Dutch scale-up and university spin-out offering wireless crack detection of steel bridges and cranes to extend lifetime is looking for engineering consultants and asset owners of steel infrastructures in road, rail, port and industry.

Summary

Profile Type

Technology offer

POD Reference

TONL20240516010

Term of Validity

21 May 2024 - 21 May 2026

Company's Country

Netherlands

Type of partnership

Commercial agreement with technical assistance

Targeted Countries

All countries

Contact the EEN partner nearest to you for more information.

Find my local partner

General information

Short Summary

The number of aging steel bridges and cranes is increasing rapidly urging costly inspections or even preventive asset replacement. The wireless crack detection and monitoring technology developed by this Dutch university spin-out offers the opportunity to save inspection cost and extend lifetime. The company is looking for asset owners and/or their engineering partners in road, rail, port and industry to establish a commercial agreement with technical assistance.

Full Description

The world is facing a growth of aging infrastructure. Steel has been used as one of the main construction material for critical infrastructure. However, after extensive usage, steel faces the risk of fatigue cracks. The risk for these cracks form the basis for asset owners to increase costly inspections or to preventively replace assets.
In Europe, the volume of infrastructure that should be replace in the coming years is growing to a level that is hard to deal with for countries and other asset owners.

Based on university research this scale-up has developed a wireless crack detection and monitoring technology providing data for data-driven maintenance and replacement decisions. In addition this also prevents costly life inspections.
The core technology they developed consists of permanently installed wireless sensors that monitor critical locations were cracks are foreseen or already present. The sensors utilize the villari-effect and measure crack growth due to slight changes in the magnetic field. The sensor data is wireless collected and presented to the client on their personal dashboard.
Compared to traditional methods the technology provides: 1. continuous & accurate inspection, 2. carefree installation, 3. competitive pricing and 4. a certified technology.

Currently the company is working closely with the Dutch Department of Waterways and Public Works and starting up contacts in 6 other countries. Their ambition is to strongly grow internationally. That is why they are looking for steel infrastructure asset owner and/or their supporting engineering partners. Although the way asset owners perceive and involve their engineering differs per country the companies main focus is on engineering firms that are active in maintenance and inspection of bridges (highway and rail), harbour cranes and industry cranes.

Advantages and Innovations

The permanently installed wireless sensors detect even the smallest fatigue cracks in critical locations with magnetic field variations. Existing technologies are most of the time based on one-time inspections (not continuous monitoring), are time consuming to install or expensive.

Stage of Development

Already on the market

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

IPR status

IPR applied but not yet granted

Partner Sought

Expected Role of a Partner

The company is looking for asset owners and/or their supporting engineering firms that are responsible for the maintenance of steel infrastructures in the field of:
1. Road: steel bridges
2. Rail: steel bridges
3. Ports: harbour cranes
4. Industry: industry cranes.

When starting a cooperation with an engineering firm the partner will be invited to get acquainted with the technology. In follow up a project can be defined with an existing relation/asset owner for monitoring. Subsequently more commercial opportunities can be scouted together to further expand the sensor base.

Regarding a cooperation with an asset owner, the company would be happy to explain more in depth the opportunities their technology offers. In a next step supporting engineering partners (if needed) can be involved for a pilot project.

Type and Size of Partner