Production Technologies for Micro Systems - Empowering Europe for the µ Century

Technical products of everyday life increasingly require functional integration of micro optics while at the same time becoming miniaturized. Mobile phones are evolving into digital cameras with high resolution and modern vehicles can support the driver by a variety of highly integrated micro sensors in order to progressively enhance both safety and comfort of driving.

The European Research project Production4μ developed high precision manufacturing process chains to respond to the need of micro system suppliers for the production of complex shaped and functional micro parts; with the focus on micro glass parts for the use in optical systems.
 
Production4µ followed an integrated approach, by considering all relevant disciplines of µ-production starting from µ-system design to the optimisation of the µ-production, leading to the following results:

• Reliable high-volume micro manufacturing technologies based on precision glass molding
• New high-precision systems for automated handling and alignment of micro components
• New standards for micro production planning, cost estimation and “design for manufacturing”.

 
The industry will benefit from shorter throughput times, a shorter time to market and an important reduction in product costs. This way, Production4μ provides the European industry with a competitive position for the manufacture and integration of advance components in consumer electronics, automotive and biomedical applications.