Ercros participates in the first ALBA Hackathon in Cerdanyola

Ercros has participated in the first edition of the ALBA Hackathon, held on October 16 and 17 in Cerdanyola. This is a pioneering initiative that has brought together more than 70 people - including students, researchers and professionals- to find innovative solutions to four real challenges posed by Ercros and three other companies, through the use of synchrotron light produced in the ALBA Synchrotron particle accelerator, a unique scientific instrument that allows materials to be analyzed at the atomic scale.

The challenge posed by Ercros was to develop innovative tools and methodologies to better understand the factors that influence the shrinkage of parts manufactured with the moulding compounds produced in Cerdanyola and thus improve their dimensional control.

In total, 10 teams participated and worked for two days to find creative, innovative and disruptive solutions, which made things very difficult for the jury. One project was awarded for each challenge.

In the case of Ercros, the prize went to the UFO team, which proposed a multifactorial approach with nanostructural and spectrographic analysis of the parameters that can affect the shrinkage of thermoset plastics. Héctor Barón, director of the Cerdanyola factory, highlighted “the high level shown by the participants and how the work of a multidisciplinary team, with an external vision and not conditioned by prior knowledge of the process, can help find imaginative solutions to daily challenges.”

The four winning projects will obtain scientific advice from the ALBA Synchrotron team and a free feasibility study of their proposal in the centre’s facilities.

The following participated in this event: the ALBA Synchrotron, the Research Park of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the Cerdanyola City Council, the Generalitat of Catalonia, the Barcelona Provincial Council and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.