Five new companies awarded 'Factory of the Future' title

Factories of the Future are companies that not only fully focus on digitalisation, talent development, smart processes but also on sustainable products. They handle energy and materials thoughtfully and encourage employee involvement, creativity and autonomy. Winners are awarded the title for a period of three years. After that, a new audit should therefore reveal whether the title can be renewed.

Five companies received the Factory of the Future award for the first time. They are VCST Industrial Products (SintTruiden), pharmaceutical company Sanofi (Geel), chocolate manufacturer Barry Callebaut (Wieze, Lebbeke), metal company Altachem (Harelbeke) and manufacturer of potato specialities Pomuni Frozen (Ranst). The winners received their awards from Jo Brouns, Flemish minister of Economy, Innovation, Work, Social Economy and Agriculture.

Four more manufacturing companies were able to extend their previously won title. They are Audi Brussels
(Forest), TotalEnergies (Ertvelde), Vandemoortele (Izegem) and Daikin (Ostend). The latter company
is already doing this for the third time. In nine years, the select leading group of most future-oriented
manufacturing companies in Belgium has thus grown to a club of 53 companies. "Today we would also like to explicitly congratulate the four manufacturing companies that renewed their title for their sustained efforts. After all, important for Factories of the Future is not only the destination, but also the journey." So says Jolyce Demely, general director of Agoria Flanders.

"Currently, this involves more than 600 companies working on the transformation axes that make them
stronger as manufacturing companies. So the ambition is to make the group of 53
Factories of the Future to become even larger while encouraging all other companies to step
grow in maturity step by step. The 7 transformation axes of our method are certainly not only
relevant for larger companies, any SME manufacturing company can also get started with it." So says Herman Derache, managing director of Sirris. Sirris is the collective centre of the technology industry in Belgium

One of the companies entitled to call itself Factory of the Future from this year is VCST Industrial Products. VCST recently moved to a brand new building. As a result, the company is developing rapidly. For instance, its production line has been fully automated. Their strong point is that this supplier to the automotive sector has its centre of research and development next to its production unit. Other strengths include the Digital Factory (cockpit with screen), advanced manufacturing (assembly with quality measurement), the measuring room with operators and the link with research and development.

Sanofi has also been a Factory of the Future since this year. Sanofi's Geel site employs more than 800 people. Worldwide, the company plays an important role for the production of complex biological medicines for immune system disorders. Over the past 20 years, the company has invested more than 1.1 billion in the state-of-the-art production site in Geel. For example, the company recently commissioned a new production line that is highly digitised. In-line measurements and sensors and intelligent software control the production process and maintenance operations. The complex production process includes growing live cells in large bioreactors. Besides modulation in test labs, simulation and analysis is done via a virtual model for process parameters fed by RAMAN spectroscopy, among others.

Barry Callebaut gets the recognition as Factory of the Future for its production site in Wieze, the largest chocolate factory in the world. This has evolved in recent years into a real "smart factory". During the production process, operators get a real-time view of the data from the machines they are working with. Barry Callebaut also developed a 'virtual assistance' system: a kind of co-pilot who also guides more recently started employees. This is to keep the quality of the chocolate constant, taking into account variations in the natural raw materials. Moreover, in recent years the team in Wieze also worked on the development of pioneering innovations, such as the "Ruby" chocolate and WholeFruit Chocolate.

One SME that has successfully transformed itself into a factory of the future is Altachem. At Altachem, they develop, manufacture and distribute PUR foam valves, PUR foam guns and silicone guns, as well as related accessories. Smart Manufacturing is one of their strengths, smart integration of assembly lines and logistics automation, together with digital control and communication ensure highly efficient flow throughout the factory. Altachem has an internal research and development department. In addition to in-house designs, the company develops new products and concepts in close consultation with customers.

Pomuni Frozen also wins "Factory of the Future" for the first time. At the factory in Ranst, they are working on the potato of the future with a production process that is fully automated. No employee touches the product anymore, from the supply of fresh potatoes to the
packaging and freezing the croquettes and pommes duchesses that roll off the conveyor belt towards retailers, wholesalers and food service. Instead, employees are given a more controlling role. For instance, using tablets, smartphones and digital kiosks, operators can monitor the process and make adjustments where necessary. Moreover, the factory is organised in such a way that the team can very quickly and flexibly convert lines to produce different types of potato products.

The Factories of the Future Awards have been an initiative of Belgian technology federation Agoria, Sirris and several industry federations since 2015. These include: Fevia Flanders (food), Fedustria (textiles, wood and furniture), essenscia (chemicals and life sciences). And this in collaboration with innovation clusters Centexbel (textile technology), Wood.be (wood and furniture) and the spearhead clusters Flanders' FOOD (agri-food) and Catilisti (chemicals and plastics).

Read here which companies became 'Factory of the Future' last year.