The main objective of TECNOLATER was setting up a pilot laboratory at Sacmi's facilities, for the study and the development of flexible technologies to produce new construction materials. A research structure was set up to study innovative brick components (load-bearing or infill lightweight clay blocks, clay blocks for floor slabs, hollow flat tiles, solid, semi-solid and hollow bricks, facing bricks, ventilated facades etc.) with the primary focus - especially in the early stages of the activities - on improved thermal performance of individual components, yielding increased energy savings and buildings living quality. Larcoicos has co-developed new products with enhanced characteristic performance, especially in the energy field, to market "bricks" - which so strongly characterise the high-quality Italian construction traditions - with renewed strength.
Pilot laboratory set up at Sacmi's production facility
Thanks to its innovative technologies application, strong placement on the world market and ongoing search for high quality standards and customer service, Sacmi enterprise has deemed TECNOLATER the most effective way to pull innovation and to increase the competitiveness level of the production chain for building construction materials, and of clay products specifically. One of the main innovative aspects was the production of technical documentation for operators in the sector, by means of which it’s possible to identify specific solutions with regards to new construction and redevelopment.
The Laboratory develops innovative construction technologies and materials, focusing especially on new clay components with high thermal performances. It is able to test solutions in current and future research both by the subjects involved at TECNOLATER, and third parties, allowing innovative solutions to be tested in real life before the launch of any industrial production, thus reducing risk of innovation and development time and cost. TECNOLATER Laboratory aims to develop state-of-the-art solutions immediately benefiting the region's brick producers.
Example of building envelope
Case studies concerning new construction and redevelopment, with application of high performance envelopes.
The study carried out at TECNOLATER led to new solutions in the building envelope sector. A targeted selection of these solutions has been virtually applied in example case studies, i.e. a residential detached house, a small complex and finally an office building. For these buildings, the assessment of the energy behaviour of various constructive envelope solutions was carried out.The dynamic range energy simulation software lets to study the energy behaviour of buildings, under both fluctuations of internal conditions and fluctuations in climatic conditions, yielding energy modelling adherent to the actual complexity. An energy simulation software has been used to assess the energy needs of a building and the estimated consumption for standardised usage, in a quasi steady-state; assessments of energy certification classes have been produced and have been instrumental in developing cost-benefit analyses. The outcome of TECNOLATER is a laboratory totally available in the region to perform researches in the field of clay construction products. The research carried out by Larcoicos have been included in a computerised guide, which better helps operators in the construction supply chain, to use components to be promoted.
Sacmi Imola s.c. Larcoicos Laboratory Ceramic Centre Laboratory Centuria Agency for Innovation of the Romagna Region Soc. Cons. a r.l.
A "flexible" pilot Laboratory has been set up, functional to study and develop innovative clay components with priority to the improvement of individual components' thermal performance. The study of state-of-the-art solutions will immediately benefit the region's brick producers.
Example case study analysed