AI and Electrification: two successful seminars

Over the past weeks, we had the pleasure of welcoming our FMV-community to two seminars, with very relevant and current themes.

At PSI Process Industries and Metals’ headquarters in Anderlecht, we were treated to several presentations on the theme of Industrial AI. Both Luc Van Nerom (PSI) and Louis Deaulmerie (Primetals) demonstrated the evolutions and capabilities of the AI-models of their respective companies, specifically in the fields of quality enhancement and process optimization. Prof. Tias Guns (KU Leuven) gave us a very detailed insight in the current developments on combinatorial optimization.

After the presentations, we had demonstrations from PSI and Primetals, while enjoying networking over drinks.

Our seminar on Electrification was hosted by JEMA Power, in Ottignies/Louvain-la-Neuve. We were welcomed in a cosy setting, and were excited to have mr. Jan Voet from Elia, the grid managers in Belgium. He gave us an honest and realistic glimpse into the future, and gave us advice to do (very) long-term planning when it comes to our power needs. Prof. Mike Bonheure, from Ghent University, presented us his new, and more efficient, technology on high temperature heating: their patented Counter Rotating Turbo Heater. During the sessions, many questions came from the audience, which proves that the topic is still very much alive in our FMV-community.

Mr. Nicolas Bronchart then gave us a tour through the newly expanded production facilities of JEMA, showing us their assembly workshop, testing process and examples of custom-made transformers in all sizes.

We would like to thank both PSI Process Industries and Metals, and JEMA Power for their warm welcome and professional organisation. Both seminars were very successful in connecting our members with both academia and new technologies – and to each other.