The Minatec micro and nanotechnologies innovation center was founded by Grenoble IT and French Commission for Atomic Energy of Grenoble on January 18th, 2002, with support from the State and local government authorities. It works to bring together major organizations in the Grenoble area working in micro and nanotechnology development.
The Welsh Assembly Government are proud to sponsor the 2006 4M Network of Excellence on Multi-Material Micro Manufacture.
Our Technology and Innovation Team support businesses and academia and encourage and recognise innovation to embrace the technological change needed to meet the competitive challenges of manufacturing in the 21st Century. The assistance we provide includes:
- Professional and impartial advice from specialist advisers
- Networking opportunities and strategic sector support
- Support for new product and process development
- Access to specialist equipment, facilities and expertise
- Links to internationally respected academic resources
IBS Precision Engineering, specialised in precision engineering and high precision measurement in the field of micrometer and nanometre, offers a complete range of innovative products from sensor to complete measuring machine:
- Non-contact high resolution capacitive and eddy current sensors.
- Machine tool calibration and inspection systems. Real time dynamic measurement and analysis of linear and rotation axis. ISO norms.
- Porous media air bearings to get very high mechanical stability, stiffness and accuracy.
- ISARA. The most accurate 3D measuring machine of the market. Volumetric accuracy: 30 nm in the measuring range of 100 x 100 x 40 mm.
- Special turnkey machines for measurement of dimension, e.g. form, surface quality, roundness, diameter, circularity, thickness, positioning…with or without contact.
High precision 3D Micro EDM Milling Technology
SARIX always at leading edge of the highest Micro-machining performance offers now a new Micro EDM machining concept, the 3D Micro EDM Milling Machining. Complete 3D cavities can be achieved down to real micro scale of 10 micron with accurate tolerance down to 0.3 micron within high surface finishing of Ra 50 Nano. With its reliable machine concept using in once the Micro-Drilling, Micro-sinking and the 3D Micro EDM Milling, SARIX contribute on the development of new high-tech products and Micro-device. Micro EDM is now utilized for high-performance applications in electronics, automotive, medical, textiles, aerospace, and industrial equipment. Difficult-to-machine materials such as titanium, hardened steel, tungsten carbide, PCD and even some ceramics can be machined by micro EDM on SARIX machines.
Oxford Lasers specialise in the integration of Laser Micro Machining Systems for a variety of applications where parts or features require to be fabricated on a micron scale. The systems offered employ lasers which range in wavelength from the UV through to the Infrared, with pulse lengths in either the nano, pico or femtosecond range. Materials capable of being processed range from metals and ceramics through to polymers and glasses using a variety of techniques, including drilling, milling, scribing and cutting. These lasers are integrated with vision or measuring systems, manual or automatic part handling, software and all necessary safety features.
The City of Grenoble encourages and supports innovation, source of creation and preservation of jobs and wealth.
Grenoble benefits from a powerful environment favouring innovation:
•First research centre after Paris, More than 60 000 students of which 12% are foreigners, 10 engineering schools, renowned universities
2 business schools, More than 20 000 public and private researchers, Exceptional facilities (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Laüe Langevin Institute, …)
Examples of ambitious projects for innovation and job creation set up:
•Minalogic: worldwide cluster, gathering 52 actors of industry, research, education and local authorities
•Alliance: most important industrial investment of the last ten years, R&D common project involving Freescale, STMicroelectronics and Philips
•Minatec: first European pole in micro and nanotechnologies, led by the CEA and the National Polytechnics Institute of Grenoble
•Nanobio: European innovation pole dedicated to bio-nanotechnology, led by the CEA Grenoble and University of Sciences (UJF), in partnership with the Grenoble academic hospital.
CEA/LITEN is developing all aspects of nanomaterials from manufacture and handling techniques through to safety considerations and applications. CEA/LITEN is developing all integration aspect through different generation of processes (PECVD, µ-replication,...).CEA/LITEN is especially focused on the study of nano-objects (nanotubes, nanowires, and super nets), nanopowders (advanced ceramics, nanotracers) and nanostructured surfaces. CEA/LITEN is also heavily involved in portable applications of µ-power sources (fuel cells, batteries, solar cells,...) making full use of the potential advantages of nanotechnology.
The Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC) is an award-winning R&D Centre of Excellence for Advanced Manufacturing and Information Technology. The ISO 9001:2000 accredited Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC) offers specialist services in Time Compression Technologies to companies of all sizes. The Manufacturing Engineering Centre (MEC) has an international reputation for its leading-edge research in Advanced Manufacturing and Information Technology spanning a broad spectrum of subjects.
