T-MASK2 - Surgical Mask Automatic Production Line Machine

Project code | POCI-01-02B7-FEDER-068865

Main objective | OT 1 - Reforçar a investigação, o desenvolvimento tecnológico e a inovação

Region of intervention  | NORTE

Beneficiary entity | S. Roque – Máquinas e Tecnologias Laser, S.A

Co-promoters | Centro Tecnológico das Indústrias Têxtil e do Vestuário de Portugal - CITEVE

Approval date | 26-06-2020

Start date | 30-03-2020
Date of conclusion | 31-07-2020

Total eligible cost | 265.927,88 EUR

European Union financial support | FEDER – 212.742,30 EUR

The T-MASK2 project aims at the research and development of an automatic production line machine for surgical masks. The developments will be directed to several technologies in order to optimise the manufacturing of the product, so as to respond to the needs generated in the context of the world pandemic caused by the new coronavirus COVID-19. The aim is an automatic production line for surgical masks, with the capacity to regulate their characteristics so that they meet the high technical requirements that will enable their effective performance certification. The manufacturing of these products is typically done manually, however this method is inefficient when compared with the production of an automatic line capable of high speed, efficiency and quality assurance.

In an initial phase, it is intended to create a sequence of modules for transforming the raw materials, in order to ensure correct mechanical continuity and guarantee the speed and fluidity required for production. Subsequently, it will be expected that the products developed in this new automatic line will be evaluated to verify their compatibility with the technical requirements of masks, such as dimensions, breathability and particle retention.

The project objectives will be achieved by the development and integration of the different production transformer modules and the quality assurance of the surgical masks. Respecting the technical characteristics, the masks produced in the automatic line should be ready to be packaged and used.

S. Roque, leader and promoter of the project, has put together a consortium with a partner, CITEVE, to ensure the success of the development of the solution proposed in this project.