrial and/or academic partners, both on a national and European level. The spectrum of our research projects goes from fundamental through (strategic) basic research, to applied and industrial research. Next to our long track-record of industrial (bilateral) research projects, we also engage in industrial consultancy. On a regular basis, we are also actively attending and organising conferences, seminars, exhibitions, networking events and other events within our broad research domain. Over the years, we have built up an important and valuable network in the academic and industrial world within the field of electrochemical and surface engineering and beyond. The main contributions from the SURF VUB research group to the E!SURF network will be linked to WP 1 and WP 3. We will organise dedicated, top level seminars, with ample opportunity for networking and matchmaking. From our research expertise (see below), we will provide input to and stimulate the setting up of new research projects within the framework of E!SURF. We will also contribute in knowledge dissemination by transferring relevant information in the field of electrochemical and surface engineering to the network.

Expertise

The research group Electrochemical and Surface Engineering is part of the Faculty of Engineering at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The SURF research group has built up a large expertise in the highly complementary domains of electrochemical engineering and surface engineering. Electrochemical engineering covers both the study of controlled electrochemical processes (such as electrolysis, fuel cells, etc.) and the study of unintended electrochemical phenomena such as corrosion. The connection to the domain of surface engineering is through the development and optimisation of processes to perform dedicated surface treatments, such as the anodisation of aluminium. Another important link, which is a hot topic today, is the ability to make functional materials, for example self-healing materials. Our approach is to deal with both fundamental and application driven aspects and we achieve this by combining experimental and modelling techniques. Experimental techniques are oriented towards surface and electrochemical characterisation. Here, we combine expertise in both electrochemical methods and in-situ and ex-situ surface analytical techniques. Modelling in SURF's context means both construction of models and developing numerical tools to handle the mathematics behind these models. Our modelling techniques are implemented at different levels: (i) to model controlled or unintended electrochemical processes, (ii) to model physical properties of materials (such as charge transport through oxide layers) and (iii) to support the interpretation of experimental data (e.g. in fitting tools). The continuous interaction between data obtained from measurements and data calculated by models allows to acquire fundamental knowledge and to predict real life behaviour. The unique combination of expertise in experimental and modelling techniques in the area of electrochemical and surface engineering, which is the main strength of our research group, promotes a multidisciplinary research focus in the domains listed below. * Dimension "downscaling" to nanometre resolution: Our state-of-the-art lab infrastructure puts us in the position of analysing and manipulating the material surface on the very localised, submicron and nano-technological scale. * Multifunctional metals: Controlled surface modifications that can create a unique combination of functional properties are the next generation of processes for metals. Our metal surface research is not only directed towards mechanical properties, corrosion and coating adhesion, also additional properties such as optical properties (colour, gloss and reflection), biocompatibility, electrical conductivity, anti-fouling are studied. Also the so-called "smart coatings" are more and more being explored for future applications. * Process and technique modelling: Process modelling consists of quantitative modelling of processes and electrochemical reactors to optimise production techniques, to predict durability of materials (corrosion), and to save energy. Emerging topics are e.g. fuel cell design and electrochemistry in micro-fluidic applications. Technique modelling is developed to maximise the interpretation of experimental data and to extract reliable parameters as input for process and functional modelling. An example is the technique of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) where we implemented a new data collection technique to optimise the reliability of the parameter extraction. * Functional modelling: Functional means modelling of the physical properties of the materials. The ultimate goal is to be able to modify on demand different material's properties. An active area of research in that perspective is corrosion modelling. SURF also has strong expertise in optical modeling. We can e.g. predict the appearance (colour, reflectivity etc.) of modified surfaces.

Contribution to project

Established by the Faculte Polytechnique de Mons and the Universite de Mons-Hainaut - Belgium, the Centre of Excellence MATERIA NOVA is a non-profit R&D organisation having the following objectives: - to carry out applied scientific research for industry and to carry out tests and analyses of all the materials used or produced by these industries; - to make its knowledge, expertise and equipment available to businesses in the form of technological guidance; - to aid the dissemination and development of results of research which correspond to its area of expertise (technology watch); - to carry out other activities, in particular training programmes, which will contribute to the performance of the above objectives. MATERIA NOVA will bring into the UMBRELLA besides specific scientific expertise: - synergies between different fields of material research, - a large range of standard and unique (i.e. XPS-C60) equipments, going from lab to semi-industrial scale. MATERIA NOVA will have an active contribution to the patterning/networking, to the training and will create strong links between the university and the industry.

Expertise

Certified by the Walloon Region and France as official R&D institution, the main competences of MATERIA NOVA are in the field of: * Surface treatments. MATERIA NOVA develops a large variety of innovative surface treatments using new processes like plasma technologies (PVD, PECVD, IPVD, microwave, etc.), electroplating, sol-gel, chemical conversion coatings, etc. Various alternatives have been proposed to replace Cr6+ in anit-corrosion applications. Other specific, smart and tailor made surface properties as antibacterial, easy-to-clean, anti-soiling, self-healing, adhesion, hardness, gaz-barrier, hydrophobic, bio-mimetic, etc. are developed to address specific industrial requests and needs. * Organic semiconductors. MATERIA NOVA works on transparent organic electroluminescent diodes (OLED), photovoltaic cells (OPV) and other organic optical electronic devices. * Polymer nano-composites and bio-polymers. These new materials consist in a homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles (layered clay or needle-like clay, carbon nanotubes, polyhedral oligosilsesquioxanes or POSS, oxides, etc.) within a polymer matrix. MATERIA NOVA synthesizes blends and formulates polymers, bio-sourced and bio degradable plastics. * White bio-technologies and biodegradation. The activities are concentrated on the manufacture of materials from renewable sources through the use of biological systems such as enzymes, bacteria or fungi. MATERIA NOVA is competent to carry out experiments for the evaluation of both bio-plastics biodegradation in various media (soil, compost, water) and eco-toxicity towards plants, worms or algae. In order to perform the research, MATERIA NOVA has a large range of analytical equipments: XPS-SIMS, XPS C60, TEM, SEM, AFM, FTIR, XRF, EIS, etc. Besides a very applied and industry oriented management, the scientific value of the performed R&D projects is assured and supported by 5 University professors.

Contribution to project

1. TRIBOTECHNIC participates in the tests with the selected devices of its manufacture: - Tribological tests for determining the resistance to wear, according to the data set with the other project partners: A) Tribologycal tests between 1 to 64 N - Tests on ball-on-disk tribometer. - Test on tribometer under reciprocating linear movement. - Testing under tribo corrosion conditions. - Determination of the volume of wear. - Calculation of wear of samples. - Calculation of wear of balls and pins. B) Milli tribology tests with loads of 0.001 to 3 N Scratch tests on Scratch Tester Millennium with loads between 0.1 to 200 N: - Identification of critical loads of different samples. - Determining of wear of the tip. - Definitions of characteristics needed on diamond tip for a scratch test. C) Milli scratch tests with loads between 0.001 N to 1 N Thickness measurement of hard coatings between 0.5 to 50 microns by Calotest process. 2. Dissemination of results. -TRIBOTECHNIC will conduct communications in the most important world conferences in this domain: ICMCTF San Diego, SVC in USA, TAE and PSE in Germany, JAST in Japan, etc.

Expertise

Marc Bellantonio brings his experience of 20 years in the field of coatings and tribological characterisation of coatings and materials. TRIBOTECHNIC was founded in 1989 to represent CSEM and Bernex on the French territory: 1. Bernex Swiss company that had developed a revolutionary new coating named amorphous diamond like carbon. In the market for anti-wear coatings, TRIBOTECHNIC was the first company to introduce in 1991 the amorphous diamond like carbon coatings in the field of Formula 1 engines. This new technology enabled Renault Sport to develop a new mechanical system, extremely competitive in comparison with competitor's teams and resulting in winning six times consequetively the title of Formula 1 World Championship. Our notoriety in the automotive world has enabled TRIBOTECHNIC to work for other car racing teams such as Ferrari. In addition, in 1999, TRIBOTECHNIC launched on the French market a new activity of measurement by activation of parts, permitting to monitor the wear of an engine during its operation on the test bench. This new performant technology has yielded an exclusive contract with one of the best Formula 1 engine manufacturers. In 2003, Bernex bought several French and foreign coatings companies in order to become No. 2 worldwide in this field and has terminated the DISTRIBUTOR'S contract with TRIBOTECHNIC, who had no reason to be. 2. The Swiss company CSEM, manufactures of test equipment for friction and adhesion of coatings. In 1989 no company or university possessed these devices for characterisation in FRANCE. In 15 years, TRIBOTECHNIC sold fifty devices. In 2003 CSEM (now CSM Instruments) decided to break the exclusive distribution contract with TRIBOTECHNIC. The CEO, Marc Bellantonio decided to gather experts in micro mechanic design, tribology and software for his company, in order to become a manufacturer and direct competitor CSM instruments. With the help of new technology (microprocessor, USB connexions, etc.) TRIBOTECHNIC designed tribometers and scratch testers equipped with the latest technological advances. Theses instruments have exclusively patented features for Research and Development and measuring Quality Control. They are conform to industry standards, user friendly and economical to maintain. TRIBOTECHNIC became the technological leader on the market by offering innovative devices equipped with the latest technology.

Contribution to project

Co-WP leadership WP 5 Training tailored to industry demands, together with ECPARIS. Support to VITO for the organisation of dissemination actions.

Expertise

- Active on coatings and surface engineering since 1971. - Large expertise in conducting basic and applied research projects funded by CEC and European industries. Research focused on the development of trivalent relationships between synthesis, structure and functionality of surface modified materials. - Large expertise in electroplating of metals, alloys and metal matrix composite coatings. - Expert on the corrosion and tribological behaviour of bulk and coated materials. - Responsible for the Working Party on Tribocorrosion of the European Federation of Corrosion, vice-chairman of the COST 533 on Biotribology, Fellow of the Institute of Metal Finishing (UK), and scientific director of Falex Tribology N.V. , a Belgian company established in 1999 as spin-off company from the KULEUVEN active in tribological testing and material selection.

Contribution to project

CTD was established in 1994 as a part of University of Ljubljana. Its activities are divided on two main areas: Education and Research. CTD performs education on the University, College and Postgraduate level. CTD organises international SLOTRIB conferences every two years and it prepares 4-6 seminars for the industry each year. CDT is active in the postgraduate student exchange between different European universities and some the USA institutes. Successful research work and international co-operation has resulted in increasing number of scientific papers. In the last period CTD published 93 journal papers and 127 conference papers, with CTD permanent staff earned 10 awards and 8 patents (2 in the U.S.A. and 6 in SLOVENIA). The subsequent 2 more patents are applied as a result of collaboration with VITO research institute (BE) and Volvo Technology AB (SE). Research fields of CTD include tribology of modified surfaces and hard coatings, surface engineering and surface characterisation, analysis of lubricants and lubrication, integrated monitoring, vibration, oil and wear debris analysis, thermal and mechanical effects in tribological contacts, nano-science, nano-tribology and biotribology, and tribological design of machine components. During the last period CTD participated in FP5 and FP6 program and it took part in COST, EUREKA, MATERA and two Marie Curie training network actions. Besides, it participates in the basic and development research projects which have been supported by Slovenian government and/or industry. The centre therefore has high level of expertise in characterising and evaluating tribological properties of different materials and is equipped with up-to-date equipment, including model test rigs as well as full scale test devices. CTD provides a special equipment for laboratory testing of the disc and the pad counterpart used in the automotive brakes and it is believed to be the best research unit concerning tribological investigation in SLOVENIA such it perfectly fits as a partner for testing the materials developed under this project.

Expertise

Prof. Joze Vizintin has more than 30 years' experience in research related to Tribology and technical diagnostics. He established and leads Centre for Tribology and technical diagnostics and has great experience in research and industrial R&D contracts related to tribology, surface engineering and condition monitoring. He has co-authored and edited several books, published more than 100 scientific papers and given several invited lectures at international conferences. He has been coordinator of several national and international research projects and programmes. Prof. Joze Vizintin, presently Head of the Center for Tribology and Technical Diagnostics (CTD) as well as Principal of chair for Tribology and Maintenance systems, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, is a widely acknowledged and well experienced authority in tribological science. He has been awarded several times for his achievements in that science: * 1998 - "Zois Award" for achievements in science; * 2000 - ASME Internatioanl, The Tribology division Awards; * 2002 - ZOIS Award for outstanding scientific achievements in Mechanical Engineering; * 2006 - Awards Fellow STLE for special achievements in Tribology; * 2007 - Golden Recognition of University of Ljubljana. He is the author of 110 published papers, 152 reports and 8 patents.

Contribution to project

On April 5, 2010 the BEAM AR-GE OPTIC, LASER TECHNOLOGIES LTD. was founded in Kocaeli University Technology Developing Zone by support of the Turkish Ministry of Industry and Trade. The BEAM AR-GE is spin-off company of Kocaeli University Laser Technologies Research and Application Center. Through the close cooperation between physicists, electronic engineers and material scientists we find interdisciplinary solutions for all fields of optic, laser and spectroscopy applications . BEAM AR-GE has strong research team on laser, optics and spectroscopy. There are in the company one professor in laser physics, two MSc in optics and laser and one BSc in material science. In this sense, the creation of EUREKA projects where the needs from Turkish industries, can be jointly combined with European companies meeting synergic needs, is a great tool to match the transfer of the technology to the industry. LATARUM will be participating in the work package 1 related to surface processing: - Surface technologies to reduce friction and wear; - Bio-active surfaces; - Optical coatings; - Surface treatments for controlled adhesion. By coordinating joint projects on structuring surfaces using fs and ns pulsed lasers. It will be boosted the involvement of SMEs in the creation of new EUREKA projects.

Expertise

BEAM AR-GE has strong cooperation with companies in TURKEY. BEAM AR-GE has been coordinating 2 nationally supported projects on developing new spectroscopy systems to analyse materials. Our main interest: 1. Laser process technology. * Cutting; *Welding; * Drilling; * Clading; * Surface Structuring. 2. Systems engineering. * Process control and closed-loop control; * Laser metrology; * Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy LIBS; * CAD/CAM systems; * System development. 3. Optics, coatings and spectroscopy. * Coatings from the VUV to the FIR range; * Spectrometer from X-Ray to NIR; * Thin-film characterisation; Development of special thin-films. 4. Training and further education. * Special seminars; * Laser Safety Officer for technical or medical applications; * Laser Specialist Training; * Modular training course for students (Laser Certificate); Re-employment initiative. 5. Laser and working safety. * Hazard identification and risk analysis; * Protection concepts; * Development and qualification of protective equipment; * Laser system inspections and safety-related consulting.

Contribution to project

According the mission and knowledge of AC2T the major contribution is intended to the activities "Industry demand - technology offer matchmaking" and "Monitoring and assistance in research funding opportunities". AC2T was one of the partners in Virtual Tribology Institute project (VTI) and in the EUREKA ENIWEP project. AC2T is mostly running application-oriented basic research "multifirm"-projects, all together with more than 100 national and international company partners from different branches (chemical industry, polymers and other non-metals, metals and metal processing, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, medical engineering, measurement and testing technology, vehicle construction and research and development), thus a very good insight is already being offered to the AC2T staff concerning different tribological problems and the major needs concerning wear, friction, lubrication, and related topics as maintenance, safety issues, health and environmental consequences. Furthermore, this pool of companies proposes a good change to establish new project consortia. It is one of AC2T's prior tasks to visit companies in order to communicate about novel developments, actual research activities and ready-to-use methods. AC2T is typically - either on its own or together with other institutions- involved into organisation of meetings devoted to special tribology issues, inviting experts and to present own research expertise, too. Besides participation in meetings within the EUREKA network it is intended to cooperate within European initiatives, especially in the EU 7th FP. Together with the University of Applied Science Wiener Neustadt, AC2T is creating a Master Course in "Surface Engineering and Tribology" (language: English) which will start in September 2010.

Expertise

The AUSTRIAN CENTRE OF COMPETENCE FOR TRIBOLOGY (AC2T) was founded in 2002 within the frame of a special governmental science and technology funding programme (Kplus) for 7 years at the Technology and Research Centre Wiener Neustadt (near Vienna). 2009 AC2T was granted by the special governmental science and technology funding programme COMET for 10 years (2010-2019) with a budget of approximately 12 Million Euro per year. Cross-disciplinary fundamental research projects - performed in 5 thematic fields - are to support the industrial-orientated R&D-projects: - Functional Surfaces; - Lubricants and Lubrication; - Tribometrology; - TriboSensors; -Tribosimulation; The application projects involve - from the system analysis crossing technology, chemistry, tribometrology to the characterisation of surfaces and wear - the necessary working methods with the aims of an integral solution of tribology tasks. About 80 scientists and technicians mainly representing physics, chemistry resp. biochemistry, material sciences, mechanical engineering, automotive engineering, sensor and measurement technology, informatics are available on site. Involving the Vienna University of Technology as Scientific Partner aims at a long-term scientific co-operation. The participation of selected scientists assures a sustaining core of the scientific staff. Besides the major topics mentioned above AC2T is doing industrial consultancy and bilateral R&D projects in different fields of tribology. The Centre is capable of a lot of test equipment and special instruments in the different service units (labortories): * Tribometrology laboratory; * Lubrication laboratory; * Material- and surface analysis laboratory; * Contact kinetics laboratory. AC2T has special experience in the development of hard coatings and high temperature abrasion as well as state-of-the-art surface analytic equipment such as small-spot-XPS, Nano-scratch-tester, High-temperature-hardness-tester, etc.

Contribution to project

The FCTUC holds a strong experience concerning the participation, management and coordination of education, research and knowledge transfer projects. Presently, the FCTUC is involved in 91 projects (66 funded by Portuguese or Bilateral Cooperation Programs and 25 by European institutions) and coordinates 41 of these projects. The majority of ongoing projects (67) have a collaborative nature, once they are based in partnerships including several institutions, and the FCTUC assures the coordination of 17. The Faculty includes a Project Support Service (which provides guidance in preparing, submitting and negotiating proposals), a pool of project managers (which assure the project management tasks after the formalisation of a funding contract) and a Research Support Fund (to guarantee the necessary accounting liquidity in case of project funding based on expense reimbursement or delay in funding transfers). In addition, the FCTUC departments and research units often have their own specialised staff to assist project management. It is the case of CEMUC, which will host the current project. CEMUC - Centre of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Coimbra is a dynamic research unit where more than 80 PhD's work, cooperate and coordinate several nationally and European funded projects. The constant interaction and networking with some of the most prestigious universities in the world and a steady and highly recognised scientific production, have given the possibility to several of CEMUC's researchers to assume relevant positions in the decision centres in some highly profiled European projects. To name but a few: the TRIBOSTAND project, the FOREMOST project, the HARDECOAT project, the INDICOAT project, the FALET-HL project or the 3DS-IMS project G1RD. All of these projects have given the possibility to CEMUC to amass an invaluable capital of experience that allows the centre to tackle the hardest challenges that project management may generate. In the scope of the current Umbrella, this knowledge and expertise will be shared with other European Partnership to generate complementary high added value consortia.

Expertise

The team of FCTUC involved in this Umbrella belongs the CEMUC- Centre of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Coimbra and aims to research the modification of the surface of materials by the deposition of coatings and to develop of new knowledge in mechanical behaviour characterisation and design methodologies. The research performed in this group is related with: - The characterisation of friction and wear behaviour of bulk and composite materials by several techniques, namely: unidirectional sliding, reciprocating sliding, load-scanning. - The development of new testing techniques and experimental protocols to characterise materials and components. - The development of new coatings to engage in benefits to society in the areas of Mechanical Engineering in all fields related with Energy, Quality of Life and Improvement of the Efficiency and Lifetime of Engines and Mechanical components. Besides knowledge improvement oriented research projects, CEMUC also do industrial consultancy and participate in R&D projects in several areas, namely tribology, mechanical characterisation and surface engineering.

Contribution to project

The organisation is a test and consulting laboratory directed at solving tribological problems for industry. FALEX TRIBOLOGY is also providing test equipment and technical support, notably the Falex Group equipment range and the Tetra precision tester range. As such, we are most often in contact with industrial demands and problems, that could lead to development and research efforts related to the Surfaces of Materials, therefor fit in the E!-SURF Umbrella. We develop a lot of internal procedures for customer problems, specific standards and protocols that answer to the real needs of industrials and can provide this information and know-how to the umbrella for wider dissemination. We have specific training modules targeted at a small industrial audience, aiming at their needs. Most of all, we are -as an SME- organised in a very flexible and customer oriented way, and can therefore contribute to the umbrella with specific insights.

Expertise

FALEX TRIBOLOGY has recently celebrated its 10 years of existence and providing solutions to industry. During these years, we have also participated in smaller and larger EU and nationally funded projects and have a lot of experience in disseminating and valorising project results. Because we work for industry, our main research and development focus lies on the continuous improvement and development of new test methods in tribology that address the modern issues and provide useful answers, not only numbers but also interpretation of results. We also provide a lot of assistance at the start of a test project, guiding our industrial clients in test selection as well as project management. We also have a few specific specialities that we constantly develop further because they are emerging and growing problems in industry : Fretting in machinery, transport and biomaterials Tribocorrosion in industry and biomaterials, light load tribology for better Friction modifier additives and low friction materials Coatings characterisation Dr. Dirk Drees is the CEO of the company and provides the guidance to the research and development direction. Dr. Satish Achanta is the project manager and in charge of most of the development projects. Both have been involved and still are involved with FP5-FP6 and FP7 EU projects, with EUREKA projects and with national funded research and development (IWT Flanders). Both are also experienced in the outline and management of bilateral projects with industrial clients.