The Ampelmann A-type hexapod platform is a motion compensating gangway system designed to transfer offshore personnel between a crew transfer ship and an offshore bottom founded structure. During operation, the platform is moved to compensate wave induced ship motion and create a still standing platform from which crew can safely transfer to the fixed structure. The hexapod platform is actuated by six high power linear actuators each capable of delivering 150 kW of power. To reduce the platform mass and reduce the operational energy requirements of the A-type, new actuator technologies are considered to replace the current conventional hydraulic actuators. Especially electro-hydrostatic and electro-mechanical actuation are promising alternatives to reduce mass and increase efficiency. Currently, properties of these technologies are only described up to power levels of 45 kW. Relative advantages of one over the other technology are not readily available in literature for higher power requirements.
To be able to compare both actuator technologies for use in the Ampelmann A-type, a preliminary design tool is made using existing and newly developed actuator mass and power loss models. General mass and loss properties of both actuators are determined and compared to develop a better insight in the optimal high power linear actuator technology for a specific application. Insights are applied but not limited to the Ampelmann application.

Flex-on-substrate assembly is an increasingly popular electronics assembly type that is based on thermocompression bonding: a combination of high temperature and pressure. Currently, up to two-thirds of the cycle time is spent on heating and cooling. To meet the growing demand for flex-on-substrate production in the future, the heating and cooling steps must be more time-efficient. In this thesis, a bonding module is designed that is heated and cooled by using a 150W halogen lamp as a heating source and a staggered-tube heat exchanger with forced airflow as a cooling system. The design requires understanding of the bonding process and models containing the governing physics. Therefore, finite element models were made for both heating and cooling which were validated by manufacturing a demonstrator and applying a typical thermocompression bonding temperature profile to the heating element. From the experiment it follows that the concept shows potential for further product development but does not yet perform as required. The reflector surface reflectance,which has an important impact on the energy efficiency, was too low in this demonstrator. Furthermore heat leaks away from the heating element which inhibits a fast temperature rise and the complex cooling system geometry leads to manufacturing errors, which cause leaks in the cooling channel. By improving the design on these points, this concept can decrease the current cycle time by more than 50% and keep up with the growing demand for flex-on-substrate assemblies.