Periodic Reporting for period 1 - NEWERA (Innovative micro-abrasive Water Jet for high precision machining and finishing)
Reporting period: 2015-09-01 to 2015-12-31
The objective of NewEra is to create a new standard in micro-abrasive water jet cutting. Incorporating several improvements that have been under development at Vito Rimoldi, and its subsididary WatAJet, created to exploit the technology. The innovations, including jet miniaturisation, abrasive feeding system and process monitoring, make NewEra able to produce finer levels of detail and higher precision cutting, for almost any material, in a range of industries and markets. NewEra will be a new service for specialist sub-millimetre machining.
The study has precisely defined the project’s scope and evaluated the technical risks and barriers to implement NewEra, including a freedom-to-operate analysis to identify potential IP barriers. An extensive market study and financial projection has been made, including establishing contact with existing and potential customers. This has demonstrated that NewEra is not only innovative, but feasible, and that there are many diverse applications for the technology, ensuring a healthy demand coming from several different niche markets.
Vito Rimoldi has also prepared a preliminary draft of the work required for the execution of NewEra as a Phase 2 project, which has allowed an initial estimate of the cost of the project and, together with the market projections, calculation of the expected return on investment.
Vito Rimoldi has also prepared a preliminary draft of the work required for the execution of NewEra as a Phase 2 project, which has allowed an initial estimate of the cost of the project and, together with the market projections, calculation of the expected return on investment.
NewEra improves upon the state of the art in producing sub-millimetre features and details in all but the hardest of materials, including difficult to machine materials like carbon fibre composites, through the miniaturisation of abrasive water jet cutting apparatus and providing greater control of the process. The impact is greater control, accuracy and precision in the machining of fine details, allowing the further miniaturisation of components as well as allowing new materials to be used in such applications. NewEra is faster and more economical than alternatives, and does not have the same limitations with respect what materials can be cut. The technology has implications for industries including watchmaking, medical devices, micro-electronics, miniaturised sensors, jewellery and fashion goods, luxury cars, as well as for prototyping work.
For Vito Rimoldi NewEra represents a way to explore new markets and to diversify its service offering. This will bring significant growth for the company, both in terms of turnover and in the creation of new employment opportunities. With NewEra Vito Rimoldi expects to establish itself as a global authority in the application of micro abrasive water jet machining.
For Vito Rimoldi NewEra represents a way to explore new markets and to diversify its service offering. This will bring significant growth for the company, both in terms of turnover and in the creation of new employment opportunities. With NewEra Vito Rimoldi expects to establish itself as a global authority in the application of micro abrasive water jet machining.