After 4 years away, the Micronora 2022 delighted the exhibitors as much as it did the visitors.  In this difficult period of economic recovery, at a time when we are still facing shortages of raw materials, the 824 direct and indirect exhibitors were very much present, keen to show their latest products and re-assert their eagerness to do business. On the visitor side, the 11,000 (including 15.5% from abroad) who made the trip were of remarkably high quality, and many came with targeted projects.

Key figures

• Exhibitors

603 direct exhibitors plus representatives of 221 brands or firms. Some 824 companies showed their wares in a 25,000 sq. m exhibition space (including almost 9,000 sq. m of stands).

33% foreign, 38% national and 29% regional exhibitors.

• Visitors

Visitor numbers (11,000) were lower, but this is in line with the trend in the sector. However, the exhibitors appreciated the quality of the contacts made, proof that quality overrides quantity and that decision-makers with real needs were the ones who made the trip.

It is interesting to note that foreign visitors (from 38 different countries) accounted for 15.5% of visits (up slightly on 2018). Customers from Switzerland and European Union countries came to the fair in large numbers.

United in a shared passion

The one not-to-be-missed world’s leading trade fair for anyone with an interest in micro and nanotechnologies, the 2022 event once again rose to the challenge by bringing together in one place all the professions dedicated to submillimetric technologies. Visitors were thus able to discover a range of solutions offered by companies specialising in R&D, services, subcontracting, production technologies and industrial supplies, all with a common denominator: high precision.

As well as the continual progress in miniaturisation, the integration of ever more complex smart functions, the fair also showcased some real innovations in a number of areas:

• microtechnology components made from amorphous metal alloys, such as VULKAM’s Vulkalloys, which offer technical properties unmatched by other alloys,
• microtechnology equipment for production machinery such as SYMETRIE’s MAUKA hexapod, whose hexaglide technology allows ultra-precise positioning of compact payloads up to 5 kg,
• machines for producing and assembling microtechnology products such as the PRECIBOT mini 3-5 axis machining centre from PRECISE France, which meets the challenge of providing very high precision despite its light weight and very small size,
• demonstrators and micro/nano systems reserved for laboratories, such as the FEMTO-ST laboratory’s optical micro-tweezer fitted to the end of an optical fibre, which opens the way to a new generation of nanorobotic structures.

In fact each of these structures received a Micron d’Or award in recognition of its creativity.

Two special jury prizes were also awarded, one to AMADA MACHINERY EUROPE for its system for programming reproducible profile grinding operations with micron precision, and the other to DIXI POLYTOOL for its coolant system incorporated directly into cutting tools.

Micronora is also a revealer of avant-garde products. This year’s exhibitor’s featured more and more firms specialising in using AI or the IoT to manufacture and check ultra-precise parts. There will be a special Micron d’Or for them at the next Micronora fair.

 

 

Other highlights 

• The Zoom, whose theme this year was “New microtechnology materials and processes”, attracted large numbers of specialists, who were able to discover some outstanding innovations.

Grenoble-based startup Vulkam unveiled its know-how in the industrialisation of amorphous metal alloys. Its materials, named Vulkalloys, offer a unique combination of mechanical, electrical and magnetic properties.

Sintermat presented its original process, flash sintering (also known as SPS), with a number of significant examples of parts made in particular from cermets, zirconium or ceramics.

The same innovative approach was on display with IMI, Nanoe and Femto-ST, which were showing new solutions in ceramics and 3D printing.

Other hard materials were also presented, including diamond (Diamfab) or crystal (Cristal Innov).

Another field that attracted considerable attention was micromanufacturing processes, in particular the Femto-ST Institute’s expertise in micromachining.

For its part, the CETIM highlighted additive manufacturing, with the Metal Binder Jetting process. A world first, the ultrasonic machining centre built by Realméca in collaboration with Microcertec and the ONERA allows the machining of sharp angles and rectangular pockets without fillets.

The modular, connected autonomous microfactory presented by the ENSMM and the Haute Ecole Arc Ingénierie provides a glimpse into the future, a chance to imagine and experiment with new approaches to production processes.

Finally, the Precibot, made by Précise France (Pracartis group) pulls off several feats. Compact, lightweight and therefore easily transportable, this mini-machining centre consumes very little energy and no lubricants whilst guaranteeing very high precision.

• The 13th Micro Nano Event

Hybridising technologies, networking skills, mixing and matching participants from different backgrounds: together these form the winning ticket for this event whose aim is to spur new collaborations. It attracted 80 participants (from 10 countries), organised 240 meetings, a third of which were transnational, and offered an innovation pitch session with 5 companies (Diamfab, Clhynn, Vibiscus, Son, HMR Expert) and one laboratory organised by SATT Sayens.

• La Fabrique 4.0: a mobile training unit

Because industry, and more particularly the micro and nanotechnology industry, has to be a part of our future, Micronora worked with the UIMM to ensure this mobile training unit for integrated and innovative technologies would be present at the fair and accessible to visitors as well as to secondary school pupils and students.  The industry of today and tomorrow is a fine thing and bursting with fascinating technologies. Artificial intelligence, additive manufacturing, cobotics and so many other new technologies that are opening their arms to the younger generation.

• Cap vers l’Emploi

For the first time, the Micronora association has joined forces with Grand Besançon Métropole to support the organisation of a recruitment fair taking place alongside the trade fair. There was a special focus on the microtechnology sector to offer exhibitors CVs that correspond to their needs.

In the words of our exhibitors:  

André Reisser, Business Development France, HARTER GmbH: “For our first participation, it has been a resounding success. We will be back in 2024. Thank you to everyone.”

Ilhan Korbulak, managing director of OTMK GmbH: “OTMK would like to thank all the visitors to Besançon Micronora in France. Many thanks for all the constructive visitors. We had some very exciting and interesting conversations and enquiries.”

ZEHR: “We are delighted with how the Micronora 2022 fair went. Our engineers are already working on the new projects entrusted to us.” 

CRYLA Group: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome you to our stand! A huge thank you to the fair’s staff for the organisation and their support throughout the event.”

PRECIREX Technologies: “A trade fair full of meetings, projects and new technical challenges to take up. Thank you to everyone.”

 

In the words of our visitors:  

Cyrille Filhol, Schnyder: “The Micronora fair was a new discovery for me. Well, honestly, it’s a nugget that I discovered, as I met people with a passion for bar turning, micromachining and watchmaking! All the high technologies were represented in EDM machining, tools and toolmaking, coatings, control and metrology, materials! In short, a trade fair that has earned its special status in the heart of Franche-Comté. Well done!” 

Ali Oulmas, Head of MicroRobotics: “8 years ago I was in Besançon for an internship on wireless manipulation of an endoscopic capsule. Thanks to this, I discovered the fascinating world of microrobotics.
Last week I got the chance to go back there to visit the Salon Micronora. We were able to connect with several people and researchers who are passionate about high technologies in the microworld. From microprinting and functionalisation of simple structures to complex and incredible assemblies! Electrical discharge micromachining, micromoulding of metal, etching, high accuracy assembling systems, metrology, biomaterials… and the list goes on. What a blast! We can’t wait to rediscover the fair and the innovations that will be displayed in 2024.”

The next MICRONORA 2024 will take place from 24 to 27 September 2024