The HYDRACTVAL project aims to design, test and demonstrate a leak-proof double seat control valve for the brewery and dairy industries. It will be based on and fully exploits the benefits of its core technology – a patented water-based hydraulic actuator with regulation functionality. The novel technology holds a range of clear advantages over compressed air:  Energy efficiency and reduced CO2 emission: Reducing electricity consumption and carbon emissions by more than 65%;  Precision: Accurate positioning of valve position allowing any valve to be used for regulation besides fully open/close position.  Hygiene: Leak free and sterile hydraulic system prevents spread of air borne bacteria, oil, etc., reducing the risks of food and beverage contamination.  Reliability: Reducing waste by avoiding unintended opening of valves and leaks. Avoids cavitation.  Cost: Reduces the number of valves needed for a given process, reduces the cost of production and installation of valves, and allows smaller and more flexible plants. The water-based hydraulic actuator system promises to offer a new level of control over valves. To exploit this control to its maximum potential – and thus pave the way for broad market impact - a new process valve would have to be designed, adapted and demonstrated. The technology will have the potential to be adapted for other markets currently using pneumatic valves. It will significantly increase KM’s competitiveness through launching a game changing product in a conservative industry, and opening vast and global market opportunities. HYDRACTVAL will drastically decrease the energy consumption in food and beverage industries, with consequent decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and carbon footprint. It will also have a positive impact on the food security by reducing the risks of contamination. This is coherent with the challenge under the work programme topic Resource-efficient eco-innovative food production and processing (SFS-08-2014).

The brewing industry is a strong pillar of the European economy with more than 2.3 million jobs linked with this industry. Today it is facing unprecedented challenges as the competition increases and the consumers are more demanding than ever. To remain competitive, breweries need to invest in solutions that may increase their productivity, cut costs and adapt quickly to what the market desire. HYDRACTFLEX vision is to introduce a new production paradigm concept – Flex Supply – that will enable for the first time integrated: High Gravity brewing, Just-In-Time production and inline mixing of beers, directly from the bright beer tanks, increasing productivity and decreasing costs for the end-user. HYDRACTFLEX will leverage a technological synergy between complementary innovations of technology providers (water-based actuators/valves (KMR), control software (ProLeiT) and monitoring sensors (ACM)) to offer a full package capable of regulate/control the new process with unprecedented precision, which is indispensable to unlock the full potential of Flex Supply. The overall aim is to mature and prove full functionality and benefits of the integration of the three core technologies that together will enable the Flex Supply concept, in the context of a full-scale demonstration, at Carlsberg (Fredericia, DK). The full-scale demonstration will overcome the remaining market barriers, while prove: reductions in costs, materials usage, energy demand, CO2 footprint, product losses; increases in flexibility and productivity; and enhanced beverage safety. HYDRACTFLEX will have a significant impact on the partners competitiveness and visibility. The partnering with a leading player is already a tremendous validation of the potential of our solutions and will be the definitive leverage for the market uptake, primary in the brewing industry, and later in other sanitary industries where precise regulation is fundamental, e.g. dairies, soft drinks, etc.