Periodic Reporting for period 1 - DRYLAP (DRY LAPping machine for water saving finishing processes in ceramic sector)
Reporting period: 2016-05-01 to 2016-10-31
DRYLAP process is addressing a specific stage of the whole production cycle. Actually, finishing phases are devoted to give ceramic tiles aesthetic and functional properties strongly required by the market. DRYLAP will ensure this product to rely upon fully sustainable production processes.
The objectives of the project are then:
• Obj 1: market validation, aimed at probing market readiness for DRYLAP machine, that will have as main outcome the definition of a marketing and sales plan, enclosing preliminary P&L account, and technology innovation plan;
• Obj 2: DRYLAP innovation project, aimed at showing the potential of the dry processing machines and tools compared to wet process machines and tools. This phase will substantially contribute to the mechanical and engineering aspects encountered by BMR and the chemical aspects that the tool manufacturer must consider. The expected outcome is the set-up of pilot plants at industrial scale;
• Obj 3: customers validation, that will have the purpose to test and validate the DRYLAP machine at pre-industrial scale, involving final customers (i.e. ceramic tiles producers) that will validate the DRYLAP process on real industrial scenarios. The expected outcome is the validation of the quality of final products (i.e. ceramic tiles).
More in details, the activities carried out where:
1. Market validation
Market dimension assessment
Identification of Addressable market
Definition of Target market
Analysis of competitors
2. Market readiness
Interview with potential customers
Participation to international fairs
Identification of industrial company for pilot phase
Collection of EOIs on DRYLAP technology
Definition of preliminary P&L account
3. Technical feasibility
Test on tiles provided by ceramic tiles producers
Identification of critical parameters
Definition of improvement plan
Identification of technological and scientific partners
Unfortunately, there is a negative side to machining surfaces after firing: it involves using a considerable amount of water, the equivalent to more than 125 litres per m2 processed, and generates and equally large amount of sludge and waste, which in addition to material removed, also contains process water.
By using the DRYLAP innovative process, BMR intends to create a globally innovative product that is not currently available on the market. DRYLAP will push the technology towards the correct use of environmental resources and to optimize and reduce direct pollution and pollution produced by the manufacturing of ceramic building materials. This will be achieved through the implementation of flexible technological cycles that are particularly suitable for any type of ceramic material, and therefore for every type of ceramic mix. This will help to reduce, if not completely eliminate, the problems related to the use of water and to reduce energy consumption used in the manufacture of ceramic products.
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