Activities performed during the validation study were: Market analysis, Technical validation study, Set up of industrial plan.
Market analysis. The aim Market Analysis was to define main ceramic tiles market segments to be addressed by BIOCERAMINK solution. The dimension and characteristics of ceramic tile producers in Europe were analysed, to define the target market for BIOCERMINK solution and to define users requirements as. Market analysis was then carried out in two steps:
1.Step 1: analysis of dimension and characteristics of ceramic tiles producers in Europe, basing on desktop analysis on data collected from datasets to define the target market for BIOCERMINK solution
2.Step 2: collection of users requirements carried out through on-line questionnaire and remote/face to face interviews. The interviews were both quantitative (aiming at retrieving information on type of production, markets, turnovers, share of digital printed products) and qualitative/open (aimed at retrieving information on needs and pains of customers).
Results achieved:
•The target market identified is made up of about 300 potential producers, of all sizes, with a particular prevalence of small and medium enterprises.
•The validation study allowed to identify 10 potential customers interested in using BIOCERAMINK at industrial scale, and at least further 10 customers waiting for results from early adoption phase.
•As final results of the feasibility study, DEF identified 3 ceramic industries willing to collaborate for the industrial test of BICOERAMINK.
Technical Validation study. During the feasibility study, DEF carried out several tests at pre-industrial level. The tests were carried out on product samples from ceramic tiles producers from Sassuolo area (one of the largest ceramic district in the world), where the SME proposer is located.
The first step of the technical validation activity was to assess several types of vegetable oils, considering costs and availability on the market. For every vegetable oil identified, operational parameters were analysed. In feasibility study, the technical validation was run using tools and equipment at lab scale, since industrial production lines would have required additional spare parts to avoid causing damage to production process of traditional inks.
Results achieved
The technical validation study provided really encouraging results, that were submitted to local tile manufacturers. A preliminary assessment on the quality of the final results (tiles printed with the new BIOCERAMINK product). Feedback were really encouraging and these companies stated a strong interest in collaborating to the following pre-industrial test (use of BIOCERAMINK on real production line).
Set up of industrial plan. Basing on the results of the feasibility study, preliminary assessments of production costs and sales prices were carried out. In addition, the estimated budget for the set up of the production line was defined.
Results achieved
These information allowed to define a preliminary business plan of the project. Main P&L indexes were defined: ROI, Break Even point. The preliminary P&L account was provided in the feasibility study and will drive the subsequent innovation phase of the project.
