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© Erbicol
Balerna – Ever since its foundation over half a century ago, in
1950, Erbicol SA has been a growing success story in the watch
industry. The company was founded by Giuseppe Romelli, and
today the business is in the hands of the third generation of entrepreneurs.
“The company’s main activity and core business remains the processing
of synthetic rubies and white sapphires for the watch industry,” explains
Sandro Gianella, manager and head of the research department at
Erbicol. About ten years ago, the third generation of Romellis – the
current general manager is Luca Romelli, Giuseppe’s nephew – began
seeking a new direction for the business in order to provide continuity
and ongoing development in the company’s processes and products.
They therefore turned their attention to the study and research of new
materials designed and developed on the basis of experience acquired
over nearly six decades of machining extra hard materials. The result
was ‘porous ceramics’, a material with a large number of applications,
including in the emerging renewable energy industry.
“The main application is in the production of electricity from solar
heat, but also in classic combustion. With porous ceramics it is possible
to obtain so-called ‘porous’ combustion, with the emission of 50% less
carbon dioxide (CO2) and up to 90% less nitric oxide (NOx),”
explains Gianella. “Our products – all of which are patented and lie at
the cutting edge of technology,” he adds, “can be applied in any field
in which heat is required, and since the production of heat has a cost
Swiss Label Ticino 2010
C O M PA N Y P RO F I L E
Erbicol SA, from synthetic rubies
to porous ceramics with applications
in the clean energy sector
in both economic and ecological terms, we aim to make this production
as efficient as possible.”
However, innovative products need more than the brilliant insight of
an entrepreneur. They have to be studied and developed with great
care. “Which is why we collaborate actively with Swiss and European
universities and research centres as well as with many foreign companies
working in various sectors,” says Sandro Gianella.
There are currently five people working on the porous ceramics projects,
but the intention is for this number to rise as the company tackles the
challenges to come with due optimism.
Erbicol Sa
Viale Pereda 22 - CH-Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)91 697 63 60 - Fax: +41 (0)91 697 63 69
Website: www.erbicol.ch - E-mail: info@erbicol.ch
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