In the frame of the collaborative European Project SUNRISE (grant agreement nº958243), LENZ INSTRUMENTS has developed a novel solution for the inspection of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) in laminated glass.

Bilbao, May 5, 2023. The ICEBERG Project in which 35 public and private organizations from ten European countries are involved, faces its last working year with important advances in the recycling of construction materials, new scientific publications and patents in progress.

Within the framework of the IN4CIS project, Lenz Instruments has developed a system for the inspection of 3rd generation photovoltaic devices up to 30×30 mm in size. The system integrates a multi-sensor head made up of a Raman probe and a photoluminescence probe.

A new consortium formed by eight companies, in collaboration with four research centres, aims at incorporating photovoltaic properties into buildings’ facades by integrating high-transparency and optical-quality devices into their tiled surface.

We are working on the development of a pilot line for sorting mixed ceramic fractions from construction and demolition waste. The pilot line is designed to process up to 1 ton per hour of input material, and is aimed to sort it into three main streams: grey fraction (concrete), red fraction (brick fragments) and other materials, including gypsum.

We have completed the production of an automated inspection system to automatically analyse thin film photovoltaic modules. The system integrates an optical head, which delivers light onto the module, gathers its optical response, and guides the light into different spectroscopic modules for analysis. By means of advanced data processing techniques, this spectral information can be used to assess the quality and efficiency of thin film materials, during the manufacturing process. The early detection of manufacturing defects is of paramount importance to (1) identify manufacturing errors and implement early actions; (2) maximise production yield; (3) ensure the quality and reliability of the modules; and (4) minimise manufacturing waste.

On June 1^st 2021, it was officially kicked-off the European Project SUNRISE, which aims to develop new solutions for the separation and recycling of PVB films from laminated glass. This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and innovation programme under grant agreement nº958243.

Within the framework of the European research project In4CIS, and following to the design phase, Lenz Instruments has started the manufacturing of an optical inspection system for third generation photovoltaic devices based on CIGS technology.

On June 2020, the European Project ICEBERG was officially launched. The project aims to develop and demonstrate novel cost-effective circular smart solutions for an upgraded recovery of secondary building raw materials along the entire circular value chain: from end-of-life building materials (EBM) to new building products prepared for circularity, resource-efficiency and containing 30wt% to 100wt% of high-purity (>92%) recycled content. This will be undertaken through 6 pilot circular case studies, covering building materials accounting for more than 85% by weight of the European built environment.

Within the framework of the European Research project In4CIS, Lenz Instruments has started its design tasks for the optical inspection system for third generation photovoltaic devices based on CIGS technology.