The QUARTZENE project has mainly run according to the original plan and the activities performed within the work packages 1-5 has largely fulfilled the objectives set out in our application (DoA).
WP1: The project manager (Christer Sjöström) and his deputy (Anders Lundström) has been fully devoted to the successful operation of the project.
WP2: The successful installation and fine-tuning of the pilot scale production process was done according to plan and has been the foundation for the subsequent trials and demonstrations performed in WP3. The evaluation and validation of the process has given a firm basis for the final design of the future full scale 24/7 process units, including the level of automation of the process.
WP3: According to the original project plan, WP3 has finalised trials with 4 potential customers (Paroc, Aercrete, Celwise and Kolon-Glotech) focusing on three (3) application areas:
1) Thermal insulation products for buildings and other constructed facilities,
2) Thermal insulation of cellulose based food packaging products, and
3) Thermal insulation of thin surface treatments/coatings and thermal/acoustic insulating mats for the automotive industry.
Overall the testing has been conducted according to the original plan, even if the order of the tests had to be changed. The time for the tests and performance evaluations have for each market partner also been stretched out over a longer period. The latter is due to the iterative approach that normally appears; a test result arise new questions, show needs of verification, etc., and in actual fact, the results have also been so promising that additional tests were requested by the 4 partners and those tests were conducted in accordance with a time schedule decided on with each partner.
WP4: During the project, the website (www.sme-quartzene.com) has been a continued important communication platform for Svenska Aerogel. Three (3) brochure have been produced for a number of fairs where Svenska Aerogel participated, e.g. “European Coating Show 2017”,“IE Expo, Environment and biotechnologies“, ”Nordic Nano Lab User Meeting” ”EuroNanoForum 2017” and “The 21st Annual Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference”. A large number of brochures have been printed and handed out to interested stakeholders as a complementary information material to the business discussions held in the stands.
A number of other dissemination activities have been done during the project period, including inter alia eighteen (18) press releases, a short movie presenting Svenska Aerogel, a movie documenting parts of the EuroNanoForum 2017, study visits to the pilot plant in Gävle and presentations at about 15 different investor meetings. All of these activities have led to a higher knowledge of Svenska Aerogel AB and the project SME Quartzene among stakeholders such as the European coating industry as well as potential resellers and relevant European trade and policy organizations etc.
WP5: In accordance with the original project plan (DoA), we have been able to conduct further market analysis and all necessary preparations, including a go-to-market strategy, for full scale commercialization of Quartzene® in the insulation sector. Our work, including trial demonstrations, have shown that SvAAB and Quartzene is ready to take a leading position on the global markets for thermal insulation etc.
