SPERU – Surface, Coatings & Particles Engineering
Our research activities focus on the modification of surfaces by deposition, by coating and/or structuring. Also of interest is the preparation of functional three-dimensional bodies made-up from particles. The ERU brings together researchers of the 5 CCMX member institutions with their individual competencies and broadens their fields of action by creating synergies.
Our goals are to develop novel enabling technologies and tools for the functionalisation of raw materials and surfaces, to create innovative solutions for manufacturing coatings and modifying surfaces, and to characterise final materials in detail such that manufacturing process parameters are effectively connected to the achieved characteristics and properties.
SPERU clearly aims to align its activities with mid- to long term industrial needs. Those needs should be translated into new materials and technologies that will lead in a next stage to industrial exploitation. To do so, SPERU initiated in 2008 a dialogue with a series of companies involved in the packaging value chain: functional materials producers, machine producers, packaging technologists, brand owners and the retail industry. The individual needs of each actor in this value chain have been identified and the recurrent needs of several companies have been merged. Academic researchers from the relevant research fields then come up with a global research proposition answering to those recurrent needs, before research activities in a direct private-public partnership may be initiated. Other dialogues will be started by SPERU in other industry fields.
SPERU is also very active in setting-up a continuing education offer (annual course, doctoral school, workshop) suiting the needs of industry and of academia. Suggestions to broaden the offer are warmly welcome. SPERU regularly organises technology aperitifs in its fields of expertise.