THE Saica Group has unveiled its Research, Development & Innovation (R&D&I) Centre at its El Burgo de Ebro plant in Zaragoza, Spain.
Launched as part of the company’s 80th anniversary celebrations, the centre will service Saica’s four divisions globally: Saica Natur, Saica Paper, Saica Pack and Saica Flex.
The packaging specialist said the facility will allow teams to develop new products, improve raw material efficiency, and offer advanced characterisation services of materials and processes to clients and other Saica departments.
The R&D&I department has been designed to boost two company objectives: reducing carbon footprint and and achieving zero waste to landfill in all Saica plants.
The facility houses the team of the National Development Centre (NDC) for Saica Pack Iberia, providing a space for innovation with customers of corrugated board packaging. Currently, the centre employs more than 50 people, who make up teams comprising engineers and technicians who specialise in paper, corrugated cardboard and flexible packaging, waste valorisation and decarbonisation of the industry.
The centre boasts office space, meeting areas and laboratories equipped with testing equipment for the packaging industry. One of the teams working there also develops the advanced simulation models that form the basis for the structural design of the cardboard packaging manufactured by the Saica Group.
Powered by a geothermal energy-based climate system, the centre is described by Saica as a testament to the firm’s commitment to sustainability. It has received the LEED Gold certificate (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a green building classification system issued by the U.S. Green Building Council, among other accolades.
