TQC is a privately owned company based in Nottingham, which has provided innovative turnkey solutions to special engineering applications for over 25 years. These automated systems meet the design, manufacturing and testing requirements of many companies. TQC specialises in the areas of special purpose machines, leak testing machines, automated assembly and factory automation requirements. The company has successfully supplied factory automation and test machines to the automotive, medical, pharmaceutical and food industries.

Highly qualified and experienced TQC mechanical, electrical and software design engineers are supported by on-site manufacturing, fabrication and proving facilities. Computer based project management, modern control techniques and CAD facilities are all used to achieve successful bespoke solutions for our engineering projects.

As every aspect of electrical, mechanical and software design, together with project development and manufacture, is conducted on site, we are able to take full responsibility for our projects. Computer listings of parts, wiring diagrams and other maintenance information enable us to offer an efficient after sales support service.

TQC is well aware of the dynamic status of engineering, and specifically manufacturing, markets today. As such we believe that it is important to be at the forefront of research and development work. This requires us to have a substantial involvement in a variety of European research projects, chief amongst them being EUPASS at the present time.

EUPASS offers TQC new opportunities and experiences and the real possibility of being a major player in the future assembly systems market. In addition we believe that our strong expertise, both technical and managerial, will enable us to be highly involved in the progression of EUPASS.

TQC has two roles in the EUPASS project; technical and managerial.

Our technical role consists of heavy involvement in the specification, design, co-ordination, integration and testing of the first EUPASS Platform, built in Month 18 of the project. This required sustained effort and, though it does differ, the role is similar to our day-to-day business, therefore we were always confident of our ability to fulfil this role.

On a managerial level, TQC is responsible for Work Package 4: the physical realisation of the EUPASS concept. We are also members of the Project Management Group: responsible for the key decisions and guidance of the project.

TQC is an SME and as such our experience is generally within purely commercial applications. Research and development projects of this scale are a relatively new departure for the company, though TQC does have its roots in this field. However, we believe that our position enables us to bring fresh and different opinions, ideas and experiences to the project. We are also confident that our skills enable us to be a productive participant in the project.

TQC, like most SMEs, is on the frontline of many rapid developments in the assembly system world. We see that the current key issues of quality control, reliability, increased functionality and reduced cost will continue to have a major influence on all aspects of manufacturing. Automation is fast becoming essential to all businesses. We are keen to see and be involved in any developments, like the EUPASS project, that bring the enabling technologies for this level of assembly automation within the reach of other SMEs.

Electrolux is one of the main end users of the project. The main challenge is to work out an architectural system and concept that is really innovative, and evolvable, in this way allowing increased competitiveness from the European manufacturing industry.

AB Electrolux is a world-leading producer of appliances and equipment for kitchen, cleaning and outdoor use. Electrolux is also one of the largest producers in the world of similar equipment for professional users. AB Electrolux has two business areas, Indoor Products and Outdoor Products, both of which include products for consumers and professional users. Indoor Products comprises domestic appliances and floor care products for consumers, as well as professional food service equipment and commercial laundry systems for professional users. Outdoor Products covers garden care equipment for the consumer market; high-performance garden, turf-care and forestry equipment for professional users as well as equipment for cutting materials such as concrete and stone.

Electrolux is particularly interested in the implementation of the evolvability and emerging functionalities in the context of advanced assembly systems and cells. The manufacturer foresees a gradually increasing scope for the implementation of micro-systems into 'white' domestic appliances to enable performance increase and a decrease of the environmental impact.

With its participation in EUPASS, Bosch aims to optimise the engineering, maintenance and management of the production machines and plants.

The Bosch Group manufactures a wide variety of products for consumers, industry and automotive sector. Bosch is the world's largest automotive supplier. Throughout the world, more than 22,000 associates are involved in research and development for the Bosch Group to keep its high-margin products competitive and innovative. With over 250 production facilities throughout the world, Bosch builds its own production equipment.

To meet the high quality requirements in automotive, the production must be of high quality and able to manufacture large quantities at a high speed and against a low price. Working with modular production equipment would provide companies such as Bosch with a more general and reusable equipment. Production lines become also more adaptable on changing output numbers. This will give manufacturers the opportunity to remain competitive in terms of reduced development time, shorter time-to-market, lower investment costs, and higher quality. And this will give a new impulse to production technology, in particular in Europe with its high labour cost.