Newton Fund - LASTEC-Laser surface texturing of compressor’s mechanical components: Increasing energy efficiency by improved tribological performance

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Project LASTEC (Laser Surface Texturing of Compressor’s Mechanical Components: Increasing Energy Efficiency by Improved TribologicalPerformance) involves innovation and optimisation of an advanced laser-based manufacturing process aimed at diminishing powerconsumption on refrigeration systems. The project is aligned with the “Energy” theme of the SENAI-SESI / Innovate UK competition,more specifically, with the topic “optimization of manufacturing processes to diminish power consumption”. Thus, the project aims atdeveloping a dry, solvent free environmentally friendly, one-step process, using flexible and efficient laser surface texturing forcompressor’s mechanical components. This will increase significantly the compressor energy efficiency, reduce its power consumptionand extend its lifespan for countless household and commercial refrigeration systems in Brazil and in the world. The laser-based processis expected to improve the tribological performance of the mechanical components by creating textures capable of reducing the frictioncoefficient (friction forces) between the compressor’s mating and reciprocating surfaces. To develop the project, EMBRACO, the globalleader in manufacturing of hermetic compressors, will join forces with the SENAI Innovation Institutes (ISI-Laser, ISI-SM and ISI-Eng.Superfícies) as well as Oxford Lasers Ltd, a 40 years old UK based company working on the design and manufacture of custom turnkeylaser micromachining systems for advanced manufacturing and R&D activities.