FINCON CONSULTING ITALIA SRL
FINCON CONSULTING ITALIA, a design and consulting office specialized in steel and composite structures, is the team leader of the LASTEICON project. The company takes its power from the wide experience of its founders in the field of civil and structural engineering research, development and design. Merging strong academic and research skills with practical experience Fincon engineers provide cost-effective and innovative solutions by means of advanced analysis tools for complex problems. Prof. Carlo Andrea Castiglioni, full professor at Politecnico di Milano, Technical Director of FINCON, participated as coordinator/partner in several RFCS projects (SEISRACKS1, SEISRACKS2, FUSEIS, INERD, STEELQUAKE, MEAKADO, ADBLAST, PROINDUSTRY). He presently is the coordinator of the WG “Steel and Composite Structures” within the drafting panel of the Italian Building Code, and has a long academic experience in both numerical and experimental research. Alper Kanyilmaz, research fellow in Politecnico di Milano and consultant of Fincon, is experienced in full scale experimentation and advanced numerical analysis in the fields of steel and composite structures, seismic isolation, dissipative devices, industrial silos, and racking systems. Since 2010, he has been involved in 7 international research projects (EU-RFCS) and has published 40+ articles in peer-reviewed international journals and conferences.
UNIVERSITA’ DI PISA
The University of Pisa is a public institution boasting twenty departments, with high level research centres in the sectors of agriculture, astrophysics, computer science, engineering, medicine and veterinary medicine and has close relations with the Pisan Institutes of the National Board of Research.
UNIPI, and in particular the Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering (DICI), has been involved, in the past decade, in several national and international projects, participating both as beneficiary and as coordinator. DICI gathers together several types of engineering specialties such as aerospace, chemical, civil, management, mechanical and nuclear engineering with more than 90 Professors and Researchers. Prof. Eng. Walter Salvatore, team leader of the research group involved in the FASTCOLD project, is a full professor of structural and earthquake engineering and currently Pro-rector for the University Buildings Heritage.
RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
The Institute for Steel Constructions, RWTH Aachen University, performs research in various fields related to steel and composite structures. The institute is also active in the research on structural glazing, aluminum and timber structures.
The national and international research projects comprise analytical, numerical and experimental investigations. Members of the Institute are also involved in national and European Code Committees.
In the recent past the Institute was participating in several international projects related to light gauge products and to storage racks. Other research activities included the assessment of fatigue actions and the determination of fatigue resistance of steel and aluminum structures exposed to traffic or dynamic excitations.
The fatigue resistance determination was comprised a large number of fatigue tests on details and full scale structural elements and was extended by numerical studies including fracture mechanics.
Within the project FASTCOLD the Institute will contribute by means of fatigue test accompanied by numerical modelling and developing of application rules for the practice
UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO
With origins dating back to the eighteenth century, the University of Porto (UPORTO) is currently one the most prestigious Higher Education Institutions of Europe. Close to 32 000 students, 2 400 teachers and researchers along with 1 600 administrative staff within its 15 schools and 60 scientific research units, spread across 3 university campuses located in the city of Porto.
The Faculty of Engineering (FEUP) is the largest faculty of UPORTO, with about 9035 students and 932 teachers and researchers across 9 departments. It is located in the Asprela Campus, the main university campus in the city of Porto. FEUP is in the heart of Porto Innovation District and is the engine behind the success of The Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto, UPTEC, the winner of the 2013 European Region Stars Award for Smart Growth.
In the FP7, FEUP was partner and/or coordinator in a total of 48 projects, including as host institution of two ERC Grants (Elastic-Turbulence and BI-DSC) and three Individual Marie Curies: one International Outgoing Fellowhips (GPSMB-PPSSplitter) and two International Incoming Fellowships (Micro-BioRheology and COVMAPS). Under Horizon 2020, FEUP is already partner in 19 projects funded (Marine UAS, BRIDGES, ICI-THROUGH, IN2RAIL, HYDRALAB-PLUS, FAME, ANTAREX, HEAT-SHIELD, RISEN, PRINTCR3DIT, LIQUEFACT, PRINT-AID, OPTICON, SERA, SIMUSAFE, InnoDC, IN2STEMPO , OPTIMACS and PROSEU) and is the coordinator of 4 other funded projects (SDIN, SmartHELMET, GOTSolar and EUMarineRobots). FEUP is also a third party in the ANSWER, EMSODEV, IN2TRACK and mcBEE project.
Concerning other international funds, since 2014, FEUP has also been very successful in programs such as: EEA Grants (3 funded projects as coordinator), COST (2 Coordinated actions, 15 actions as Partner), ECHO (2 projects funded as Partner), CEF (1 project funded as Partner), Interreg (6 projects funded as Partner), ERA-NET (8 projects funded as Partner) and RFCS (2 projects funded as Partner, FASTCOLD and DESDEMONA).
FEUP is also helping to turn the northern region of Portugal into a center for innovation. Since 2014, FEUP was Co-financed in 25 M€ by the European Regional Development Fund, spreading modern, structural change across the north of Portugal, FEUP is demonstrating how active universities in previously poorer regions of Europe can lead the move to smart growth.
UNIVERSIDAD DE BURGOS
Founded in 1994, the University of Burgos is a young, medium-sized university; formed by 7 centers and nearly 800 professionals dedicated to teaching and research purposes. Its education offer has been consolidated with the implementation of 25 degrees, 5 double degrees, 19 masters, 11 PhD´s, 5 online degrees and 1 online master.
The University of Burgos has a relevant background in EU-funded projects. Currently, our university participates in 27 on-going projects (in 10 of them as coordinator) in 7 different categories. Our 67 research groups are classified in five main research fields (Sciences, Social sciences, Engineering-Construction, Humanities & Health sciences) with consolidated prestige in research & scientific publications.
PANEPISTIMIO THESSALIAS
The University of Thessaly (http://www.mie.uth.gr) was established in mid 80’s, in Volos, Greece, an area of significant steel industrial activity and tradition. In the present project, UThessaly participates with the research group of Structural Mechanics, which has a strong expertise in analysis and design of steel structures and pipelines, coordinated by Prof. S. A. Karamanos, (www.mie.uth.gr/karamanos.htm). The group specializes on both computational and experimental mechanics. Material testing is performed in the facilities of the Laboratory Mechanics & Strength of Materials (LMSM), under the supervision of Prof. A. T. Kermanidis (http://www.mie.uth.gr/n_one_staff.asp?cid=1&id=187) with emphasis on fracture mechanics and fatigue research issues. Computational research consists mainly in simulating structural instability problems, as well as the behavior of metal materials and structural components under cycle loading, associated with fatigue. Furthermore, manufacturing provlems, related to tubular members and pipes are also simulated numerically.
Recently, the Structural Mechanics research group has coordinated two RFCS programs on the seismic behavior of industrial plants and pipelines (INDUSE www.mie.uth.gr/induse, GIPIPE www.mie.uth.gr/gipipe). It has also been involved in several research projects at European level related to steel and composite structures under extreme loading (ATTEL, HITUBES) and to seismic behaviour of steel structures (OPUS, STEELRETRO). Currently it is involved in the following European project: (a) MATCH (2013-2016); (b) SBD-SPIPE (2013-2016); INDUSE-2-SAFETY (2014-2017); JABACO (2015-2018); REFOS (2016-2019); FASTCOLD (2017-2020).
Furthermore, the group has been recently involved in two national projects RASOR and UPGRADE (funded by national program Thales), related to the seismic behaviour of industrial plants. Finally, the research group has a strong portfolio in applied research activities, in connection with the constructional steel industry and the pipeline industry.
SCL INGEGNERIA STRUTTURALE
Since 1992, SCL provides services and consulting in structural, civil, industrial and infrastructure engineering using advanced knowledge and approaches.
SCL is a dynamic and highly professional firm, consisting of a team of engineers and technicians with a wide network of consultants whose skills cover various areas of competence.
SCL provides turnkey projects and project management in complex and diversified areas where the interdisciplinary approach ensures high performances.
Higher technical skills are especially in the following fields:
- seismic engineering;
- public works;
- renovation and requalification of old and/or historical buildings;
- structures and equipment for industrial plants;
- structures for logistics (racking and shelving, automated storage systems, clad warehouses);
stress analysis.
SHELTER ANONYMOS VIOMICHANIKI ETAIRIA EPENDYSEON KAI KATASKEVON
Shelter SA is one of the leading companies in prefabricated buildings in Greece.
With over 20 years of experience in the prefabricated buildings guarantee’s to offer an excellent product at affordable price.
Shelter SA is specialized in manufacturing and marketing various types of buildings that accommodate:
Telecommunication Buildings, Photovoltaic and Wind Power Parks, Modular Buildings for Classrooms, Military applications Buildings,Electromechanical equipment buildings.
The quality management system of the company is certified with the quality EN ISO 9001:2015, 14001:2015 standard and CE mark certified products according to EN1090.
Shelters’ technical department has the capability of designing and developing new products using 3D designing software (Autodesk Inventor, Advance Steel) of high quality level that fulfill customer’s requirements.
Aiming to continually developing new and innovative products, Shelter participates in European Research Programs:
STEELRETRO, PRECASTEEL, INNO-HYCCO, STEELEARTH, FAST COLD.
and Greek Research Programs:
Development of a stand-alone Hybrid power system combining RES and fossil fuels
UNIVERSITA’ DEGLI STUDI DI GENOVA
The Joint Research Centre (CRG) team of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DIME), University of Genoa (UNIGE), consists of experienced professionals in materials and joining technologies. In particular, its relevant scientific activities concern different aspects such as:
- choice of materials (including metallic, polymeric, ceramic and composites), thanks to an in-depth knowledge of their behaviour ;
- mechanical characterisation of materials and components through static and dynamic tests;
- behavioural tests on materials after exposure to UV radiation, or after ageing in salt mist room or in climatic chamber;
- 3D-reverse engineering and rapid prototyping using an FDM machine;
- realisation of silicone moulds for rapid prototyping, using a vacuum chamber;
- metallographic analysis;
- study of the surface finishing and morphology;
- research, experimentation and development in joining techniques, both welding (SMAW, RW, TIG, MIG/MAG, laser-welding and FSW) and adhesive bonding (laser and plasma pre-bonding treatments, surface chemical etching, joint design). Some CRG team members are qualified International Welding Engineers (IWE) and European Adhesive Engineers (EAE), qualifications awarded by the European Federation for Welding, Joining and Cutting (EWF).
Fritz Schafer GmbH
SSI Schäfer was founded in Germany in 1937. Since then the family owned company has been growing and expanding its activities to an international level establishing production facilities as well as sister companies in numerous countries.
SSI Schäfer produces and offers intralogistic products and services from standardised solutions as hand loaded shelving systems through to individually designed large-scale projects such as complex fully automated rack clad buildings. The products comprise not only a wide range of steel storage systems but also the complete logistics solution needed in partially and fully automated warehouses with stacker cranes, shuttles, conveying systems, warehouse management software etc.
The company has been involved in numerous international projects with automated systems and therefore has huge experience in the design of light weight steel structures subject to dynamic forces.
European Racking Federation
FEM Racking and Shelving is a European Manufacturers Association with the aim of influencing all manufacturers and the market worldwide towards common, cost effective, safe technical standards. FEM Racking and Shelving represents, promotes and protects the interests of the European Racking Industry by:
- Establishing a source of information
- Facilitating European discussion about technical, commercial and economic storage equipment and methods issues
- Facilitating European collaboration including: production of standards, safety and quality, research and development
- Publishing a range of studies and documents promoting safer utilisation of storage equipment
FEM R&S Members are National Associations of Storage Equipment or Individual companies if there is no National Association.
Members include: Austria, Norway, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, France, Spain, Finland, Sweden, Germany, Turkey, Italy, UK and Netherlands. Associate Members include: Australia and Egypt.