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Smart Cylinder: Breakthrough hydraulic solution to boost productivity, increase energy efficiency and lower emissions in heavy-duty industrial applications

Project description

Innovative hydraulic systems for original equipment manufacturers

Hydraulic cylinders are essential in heavy-duty industrial machinery to resist high-pressure applications. The global competition and the new environmental restrictions urge machinery manufacturers to demand new technological solutions. The EU-funded Smart Cylinder project proposes a solution that represents a new generation of hydraulic systems optimising operational efficiency. The solution relies on a unique internal amplifier that automatically increases the pressure when a high force is required. High pressure remains inside the cylinder, eliminating the need for high-pressure installations and enabling the reduction of the cylinder geometry. The solution increases the pushing force with reduced cylinder weight and dimensions, offering original equipment manufacturers higher productivity, cost savings, and a reduced environmental impact.

Objective

Hydraulic cylinders are essential in heavy-duty industrial machinery (e.g. cranes, excavators…) to withstand the stresses generated by high pressure applications such as construction or earth moving. In recent years, machinery manufacturers have been urgently demanding new technological breakthroughs to improve their machines’ efficiency. This is due to global competition that constrains them to enhance their performance and reduce their prices, coupled with the new environmental restrictions in carbon emissions. This huge business opportunity within the hydraulic cylinders’ market sector – valued at 11.2 bn€ in 2016 and projected at 18.8 bn€ by 2025 –, has been addressed by our consortium, composed of Idraulica Sighinolfi, Italian family-owned company with over 50 years producing high quality cylinders’ manufacture, together with PistonPower, an innovative Slovak technological start-up. Our solution, Smart Cylinder, represents a new generation of hydraulic systems that optimizes operational efficiency. Thanks to our unique internal cartridge amplifier, the pressure is automatically increased when a high force is required. Moreover, high pressure remains inside the cylinder, eliminating the need for high-pressure installations and enabling the reduction of the cylinder geometry. As a result, Smart Cylinder delivers similar push force with reduced cylinder weight and dimensions, offering to Original Equipment Manufacturers higher productivity, an opportunity to save costs and reduced environmental impact. With a Smart Cylinder market size estimated in 100,000 cylinders/year (i.e.750 M€), we expect to boost our companies’ growth after market launch. Starting with our customer base in the Demolition industry, we estimate to capture after 5 years of exploitation, at Idraulica Sighinolfi around 34.7M€ revenues, while PistonPower will reach 7.4M€. Both companies also expect to create +25 new jobs.

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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

IDRAULICA SIGHINOLFI ALBANO SRL
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 PROVINCIALE OVEST, 100
41015 NONANTOLA (MO)
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 Modena
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

Participants (1)

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