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Efficient manufacturing technology for complex architecture

Project description

A new era in mould creation for innovative architectural design

Industry relies on moulds to create all kinds of parts, and the construction industry is no exception, turning out beams, slabs and columns, to name a few. However, creating moulds to produce the innovative, complex and fluid shapes that are gaining hold as energy-efficient components for the building sector is difficult, costly and time-consuming with conventional milling machines and processes. The Romanian SME Sveltedca Partners has developed a unique machine system that can generate all types of curved surfaces in one step for significant savings in cost and time relative to conventional methods. EU funding of the Svelte project will help the team take their revolutionary technology for complex architectural components to market.

Objective

Finding a cost-efficient solution to create fluid, complex shapes has been the Holy Grail of architecture and engineering worldwide. Svelte uses a proprietary, unique, innovative machine system to generate all types of curved surfaces on an industrial scale, in one straightforward operation, at a fraction of the cost and time of current methods. Svelte works on a patented advanced cutting method using a heated SmartWire that changes its shape while moving through foam or wax-based materials to generate the desired surfaces.

Svelte disrupts the currently used CNC milling processes similarly to how 3D printers impacted the prototyping industry, pushing the boundaries of what is possible today to change architecture as we know it. A Svelte produced mould is at least 50% cheaper than a regular milled mould and has the ability to be mass produced in minutes, making the output of a single Svelte system equivalent to approximately 48 CNC machines.

Svelte will therefore enable for the first time growth in the emerging special buildings niche to achieve the spectacular, innovative, energy efficient fluid forms of the future; but also generate substantial savings in the traditional building sector. Integrating Svelte cut shapes in existing building projects preserves their structural integrity, but uses up to 30% less construction materials, adding up to significant savings in energy, water, sand, CO2, coal, methane, NOX, and PM10 particles in Europe’s most polluting industry.

Having confirmed Svelte’s market acceptance and potential during the SME Instrument Phase 1 project, the focus is now on bringing the technology to TRL 9 during the proposed EIC project. In this scope we envision the optimization of the machine’s cutting function and prepare it for scaling to commence commercialization under both a FIAB model, but also as a SaaS solution producing moulds and panels in our own production facility.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

SME-2 - SME instrument phase 2

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

SVELTEDCA PARTNERS SRL
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 669 648,75
Address
STR AVRAM IANCU 48A ROOM 1 SC A AP 49
500068 Brasov
Romania

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Macroregiunea Unu Centru Braşov
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 2 385 213,00
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