Italiano
Chieti, 8 October 2021.
Walter Tosto and its partners University of Viterbo, Belleli Energy CPE and DizioInoxa, celebrate the completion of an international Research & Development project: the manufacturing of the innovative “Electron Beam Machine” (EBM).
The EBM Project started in 2017 in order to construct an innovative plant for electron beam processing, a process in which high-speed electrons are concentrated in a thin beam and are directed towards the workpiece, generating heat that vaporizes the material. Depending on the intensity and focus of the beam, the tool can be used for welding, cutting and surface treatment of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. In addition to these processes, the machine will allow the printing of three-dimensional metal components.
The use of electron beam technology is increasingly widespread in the manufacturing sector, however the only efficient plants, sufficiently versatile and suitable for machining large components, are located in Germany, resulting difficult to access, with costs and execution times incompatible with the speed required by the market.
The innovative machinery built and installed in Chieti (Italy) will guarantee significant operational advantages and the possibility of growth and development of the national industrial sector with applications in the Automotive, Aeronautics, Aerospace, Nuclear, Oil & Gas and Research technology domains.
Recognized for its high level of innovation, the project was awarded of a regional funding call.
“With the Electron Beam project we have brought in our territory a technology that was previously available only abroad. This was possible thanks to an important investment also supported by the Abruzzo Region concerning the Research and Development activities” explained Luca Tosto, CEO of Walter Tosto SpA.
The opening event, which took place on Friday 8 October at Walter Tosto’s headquarters in Chieti Scalo, was attended by the President of the Abruzzo Region Marco Marsilio, the Councilor for Productive Activities of the Abruzzo Region Daniele D’Amario, the mayor of Chieti Diego Ferrara, The CEO of the American Association of Mechanical Engineers – ASME Thomas Costabile via web conference, the President of the Pressure Equipment Italian Association (AIPE) Giancarlo Saporiti, the dean of the University G. D’Annunzio of Chieti – Pescara Sergio Caputi, professors of the University of Viterbo and representatives of the Probeam companies, the Calef Consortium, Belleli Energy CPE and DizioInoxa.
Massimiliano Tacconelli, Nuclear & Big Science Program Manager of Walter Tosto SpA commented: “In order to achieve such an extremely complex project it was fundamental to focus our attention on developing people’s skills”.
The young engineer Mario Vitacolonna, who joined the company as a university student, managed the construction project and was appointed with the role of Project Manager after completing its internship.
The President of the Abruzzo Region Marco Marsilio who took part in the ribbon cutting ceremony declared: “This machine raises the level of technological innovation of our territory and we are all proud of this. We believe it is very important to continue to support this type of projects and to direct the available funds towards investments that affect the entire industrial supply chain“.
The event ended with a welding demonstration and with the delivery to the authorities of a particular emblem made with the Electron Beam Machine by joining pure copper and stainless steel, one characterized by very high thermal and electrical conductivity, ductility and malleability, the other with considerable chemical-physical resistance and resilience.
The achieved possibility of combining two materials so different from each other opens up new horizons in the creation of systems with high energy efficiency and low greenhouse gas emissions.
POR FESR Abruzzo 2014-2020
Linea di azione 1.1.1: “Sostegno a progetti di ricerca delle imprese che prevedano l’impiego di ricercatori presso le imprese stesse”.
Linea di azione 1.1.4: “Sostegno alle attività collaborative di R&S per lo sviluppo di nuove tecnologie sostenibili, di nuovi prodotti e servizi”.
