BIARCA

PROJECT TITLE:

BIARCA Fireproof, Antistatic, Oil Resistant and Food Standard Compliant Conveyor Belts

GENERAL DATA:

Program: Challenges Collaboration 2019
Reference: RTC2019-007287-2
Date of RESOLUTION: 10/20/2020
Execution date: 07/01/2020 – 06/30/2020-30/06/2023

PRESENTATION AND OBJECTIVES:

Conveyor belts are vitally important tools in modern industrial installations. These elements, which allow the transport of large quantities of material and products from one point to another, are used for various functions and in most industries, regardless of their main activity. Conveyor belts have allowed the automation of product and raw material transport systems, making production much more efficient, since they have become a preponderant factor for the optimization of times in the production line. They also help to reduce the effort of operators, providing a high degree of ergonomics and reducing occupational hazards.
The main objective of the BIARCA project is the development of a new conveyor belt for food contact, based on white rubber, which can work in environments with explosive atmospheres and is resistant to oils. A fundamental part of the work to be carried out in this project is the research and development of a new rubber formulation that meets these specifications.
In the food industry, conveyor belts are particularly important elements as they are systems that guarantee hygiene and cleanliness in the process, as they prevent contamination by bacteria or other contaminating factors that may alter the product. It is in this sector where regulations are particularly restrictive.
Currently, there is no conveyor belt in the industry that can certify the simultaneous fulfillment of all these properties.
Therefore, with the research work to be carried out in this project, we will respond to an important need in terms of the development of a new product, from which we will obtain a prototype conveyor belt based on white rubber and in compliance with Spanish, European and US legislation for food contact, which can work in environments with explosive atmospheres (ATEX) and which shows resistance to oils. The fact of combining in the same product a wide range of properties such as resistance to fire, wear and food contact, among others, is a major scientific challenge in the field of materials research and development.
In order to achieve such an ambitious goal, and therefore achieve such a significant technological advance, it has been considered to create a balanced scientific-technological consortium with great experience and specialization in each of the areas and subjects involved in the development of the project.
The main expected result of the project is a prototype of a white rubber conveyor belt that meets all the specifications.

PARTICIPATING ENTITIES:

KAUMAN SAU
SPAIN RUBBER, S.L.
INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DE ARAGON
INSTITUTE OF POLYMER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (ICTP)

BUDGET:

TOTAL PROJECT BUDGET: 653,618.31€.
TOTAL BUDGET ITAINNOVA: 162.080,00€.

FINANCING:

TOTAL PROJECT SUBSIDY: 232,486.79€.
TOTAL PROJECT LOAN: 305,900.57 EUROS
TOTAL FINANCING ITANNOVA: 162.080,00€.

Funded by: Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities – State Research Agency/ BIARCA Project – RTC2019-007287-2.