FLASH-COMP: From research to the factory floor at Azimut

FLASH-COMP brings industry, policy and academia together at the Azimut shipyard to examine the project’s journey from research to industrial implementation. The event also confronted a critical question: how can promising research be turned into technology that manufacturers can adopt confidently and at scale? 

The FLASH-COMP consortium welcomed delegates from industry, policy and academia to the Azimut shipyard in Italy on 24th September. People joined both in person and online for a day examining the project’s development, successful industrial testing and potential for wider adoption. 

The opening presentations set FLASH-COMP within the broader challenge of strengthening European manufacturing through innovation. Speakers then traced the technology’s journey from research to implementation, with examples from naval, aviation and yacht manufacturing. They explained how FLASH-COMP supports Zero Defect Manufacturing in liquid resin infusion, where early detection and better process control can reduce waste, avoid costly defects and improve production efficiency. 

A film of the industrial validation work gave delegates a detailed view of the complete FLASH-COMP and Azimut workflow. Further presentations explored what happens before, during and after infusion: from production planning and readiness to real-time monitoring, operator decision support, quality assessment and continuous improvement. Delegates also heard about the related TURBO project, which is developing complementary approaches to process monitoring and control in composite manufacturing. 

One of the strongest parts of the day was a frank and stimulating industry roundtable on the relationship between Zero Defect Manufacturing and European competitiveness. The discussion addressed the practical barriers that prevent promising research outcomes from becoming repeatable, factory-scale solutions. 

Participants questioned whether research projects are structured, resourced and timed to carry successful results through to commercial implementation. Technical performance alone is rarely enough. Manufacturers must also establish a credible business case, integrate new technology without disrupting production, develop the necessary skills and create a practical route from feasibility testing to routine use. 

These are difficult questions, but they need to be addressed if publicly funded research is to deliver lasting industrial value. The roundtable brought together perspectives from manufacturers, technology providers and the wider European research and innovation community, producing an honest discussion about what works, what still gets in the way and what needs to change. 

The day concluded with a fascinating tour of the Azimut facilities. Delegates followed the production process from pre-infusion preparation and infusion through to yacht construction. They were also able to see the FLASH-COMP rig at close quarters and understand how it operates within a real production environment. Together with the validation film, the tour made the project’s work tangible and showed how its different technologies come together on the factory floor. 

The event demonstrated how far FLASH-COMP has progressed, while keeping attention firmly on the next challenge: turning validated research into technology that manufacturers can adopt confidently and use at scale. 

Insight Media will now prepare a full executive summary of the event for publication in Projects Magazine. The report will capture the presentations, industrial evidence and key points raised during the roundtable. Copies will also be distributed at EFFRA’s Manufacturing Partnership Days in Brussels on 17–18 November 2026, taking these important questions to the wider European manufacturing research and innovation community. 

Our thanks go to Azimut for hosting the event, to all the speakers and panellists, and to everyone who joined us in Italy and online.