Permanent analysis of projects and lines of activity in the Steel Pole. Currently, the Steel Pole has a Strategic Plan that governs the actions to be developed during the period 2020-2023. This plan has a series of specific axes and objectives, but it also includes a detailed analysis of the main lines to be analyzed with the partners in terms of the type of projects to be undertaken. In this sense, the matrix that includes the application sectors, as well as the developments in new steels, new products, improvements in processes, specifications and quality, are available to the members of the association and are subject to detailed analysis in the annual plans, which are submitted for validation by the Board of Directors. Likewise, the Association is constantly updated on the strategies and trends that govern the current industrial and technological ecosystem, as well as initiatives and mechanisms in which the activities of its members have a place, such as digital transformation or energy transition.

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Governance and promotion projects. With the support of the Institute for Economic Development of the Principality of Asturias (IDEPA). Thanks to IDEPA's support, the Steel Pole has annually developed a series of actions aligned with the current Strategic Plan to develop and implement actions such as the creation of working groups, development of collaborative projects, technology foresight studies and patent analysis, technological differentiation through the analysis of the potential of the Manzana del Acero, support for applied training initiatives, activities aimed at internationalization, visibility, promotion and impact.

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 Documentation generated in Idepa projects

 

CALDIA Project. CALDIA project pursues the technological differentiation of Asturian companies through a training itinerary applied to the needs of the participants.

The project is developed in a collaborative environment. SMEs and Large Companies, together with technological enablers (Idonial Foundation and University of Oviedo), united with the same objective. .

We are united by the Great Challenges. A program aimed at analyzing and proposing solutions to business challenges.

We seek to create an impact by increasing competitiveness. We are united by the need to make Asturias a region of reference in global markets and industrial sectors where we can differentiate ourselves by technologies, application of innovative and collaborative solutions in a highly concentrated geographical area.

We promote knowledge transfer. Technology Center and University provide the knowledge and means for SMEs and Large Companies to work on common lines of interest.

Vision of the entire value chain and reference agents. The participants will acquire a better knowledge of steel, the processes involved in its manufacture, the transformation processes, the properties of the material, associated technologies and their implementation in different sectors.

As a result of these objectives, the CALDIA project, through the 3 editions already developed, has managed to energize collaborative projects fully aligned with the problems of Asturian companies, as well as to promote the training of technological skills in more than 100 participants.

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Participants of the second edition of CALDIA

 

ROBOTWELD Project. Technical feasibility study of the implementation of robotic welding technologies in key sectors for the Steel Pole.

The project, completed in March 2018, analyzed the feasibility of applying robotic welding technologies in the production process of companies in the metal-mechanical sector. The project pursues collaboration with SMEs with the support of the AEI to guide companies in the metal-mechanical sector in their digital transformation, evaluating the implementation of innovative production processes. The overall objective is to improve the competitiveness of companies in line with the RIS3 smart specialization policies for Asturias. The specific objective is to determine the possibilities of implementing Industry 4.0 technologies in manufacturing processes, such as welding. Robotic welding technologies represent an opportunity to increase production capacity and improve the quality of the product and the operator's work, although they present the challenge of defining the convenience of applying this technology if the jobs are not sufficiently serialized.

Project funded under the call for grants to support the operation of management structures and promote the implementation of specific projects of the AEIs-2017, with file number AEI-010300-2017-213.

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Project results presentation session in the Manufacturing Technologies working group

 

Mecasol Project. The project is a technical feasibility study on the improvement of quality and productivity in boilermaking through the processing of data on welding parameters for manufacturers of pressure vessels and wind towers. The project counted with the participation of Asturfeito, Windar Renovables (a company belonging to the Daniel Alonso Group), Tuinsa, Fundación Itma (now Fundación Idonial) and AEI Polo del Acero.

The project developed a case study for each of the 3 participating companies, analyzing the manufacturing parameters and evaluating the feasibility of acquiring and processing the data generated during the welding process.

The overall objective is to improve the competitiveness of the companies in line with the RIS3 smart specialization policies for Asturias. This objective will be carried out through control tests on various types of joints and will facilitate decision making on the most productive processes, determine the strengths and weaknesses, opportunities and threats, as well as the resources needed to carry out its implementation, and ultimately its prospects for success and application to the entire metal-mechanical sector. This project will facilitate the preparation of R&D&I projects within the scope of the productive needs of the partners belonging to the AEI Polo del Acero. Funded by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism within the Support Program for AEIs to contribute to the improvement of the competitiveness of the Spanish industry. REF: AEI-010600-2018-110. Execution date October 2018 to March 2019.

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Press review of the MECASOL project (El Comercio)

 

Sensacero Project. The SENSACERO project is a feasibility study of the application of sensorics in steel products, and has the participation of 5 partners:

  • AEI Polo del Acero, which coordinates the project and supports innovation in steel production and transformation.
  • Hiasa, a company belonging to Gonvarri, focused on the transformation of flat steel products, which will work on the definition of the case study for photovoltaic structures.
  • Asturfeito, a company specialized in engineering, manufacturing, assembly and commissioning of capital goods, which will focus its activity on the case study defined for the marine sector.
  • Talleres Alegría, a company specialized in the manufacture of components for the railway sector, which will study the incorporation of elements that enable monitoring in track devices.
  • Fundación Idonial, which contributes its knowledge in materials and industry 4.0 through its departments of Structural Mechanics, Surface Integrity and Corrosion and Digital Industry. The aim of the project is to take the first steps towards the industrial application of technologies that allow to offer an added value to its products, manufactured with steel, in different sectors. The project addresses the casuistry of each case study presented by the companies involved in the project, analyzing the feasibility of incorporating sensors in their products, prioritizing the technologies with the greatest potential and taking into account the challenges present in the acquisition, sending and processing of data, in order to effectively monitor them during their service life, and to develop products with high added value.

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Conceptual scheme of the project

File: AEI-010600-2020-160. Call 2020 of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism for "Aid to support the operation of management structures and promote the implementation of specific projects of Innovative Business Clusters". Execution date October 2020 to March 2021.