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The Sheffield Hallam University was the coordinator of the two-year CRAFT project entitled “Low Voltage Accelerated Curing Systems for Concrete” (LOVACS), which involved 7 SMEs from United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Spain, Czech Republic and Poland. The project was awarded about a year ago.

The objectives of the project are:

o Develop the novel technology for accelerated curing of concrete under normal and low ambient temperatures, establish performance characteristics and develop energy efficient accelerated curing systems for precast concrete, thermal moulds for cold weather concreting and thermal covers to prevent frost attack in winter concreting,

o Determine interactions due to the thermal input of the curing systems and heat of hydration of concrete and derive optimum operating conditions,

o Design, manufacture and test prototypes of thermal moulds, and covers.

The main expected achievements of the project beyond technological outcomes are (i) to improve the competitiveness of SMEs engaged in the concrete manufacturing industry by developing new technology for the accelerated curing of concrete in precast plants and on construction sites and (ii) to engage a complete supply chain of SMEs across the EU including end-users, mould manufacturers, precast concrete manufacturers and the thermal curing system producers to facilitate successful commercial exploitation at the trans-European scale after completing the pre-competitive project stage.

The proposed hi-tech thermal curing systems promise a clear market leadership to the SME proposers. If successful, it could have massive impact on everyday life, speeding up the completion of road works and meaning fewer delays for the construction industry.

Given the low success rate of CRAFT proposals (under 10%) which required a resubmission of LOVACS the proposal after receiving a score just under the cut-off point at the first submission, getting the LOVACS project successful was a real challenge.

Besides, the proposal had to reflect and take into account the interests of all the partners from different organisations across Europe

The main challenges faced by participants once their project was selected were:

o The contract negotiation with the Commission,
o Managing a large team of project partners.

Tips for success given by the project coordinator are:

o To address rigorously all aspects of the proposal assessment criteria published by the European Commission within the guide for proposers,
o To read the work programme carefully and address the relevance of the proposed project with regard to the work programme as well as its expected impacts,
o To talk to the NCP.

SMEs taking part in this project were:

o Inditherm Plc., United Kingdom
o Erba Holland BV, Netherlands
o Angio S.A, Spain
o Bikani S.L., Spain
o Kalab Building Ltd., Czech Republic
o Prefa I.P.j.s.c, Czech Republic
o WPS s.a., Poland

Besides, other enterprises from Poland and the UK, as well as RTD performers from UK, Spain and Czech Republic were involved.