The REMAIN project had a prominent presence at the IEEE ETFA 2025 International Conference, held in Porto (Portugal). This is a benchmark event that brings together international experts in industrial innovation, automation, and process digitalization.
During the session, José Francisco Gómez, Head of the Advanced Manufacturing Unit at Inescop, presented the latest progress and results of REMAIN, highlighting the role that remanufacturing can play as a driver of sustainability and competitiveness for manufacturing industries. His presentation focused on the footwear sector, where the adoption of these technological solutions represents a unique opportunity to transform traditional production models and move towards a more efficient and environmentally friendly industry.
The presentation addressed the main challenges currently facing the industry: dependence on raw materials, accelerated product obsolescence, and the need to reduce the environmental impact derived from industrial activity. REMAIN tackles these challenges through the development of new technologies, methodologies, and tools that facilitate the integration of remanufacturing as part of companies’ business models.
Among the most notable advances, the project has developed innovative computer vision systems and tactile sensors for detecting damage in footwear and textile products, enabling the automatic classification of defects ranging from wear and stains to structural problems invisible to the human eye. In addition, multipurpose robotic platforms are being created, capable of disassembling, preparing, and reconditioning products for reintroduction into the production chain, thereby extending their useful life and reducing waste generation.
The session also mentioned the development of the Eco-Design Guide, one of REMAIN’s key outputs, which will provide practical recommendations for footwear companies and other industries to incorporate sustainability, repairability, and recyclability criteria from the product design stage. This approach seeks to foster the transition towards a circular economy, where technological innovation is combined with environmental responsibility.
On behalf of the University of Alicante, a REMAIN partner, the work entitled “Touch-based Effector Control to Track 3D Surfaces” was presented. Researcher Edison Patricio Velasco explained the study they carried out, which focuses on tactile control for performing manipulation tasks that require sustained contact over time, such as scanning three-dimensional surfaces by touch, polishing, or painting. For this purpose, as Velasco explained, a Contactile PapillArray sensor was applied, encapsulated in a tool and mounted on the effector of a Kinova Gen3 robot.
Meanwhile, researcher Miguel Aranda from the University of Zaragoza presented the results of the study entitled “Controlling the Shape of Deformable Linear Objects in 3D with a Simple Geometric Model.” This research describes a novel system that enables a robotic arm to automatically manipulate slender objects to deform them into desired shapes.
As Aranda explained during his talk at the conference, the proposed system has potential applications in assembly tasks for manufacturing. This work represents another step forward in achieving precise control of a product’s shape during robotic manipulation, which is precisely one of the objectives pursued by the REMAIN project.
Inescop participated in IEEE ETFA as the coordinator of a consortium made up of universities, technology centres, business associations, and specialized companies, all working towards implementing remanufacturing in manufacturing sectors. REMAIN continues to progress in its mission to provide real solutions that help transform the current production model, fostering sustainability and competitiveness in the European industrial ecosystem.
Project partners
The REMAIN project is led by Inescop – Footwear Technology Center, with the participation of the Universities of Zaragoza, Alicante, Coimbra, and Clermont Auvergne INP; the Federation of Spanish Footwear Industries (FICE); as well as the companies SMA-RTY, Automática y Control Numérico S.L, AIDA CCI, and as a collaborating entity, the social association Proyecto Lázaro.