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Description
Established in July 2018 within the North-Western Planning Region of Lovech, Goldlight Ltd. specializes in the creation of composite lighting fixtures, offering a diverse range of products in terms of size, shape, and color.
The core objective of this project is to develop a groundbreaking, eco-friendly snow sled (pulk) manufactured from recyclable green epoxy, specifically SR GreenPoxy 28. This resin, characterized by high viscosity and lower environmental impact, can be tailored with various hardeners to meet specific product requirements, such as mechanical strength, UV protection, and production suitability. The innovation also extends to the manufacturing process, which adopts vacuum infusion. This advanced technique ensures efficient resin usage, minimizes material wastage, allows flexibility in product size and shape, maintains high consistency, and promotes a cleaner, more environmentally friendly operation. Additionally, the vacuum infusion process significantly reduces styrene emissions as the resin cures within a closed environment.
The implementation of this project is in partnership with Fjellpulken As, a well-established Norwegian sled producer renowned for its products, which cater to a wide range of adventures, from small family excursions to the most challenging polar expeditions. With a solid brand reputation and a track record of selling over 100,000 pulks globally, this partnership will play a pivotal role in producing innovative and eco-conscious sleds.
Summary of project results
The project sought to overcome several complex challenges associated with developing a ready-for-production (RFP) snow sled (pulk) that utilized eco-friendly, recyclable materials and innovative manufacturing processes. Key challenges included:
Material Adaptation: Integrating a bio-based epoxy resin, required balancing mechanical strength, UV protection, and production suitability. Achieving compatibility between the resin’s high viscosity and the vacuum infusion process demanded extensive testing and optimization.
Sustainability and Performance Balance: Designing a sled that maintained durability under extreme conditions while minimizing environmental impact required iterative testing and material refinement to meet both performance and sustainability goals.
Production Process Innovation: Introducing the vacuum infusion process presented technical difficulties, including achieving consistent resin usage, minimizing waste, and ensuring repeatable, high-quality sled production. Additional efforts were required to reduce styrene emissions during resin curing in a closed environment without compromising efficiency.
Collaboration Coordination: Partnering with Fjellpulken AS, a traditional sled manufacturer, posed challenges in aligning technical expectations and combining legacy expertise with innovative materials and processes.
Market Readiness: The development and testing of prototypes for demanding use cases, from family excursions to polar expeditions, necessitated repeated iterations, increased costs, and careful planning to ensure scalability for mass production while adhering to environmental and safety standards.
By addressing these challenges through rigorous testing, material and process refinement, and close collaboration with Fjellpulken AS, the project successfully achieved its goal of producing an eco-friendly, high-performance sled that aligns with sustainability and market demands.
The project, led by Goldlight Ltd. in partnership with Fjellpulken AS, focused on designing and developing an innovative snow sledge made from recyclable green materials. Here are the key points:
- Design and Production Technology: Developed technology for producing sled models 145 and 165, using eco-friendly epoxy resin.
- Mold Development: Created molds for the sleds using advanced materials and techniques.
- Testing and Manufacturing: Produced and tested experimental models to ensure durability and safety.
Outputs:
- Eco-Friendly Sleds: Successfully developed and tested sleds made from recyclable materials.
- Innovative Production Processes: Implemented new procedures for consistent resin usage and high-quality output.
- Sustainability: Achieved high-performance and sustainable sled production, contributing to eco-friendly manufacturing practices.
Overall, the project addressed technical, production, and market readiness challenges, resulting in the successful development of eco-friendly snow sleds.
Outcomes:
Innovative Sleds:
- Developed and tested two new sled models (145 and 165) using eco-friendly epoxy resin.
- Implemented a production technology that reduces CO2 emissions and allows for material reuse.
Sustainability:
- Created sleds with high environmental parameters, contributing to sustainable manufacturing practices.
- Reduced environmental impact through the use of recyclable green materials.
Economic Growth:
- Increased competitiveness and market presence for Goldlight Ltd.
- Estimated increase in annual turnover by 218% and net operational profit by 100% within five years.
Job Creation:
- Created three new jobs in a less economically developed region of Bulgaria.
Impacts:
Environmental Impact:
- Decreased CO2 emissions due to the use of green epoxy resin.
- Promoted eco-friendly production methods in the snow sled industry.
Economic Impact:
- Enhanced business sustainability and competitiveness for Goldlight Ltd.
- Expanded market opportunities and customer base.
Social Impact:
- Contributed to social cohesion by creating jobs in a less developed region.
- Promoted gender equality and good governance principles within the company.
Beneficiaries:
Goldlight Ltd.:
- Achieved technological advancements and increased market competitiveness.
- Benefited from improved production processes and sustainability practices.
Fjellpulken AS:
- Gained access to innovative sled designs and eco-friendly production technology.
- Strengthened bilateral cooperation with Goldlight Ltd.
Local Community:
- Benefited from job creation and economic development in the South-East region of Bulgaria.
Environment:
- Benefited from reduced CO2 emissions and sustainable manufacturing practices.
Overall, the project successfully developed eco-friendly snow sleds, contributing to environmental sustainability, economic growth, and social cohesion.
Summary of bilateral results
The collaboration between Goldlight Ltd. and Fjellpulken AS was instrumental in achieving the project’s objectives, fostering innovation, sustainability, and strengthened ties between Bulgaria and Norway. Fjellpulken AS provided invaluable expertise in sled design and manufacturing technology, leading efforts in developing eco-friendly production processes and refining the use of bio-based epoxy resin.Their hands-on involvement, including mold design, material selection, and supervising experimental sled production, ensured high-quality outcomes. The joint decision to test the Model 145 touring sled and Model 165 expedition sled showcased effective alignment of project goals. Fjellpulken’s contribution to testing experimental sled models enhanced Goldlight’s capacity for business sustainability and competitiveness in the snow sled industry.Beyond technical advancements, this partnership deepened bilateral cooperation, promoting mutual knowledge exchange and best practices between the two nations. The project demonstrated the potential of international collaboration to drive sustainable innovation and expand business opportunities, paving the way for continued joint success.