The DILAPRO project directly supports Europe’s ambition to become the first digitally led circular, climate-neutral, and sustainable economy necessitates transformative changes across the manufacturing sector, advancing decarbonisation and the twin Green and Digital Transitions through two revolutionary software tools for laser-based production.
Project description
In the pursuit of a digitally led circular economy, Europe’s manufacturing sector faces significant challenges. Persistent inefficiencies in energy and material consumption hinder sustainability efforts, while obstacles related to certification and standardisation demand innovative solutions. The EU-funded DILAPRO project is addressing these challenges by developing cutting-edge software solutions to drive decarbonisation and facilitate the twin green and digital transitions.
Key among these innovations are DILAFACT (Digital Laser Factory) and DILACERT (Digital Laser Certification). DILAFACT transforms laser-based production planning through the application of digital twins, enabling enhanced efficiency and precision. Meanwhile, DILACERT digitalises the certification process, providing a streamlined solution to a major bottleneck in laser and additive manufacturing technologies. By leveraging advanced laser technologies, such as additive manufacturing, these tools are designed to propel European manufacturing towards greater competitiveness and long-term sustainability. DILAPRO’s collaborative framework also ensures scalability and resilience, fostering industry-wide benefits.
Objective
Europe’s ambition to become the first digitally led circular, climate-neutral, and sustainable economy necessitates transformative changes across the manufacturing sector. Key areas include improving energy and material efficiencies, addressing certification and standardisation challenges, and upskilling the workforce. The DILAPRO project directly supports these goals, advancing decarbonisation and the twin Green and Digital Transitions through two revolutionary software tools for laser-based production.
DILAFACT provides a sustainable, scalable platform for laser process planning by employing digital twins to simulate laser-material interactions across additive, subtractive, and thermal processes. DILACERT addresses the critical need for enhanced certification and standardisation in rapidly evolving laser and additive manufacturing sectors. In the short term, DILACERT simplifies the processing of production data for certification. Over time, it lays the groundwork for semi-automated, remote digital certification of manufactured parts, representing a paradigm shift in the production of complex components.
DILAPRO focuses on specific materials (316L, IN718, IN625) and laser technologies (PBF-LB, DED-LB, and Laser Texturing), applying them across six operational production lines managed by project partners. In the project’s first phase, distinct modules for these technologies are being developed. These will be integrated into the comprehensive DILAFACT and DILACERT platforms in the second phase. To promote long-term competitiveness and sustainability in European manufacturing, the project encourages contributions from other developers and end-users, supported by DILAPRO’s living communities and an innovative IP strategy that spans both commercial and open-access licenses.
By delivering two scalable, sustainability-oriented solutions, DILAPRO is creating more than individual software tools; it is establishing a robust, enduring force-multiplier for Europe’s laser-based high-precision manufacturing industry.