From the location in Son, near Eindhoven, more than sixty employees now carry out major projects for customers in various markets. Director Dennis Schipper foresees a similar development in Groningen. Last fall, the company opened a branch in Delft. By starting in Groningen, Demcon now covers all corners of our country and is close to the four universities that offer science & engineering.
University of Groningen
Demcon carries out major projects for international clients and markets its own products with subsidiaries. The company continues to grow steadily and is in constant need of new, highly educated employees from the technical universities in the Netherlands. Its headquarters in Enschede and branches in Son and Delft are well connected to the technical university in their immediate vicinity. Now the company is making the move to Groningen, where the broad-based University of Groningen (RUG) is increasingly profiling itself as a technical university.
Striking
Demcon is already running a high-profile project in Groningen with the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). There treats surgeon Koert de Jong liver cancer using a needle that ‘burns away’ the tumor. Demcon developed a robot for needle placement that is faster, more efficient and more patient-friendly than the procedure currently performed manually by the surgeon. The technical innovator also wants to bring in the RUG's knowledge to help industry in the North modernize their production processes.
Innovative
Professor of discrete technology and production automation at the University of Groningen, Jacquelien Scherpen, has worked with Demcon before. ”I know it as an innovative company that is close to my field of control engineering. In recent years, they have been involved in projects that I have carried out together with the University of Twente and other parties.” According to Scherpen, the company is of interest to science & engineering students. ,,Think of technical physics and industrial/mechanical engineering, but also biomedical engineering. Many developments in our research can be of interest to Demcon and conversely, they have high-quality knowledge that is of interest to us.” According to the professor, it is natural for the University of Groningen to put a lot of energy into welcoming the company. "It fits in with the university's policy of shaping relations with society and industry well."
Collaboration
In addition to the cooperation with the RUG, Demcon wants to manifest itself in Northern Netherlands networks for technology and innovation. A good example is Innovatiecluster Drachten, which brings together high-tech companies from across the region in innovation and labor market projects. Demcon has already knocked on Innovatiecluster Drachten's door to strengthen collaborative ties. According to Innovatiecluster Drachten program manager Joost Krebbekx, Demcon is well known. ,,Some of our high-tech partners already work closely with Demcon. Therefore, we are open to exploratory talks to see how we can shape a possible cooperation.”.
RoSF
Demcon already participates in the Smart Industry fieldlab Region of Smart Factories (ROSF). In this Northern fieldlab, forty companies and knowledge institutions are working on the development of the new generation of ‘smart’ factories. This fieldlab was created by a consortium led by the Noordelijke Ontwikkelingsmaatschappij (NOM). Researchers from the RUG have a solid contribution to the fieldlab and Demcon is already carrying out a project there together with Fokker from Hoogeveen.
More about Demcon
Demcon has more than 300 employees and is a high-end technology provider of mechatronic products and systems, focusing on high-tech systems, medical devices, industrial systems & vision, optomechatronic systems and embedded systems. The head office is located in Enschede. Branch offices are located in Eindhoven, Delft, Groningen, Oldenzaal and Münster (D).