Tenova to invest in three R&D projects with focus on Industry 4.0

In partnership with leading European players of the industry, Tenova has launched three cooperative R&D projects supported by public funding, namely BigData@MA, CyberMan4.0 and ECOSLAG. The company’s participation in these endeavours is part of its broader commitment to creating a “sustainable smart factory” through the integration of the enabling technologies of the Industry 4.0 and the principles of circular economy, so to optimise the productive process and minimise its environmental footprint.

Tenova CEO, Andrea Lovato, said: “Tenova has always worked at enhancing plant efficiency, productivity and quality, and Research & Development represents a key focus area for the company. However, the challenges that affect our industry cannot be faced alone anymore: Tenova believes in open innovation to implement the transformation triggered by digitalisation and circular economy. BigData@MA, CyberMan4.0 and ECOSLAG represent a significant step towards this direction”.

BigData@MA

According to Tenova, BigData@MA stands for Big Data application at Manufacturing and aims to develop a specific Big Data application framework as a tool to give online support in decision-making process and task execution. Tenova will investigate the application of Big Data technologies in Pomini Tenova roll grinding machines in order to allow predictive maintenance. This two-year project is co-financed by the European Commission, the Lombardy Region and the Belgian Walloon Region as part of the MANUNET Transnational Call 2017, and is led by Rina Consulting - Centro Sviluppi Materiali S.p.A.

CyberMan4.0 

Cyber-Physical System-based approach for intelligent data-driven maintenance operations applied to the rolling area – intends to develop an innovative Integrated-Maintenance-Model4.0, supporting the transition from traditional preventive maintenance to predictive maintenance. Tenova will define, install and commission innovative sensors in Pomini Tenova roll grinders and specific software, which will make possible to collect, process and analyse all relevant data to detect at early stage component malfunctions of the machines, improving operations and equipment reliability. CyberMan4.0 will last forty-two months and is partly funded through the European Commission Research & Innovation Fund for Coal and Steel, involving several key players of the steel industry led by Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna (SSSA).

ECOSLAG

ECOSLAG is an eco-friendly steelmaking slag solidification process with energy recovery to produce a high-quality slag product for a sustainable recycling – has the objective to identify and examine operational technical solutions for waste heat recovery from steelworks slag, while obtaining slag that can be used as valuable product allowing to minimise the ecological footprint. Tenova takes part in the project with focus on the granulation of EAF slag and its pilot application at industrial scale at A.C.P. Acciaieria di Cividate al Piano S.r.l. plant. The project will last forty-two months and is co-financed by the European Commission Research & Innovation Fund for Coal and Steel. The partners are led by FEHS-Institut für Baustoff-Forschung e.V. (FEHS).

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/finance-business/13092018/tenova-to-invest-in-three-rd-projects-with-focus-on-industry-40/