RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Evolving market trends and sector changes require innovative, eco-sustainable products that respect the environment and fulfil the LEED programme requirements, with increasingly high performances capable of blending efficiency and straightforward laying solutions.

Isolgomma has an in-depth understanding of these needs and is constantly engaged in searching for new systems, methods and solutions for developing increasingly efficient products, while optimising its production processes and industrial technologies.

The company’s major efforts have always focused on R&D. To this aim, the company has two laboratories specialised in research, testing and control applied to the building and railway sectors – its main fields of application – in conformity to the ISO 9000 procedures.

RESEARCH APPLIED TO THE BUILDING SECTOR

The acoustics laboratory, set up in June 2008 in collaboration with the Department of Technical Physics of the University of Padua, was conceived and developed in accordance with the requirements of the ISO 140-1 standard.

The laboratory boasts unique thermal and performance characteristics that allow for measuring the acoustic insulation of walls and floor slabs, besides determining the impact noise insulation index ‘Lnw’ and airborne noise insulation index ‘Rw’, in conformity to the ISO 140 and ISO 717 -1 standards.

The structure has two adjacent rooms on the ground floor and two on the first floor. A 60 cm-thick reinforced concrete frame lies between the two rooms on the ground floor to support the walls for conducting the soundproofing power test. The first floor includes a 14 cm reinforced concrete floor slab and a 25 cm concrete and masonry floor slab for the impact sound insulation tests.

In conformity to the regulations:

  • the rooms are detached both horizontally and vertically by means of elastic joints, while the foundations rest on Isolgomma anti-vibration mats
  • the dimensions of the floor slabs and walls exceed 10 m2
  • the environments have a volume exceeding 50 m3
  • the upper rooms for measuring impact sound are closed

The maximum measurable soundproofing power is 65 dB.

Thanks to this advanced structure, the company’s R&D Department is able to analyse solutions and materials according to scientific methods and the latest regulations, in order to obtain highly performing, durable products that are easy to apply.

Besides the acoustics laboratory, the facility also includes a mechanical laboratory for conducting static and dynamic acoustic and mechanical tests, such as the Dynamic Rigidity Test, the Compression Curve (instant and over time), etc. Through these tests the company can characterise its products with complete technical sheets in accordance with national and international regulations.

RESEARCH FOR RAIL TRANSPORT

Isolgomma is at the forefront in Italy for the study and production of vibration damping systems applied to the rail transport sector.

Through its R&D facility, Isolgomma develops products through constant monitoring of its production processes, by rigorously and effectively complying with ISO 9000 procedures. Thanks to this crucial ‘product study’ facility, Isolgomma is able to develop new products and technologies is an extremely short time.

The collaboration between Isolgomma’s R&D centre, located in Pozzuoli, and the University of Naples has enabled the company to attain and guarantee over time the highest quality standards for its products, in addition to the relevant certifications and technical documentation pertaining to surface, tunnel and underground railway applications.

The laboratory’s main activity lies in conducting tests for mechanical, performance, stress and forced ageing characterisation of anti-vibration mats.

The facility is equipped with a ‘Resilient Pat and Mat Testing Machine’ (RPMTM) for conducting static and dynamic tests of up to 100 Hz on mats and plates. Furthermore, a railway testing field is located outside the facility. It contains two full-size prototypes of railway and tramway/underground superstructures, for conducting static and dynamic tests through the use of hydraulic pistons and vibrodines.

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