EUREKA 2023: Smart welding of sustainable composites for medical applications

The aim of SmartWeld is to develop a technology platform which integrates thermoplastic composite materials into radiational oncology and magnetic imaging medical applications. Current material solutions are dominated by thermoset composites. Thermosets, while extensively used, are less environmentally friendly materials, more difficult to recycle, and hinder greater risks from the manufacturing point of view. The consortium consists of all relevant links in the value chain: from OEM material suppliers to product manufacturers, along with academic expertise and motivation to innovate. It is expected that the project will impact the sustainability of the medical manufacturing industry, but also support automotive and aerospace in the transition to more sustainable composites. The project will specifically focus on the development of induction welding technology with data collection for further AI analysis, and pair this with fast and energy efficient processing of a novel thermoplastic material.