The digital and circular revolution of the italian ceramic supply chain

Partners

• Gresmalt
• Sacmi
• Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco
• University of Brescia
• University of Pavia

HIGHLIGHTS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT

At the heart of the transformation currently reshaping the Italian manufacturing industry lies an ambitious and visionary project: API-VOLT – Viability for circular manufacturing. Co-funded by the Italian Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy through the “Agreements for Innovation” program, API-VOLT is a major national experiment designed to guide the ceramic industry toward a more sustainable, resilient, and technologically advanced future.

Spanning a three-year timeline, the project brings together a multidisciplinary team of industrial companies and universities working in synergy to radically rethink the ceramic supply chain. The goal is to design, test, and implement a Circular and Intelligent Supply Chain model, capable of overcoming the traditional linear sequence of production chains and transforming it into an intelligent, dynamic, and interconnected network.

The origins of API-VOLT are rooted in a widely shared awareness: extraordinary events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have starkly revealed the vulnerabilities of current supply chains. This has fueled the desire to design solutions that can mitigate the effects of unplanned changes and increase the resilience of the industrial system. The project aims to shift the focus from traditional production efficiency towards a new dimension of operational effectiveness, leveraging the opportunities offered by digitalization and the circular economy.

In practical terms, API-VOLT seeks to transform the current supply chain into a network capable of quickly adapting and responding to market fluctuations and unexpected crises. To achieve this, the project encourages enhanced collaboration among supply chain players, introduces agility at every node, and uses digital technologies as strategic levers. One of the key tools in this process will be the digital twin—a virtual replica of the production process which, for the first time, will not be limited to representing a single plant but will encompass the entire supply chain, enabling end-to-end monitoring and simulation of the entire industrial ecosystem.

WHAT IS A DIGITAL TWIN?

So, what exactly is a digital twin? It is a dynamic virtual replica of a physical process or system, constantly fed by real-time data from sensors, management software, and digital infrastructures. The digital twin allows for the analysis of behaviour, prediction of issues, testing of solutions, and real-time performance improvements—without interrupting actual production.
In the context of API-VOLT, the digital twin will act as the “connective brain” of the new supply chain, integrating data from suppliers, production plants, chemical processes, logistics, and waste recovery. This will make it possible to simulate alternative scenarios, improve planning, and reduce the environmental impact throughout the entire product lifecycle.

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

The project’s ambition is twofold: on one hand, to increase environmental sustainability by reducing the use of virgin resources and minimizing waste; on the other, to promote a profound digital transformation of the industry aimed at greater responsiveness, cooperation, and distributed value. Supporting this transformation is a partnership that brings together cross-disciplinary expertise in mechatronics, industrial engineering, chemistry, and sustainability sciences. The project team includes industrial players with extensive experience in manufacturing and building materials, supported by universities that excel in applied research.

PROJECT PARTNERS

The lead partner is Gresmalt, a leader in ceramic production, responsible for implementing the developed solutions in the field, coordinating the project, and serving as a testing environment for proposed technological and organizational innovations.

Alongside Gresmalt is SACMI, a long-established provider of plants and technologies for the ceramic industry. SACMI contributes its expertise to the development of intelligent machinery equipped with advanced sensors to collect data essential for building the digital twin, while also working on optimizing automation and connectivity across the production process stages.

Zschimmer & Schwarz Ceramco is responsible within the project for the research and development of eco-compatible chemical formulations, working on additives and auxiliaries that help reduce the environmental impact of ceramic materials. Its contribution is crucial to ensure that the sustainability criteria at the heart of the project—and promoted by all stakeholders—can be fully realized.

The scientific research front is led by two academic partners of excellence. 

The University of Brescia, through its Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, is in charge of supply chain analysis and management, developing models to assess supply risks and the environmental sustainability of production chains. It uses advanced software for process simulation and Carbon Footprint analysis, offering support to companies in their transition towards more sustainable and resilient business models.

The University of Pavia brings a transdisciplinary approach to the project, combining expertise in low environmental impact materials research, Industry 4.0, and value chain analysis. It contributes through mineralogical and chemical characterization of materials, statistical data analysis, and the economic and marketing management of resources.

TANGIBLE AND MEASURABLE RESULTS

Overall, the project aims for concrete and measurable results: up to 30% waste reduction, increased energy efficiency, broad digitalization of the supply chain, and most importantly, the creation of a replicable model for other sectors of Made in Italy. API-VOLT is not merely an industrial or academic project: it is a testing ground for the future of Italian industry. It is a shared vision that merges technology and sustainability, pragmatism and innovation. It is the proof that Italy, by leveraging its strengths, can lead the transformation toward a smarter, more resilient, and more planet-conscious economy.

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