291305.P064-099.CRX:Excellence
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SACMI also carries out advanced research in other areas such as the technology applied to processing foodstuffs. It has even developed an “electronic nose,” an instrument that attempts to reproduce the olfactory systems of humans and other vertebrates. The electronic nose is able to detect scents, but it also can determine levels of ripeness and whether residues of phytochemicals are present in fruit. It consists of a series of chemical sensors, each providing an electrical signal corresponding to its interaction with the volatile substances emitted by the fruit. Software then processes the data to produce a final report. For a few years, SACMI has been working on an electronic nose prototype in collaboration with the biotech unit of ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy, and the Environment). It will be used experimentally at the Oranfrizer plant in Scordia (province of Catania) to test its ability to ascertain the ripeness of citrus fruit. This procedure will help determine levels of anthocyanin, the source of the pigmentation in blood oranges, and will check for traces of phytochemicals. Returning to ceramics, SACMI, like other Italian companies in the sector including Siti-BT and System, has played an important role in the development of one of Italy’s most innovative contributions: grès porcelain, a porcelain product that bears a striking resemblance to natural stone such as marble and granite. The development of this technology, which permits the manufacture of tiles with a high level of slip resistance, dates back about 15 years. It is another technology born in the Sassuolo district, and its value derives from the production process. The firing of grès porcelain takes place at temperatures around 1350° Celsius (more than 2400°F) in kilns as long as 140 meters where the raw materials are slowly brought to the maximum temperature, maintained there for a short period, and then gradually cooled to room temperature. The firing process determines the quality of the final product, including levels of resistance and longevity. The birth of the grès porcelain market, which is now worldwide, has given life to a new industry that uses different types of clay, firing techniques, and machinery. It is a field in which Graniti Fiandre plays the leading role in marketing the finished product, and one where the Sassuolo district has long been the absolute and undisputed leader. 76
Sacmi’s “electronic nose” can detect scents and gauges levels of ripeness and the presence of phytochemicals in fruits Shown here, Sacmi’s reduced-energy FMP Kiln and PH7500 machinery
THE ITALIAN EDGE