by Fakolith Chemical Systems
Fakolith Chemical Systems is recognized by the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities as a European Innovative SME intensive in R&D&I. FCS received the 2016 Innovative SME Award from the Chamber of Commerce. Fakolith has successfully developed 6 Official R&D&I Projects subsidized and/or co-financed with national and European funds. FCS also participates regularly in other EU programs where it has obtained several Seal of Excellence. To see the official call for each project, as well as its budget, duration and status, open the PDF summary sheet.
High performance heavy-duty safe coatings to eliminate, encapsulate and/or reduce exposure and contamination by endocrine disruptors safe levels, depending on their use case; direct and indirect contact with drinking water, food and beverages, industrial and general building surfaces. The presence of endocrine disruptors (EDs) such as BISPHENOL A and its derivatives in these types of coatings is common, but both EFSA and ECHA plan extensive restrictions and bans, given their potential bioaccumulative hazard to humans and the environment, depending on the use case. The ideal balance between sustainability, safety, and functional performance in each use case will mark 4 coating systems for application in direct and indirect contact with drinking water, food tanks, beverage and food processing surfaces, and high-performance surfaces in general in the health, industrial and construction sectors.
The present project was born as a spin-off of the successful FOODTECH & COATINGS project, whose main objective was the search for natural substances and essential oil extracts, already used in the food industry, for the preservation of aqueous coatings. Thus, in the BIOTECH COATINGS project, and in synergy with the previous one, new conservation systems will be developed for the improvement and evolution of the BioFilmStop technology incorporated in Fakolith coatings, mainly used in food industries and health sectors. The technologies evaluated and tested in this project are mainly based on the use of antimicrobial peptides, bacterial and microalgae metabolites, both free and microencapsulated, either alone or combined with our previous antimicrobial technologies. The project was successfully completed in April 2021.
BIO-HYBRID FOOD CONTACT COATINGS Development of bio-based paints and varnishes suitable for direct contact with food, replacing part of the raw materials of fossil origin with others of vegetable origin. Project RTC2019-006939-2 conceived and led by Fakolith Chemical System in consortium with Aimplás, Instituto Tecnológico del Plástico de Valencia. The total budget of the project amounts to 558,472.92 € and is for Fakolith partially financed by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, whose budget as an entity amounts to 332,995.87 €, being financed by the Ministry 196,515.00 €. The budget has started in March 2020 and foresees up to the development and certification of up to 4 bio-based hybrid coatings suitable for food contact in accordance with EU 10/2011 and FDA 21 CFR 175.300 regulations. The project is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
The main objective of the project was to develop and certify the first range of paints, varnishes and coatings that meet the criteria for food safety and direct contact with food and beverages according to the European Regulation EU 10/2011 and simultaneously according to the US legislation FDA 21 CFR 175.300. In order to achieve the objectives of the project it was essential to have suitable raw materials, listed and approved for use according to the 2 legislations, to then proceed to all the tests indicated in each legislation, in Europe, mainly migrations and in the US extractions, in addition to the organoleptic and functional tests corresponding to each coating. Certifying coatings for direct contact with food and beverages, simultaneously under the 2 framework regulations of major international reference, brings to the industrialist the greatest guarantee of international food safety, in the field of technical coatings. Project successfully finished in 2019.
The main objective of the FoodTech & Coatings project was the development of alternative preservatives and antimicrobials to traditional ones, based on food preservatives and other antimicrobial substances of natural origin, for use in paints and coatings. Those that would allow establishing a novel combined system for the preservation of the coating during its storage in the container (wet phase), while providing antimicrobial film protection, were selected and tested. The development of this project was initially focused on the development and certification of the first water-based coating suitable for food contact, with a strong added value, especially for use in sectors where antimicrobial efficacy and the absence of toxic migrations were of maximum relevance, mainly the food industry, but with possible subsequent transfer to health and household sectors. In the final selection of the preservation system and antimicrobial effectiveness, free substances were also compared with microencapsulated substances, to optimize the effectiveness and efficiency of the system. The project was successfully completed in 2016.
The "APLICONS" project was conceived to develop innovative coatings, based on innovative nanoparticles, with antimicrobial activity for the construction and industrial sectors. The development of this project was based on Green Chemistry, which uses processes and products with less environmental impact, more respectful of human health and with a strong added value. The coatings developed, thanks to the oligodynamic activity of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) and without the use of conventional organic biocides, had to have an inhibiting effect on the development of microorganisms on the surface of the coating, in addition to exerting a broad-spectrum antimicrobial power against bacteria, molds, fungi and yeasts that could come into contact with it, through cross-contamination. Project successfully completed in 2014.
Efficient and Intelligent Technologies oriented to Health and Comfort in Indoor Environments. The main objective of the CENIT TECNOCAI project was to develop the knowledge and suitable technology to provide a healthy indoor environment in buildings and ensure the comfort for their occupants. This objective was achieved through the multidisciplinary combination of different sciences, including from medical science to the development of novel materials and components based on adaptable solutions to the environment and building user’s profile. All this integrated and managed through an intelligent technological environment, which allowed a perfect interaction between the user and the habitat where he/she carries out a large part of his/her daily activity. The scope of the project was focused on both new and refurbished buildings, mainly in the tertiary sector, such as offices, schools, public buildings... However, the resulting technology of the project was later extended to residential interiors. Project successfully completed in 2012.