Periodic Reporting for period 2 - ECO-INK (ECO-INNOVATIVE WATER-BASED INKS FOR THE CERAMIC SECTORS)
Reporting period: 2019-08-01 to 2021-03-31
The project aimed at scaling up high performance, competitive and new green Water Based Inks, which are dissolved in water and eliminate organic solvents, leading consequently to a reduction of inks carbon footprint and toxicity.
The project is successfully concluded, proving that the ECO-INK inks have high quality performances and enable the production of high resistance polished grès porcelain tiles at an affordable and competitive pricing, suitable for the medium-high level market.
Metco srl brought the ECO-INK Water Based Inks to a ready to market status, by:
A) enlarging the gamut of the magenta, cyan and yellow colors;
B) selecting a new printing head and developing its waveform, suitable for our inks;
C) manufacturing the “demo” polished grès porcelain tiles in real production scenario with a selected number of clients and proving their high quality and aesthetics;
D) planning and initiating the market commercialization strategy, for the future market take up of the ECO-INK inks.
The dissemination & communication of the project results was and will be one of the key activity of the project.
The project is successfully concluded, proving that the ECO-INK inks have high quality performances and enable the production of high resistance polished grès porcelain tiles at an affordable and competitive pricing, suitable for the medium-high level market.
Metco srl brought the ECO-INK Water Based Inks to a ready to market status, by:
A) enlarging the gamut of the magenta, cyan and yellow colors;
B) selecting a new printing head and developing its waveform, suitable for our inks;
C) manufacturing the “demo” polished grès porcelain tiles in real production scenario with a selected number of clients and proving their high quality and aesthetics;
D) planning and initiating the market commercialization strategy, for the future market take up of the ECO-INK inks.
The dissemination & communication of the project results was and will be one of the key activity of the project.
The activities performed within the ECO-INK project allowed Metco to reach all the objectives planned.
The project was monitored and managed trough periodic activities reporting on the project status, use resources and activities planning. During all the project implementation the correct following of the Project Management Plan allowed us to check progress, monitoring all activities and implement mitigation actions when necessary.
3 types of printing heads were tested and evaluated following an internal standard methodology, reaching to identify the best of them and use it in the demo activities.
In relation on new developments on Yellow and CYAN ECO-INK formulation, METCO developed the optimal waveform. Formulation were studied more deeply in order to satisfy the selected print heads parameters.
The best aqueous post-treatments were developed.
The ECO-INK inks, the post-treatments, the best printing heads were tested with a semi-industrial digital printer to print gres porcelain tiles.
The project concluded with the identification of the best process parameters and the manufacturing of gres porcelain tiles.
Considering the high potential impact of the ECO-INK Water Based inks in the tile market, the project was strongly focus on the dissemination & communication phase, providing constant and detailed information on the activities and on the results achieved, through national and trans-national initiatives. COVID19 pandemic moved us to use web channels the most.
The results achieved by the project will be exploited by Metco following the Business Plan and Commercialization Plan prepared within the project with direct sales towards our early adopters and first target customers, with a proprietary already established distribution network over the world.
The project was monitored and managed trough periodic activities reporting on the project status, use resources and activities planning. During all the project implementation the correct following of the Project Management Plan allowed us to check progress, monitoring all activities and implement mitigation actions when necessary.
3 types of printing heads were tested and evaluated following an internal standard methodology, reaching to identify the best of them and use it in the demo activities.
In relation on new developments on Yellow and CYAN ECO-INK formulation, METCO developed the optimal waveform. Formulation were studied more deeply in order to satisfy the selected print heads parameters.
The best aqueous post-treatments were developed.
The ECO-INK inks, the post-treatments, the best printing heads were tested with a semi-industrial digital printer to print gres porcelain tiles.
The project concluded with the identification of the best process parameters and the manufacturing of gres porcelain tiles.
Considering the high potential impact of the ECO-INK Water Based inks in the tile market, the project was strongly focus on the dissemination & communication phase, providing constant and detailed information on the activities and on the results achieved, through national and trans-national initiatives. COVID19 pandemic moved us to use web channels the most.
The results achieved by the project will be exploited by Metco following the Business Plan and Commercialization Plan prepared within the project with direct sales towards our early adopters and first target customers, with a proprietary already established distribution network over the world.
ECO-INK proposed a highly innovative solution that goes well beyond the state of the art in comparison with existing or competing solutions, including on the basis of costs, safety of use and other relevant features as well as issues related to environment.
A continuously updated market analysis, considering segmentation, and penetrability was used to define the best commercialization strategy at the end of the project.
Cost and benefits analysis, cash flow and return of the investments was also calculated in order to prepare a consistent Business plan for five years after the project conclusion.
The ECO-INK have an important impact on the environment, being water-based avoiding the use of solvent, and on society as well since it results into gres porcelain tile, suitable for high foot traffic floors whit an high quality aesthetics.
A continuously updated market analysis, considering segmentation, and penetrability was used to define the best commercialization strategy at the end of the project.
Cost and benefits analysis, cash flow and return of the investments was also calculated in order to prepare a consistent Business plan for five years after the project conclusion.
The ECO-INK have an important impact on the environment, being water-based avoiding the use of solvent, and on society as well since it results into gres porcelain tile, suitable for high foot traffic floors whit an high quality aesthetics.