Idea & Sviluppo srl’s new research project takes innovation beyond the product itself, extending it to the production process as well. This project, funded by the Abruzzo Regional Programme ERDF 2021-2027 under NOTICE 1.1.1.1 “Sostegno a progetti di Ricerca e Innovazione delle imprese afferenti ai Domini tecnologici della Strategia Regionale di Specializzazione Intelligente RIS3 Abruzzo 21-27”, focuses on developing assistive devices for elderly and disabled individuals to help them with daily activities at home. The project’s core principles, Life Cycle Design (LCD) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), naturally lead to a rethinking of traditional production methods. The goal is to minimize the environmental impact throughout the entire product lifecycle. This, along with other considerations, led to the choice of additive manufacturing (AM) and exploration of new materials for use in the project.
We recently discussed this project with Rocco Santoleri, Technical Sales Director at Coesum.
Why did Coesum decide to participate in a call for proposals for its own research project?
Securing this funding is a source of immense pride for us. It allows us to finally realize a long-held dream: developing and bringing to market a product entirely of our own creation. For two decades, we’ve thrived on developing projects and products tailored to our clients’ specific needs. Now, we’re embarking on a new journey – creating a device independent of any external influence. Our extensive experience in the medical field, coupled with the deep knowledge of plastics we’ve accumulated over the years, provides a solid foundation for this endeavor. We were early adopters of additive manufacturing, acquiring our first stereolithography (SLA) machine back in 1999 – a time when this was the only 3D printing technology available. The rapid advancements in this field have been nothing short of revolutionary, and we’ve kept pace by actively participating in research projects on innovative materials for 3D printing. With our established expertise in plastic part design, engineering, and production, the time has come to put our knowledge into action.
There will be a collaboration with the Design Group of G. D’Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, is it your first time working together?
“This research project isn’t our first collaboration with G. D’Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, particularly its Department of Architecture. For over a decade, we’ve maintained a strong partnership, fostering exchanges of projects, study paths, and curricular training internships for students within our company. We’ve even co-organized competitions to spark student creativity and immerse them in the practicalities of the workplace. This ongoing partnership with university professionals will not only strengthen the project’s scientific foundation but also open doors to experimentation and field testing through the university’s Faculty of Medicine.”
Which additive technologies will you focus on during the project?
“We will certainly start with the technologies we have in-house and have direct experience with, selective laser sintering (SLS), Multi-Jet Fusion technology and Direct Light Process (DLP) technology. These are the ones that currently guarantee the best results in terms of time efficiency, quality of the surfaces obtained directly from printing without the need for additional processing and are immediately available on the market. A next step will be the introduction of open systems that allow new materials and parameters to be experimented with with the aim of improving the performance of the device, reliability and durability over time. It will be an experimental and stimulating process that could also bring great benefits to our customers for the development of their products.”
What will be the cascading benefits on the product and process?
“Our vision is to transform additive manufacturing from a prototyping tool to a full-fledged production system, eliminating the limitations of traditional mass production. With 3D printing, we bypass the need for expensive, static production equipment that requires raw materials for its construction. This inflexibility burdens warehouse management with excess storage needs and hinders customization possibilities. However, additive manufacturing excels in these areas. Switching between object versions and adjusting production quantities becomes effortless, streamlining the entire process. This translates to reduced project time and cost, along with a minimized environmental footprint – all while maintaining high-quality results.”
