Reducing the environmental impact of production processes has always been among Cavatorta Group’s strategic objectives: today, Cavatorta processes and products are distinguished by the “Green Touch” mark because they are obtained from quality raw materials transformed with environmentally sustainable processes certified UNI EN ISO 14001:2004. The 14001 certification is the one most recognized internationally: it requires increasing attention to the environment and continuous improvement of plant performance with technologies that allow a more judicious use of resources.

In the Abruzzo plants of the Cavatorta Group, eco-sustainable processes such as E.S.D. (=Ecosustainable Wire Drawing) are on their way to being perfected, which, when fully operational, will be a quantum leap in the processing of metal wire rods.

Cavatorta’s manufacturing processes allow for quality products that do not pollute.

For example, this is the case with Cavatorta nets and wires plasticized using the “Galvaplax Process,” in which the pvc coating is obtained by melting newly formulated powders of the Ecoscor® type. Non-toxic and harmless, compared to traditional powders, Cavatorta’s new “green” pvc allows for a significant reduction in melt fumes during processing; contains no toxic substances; does not release residues into the environment; and is self-extinguishing. Thus, also thanks to its new pvc, Cavatorta ensures absolute compliance with the highest levels of environmental and personal safety.

In summary, Green Touch is the socially responsible way of being, designing and acting with which Cavatorta Group responds to market needs, using resources efficiently and safely, while respecting people and the environment.

Cavatorta and the LIFE Projects

The Group’s efforts to protect the environment and health have found an exceptional partner in the European Commission, which, through the LIFE financial instrument, is supporting and sustaining Cavatorta’s commitment to sustainable development.

“ESD – Eco Sustainable Drawing” Project LIFE04 ENV/IT/000598.

The first project, carried out by Metallurgica Abruzzese, allowed to demonstrate the feasibility of a new eco-sustainable system for the treatment of wire rods and their derivatives, which allows to reduce the environmental impact of the drawing, cleaning and firing stages that precede the galvanizing phase.

In more detail, the processing cycle has been transformed through the introduction of the following innovations:

• dry mechanical descaling treatment with zero environmental impact;
• polycrystalline diamond drawing system, lubricated by recoverable soaps;
• controlled atmosphere heat treatment with low energy consumption, capable of eliminating the acid pickling stage.

“Ultra Crash Treatment” Project LIFE09 ENV/IT/000174.

The second project, which began in the fall of 2010 at the Metallurgica Abruzzese plants with the collaboration of the University of Trento as a project partner, involves intervention at the outlet of a traditional drawn wire annealing furnace.

The main innovations included in the project are:

• a ceramic micro-bead blasting stage, capable of perfectly cleaning the surface of the annealed wire in place of acid bath pickling without damage;
• a final stage of protective coating of the wire by cold spraying (cold spray) of zinc powders.

“MDPATC” Project LIFE09 ENV/IT/000185.

The third project, which also began in the fall of 2010 and is currently being carried out at the Cavatorta Wire Drawing and Spinnery plants, involves revisiting a large part of the production cycle:

• a phase of dry descaling of wire rod, with the use of processing scraps and recycling of the waste obtained;
• a post-bake wire cleaning and activation stage using microwave-induced plasma treatment;
• a galvanizing stage in a tertiary Zn-Al-Mg bath, capable of operating at lower temperatures and increasing the quality of the finished product.

News by Cavatorta Spa