THE SMART WEIGHING MAT
Discover the collaboration between EFI Automotive Service and the French start-up Altaroad.
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the project
The supported start-up
TopTrack is a dynamic weighing system that measures the weight of a vehicle and its load “on the fly”. A camera is also used to detect the associated number plate. A great tool for load optimisation, thus enabling savings on transport costs ranging between 5 and 10%. As the system is compact and mobile, it is quick and easy to deploy in any type of environment (meeting one of the fundamental constraints of construction sites).
More about AltaroadThe project and its context
Cécile Villette, Bérengère Lebental and Rihab Jerbi are the three co-founders of the start-up Altaroad, which was created to improve the sustainability and safety of road infrastructure. To this end, the company has formed a partnership with the École Polytechnique, the CNRS and the Gustave Eiffel University to develop a machine learning platform and a sensor network capable of collecting data in real time on the vehicles accounted by the system.
Their solution, based on the TopTrack weighing belt, enables better monitoring of waste on a construction site and was the winner of the European Innovation Council competition in July 2020. Concurrently, a digital solution – called DigiTrack and connected to the government’s TrackDéchets platform – has been developed to ensure the traceability of the data collected by TopTrack.
The project in video
Project milestones
September 2020
INITIAL CONTACT PHASE
The start-up contacted our teams through the Group’s industrial accelerator – Axandus.
October 2020
PRODUCTION OF PROTOTYPES ON A LINE DEDICATED TO THE PROJECT
Our teams assembled around ten systems to test the product in real conditions.
November 2020 – March 2021
MANUFACTURING PROCESS IMPROVEMENT PHASE
During this period, the manufacturing process was optimised to make the project more easily industrialisable.
September 2021
PRODUCTION OF NEW TOOLS AND PROTOTYPES
After tooling modifications following the previous stage, the teams once again produced prototypes.
December 2021 – January 2022
PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PHASE
The teams and the start-up worked to optimise the weighing system’s sensitivity.
February 2022
CUSTOMER TESTING PHASE
The teams went to the customer’s premises to carry out a series of tests.
September 2022
DISCUSSIONS WITH THE START-UP ABOUT THEIR SECOND GENERATION OF MATS
InTrack, the new weighing system integrated under the asphalt was in the final phase of development.
December 2022
AWARD OF A FINANCIAL GRANT
The Altaroad teams submitted an application to obtain subsidies to make further progress on their R&D. After several weeks of waiting, the teams received a favourable response.
January 2023 – Now
DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTRACK SOLUTION
For over a year now, the start-up's teams have been focusing on developing their solution, InTrack. It is supposed to be installed under roads, and it now includes an additional problem.
Our added value
Within the framework of this project, one of EFI Automotive Service’s first in the support of innovative companies, we were able to offer Altaroad our expertise in the following areas:
- Setting up a production line: 100 m² dedicated to the production of weighing systems.
- Implementation of a double industrial support, both on the product and on the manufacturing process.
- Management of the supply of raw materials for the prototypes and suggestions for the optimisation of certain components to improve the performance and assembly of the product.
This project illustrates that our teams can perfectly support an innovative start-up/company that has already designed its first prototypes. The support offered is therefore adapted to the degree of progress of each project.
Project key figures
10%
reduction of transport costs thanks to TopTrack
0
paper and contact to use the solution
-7%
impact on CO2 emissions
100%
of reliability for the capture of number plates
Project key figures
10%
reduction of transport costs thanks to TopTrack
paper and contact to use the solution
-7%
impact on CO2 emissions
100%
of reliability for the capture of number plates
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Safehear
THE HEARING PROTECTION OF THE FUTURE
Discover the collaboration between EFI Automotive Service and the French start-up Safehear.
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the project
THE SUPPORTED START-UP
Louis is an ergonomic and compact box connected to a hearing protector that allows people working in a noisy environment to communicate while protecting themselves from noise pollution. Louis was developed in collaboration with industrialists to better meet their needs. In the midst of the surrounding noise, it is able to recognize the users’ voices so that they can communicate in real time and in a “natural” way.
Learn more about SafehearThe project and its context
The Safehear adventure began with the response to a constraint: to enable employees working in noisy environments (industrial sites) to communicate without latency and without risk of hearing loss. Héléna Jérome and Antoine Kuhnast, co-founders of the French start-up, hired partners from the major players in the in-ear market and research institutes to develop their solution. The outcome was a Made in France product named Louis; it is now promoted by a dynamic technical and commercial team.
We are very happy to work with EFI Automotive Service for our first steps in the world of industrial/series production. In addition to benefiting from quality work, it is also a guarantee of strong credibility for our partners.
The project in video
Project milestones
October 2021
INITIAL CONTACT PHASE
The start-up contacted our teams through the Group’s industrial accelerator – Axandus.
May 2022 – November 2022
PROTOTYPING
The teams start the design phase of the prototypes for the start-up.
December 2022
PROPOSAL OF SUPPORT FOR THE CONTINUATION OF THE PROJECT
Our teams have already proposed to the start-up to go further, by suggesting improvements for the second version of Louis.
March 2023
END OF COLLABORATION WITH OUR COMPANY
With no further need for our services (prototyping), the Safehear teams decided to end their industrial collaboration with our company.
Our added value
Within the framework of this project, one of EFI Automotive Service’s first in the support of innovative companies, we were able to offer Safehear our expertise in the following areas:
- Design and production of prototypes (80 planned by 2023)
- Provision of a 30 m² pressurised room allowing the teams to work in a controlled environment
KEY FIGURES OF THE PROJECT
20
prototypes made to date
100 dB
maximum sound volume in which Louis can operate effectively
29 dB
of maximum noise level reduction
10 h
of autonomy
15 m
maximum range between two users
30 gr
Louis’ weight
2
years of research and development to create Louis
3 h
required for a complete recharge
KEY FIGURES OF THE PROJECT
20
prototypes made to date
100 dB
maximum sound volume in which Louis can operate effectively
29 dB
of maximum noise level reduction
10 h
of autonomy
15 m
maximum range between two users
30 gr
Louis’ weight
2
years of research and development to create Louis
3 h
required for a complete recharge
Are you interested in our support?
Do you have a project?
