KARL HUGO, a Belgian leader in mechanical engineering, and IBA, a global leader in proton therapy, have combined their expertise to develop a revolutionary machine in nuclear medicine: the Cyclone®KIUBE, delivered worldwide. A look back at the success story of this Belgian partnership.

The Cyclone®KIUBE is a powerhouse of innovation. This high-performance cyclotron enables the production of radioisotopes used in diagnosing cancer and other serious cardiac and neurological diseases. In 2014, IBA sought a manufacturer who could optimize the cyclotron’s design. “They were looking for an integrated solution within Europe, not too far from home,” explains Bernd Hugo, CEO and CFO. Following a rigorous selection process, KARL HUGO, an efficient and competitive partner, brought its expertise to IBA to move from planning to the full construction of a prototype.

KARL HUGO, a high-value partner

The development of this cyclotron was based on a new design, integrating KARL HUGO’s know-how and IBA’s technological innovation. The company was immediately involved in the design process. “Together, we analyzed the design possibilities of this new machine and its components,” explains Alexander Weynand, Project Manager. Many technological decisions were made through true collaboration. “We contributed constructive ideas to improve the design and reduce costs,” adds Stephan Hugo, CEO and CTO. This prototype took on an octagonal shape. Testing was conclusive. “We were fortunate to genuinely pursue a win-win relationship between KARL HUGO and IBA,” shares Benoît Nactergal, R&D Director at IBA. Eighteen months later, the first Cyclone®KIUBE rolled out of KARL HUGO’s workshops. “We reduced the machine’s weight from 22 to 16 tons. Its performance was doubled, and costs were reduced by about 30%,” explains the CTO. “This co-engineering collaboration was a real success!”

European know-how and expertise retained

After manufacturing the first 9 KIUBEs - including the prototype and two pre-series of 4 machines each, which incorporated a series of optimizations - KARL HUGO entered the industrialization phase. “We are custom machine builders, not mass manufacturers!” notes the CFO. To meet this production ramp-up, the company reorganized its infrastructure. A sixth workshop was built, new machining equipment was acquired, and a dedicated assembly team was recruited and trained. All production stages are handled in-house, ensuring complete control of the process. Today, the 100th Cyclone®KIUBE rolls off the production line! “We’ve increased production capacity from 8 to 22 machines per year,” says the Project Manager. “A long-term, seamless collaboration with excellent relations between the two teams,” says Jean-Michel Geets, Business Developer at IBA, with satisfaction.

The success story continues

“The partnership with KARL HUGO is a fantastic success story,” says Charles Kumps, President of IBA - RPS. “Together, we were able to build a machine that truly made a difference on the market, for patients.” This success demonstrates the complementarity of these two Belgian companies. “Every day, we do a little better with KARL HUGO. It’s a true partnership,” emphasizes Sébastien De Neuter, Engineering Manager at IBA - RPS. A new chapter is being written to push the boundaries of innovation in nuclear medicine in Belgium with two new cyclotron models, the IKON and the KEY. “We are combining the best of both worlds,” concludes the President of IBA - RPS. “This allows us to create a production chain that works wonderfully well.”