NPFP project aims at developing and applying new paradigms to achieve breakthroughs in the design, construction and operation of machines and plants for the food industry. The newsletter summarizes: - Activities carried out during the 1st year of the project (TRL 5/6) - Results industrialization requirements - Industries affected by project results - Dissemination topics Main industries involved: Food, Advanced machining, Regulatory Project web site: www.npfp.it

1. High Technology Network Centers
Participating companies
Introduction
The project aims at developing and applying new paradigms to achieve breakthroughs in the design,
construction and operation of machines and plants for the food industry:
Paradigm 1 (P1): “Design and manufacture by new technologies” based on the integrated use of net-shape
(including additive) manufacturing technologies, new materials, unconventional joining technologies (e.g.
adhesive bonding, friction stir welding), aimed at the rationalization of components and cost, increase of yield
and in the context of hygienic design
Paradigm 2 (P2): “Process control by processed food properties” based on the integrated use of experimental
and numerical methods aimed at modeling and interpretation of the phenomena involved in the physical
treatment of food products, in presence complex rheology and phase transformation, aiming at a more efficient
and effective automation of food processing.
The two paradigms will be implemented to reach in two years pre-industrial demonstration level. Sanitary
requirements of machines and plants as well as chemical and physical properties of processed food will be
assessed for the subsequent application at industrial scale.
Objectives
To gain a competitive technological advantage in terms of design, construction and
operation of next generation of food equipment. Set of “demonstrators” exemplifies
concretely technical and economical benefits.

2. “NPFP” project is co-financed by
the European Regional Development Fund POR-FESR 2014-2020 of Emilia-Romagna Region
www.npfp.it
Click 4 details: video presentation additional materials
“Design and manufacture by new technologies”
Demonstrators include:
 Rotary manifold used in filling machines by
stainless steel and bulk ceramic
 Isolator by adhesive bonding and/or FSW1
 Pipe section with ultrashort-pulsed-laser outer
surface finishing
 Additive (metal) and HIP2
(ceramic) techniques for
joining AISI 316/ceramic elements
 Bonding and FSW for cold production of AISI 316
carpentry
 Pulsed-laser treatment to increase surface
hydrophobicity
“Process control by processed food properties”
Demonstrators include:
 Scraped and/or corrugated and/or curved surface
heat exchangers
 Twin-screw pasta extruders with optimized
thermo-fluid dynamics performance
 “Digital” homogenizer for milk and derivatives
 CFD3
models for design and optimization of heat
exchangers
 Real-time feedback system to control
homogenization degree (milk)
 Pilot plant scale for:
 Models validation
 Identification of heat exchange correlations
 Real-time feedback system
Results industrialization requirements
 Larger size of ceramic components
 FSW tools at industrial level
 Laser treatment instruments for large surfaces and internal surfaces
Industries affected by project results
 Food: process, packaging, bottling, heat exchanger, automation
 Advanced machining: ceramic materials, 3D printing, laser treatments, adhesives, FSW,
impulse laser, ultrasonic systems
 Regulatory: hygienic design of food machinery and plants - EHEDG4
Dissemination topics
 Structural adhesives
 Redesign and validation of metal components obtained through additive manufacturing
 FSW
 FSP5
1
Friction Stir Welding
2
Hot Isostatic Pressing
3
Computational Fluid Dynamics
4
European Hygienic Engineering and Design Group
5
Friction Stir Processing
1st
year - TRL 5/6
Objectives
Paradigms