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Belgium counts six new 'Factories of the Future'

Belgium counts six new 'Factories of the Future'

Stas, Terumo Europe, P&V Panels, ZF Wind Power, Vinventions and Takeda Belgium may now claim the title of "Factory of the Future. The six companies receive the award from Agoria, the Belgian technology federation, Sirris, the collective center of the technological industry and essenscia, the Belgian federation of the chemical industry and of life sciences. With the award, the initiators want to identify the most forward-looking manufacturing companies in Belgium. The total of 48 titleholders also recorded more growth in terms of productivity, turnover and jobs than the rest of the manufacturing industry between 2015 and 2020, according to a survey.

Since 2015, Agoria and Sirris in cooperation with the various sector and industry federations, the Factories of the Future Awards out. In eight years, the select leading group of Belgium's most forward-looking manufacturing companies has thus grown to a club of 48 companies, which together have invested more than 1.9 billion euros in our country over the past six years. The winners receive the title for a period of three years. After that period, a new audit must reveal whether the title can be renewed. 

48 Factories of the Future in 2022

Six companies received the award for the first time Thursday, Feb. 17. (Re)watch the video of the awards ceremony here. In Flanders, these are construction workhouses Stas in the West Flemish town of Waregem, the Flemish Brabant production site of medical products of Terumo Europe in Leuven, the Limburg sign maker P&V Panels in Heusden-Zolder and the manufacturer of gearboxes for wind turbines ZF Wind Power in Lommel, Limburg. Wine cork company Vinventions from the Liège town of Thimister-Clermont and pharmaceutical company Takeda Belgium from the Hainaut town of Lessen, near Geraardsbergen, are the Walloon companies. The winners received their awards from the hands of Flemish and Walloon vice-minister-presidents Hilde Crevits and Willy Borsus. 

Eight other manufacturing companies were able to renew their previously won titles. These are Lavetan and E.D.& A. in Turnhout, BMT Aerospace and TE Connectivity in Oostkamp, Duracell in Aarschot, Van Hoecke in Sint-Niklaas, Stas in Tournai and AISIN Europe (formerly AW Europe) in Saint-Ghislain. In total, the Factories of the Future group today consists of 48 companies.

These titleholders also posted more growth in productivity, sales and jobs between 2015 and 2020 than the rest of the manufacturing industry, according to a survey. "Sales growth was 14 percent, seven times more than the rest of the manufacturing industry. Productivity was up 9.7 percent at Factories of the Future, up 5.4 percent in the manufacturing industry. And is the personnel growth rate 1.5 percent in the manufacturing industry, then it is as much as 13 percent at Factories of the Future," says Geert Jacobs, project manager of Factories of the Future.The Factories of the Future Awards are an initiative of technology federation Agoria and Sirris, the collective center of the Belgian technology industry. This in collaboration with Fevia (food), Fedustria (textiles, wood and furniture), essenscia (chemistry and life sciences), Centexbel (textile technology), Catalisti (chemistry and plastics), Wood.be (wood and furniture), Flanders' FOOD (agri-food) and Digital Wallonia. 

Factories of the Future are companies that invest in digitalization, in their workforce, in smart processes and products, and in world-class production. They handle energy and materials thoughtfully and encourage employee engagement, creativity and autonomy. To earn the coveted title, companies must score at least four out of five on a maturity scale in each of the seven transformation domains during a critical audit by independent experts. 

The winners were chosen from about 20 candidate companies that were in the final evaluation, but according to director of Sirris, Herman Derache, many more companies in Belgium are taking steps toward higher maturity on 1 or more of the seven transformation axes, leading to better productivity and sustainable anchoring. "Currently, we are talking about more than 600 companies working on the transformation axes that make them stronger as manufacturing companies. The ambition, therefore, is to make the Factories of the Future group much larger in the coming years while encouraging all other companies to grow in maturity step by step. The Factories of the Future transformations are certainly not only relevant for large companies, every SME can get started with them. If you look at the record, you see that as many as 24 of the 48 current Factories of the Future are SMEs with less than 250 employees," says Herman Derache.

"Today we also want to expressly congratulate the eight manufacturing companies that are renewing their titles for their sustained efforts. After all, important for Factories of the Future is not only the destination, but also the journey," says Jolyce Demely, general director of Agoria Flanders. "Competing for an award helps companies to give concrete direction and timing to their transformations, but of course it is not an end goal. Each award in itself can be the starting point for yet another challenge. It is that mindset that keeps our toppers ahead in the Industry 4.0 race and that we need to anchor our manufacturing industry in Flanders while keeping it on the map internationally."

Digitization of the manufacturing industry

Flemish Minister of Economy Hilde Crevits: ""The manufacturing industry in Flanders and Belgium is very important. Not only for employment and thus prosperity, but they are also the ideal partner to make the step towards a more sustainable and circular industry. Therefore, as Minister for Economy and Work, I am delighted that Agoria and Sirris are honoring these six companies to draw attention to that sustainable or digital transformation. They are also working to train personnel so that they can keep up with those new industries. That aligns perfectly with our policy priorities so I am pleased and proud of these winners."

Clarisse Ramakers, general manager of Agoria Wallonie, adds: "The digitization of the manufacturing industry is crucial to improve its competitiveness. Becoming an FOF company is a great recognition for companies that apply the Made different methodology. They then play an inspiring role for all those who have not yet taken the step. That is the goal Agoria is pursuing with this: Persuade the entire industrial fabric to improve their digitization process every day."

For local branches of international companies, the award can help make a difference, states Ann Wurman, director of essenscia vlaanderen, the chemical and life sciences sector federation. "For a future-oriented industry in full transition, it is extremely important to continue to attract investments in innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Factories of the Future have with their award an extra asset that strengthens their competitive position, also within their own international group. Congratulations also to the employees of the awarded companies, because transforming, digitizing and making them sustainable is first and foremost people work."

Want to take a look inside a Factory of the Future yourself?

You can! Come to our Factory of the Future Roadshow 2022 with Terumo Europe (March 17), E.D.&A. (March 24), TE Connectivity (March 31), Stas (April 7), BMT Aerospace (April 14) and ZF Lommel (April 21). Register here.

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