REMAIN

Principal Investigator of the project: Gonzalo López Nicolás

Contact: gonlopez@unizar.es

Summary of the project:

A large part of the industrial fabric in the SUDOE area belongs to traditionally manufracturing sectors characterised by small and medium-sized companies that have a low technological level in their production processes, especially due to the high cost associated with the development and implementation of new technologies. In addition, these sectors are responsible for the manufacture of a variety of commonly used products that have a short life cycle, either because the acquisition of a new one is relatively inexpensive or because of the difficulties encountered in their repair or renewal. This results in an enormous amount of waste being disposed of inappropriately.

In this sense, this project will seek to introduce the remanufacturing process as part of the business model associated with these industries, highlighting the importance of design for the development of products that are more easily repaired or recycled. To this end, new tools will be developed to detect damage to used products and a multi-robot system capable of disassembling them and preparing them for reintroduction into the manufacturing chains of these products.

In short, the aim is to make repairing a product viable as an alternative to buying a new one or discarding a used one. On the other hand, the advances in the development of this remanufacturing system will represent benefits for industries, which will be able to have a new line of business that contemplates the reduced use of raw materials; for consumers who will find it easier to repair their used products or buy used goods at a reduced cost and, above all, for the environment due to the reduction of waste produced and the reduction of pressure on natural resources, favouring life and the ecosystemic dynamics of the planet.