VIVA – Vision Inspection for Volume Assembly

Developing a new high volume assembly and inspection process for the assembly of nozzle chips into Spray Nozzle Units, in which innovative AI-controlled Vision Modules automate the inspection process.

Funding: EFRO Oost Innovatieproject 2024
Project duration: 2025-2028

This project, titled “Vision Inspection for Volume Assembly,” focuses on the rapid scaling of microchip production to meet the growing demand in sectors like medical devices and critical infrastructure. The increasing need for these systems necessitates the development of effective and efficient inspection processes that ensure high-quality products without excessive cost.

Microchips are indispensable in various industries today, including medical, automotive, and consumer electronics. As the demand for these chips grows, scaling production is vital. However, the inspection process for quality control can be expensive, especially when deployed on a large scale. It is essential to detect faulty batches of chips early to avoid costly errors later in production. Traditional quality control processes often rely on costly and limited manual inspection, which is inefficient for large-scale production.

The project brings together a consortium of partners, including Medspray Technology & Manufacturing BV, ProfTech BV, and a research group of Applied Nanotechnology from Saxion University of Applied Sciences, to address these challenges. These organizations specialize in various fields such as chip and nozzle technology, automation and vision technology, and applied AI research. The consortium is working together to develop an innovative process for the assembly and quality control of nozzle chips used in Spray Nozzle Units (SNUs). This process will be enhanced by a vision control system with artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, making it possible to inspect chips with high precision at the micrometer level.

The system developed through this collaboration combines AI-based defect and error detection with vision inspection to identify micro-level features in nozzle chips. This highly accurate and automated system will allow for faster, more reliable inspections, reducing errors and enhancing throughput. The incorporation of AI ensures that the inspection process is not only precise but also adaptable to different chip designs and production requirements.

One of the key advantages of this project is that it addresses the scalability limitations of current inspection systems. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will particularly benefit from this technology, as it will enable them to deploy large-scale, cost-effective quality control systems. By reducing the need for expensive manual inspection and ensuring more accurate testing, the technology will improve production efficiency. Additionally, the project has significant social and economic impacts. The improved inspection process contributes to a sustainable production model and helps ensure the availability of high-quality medical products. It also aligns with the Dutch government’s objectives for sustainable growth, creating high-quality jobs that require a combination of skill, creativity, and human interaction. The project promises to enhance not only the local economy but also the MedTech sector as a whole, addressing growing challenges in precision manufacturing and inspection.

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