RiCaMo project has been kicked off on July the 12th 2016. Starting from laboratory prototype and obtained results, the main objective of the first semester of implementation was the integration of RiCaMo system with further electronic and mechanical subsystems, in order to complete its functionalities and to prepare the ground for the industrialisation phase. Improvements have been made in terms of components, software and scale.
Optoelectronic oxygen sensors have been integrated in RiCaMo system in order to allow the real time monitoring of dissolved oxygen during bottling phases. A dedicated software application integrates data acquired in real time and provides alerts thanks to an algorithm generated during the testing phase through trial-and-error experimentation.
The RiCaMo filling system works with a magnetic field sensor for volume detection. A flowmeter outputs 4 pulses every 1cl of product injected into the bottle. The bottle filling level is calculated through the volume injected. Every time the level reaches the top of a band the straw is raised to the next band.
In order to optimize the prototype for high-volume production needs, the RiCaMo team performed two integrated workstreams: improving the performances of each valve by optimising the circuits to ensure the greatest flow without creating turbulences, and fine-tuning the time of gas and vacuum injection phases, ensuring the maximum level of filling and the minimum amount of oxygen instillation; increasing the number of operating valves thanks to the introduction of a rotary machine with up to 16 valves.
After these improvements RiCaMo can fill a 0.75 liters volume bottle (Bordeaux standard) in times ranging from 7 to 18 seconds. That plant has been engineered for meeting production needs ranging from 500 to 1.500 bottles per hour (linear) or from 1.200 to 2.800 bottles per hour (non-stopping carousel).
During the first reporting period the mechanical, electrical pneumatic and electronic components of the envisaged 6 pilots have been designed. A majority of these components have been made and pilots are partly assembled.
Since January 2017 we moved from a research and design driven prototyping to the pilot assembling, deployment and testing. The Technology Readiness Level escalation of the RiCaMo system was strongly dependable from the User Acceptance Testing in real market environment. Thus, the cooperation of pilot users was required. That is why the RiCaMo consortium developed the communication and dissemination strategy in parallel to the technical implementation of the pilot plants.
Rigorous analysis has been made integrating data directly generated by the pilot plants, feedbacks from pilot users, scientific results of bio-chemical composition of samples and quality-organoleptic evidences collected from experts. Moreover, market analysis has been conducted ongoing the project implementation. The insights generated have been employed for the fine tuning of the plants’ engineering and the specification of the final business model and investor and marketing strategy.
In September 2017, RiCaMo participated in the Drinktec Munich (DE), the world's leading trade fair for the beverage and liquid food industry.
At the end of project life-cycle, RiCaMo has become a market-ready revolutionary product with strong outlook for business success.
