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StarLink: The World's First Intelligent Vacuum Pump System

Project description

Intelligent system detects vacuum pump failure

Vacuum pumps are used in a wide variety of scientific and industrial applications such as in food and semiconductor processing, and in pharmaceutical and chemical production. They remove gas from a sealed volume, leaving a partial vacuum. Malfunctions or breakdowns caused by improper maintenance or settings cause great revenue losses. The EU-funded StarLink project is developing a system that will leverage data analytics and machine learning to identify vacuum pump malfunctions before they occur. It will propose corrective maintenance actions and will automatically adjust the operation parameters. The proposed system will reduce costs related to vacuum pump downtime by 30 % and increase their productivity by 50 %.

Objective

Vacuum pumps are used in thousands of industrial applications, playing a vital role in food processing, semiconductors, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and many other manufacturing and assembly processes. However, today’s pumps are currently unable to provide any type of insights that could help users anticipate a pump malfunction, plan maintenance procedures or setting the adjustments. Pump malfunctions or breakdowns, due to unplanned maintenance or improper settings, cost millions of euros in lost revenues every year as production and logistic lines lie idle waiting for pumps to be fixed, and when they are not optimized their productivity decrease or their energy consumption go up.

But now, DVP, a vacuum pump manufacturer, has developed the solution to these challenges through StarLink, the world’s first intelligent vacuum pump system. StarLink is a patent-pending system that uses data analytics and machine learning to identify pump malfunctions before they happen, propose actions to be taken, and automatically adjust the operation parameters if the problem relates to the setting. This will reduce pump downtime-related costs by 30%, increase their productivity by 50% and make easier the operation manager tasks.

The combination of our deep knowledge of vacuum pumps needs with the machine learning expertise of the university of Ferrara will create the most intelligent device to improve the competitiveness of European companies. Additionally, StarLink will contribute to DVP’s growth in terms of employees and product portfolio since we will be able to offer a wider range of products and services related to vacuum pumps, which will allow us to enter new markets and sell more units. By 2023, it will generate €3M in yearly revenue with net profits of €2M to our company.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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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-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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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

D.V.P. VACUUM TECHNOLOGY SPA
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.

€ 50 000,00
Address
VIA RUBIZZANO 627
40018 SAN PIETRO IN CASALE
Italy

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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
Nord-Est Emilia-Romagna Bologna
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.

€ 71 429,00
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