11 January 2024

European Regional Development Fund: the Smart Factory

The R&D program, conducted in partnership with Palazzoli, centered round the study and development of innovative process solutions. This involved introducing new advanced molding techniques and adopting an extended Smart Factory 4.0 perspective. The program also explored new fiber-reinforced and lightweight components, as well as innovative nano-loaded and heat-resistant materials. Additionally, advanced mechanical systems were employed to create a new family of sporting firearms.

The achieved objectives can be summarized as follows:

• Significant mass reduction of approximately 500g (currently a 12-gauge pump shotgun with a 3.5” chamber and 28” barrel weighs approximately 3.5kg).
• Increased comfort and grip ergonomics through both the use of technological solutions that allow the reduction of the force transmitted to the shooter due to the recoil of the shotgun and the creation of interfaces that can be customized based on the type of end customer.
• Compliance with the style and durability characteristics recognized by the reference market.
• Preparation of a basic economic version with an upgrade to configurations with greater functionality (version 2) by exploiting modular geometries and processes.

From a production standpoint, the central point is represented by implementing a single integrated process involving both partnership companies, with a view to an extended Smart Factory 4.0. This activity enabled the digitalization of information exchange between the two companies to extend the visibility of sensitive information in the procurement process and to improve overall efficiency by automating some phases (such as the creation of a robotic island for the barrel processing cycle). As a result, the speed of information exchange increased, and the potential for human errors in understanding and data entry was reduced.

F/160043/01/X41 and SMART FACTORY Ministerial Decree 05/03/2018 - CHAPTER II, Project ID B39J21040200008

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