Thanks to €30,000 in European funding through the DREAM Eurocluster programme, B-Sens was able to demonstrate the power of its fibre optic sensors to global giant Saint-Gobain.
The MAIN project enabled the Montoise SME to install and prove the effectiveness of a comprehensive network of smart sensors in an industrial furnace in France, marking a major step forward in the digitalisation and sustainability of production processes.
- Ecosystems
-
- Renewable Energy
- Industry 5.0
- Autres
- Success criteria
-
- Long-term innovation
- International development
A strategic collaboration at the heart of European industry
Founded in Mons in 2016, B-Sens designs and manufactures measurement solutions based on fibre Bragg gratings (FBGs), capable of monitoring temperature, mechanical stress and hydrogen leaks in extreme environments.
With the support of the European DREAM Eurocluster programme, the SME was able to carry out an ambitious proof of concept (PoC) in partnership with Saint-Gobain Research Provence, the group's R&D centre specialising in ceramic and glass materials.
The MAIN (Mapping of Industrial Furnaces using Optical Fibre Temperature Sensors and Cloud Computing) project aimed to equip an industrial arch furnace with a complete fibre optic measurement solution connected to the group's cloud.
In concrete terms, more than 40 optical sensors can measure and record temperatures from 20°C to 600°C. The data collected is transmitted and visualised in real time via a cloud interface developed jointly by the partners.
B-Sens thus embodies the convergence between digital technologies and industrial transition: its fibre optic sensors enable continuous, energy-efficient monitoring of high-temperature processes, paving the way for more efficient and resilient factories.
A conclusive PoC: from prototype to industry standard
Thermal mapping of the furnace, reduction of energy losses and failure risks, improved efficiency and fewer unexpected incidents are now among the benefits of the solution for the customer, who has been convinced by this real-world test of the usefulness of extending the solution to other sites.
B-Sens now wishes to adapt its smart sensor solution to new markets and customers heavily impacted by extreme conditions (hydrogen and defence, for example).
An SME growing with Europe
DREAM has enabled B-Sens to reach a new milestone: its technology, now recognised and validated by a major international group, is a springboard to other markets and a guarantee of immense credibility.
