Hello, I'm

Antonin Sanitas

PhD · Process Engineer · Digital Twins for Industry

I hold a PhD and am an engineer in mechanics and industrial processes, driven above all by curiosity and a love of learning. French-Spanish, my path has taken me from flight simulators to drones, electric aircraft, 3D printing, foundry work, and then multiphysics simulation. Across these experiences, I've always sought the link between theoretical understanding and its concrete implementation: simulators embody exactly that convergence. Today, at ITURCEMI GRUPO, I design digital twins that combine industrial expertise, process modeling and data analysis. Convinced that artificial intelligence is already transforming design and production methods at their core, I work to integrate it into these solutions in order to make industry more efficient, more reliable and more sustainable.

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Where I've worked

Professional Experience

2018 – Present

Process, Digitalization & Simulation Engineer

ITURCEMI GRUPO · Gijón & Avilés, Spain

Since 2018, I've been designing digital twins, process simulators and data analysis tools at ITURCEMI GRUPO to help industrial clients commission, operate and optimize their facilities. I started on the commissioning project for ArcelorMittal's Gijón coke batteries, where I developed a Siemens SIMIT digital twin integrating more than 1,000 sensors and actuators, used for factory acceptance testing (FAT) of the PCS7/WinCC systems and for operator training. From there, I took part in automation migration projects with TIA Portal and WinCC, developed training simulators for biogas and sugar-refinery processes, and built process models for blast-furnace start-ups. I've also contributed to several R&D projects, including the pre-design of a graphene plant using a techno-economic digital twin, the development of real-time performance monitoring tools (Python, InfluxDB, Grafana), the integration of traceability solutions with PI System, and, more recently, the design of an advanced control system for an industrial gas furnace. I'm now increasingly bringing artificial intelligence into these solutions, to improve decision support, process optimization and industrial system performance. These experiences have built expertise spanning dynamic simulation, automation, process modeling, data analysis and applied AI for industry.
2015 – 2018

Research Engineer

Arts et Métiers ParisTech – ENSAM · Aix-en-Provence, France

Spent three years researching the low-pressure sand casting of magnesium alloys, combining 3D-printed sand molds with fluid-flow simulation and instrumented casting trials to understand how geometry and process parameters drive filling defects. The work identified the conditions that cause inclusions, misruns and shrinkage, and translated them into practical casting design rules still used to specify safer mold geometries. This research became the core of my PhD and led to multiple peer-reviewed publications and international conference presentations (see Publications below).
2014

Intern Engineer – E-Fan Electric Aircraft

Airbus Group Innovations · Suresnes, France

Joined Airbus Group Innovations' E-Fan electric aircraft program to work on the preliminary design of the aircraft's electric propulsion system: defining the cockpit human-machine interface, laying out the onboard systems architecture, specifying maintenance procedures, and sizing the battery charging and cooling systems. The internship produced two patents filed with Airbus Group on aircraft electric propulsion and set the direction for my subsequent PhD research.
2013

Intern Engineer – Drone Prototyping

Groupe Studia · Aix-en-Provence, France

Managed a carbon-fiber drone prototyping project end-to-end for Groupe Studia, from preliminary and detailed design through procurement, regulatory compliance and competitor benchmarking, to manufacturing and flight testing. The resulting 2 kg airframe was designed and built in under three months to validate a lightweight, high-strength fairing concept for one of the company's commercial programs.
2011

Intern Maintenance Technician

Twinjet · Aix-les-Milles, France

Worked hands-on within Twinjet's maintenance crew on Beechcraft 1900D twin-engine commuter aircraft, supporting scheduled inspections and troubleshooting under the supervision of certified technicians. It was a first, ground-level introduction to airworthiness standards and maintenance discipline that has shaped my systems-engineering approach ever since.

How I got here

Education

2014 – 2017

PhD, Mechanical Engineering and Processes

Arts et Métiers ParisTech – ENSAM

Doctoral research on the low-pressure sand casting of magnesium alloys, combining 3D-printed sand molds with fluid-flow simulation to understand and reduce filling defects. The work led to several peer-reviewed publications in the Journal of Materials Processing Technology and The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, plus 2 patents filed with Airbus Group on aircraft electric propulsion from the E-Fan internship.
2013 – 2014

Research Master, Science and Technology

Université de Bordeaux I

Strengthened my foundations in mechanics and thermal engineering through advanced coursework, alongside a research project on integrating life-cycle analysis into CAD tools, an early introduction to combining engineering design with sustainability considerations.
2013 – 2014

Aerospace Engineer

Arts et Métiers, Bordeaux

Specialized in aeronautics and space systems, covering aerodynamics, propulsion and structures. Final-year report: a buckling study of a rocket engine nozzle divergent under combined thermal and mechanical loading.
2011 – 2013

General Engineer, Mechanics, Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering

Arts et Métiers, Aix-en-Provence

Common core curriculum in mechanics, manufacturing and industrial engineering, covering materials science, mechanical design, production systems and project management: the broad engineering foundation for the specializations that followed.
2009 – 2011

Preparatory classes, Physics and Technology track

Lycée Rouvière, Toulon

Two years of intensive preparatory coursework in mathematics, mechanics, thermal engineering and electromagnetism, building the fundamentals required for competitive entry into French engineering schools.
Until 2009

Scientific Baccalauréat – High Honours

Lycée du Coudon, La Garde

Scientific baccalauréat with an Engineering Sciences track, focused on mechanics, electronics and industrial systems, the first formal step toward an engineering career.

Giving back

Volunteering

Current

Member

OMEGA Astronomical Society · Gijón, Spain

Active member of a local astronomy society, taking part in public observation sessions, sky-watching events and outreach activities aimed at making astronomy accessible to newcomers.
2011 – 2014

Secretary, Treasurer & Board Member

Aéroclub du Soleil · Var, France

Association life management, general meetings, member relations and minutes writing; accounting (annual turnover €120,000); IT system installation and maintenance; set up the club's website and wrote the certification manuals (ATO).
2010 – 2018

Youth Group Leader

Éclaireuses Éclaireurs de France · Hyères, France

Volunteer youth group leader organizing weekend activities and summer camps for teenagers, with a focus on solidarity, teamwork and environmental respect. Member of the association since 2001, and a group leader from 2010 to 2018.

Working with

Tools

Industrial Simulation & Automation

Siemens SIMIT
PCS7
TIA Portal / WinCC
PI System
Procast

Digitalization & Data

Python
Unity
Grafana / InfluxDB

Engineering & Design

Solidworks
ANSYS
Catia V5/V6

Peer-reviewed · Google Scholar profile

Publications

Experimental and numerical study of section restriction effects on filling behavior in low-pressure aluminum casting

Journal of Materials Processing Technology, Vol. 254 · 2018
Geometrical effects on filling dynamics in low pressure casting of light alloys

Journal of Manufacturing Processes, Vol. 45 · 2019
Investigating surface roughness of ZE41 magnesium alloy cast by low-pressure sand casting process

The International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology · 2017
Mastering of the Filling Stage in Low Pressure Sand Casting Process

Materials Science Forum, Vol. 941 · 2019
Melt Composition Characterization and Fluid Flow Simulation of ZE41 Low Pressure Casting

6th Decennial Conference on Solidification Processing · 2017
Filling Characterization into a Section Restriction in Low-Pressure Casting

Conference paper · 2017
Caractérisation expérimentale et numérique du prélèvement de l'alliage RZ5 en coulée basse pression

TechNews Fonderie · 2018

Filed with Airbus Group

Patents

Cooling device and method for at least one autonomous electric power source of an aircraft

EU EP3031732 · issued 2016
Aircraft and method for fitting out such an aircraft

FR EP3031730 · issued 2016

A few highlights