Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

This project consolidates a new partnership between the Institut Technologique de Maintenance Industrielle (ITMI) and Métal du Golfe company. Its main objective is to improve the operational performance and occupational health and safety aspects in material recycling facilities. This project focuses particularly on the optimization of cutting and separation processes of metals and rubbers based on 4.0 technologies. The project will be divided into four phases. The first phase will provide analysis and understanding of the sorting, cutting and handling process for recyclable materials in order to identify possible solutions for optimizing and automating these processes. The second phase of the project consists in developing the methods to improve sorting and treatment processes such as designing an appropriate automated method for cutting (by water jet or thermal cutting) and separating (thermal shock: induction heating or nitrogen cooling, mechanical shock) rubber from the large block of metals. The third phase consists of verifying the proposed solutions and equipment designed and validating the viability of such a project and its alignment with the company's strategy. Finally, the last phase consists of presenting the results of the project to the partner, carrying out the technology transfer containing the state of the art, the summary of the reflection leading to the optimization of the recycling process, the models designed, and the details of the solution's cost calculations. For ITMI, the project results will support the training of highly qualified personnel in new technological niches focused on improving the operational and health and safety performance of operators of material sorting and recycling facilities. For the company, this project would allow the development of automated recycling processes to guarantee the operational availability of equipment, but also to reduce their operating and maintenance costs. In addition, it would make it possible to compensate for the lack of manpower in the field, and above all to reduce the risk of occupational injuries due to the operation of equipment.