The manufacturing sector is increasingly confronted with demands to optimize production in order to produce the same quantity of goods, with the same quality, while minimizing energy consumption.
In this context, the E2COMATION (Life-Cycle Optimization of Industrial Energy Efficiency) project aimed to optimize energy usage in industrial environments by adopting a systemic approach that considers the entire value chain, with a particular focus on the sustainability of production processes.
The project involved 20 partners, including research and development centers, technology providers, and manufacturing companies across Europe. It led to the development of various technologies that were applied and validated in four pilot plants operating in the food, wood, and furniture sectors.
At the heart of E2COMATION is the development of a modular technological platform capable of monitoring, simulating, and evaluating the energy performance of a factory. This system not only allows for real-time dynamic adaptation and optimization of operations, but also enhances the strategic positioning and sustainability of companies within their supply and value chains.
Within the project, the Sustainable Production Systems (SPS) Laboratory played a dual role. On one hand, it worked closely with industrial partners to promote the innovations developed and implemented in pilot cases, derive best practices, and initiate training programs for students and professionals. On the other hand, in collaboration with the Institute of Information Systems and Networking (ISIN), it designed and developed a blockchain-based platform to trace and monitor product life cycle data, ensuring reliability and transparency throughout the value chain.
The integration of expertise from the SPS and ISIN teams led to the creation of a blockchain-based marketplace, designed for publishing and sharing data related to the environmental impact of products, calculated using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. The use of blockchain helped overcome several challenges commonly associated with LCA, such as the limited availability and transmission of data across the supply chain, and most importantly, the lack of incentive strategies for companies reluctant to share data.
Complementing this infrastructure, a system was also developed to assess the quality of environmental impact data provided by companies. This system uses a dual-layered analysis that considers criteria such as data usability, relevance and significance for other assessments, and accuracy level. Thanks to this approach, other companies can access validated, transparent shared data to improve operational efficiency and support strategic sustainability decisions.
The E2COMATION project is a concrete example of how digitalization and the integration of advanced technologies — such as simulation, real-time monitoring, and blockchain — can help make the manufacturing sector more efficient, transparent, and sustainable. The results not only demonstrate the technical feasibility of these tools but also chart a clear path forward for European industries committed to transitioning toward low-impact production models, while fostering innovation and continuous learning.