The Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra (IPC) has obtained a new European patent for the cork preparation subsector, entitled “Cork Stabilisation Oven and Stabilisation Method”.
The new technology, which aims to increase the effectiveness of the cork stabilization process, seeks to optimize the quality of one of the most important stages in the cork stopper production process and reduce the risk of formation of undesirable compounds, responsible for the well-known “cork taint”, a compromising effect for the industry. This invention introduces a more predictable and sustainable method of stabilising cork planks, which controls cork production under strictly controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and aeration.
Integrated into the IPC’s cross-cutting project, Lab2Factory, which involved researchers from the Escola Superior Agrária de Coimbra (ESAC-IPC) and the Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Coimbra (ISEC-IPC), the project was developed by António Amaral, António Barata, Filipe Aguiar, José Martins, Luís Castro, Luís Roseiro, Maria Nazaré Pinheiro and Pedro Beirão.
Luís Castro, a researcher at CERNAS and ISEC/IPC and leader of the research team, says that “the project allowed us to develop an autonomous and transportable prototype, capable of ensuring the ideal conditions for stabilizing cork. This innovation helps prevent organoleptic deviations in the excellent final product of this important sector of the national economy — the natural cork stopper — in which Portugal is a world leader.”
Sara Proença, Director of INOPOL Academia de Empreendedorismo at IPC, emphasises that “obtaining this patent represents yet another concrete example of the Polytechnic of Coimbra’s commitment to valuing the knowledge produced in academia. At INOPOL, we work to transform applied research into solutions that respond to real challenges in society and industry, strengthening the bridge between science, technology and innovation.”
The new patent is part of the Polytechnic of Coimbra’s intellectual property portfolio, which is available for consultation on the official channels of INOPOL Academia de Empreendedorismo, at https://inopol.ipc.pt/valorizacao-do-conhecimento.
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