VDL Groep

SMART Photonics

SMART Photonics is a Dutch photonic integrated circuit pure-play foundry based in Eindhoven, NL. The company manufactures PICs on a 4 inch InP platform, providing MPW and full production runs. It expects to open a 6 inch InP fab in 2027. IDTechEx caught up with SMART Photonics at PIC International 2025.

Electric Buses Dodge Tariffs in the EU, IDTechEx Discusses What's Next

The executive summary of the European Commission's "Initiation of an anti-subsidy investigation concerning imports of new battery electric vehicles... originating in the People's Republic of China" contained an important definition. The statement sets out the Commission's aims regarding the anti-subsidy investigation and defines the product in question as a battery electric vehicle (BEV) designed for the transport of 9 or less passengers.

DAF: Electric Trucks

Dutch OEM DAF, subsidiary of American truck OEM PACCAR Group, currently offer two electric heavy-duty trucks: DAF CF Electric, which they began testing in 2018, and the 19-tonne DAF LF Electric, which went into production in May 2021.

DHL Express Piloting First Hydrogen Truck

The program's goal is to facilitate the development of low-carbon heavy-duty vehicles on hydrogen for logistic applications and gain practical experience.

Prime Vision and VDL Groep Bring Sorting Robots to the United States

Prime Vision has developed the Robotic Sorting concept, the sorting of shipments by so-called Autonomous Mobile Robots. VDL Industrial Modules from Helmond has taken responsibility for the production. More than 750 robots will be deployed at various locations in the United States to sort parcels faster and more efficiently. This order is worth several million euros

Transparent Electronics: $20 Billion Market Comes into Sight

The new IDTechEx report, "Transparent Electronics Materials, Applications, Markets 2021-2041" describes a market that will be well above $20 billion in 2041 with a substantial possible upside.

The German Bus Industry is Dying

Daimler was once number one in buses worldwide. Now it is the Chinese with Yutong number one worldwide almost entirely due to dominating in the huge Chinese market which did not exist in Daimler's glory days.

Gerben Hilboldt appointed as CTO of Koolen Industries

Electric vehicle specialist Gerben Hilboldt has been appointed as chief technology officer of the Dutch clean energy solutions conglomerate Koolen Industries.