PROTECCIÓN LABORAL 86 | 1oTrimestre16 Updated products The CTCR advances in the development of a new bonding system more efficient and faster The Departments of Electronics, Automation, Mechanical and prototyping of Centro Tecnológico del Calzado de La Rioja, CTCR, are working together in a new research that will allow unifying the reactivation and pressing processes connatural to the footwear manufacturing. It is thus achieved considerable reduction of the time spent at this stage, optimizing the use of the adhesive and increasing the quality of gluing, all in a single workstation. To achieve this goal, which will ends at the junction between the floor and the body, work is being done on integrating an inductive heating system. Operating principle This system is based on a power generating station and a coil inductor, through which the current passes, to create a magnetic field. It is used to generate thermal losses within the press and, in turn, to reactivate the adhesive impregnated on the sole and allowing a more efficient cut. The research path that has been addressed in this regard is called “heating technology by means of electromagnetic induction”, since making an electric current circulating through an induction coil, and placing the metal to be melted in proximity of the coil, the metal is charged with current and it gives rise to large energy losses as heat. Indeed, this was one of the main problems in the footwear sector companies that previously relied on the application of direct heat on the dry adhesive through furnaces, with an inefficient result in most cases by the energy expenditure resulting and lack of standardization of the procedure itself. In short, the CTCR will conclude this research with the system industrialization stage in which the company Calzarobotics (Rada Maintenance) based in Quel, will also intervene, being responsible for adding value to companies in the sector through the robotic technology. Meanwhile, the company Notton (Aros) will develop a fundamental role in the project, as it will participate in the testing of bonding and validation of the innovative process, reaffirming the achievement of the pursued objectives: substantially reduce the time and costs, and increasing the quality and productivity in manufacturing. Tech backdrop The different branches that make up the field of Electronics and Automatic allow the development and control of any electronics or industrial manufacturing process in real time, achieving reduce or eliminate everyday problems and minimize the final cost of the process or service. In this context, the Department of Electronics and Automation of CTCR has succeeded in developing electronic systems with different features and improvements in industrial processes through automating different parts of the production process of shoes. In this regard, technological opportunities that are offered for this purpose from the CTCR are: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID); Wireless communication (Bluetooth, ANT +, ZigBee, Ethernet, WIFI, GSM / GPRS, etc.); GPS technology; Embedded electronic systems; Smart textiles; Control of sensors in real time; Robotics; Inductive heating, etc.