Research expertise strengthens Digiclean's ongoing AI development

Making products more sustainable does not always require major research investments. Sometimes all it takes is the right expertise, new knowledge, and a clear need for development. Through a case study within the Smart Transition initiative, Digiclean is receiving support from University West to explore how data analysis and AI can contribute to the next step in the company’s product development.

Digiclean monitors industrial process fluids, such as cutting fluids and cleaning fluids, in real time using sensors and AI-based models. The company helps its customers use process fluids for longer and more efficiently, which can reduce both chemical consumption and costs. In collaboration with University West, the company is investigating how existing measurement data can be used to provide customers with even better information for decision-making and optimization.

As part of the case study, Mattias Ottosson and Xiaoxiao Zhang at the Production Technology Center (PTC) at University West are contributing their research expertise in data analysis and AI. Together with Digiclean’s development team, they are exploring new methods for leveraging the large amount of data that is already being collected.

“We’re looking at what already exists and trying to find ways to further develop it so that the products have an even smaller environmental impact,” says Mattias Ottosson, a development engineer at the Production Technology Center (PTC) at University West.

From Data to Insights

An important part of the work involves collecting and analyzing measurement data. By measuring how a product or process performs, it is possible to gain a clearer picture of why certain things happen and which factors influence the outcome. When the information is visualized, it becomes easier to identify patterns, correlations, and areas for improvement.

In this case study, research findings are translated into concrete development work. Together, Mattias Ottosson and Xiaoxiao Zhang are developing methods that can provide Digiclean with deeper insights from the company’s measurement data and contribute to the next generation of the company’s AI-based models. The work builds on the company’s existing solutions and is carried out in close collaboration with Digiclean’s development engineers.

“We started by familiarizing ourselves with Digiclean’s operations and understanding their needs. We then reviewed relevant research and looked at what might be useful in their specific situation. This has now led us to develop a concrete AI solution,” says Mattias Ottosson.

For Digiclean, the opportunity to test new ideas together with researchers is an important part of the collaboration.

“In a small company, there are always more ideas than there are hours in the day. Thanks to Högskolan Väst, we’ve been able to try out new ways of analyzing our measurement data without taking our focus off our customers, and that’s bringing us closer to the next generation of our models,” says Charlotte Stigen Låstberg, CEO and founder of Digiclean.

Access to specialist expertise

For many small and medium-sized businesses, it can be difficult to set aside the time and resources needed to keep up with technological developments or explore new research on their own. At the same time, that knowledge is often essential for further developing products and processes.

Through the collaboration with PTC, Digiclean’s own expertise is complemented by research insights and experience from previous development projects.

“One of our strengths is that we’ve done similar things before. That means we can get up to speed quickly and assess fairly quickly what’s relevant to focus on,” says Mattias Ottosson.

The case study involves approximately 150 hours and combines technical development work with analysis and documentation. To achieve results within a relatively short timeframe, a clear focus on the right questions and solutions that work in the company’s day-to-day operations is required.

A concrete initiative within Smart Transition

This collaboration is one of the case studies in the “Smart Transition” initiative, which gives companies the opportunity to draw on academic and technical expertise to develop products, services, and processes. The goal is to make research-based knowledge accessible in a way that leads to tangible benefits for the companies.

For Digiclean, this means that the company’s development efforts will be strengthened by additional research perspectives, while at the same time being grounded in the real needs and challenges of the business.

Regular check-ins between the company and the team at Högskolan Väst help keep the work on track and ensure that development proceeds in line with Digiclean’s priorities.

By the end of the case study, the goal is for Digiclean to have gained not only new insights but also a concrete tool that can contribute to continued product development and a reduced environmental impact. This is also the essence of Smart Transition: translating research and specialized knowledge into practical development that strengthens companies’ competitiveness and sustainability efforts.