Italian company seeks new surface coating technologies for oleodynamic applications to substitute chromium plating of hydraulic cylinders

Summary

An Italian hydraulic cylinders manufacturer is looking for innovative and more sustainable coating technologies, preferably at TRL 8, that substitute chromium plating of hydraulic cylinders, to reduce the health risks for workers and the pollution caused by the process. Partners will work together in the co-development of proofs of concept or pilot projects, under technical cooperation agreement. This request is part of an open innovation challenges programme.

Description

An Italian company, with 50 years of activity, specializes in manufacturing high-quality hydraulic cylinders for automation of industrial processes through hydraulic systems. The company produces hydraulic cylinders in a wide range of dimensions and customized according to clients' needs: special large dimensions cylinders, single and double acting cylinders, single acting self-plunge cylinders, telescopic hydraulic cylinders.
The company applies these hydraulic cylinders in several sectors, among which: logistics, harbors solutions, cranes, trucks, lifting, container handling, offshore applications, earth drilling, foundation and tunnels machines, hydroelectric and dams, industrial presses e.g. for recycling and waste compactors.

Cylinders coating is currently done by the traditional process of chromium plating which, at low cost, provides corrosion protection, mechanical resistance and surface glide. However, this process has several limitations in terms of the risk generated for the health of the operators and the heavy pollution of the process by-products, which requires major purification treatments. In addition, the company outsources the chromium plating process to an external company, requiring a large volume of road transport and thus increasing the overall environmental impact.

The company is thus seeking alternative, more sustainable surface coating processes, scalable on an industrial scale, and potentially to be integrated within the company’s own manufacturing process.

The Italian company is interested in any form of collaboration with start-ups or scale-ups (proof of concept development, pilot projects, M&A operations etc.) involving technological cooperation to co-develop and adapt the solution to the group’s specific needs, under technical cooperation agreement.

--- IMPORTANT: This technical cooperation request refers to an open innovation challenges program published on a separate online platform (b2match). If an organization expresses interest before the program closing date, it will be guided towards the open innovation platform.

During registration, interested organizations will be asked to select the challenge that corresponds with this technology request profile. If admitted to the programme, start-ups and scale-ups will benefit from training and will be able to create their (presentation) profile to connect with the companies in order to organize 1to1 matchmaking meetings.

The company will select the organisations that they would like to meet for the development of the solution.

The challenge closes on November the 30th 2021. Once the challenge is closed, expressions of Interest for this technology request will be treated in the traditional way.

Expertise sought

The Italian company is looking for new surface coating technologies for oleodynamic applications to substitute chromium plating currently used and that can be scalable on an industrial scale. The ideal solution would be integrated within the company’s own manufacturing processes.

The aim of the company is to lower the health risk connected to chromium plating, limit pollution of the process, and reduce the environmental impact endangered by road transport linked to the process.

The solutions proposed should preferably be at TRL 8 - actual system completed and "flight qualified" through test and demonstration - but the company is also interested in solutions with lower TRLs.

Requested Partner

Potential partners are start-ups or scale-ups from any country, with knowledge and/or expertise in sustainable surface coating processes; the solution sought has to substitute chromium plating in hydraulic cylinders and oleodynamic applications.

Start-ups or scale-ups are required to propose innovative ideas and/or solutions to substitute chromium plating in hydraulic cylinders and oleodynamic applications.

Suitable companies are invited to propose their expertise. After being selected, the goal is to co-develop proofs of concept and pilot projects, under technical cooperation agreement, to lower health risks and environmental impact of the current chromium plating process. The company is also interested in any possible future M&A operations.