Betanzos HB has participated in the enCAIXA Industrial Research Project, which, from 2018 to 2020, focused on the development of industrial packaging with Galician wood, especially new solutions, customization and automation of the assembly.

The initiative tried to find solutions so as to compete internationally in the packaging market using wood, a key raw material in Galicia.

  • Reinvent” the hardboard manufacturing process.
  • Expand its presence in the packaging board market by developing a specific product for this segment: lighter and thinner.
  • Development of adhesives from wood by-products.
  • Digitalisation of the hardboard manufacturing process and research of 4.0 solutions

Main actions

  • Design new types of hardboard.
  • Development of a wood-based adhesive based for packaging.
  • Research in collaborative robotics and artificial vision for the automation of the assembly of boxes.

Members of the group were the companies Talendis Interesa, Puertas Betanzos, JJ Chicolino, Betanzos HB and Mucarce Carpinteros.

enCAIXA was co-financed by the Conecta Peme programme, subsidised by the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN) and supported by the Ministry of Economy, Employment and Industry of the Xunta de Galicia. The aim is to encourage cooperation between SMEs and other agents in the Galician System of R&D, by supporting market-orientated research and innovation projects aligned with the challenges and priorities identified in the PIS3 for Galicia. The programme is also co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) within the operative Feder Galicia 2014-2020 programme.

Total budget: 1,073,809.40 euros

Proyecto Encaixa

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

  • To give value to the local resource, promoting a higher transformation level for the raw material within our community.
  • To provide an outlet for a significant flow of wood that is currently not being used by activating demand.
  • To mobilize raw material generating activity throughout the value chain, from forest to industry.
  • To compete internationally in the packaging segment (a huge market) by relying on a local strategic gift: wood

PROJECT RESULTS

2018:

  • Study for the development of specific packaging products.
  • Replacing solid wood with wooden veneer packaging.
  • Mechanisation through linear processes.
  • Blanching of authochtonous veneer.

2019:

  • A new information support system has been protected at industrial level
  • A whole catalogue of finishes has been prepared with the intention of marketing it as a service to the carpentry industry
  • New functionalities have been tested in the field of customised manufacturing using pre-printed boards based on own designs
  • A new box format has been introduced into the market with a higher load and tare capacity, attractive and useful for seafood, and with a much lower manufacturing cost.
  • The integration of customised products in traditional carpentry has been validated to meet the requirements of sectors demanding quality and design.
  • Different products developed in this project were put on the market as waterproof boards.
  • Coloured boards and containers have been developed for plants or as a plastic substitute material in household utensils.

2020:

  • Ongoing industrialisation of results for the competitive manufacture of wood packaging material.
  • A new information support system has been protected at industrial level
  • A whole catalogue of finishes has been prepared with the intention of marketing it as a service to the carpentry industry
  • New business niches have opened up for its lamination processes with the fine-tuning of processes to produce packaging components.
  • Improved end-product packaging procedures
  • New functionalities have been tested in the field of customised manufacturing using pre-printed boards based on own designs
  • New laminar coated packaging manufacturing systems have been validated
  • A digital twin has been developed for the management and modelling of industrial processes that allows the profitability of changes to be predicted before they are made
  • A new box format has been introduced into the market with a higher load and tare capacity, attractive and useful for seafood, and with a much lower manufacturing cost.
  • Different packaging customisation lines have been validated using standard equipment, obtaining information on the needs and know-how for integration into the packaging value chain.
  • Pilot packaging with its own design has been developed for a special case study and has validated the operating and manufacturing process.
  • The integration of customised products in traditional carpentry have been validated to meet the requirements of sectors demanding quality and design.
  • Partial bleaching has been achieved on Tablex for uses where colouring is not supported.
  • Manufacturing costs have been reduced through the introduction of innovative automatic control and industrial process management systems
  • Different products developed in this project, such as water-repellent or bendable boards, have been placed on the market.
  • Coloured boards and containers have been developed for plants and plastic substitute material for household utensils.
  • The level of knowledge of the impact of the different process variables on the product has increased, which has enabled the development of new products and the optimisation of production.
  • A 100% biodegradable wood bioadhesive for packaging has been launched on the market.
  • The following products have been developed: Board with improved fire resistance, board with “infinite thickness” and new finishes.
  • Progress has been made towards the automation of hardboard production operations.