Codipro, Proximus NXT and Luxinnovation

A Luxembourg-based industrial company, CODIPRO manufactures lifting accessories that it distributes worldwide. The company enjoys an excellent reputation in its market, meeting the needs of numerous industries that handle heavy loads using mechanical equipment. In order to maintain its leadership position and respond more effectively to customer requirements, the company is constantly seeking to innovate. “This is reflected in particular in the implementation of digital solutions to support our business,” explains Christophe Losange, Managing Director of CODIPRO, a member of the ALIPA Group. “One of our latest projects, CODITRACER, was aimed at ensuring the authentication of our lifting rings and making the associated documentation more readily available, particularly in order to combat counterfeiting and ensure the safety associated with the use of our lifting rings.”

BLOCKCHAIN TO ENSURE PRODUCT COMPLIANCE AND PROVIDE A BETTER USER EXPERIENCE

To implement this project, the company chose Proximus NXT as its technology partner. “The aim was to leverage blockchain technology, in particular to digitize and make all the documentation accompanying our products available to our customers, namely a certificate of conformity and an instruction manual,” explains Christophe Losange. The use of lifting rings, which are safety equipment, is regulated in many cases. Users must be able to demonstrate the authenticity of the products.

Today, the information is recorded on the blockchain. As the technology cannot be tampered with, it guarantees the integrity and authenticity of the documents. “The technology solution we implemented addresses several challenges. It enables us to improve customer service, as customers can now access all the information they need without delay. The technology also allows us to improve product traceability, potentially identify users, and access information that we did not always have in the past,” adds Christophe Losange. “This enhanced authentication and traceability has enabled us to introduce a seven-year warranty on our products.” The initiative also forms part of an environmental approach, as it eliminates the need to use plastic packaging for the documents.

STAYING AT THE FOREFRONT

“For CODIPRO, as a global leader, it is important to remain at the forefront. Innovation enables us to stay one step ahead of our competitors and better serve our customers,” says Christophe Losange. However, implementing innovation projects is far from straightforward for an SME. “One of the challenges for a company of our size is finding a partner that is both reliable and accessible, capable of understanding our functional requirements and implementing a solution to meet them,” continues the Managing Director.

With its strong expertise in blockchain technology, Proximus NXT succeeded in translating CODIPRO’s needs into an effective solution. The project was developed within six months.

“We are delighted to have been able to support CODIPRO in this cutting-edge innovation project and, in doing so, to contribute in our own way to strengthening its position as a leader in its market,” explains Gérard Hoffmann, CEO of Proximus Luxembourg – Proximus NXT.

AN INNOVATION PROJECT SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC SECTOR

In addition, CODIPRO was able to benefit from government innovation support, which helped make the project possible. To this end, the company relied on the advice of Luxinnovation, which guided it through the process and helped it prepare a strong application, opening up funding opportunities.

“It is important to be able to rely on an agency that supports innovation, that can challenge our project and help us structure it so that we can make a stronger case to the Ministry of the Economy,” explains Christophe Losange. “Both at Luxinnovation and at the Ministry, we were impressed by the rigor and professionalism with which applications are handled. We received genuine support, with contacts who were highly available and open-minded. The process goes beyond simply checking compliance; there is a genuine desire to help businesses strengthen their position through innovation.”

Today, this digitalization and innovation initiative enables CODIPRO to pursue a positive growth trajectory. By remaining at the forefront, the company is able to maintain its market share in the face of low-cost competition.

“The data we can access through the technology solution also enables us to better understand our customers and our markets. We can therefore respond more effectively to their expectations,” concludes Christophe Losange.

The role of Luxinnovation is to support companies in their research, development and innovation efforts and help them evolve. To achieve this, the first step is to listen to companies and understand their objectives. Depending on their needs, we involve the most appropriate Luxinnovation services and guide them towards the best tools to help them innovate.

In the case of CODIPRO’s CODITRACER project, the Corporate RDI Support team took charge of the application, and I personally handled the support. I was all the more pleased to do so because I have known the company for a long time and have also supported several projects for other companies within the ALIPA Group in the past. We held several meetings together regarding the company’s due diligence and the development of the project, right through to the submission of the application to the Ministry of the Economy, which subsequently received a positive assessment.