Fraunhofer IPA @ Chulalongkorn University

Once again, intensive project work was carried out on site, this time with the focus on supporting the multitude of projects from the Thai side as counter-financing for the research station. Furthermore, the question of finding funding opportunities for follow-up projects was addressed again.

From the previous discussions, also from the video conferences during COVID and the on-site visit before Covid, the Taiwanese Surface Finishing Association TSFA and the National United University NUU in Taiwan have proven to be other very interesting possible partners. Various project ideas and cooperation approaches were discussed in Taipei. Here, too, funding opportunities are the greatest challenge. This visit was not possible at an earlier date because Taiwan was very late in easing the entry bans caused by Covid.

From the previous discussions, also from the video conferences during COVID, the organization ASTAR in Singapore has proven to be a very interesting possible partner. Scientists from the MMRI and the IPA were on site together to explore cooperation and to discuss project ideas and funding opportunities. As is so often the case, project financing is the greatest challenge. A very good common basis was quickly found on a content and personal level.

Two scientists from the MMRI were in the laboratory at the Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart for the purpose of project work and training. This visit was financed by the Thai side from project funds as part of the joint BIOPLATE project.

The conference and trade fair activities could also be resumed. The status of ECOPLATE and the approaches that emerged from the project were presented at the Surface and Coating Forum in the BITEC Conference Center.

As soon as entry into Thailand was possible again without a quarantine of several weeks, the on-site activities were resumed. It was still subject to major restrictions (e.g. test and go quarantine in certified hotels), access to the university was still partially restricted and the otherwise lively Bangkok was unrecognizable, but the first steps back to a normal operating point could still be taken.

During the global lockdown, what is at the heart of the project, on-site stays to set up the research station, was of course not possible. Nevertheless, this time was used to prepare project ideas through monthly video conferences between MMRI and IPA. This was supplemented by video conferences with other partners to expand the network, above all institutions and associations from Singapore, Taiwan and India.

Shortly before Christmas, the activities undertaken in 2019 were analyzed, taking into account what worked particularly well and where there is still room for improvement. The project plan for 2020 was also adopted, with special attention being paid to planning international workshops, rolling out service offers and planning further research projects and publications. At the time, nobody had a clue that the situation in 2020 was going to be so different due to external influences.

Supported by NXPO (formerly STI), two MMRI members came to IPA for training purposes. The focus of the training measure in this case was on further developing skills in chemical analysis and process control & stability. The development of such expertise promotes the long-term strategic focus of the research station.

Supported by NXPO (formerly STI), two MMRI members visited IPA for training purposes. The focus of the training measure in this case was on developing service skills to improve process stability from the aspect of metallography as well as on plant technology for experimental test setups. The development of such expertise promotes the long-term strategic focus of the research station.

To support the strategy measure “Research station for industry”, service offers for the electroplating industry in Southeast Asia were developed and tested on site as a demonstrator. These include consulting services to increase energy efficiency, simulation calculations for electroplating companies and services to increase process stability.

The progress made by ECOPLATE was presented to an audience of around 300 listeners. The focus was on the aspects of global warming through CO2 emissions and how measures in electroplating processes and plant engineering (i.e. exactly the core of ECOPLATE) can help to reduce emissions and thus contribute to protecting the climate.

The infrastructure for experimental work in the ECOPLATE research station was extended by another IPA-specific test facility. A test setup for conducting in-situ measurements of residual stresses in electroplated layers was sent to Bangkok and installed in the research station.

Kick-off meeting for the TRF-IRN funded project, which aims to increase energy and material efficiency in zinc electroplating by enhancing process reliability. An additional workshop was held concerning industrial needs for electroplating processes and human resources at STI to discuss the next steps in this part of the co-operation network of IPA, Chulalongkorn, TEPNET, STI

ECOPLATE was presented at the conference to an audience of around 300 people, while visitors to the TEPNET booth also had the chance to find out all about the project. The president of the Taiwanese Surface Finishing Association (TSFA) was also present, strengthening links to Taiwan. 

A delegation from Chulalongkorn University and TEPNET visited Germany. The trip was supported by ECOPLATE and STI and involved further workshops to analyze needs in specific R+D subjects, an extensive lab tour at IPA and visits to the Schwäbisch Gmünd vocational school for electroplating in addition to the companies Umicore and Fischer. TEPNET was also represented by the delegtaion at the Surface Technology GERMANY fair in Stuttgart, with Prof. Boonyonmaneerat additionally holding a speech at the forum. 

A series of workshops was held with the electroplating industry concerning analysis of needs for R+D, with additional support from the Thai STI. 

In the very first week after launching the project, the kick-off meeting was held on-site at MMRI.