In an open and cordial atmosphere, the delegation was warmly welcomed by senior management at the company, including the Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Nakajima Hironobu, and the Factory Director, Mr. Uong The Vinh, together with the company’s technical engineers. The hosts shared insights on production operations, management practices, and development directions for the coming years.

Figure 1: Meetings are not only for exchange but to initiate sustainable cooperation.

From the moment the delegation entered the expansive workshop area, they could immediately feel the distinctive elements of Japanese industrial culture: orderliness, rigorous standards, and meticulous attention to detail. Ebara Vietnam is one of the region’s leading facilities for manufacturing industrial water pumps, covering the full production chain – from cast iron casting and part machining to assembly and testing of large-scale pumps with capacities reaching up to 54,000 m³/h.

The foundry, painting, testing lines and quality-control areas all operate in closed-loop processes, meeting the stringent standards that Ebara Corporation (Japan) has upheld throughout its more-than-100-year history.

The Story of Flow – From Laboratory to Factory

During the working session, Ebara’s technical staff shared that although the factory has mastered production technologies, they still face significant challenges in flow simulation and hydrodynamic optimization within pumping devices – particularly when designing large pumps or pump-station systems for water supply, drainage, irrigation, and heavy industries.

Figure 2: Stepping from the lecture hall into the heart of the factory – where knowledge meets practice and technology comes alive.

“We can manufacture everything, but when it comes to simulating flow inside the volute or around the pump impeller, we lack specialists who truly understand CFD,” – one Ebara engineer candidly remarked.

At that moment, a clear thread of partnership began to form between the company and the university.

Members of the Thuyloi University delegation – many of whom have been doctoral researchers, lecturers, or collaborators on international CFD projects at leading universities in Japan, the United States, France, and Germany – immediately recognized this as an area where they could offer partnership and support to the company.

Beyond classroom teaching, these faculty have been carrying out numerous research projects on complex flow simulation: from turbulent flows in open channels and flows through hydro-turbine blades to flows inside pump volutes and other hydraulic machinery.

Thanks to these strengths, cooperation between Thuyloi University and Ebara Vietnam opens a promising pathway where Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be applied directly to support research, design optimization, and performance enhancement of industrial pumps.

CFD – A Key Tool Enabling Smart Manufacturing

CFD is no longer unfamiliar to modern mechanical engineers. However, to apply CFD successfully in an industrial setting requires not only software proficiency but also deep knowledge of fluid mechanics, heat transfer, materials science, and manufacturing processes.

This is precisely where Thuyloi University can contribute: the institution’s educational foundation spans mechanical engineering, fluid mechanical, and automation – a combination well suited to address multidisciplinary challenges in pump design and optimization.

During the meeting, representatives from both sides discussed possibilities in depth:

• Developing CFD models for flow within large pumps, pump stations, and hydraulic conduits.
• Analyzing hydraulic performance, predicting energy losses, and assessing cavitation risk under realistic operating conditions.
• Training specialized simulation engineers, blending university theoretical foundations with industry-driven practical requirements.

If implemented, such cooperation would extend beyond academic research – it would create unique opportunities for students and faculty to participate in the R&D (Research and Development) activities of a Japanese multinational right here in Vietnam – a rare and invaluable prospect.

When the Lecture Hall Connects to the Factory Floor

Throughout the plant visit, the faculty not only observed technologies but also listened closely to the sharing of Vietnamese engineers working at Ebara. Many of them graduated from Vietnamese technical universities, including alumni of Thuyloi University. They expressed a strong desire for deeper hands-on experience with simulation tools, design methodologies, and device optimization so they could advance into higher technical roles within the company.

Amid that friendly exchange, an idea emerged: why not turn such visits into regular bridges between the university and industry? Thuy Loi University could place students on internships; companies could sponsor thesis projects; both parties could co-develop products or host focused workshops on topics such as CFD for pumps and hydraulic transmission systems.

“We don’t just teach students how to draw or calculate; more importantly, we teach them how to solve real-world problems using modern engineering thinking. When students see Ebara’s technology, they will understand that CFD is not merely an academic exercise – it is a tool to create high-efficiency, energy-saving, and environmentally friendly pumps.” – a lecturer from the Department of Industrial Systems Engineering shared.

The Role of Mechanical Engineering in the New Industrial Era

The visit to Ebara Vietnam was more than an extracurricular activity or a field trip; it was a vivid snapshot of the mission of Mechanical Engineering in the Industry 4.0 era. From automated production lines and paint robots to pump testing systems controlled by sensors and digital data, all require mechanical engineers who are both technically competent and proficient in intelligent technologies.

At Thuyloi University, the Mechanical Engineering curriculum is structured with an orientation toward application, practice, and international integration. Students learn not only mechanics, design, and materials, but also access contemporary technologies such as CFD, CAD/CAE, 3D printing, robotics, and production automation.

The cooperation initiative with Ebara stands as proof of the university’s commitment to the principle of “learning by doing” – preparing engineers ready to work in modern industrial environments and to quickly integrate into major domestic and international corporations.

Connecting for Mutual Development

The working session concluded in a warm and hopeful atmosphere. Both parties agreed to follow up with more concrete exchanges on potential collaboration, especially in the areas of CFD application and training of high-quality mechanical engineering personnel.

Figure 3: When knowledge and technology connect, all doors to the future open.

The handshakes and group photos taken between Thuyloi University faculty and Ebara engineers are more than mementos; they mark the beginning of a new journey – one where academic knowledge goes hand in hand with industrial production.

 “Between the roar of machinery on the shop floor and the streams of CFD simulations on the screen, there is a common thread – a passion for mastering flows. And it is this passion that is linking Ebara and Thuyloi University.”

Dr. Van Tue NGUYEN