Hello, my name is Antonello Casale and I’m pleased to join the PILATUS project team. I have a degree in Industrial Chemistry obtained at Università degli Studi in Milan. I start my professional activity at Pirelli Cavi (now Prysmian Group) in Milan R&D center as formulation developer for compounds to be used in the wire and cable industry. When I joined Padanaplast my expertise was particularly focused on polyolefin compounds production adopting the Sioplas reactive compounding technology. Leveraging on this competence developed for wire and cable crosslinkable compounds, some time ago I start to study the application of this technology also for the production of the encapsulant film used in PV modules; good results came and hence my first contacts with the solar energy production world, including PV module manufacturers, research institutes and the joining of European projects, PILATUS among them.
What was your original motivation to become a researcher/project manager?
Since the beginning of my activity I had the opportunity to operate in the branch of R&D focused on the development and industrialization of special compounds, starting from the selection of the raw materials and downstream till the end user application. This “wide view” approach together with the close contact with the market made my job very varied and always stimulating.
What is your (main) research area today?
Beside the development of polymeric materials and encapsulant film for PV application the main R&D area where I’m working today is the development of materials for wire and cable used in the alternative energy industry, solar and wind, and in electro mobility.
What is the main focus of your team in PILATUS?
In PILATUS project PADA will be focused in developing high performances encapsulant film, optimized to meet the needs of the newest PV module technologies.
From all your activities within the project, what are you the most proud of/keen to share with the public?
PILATUS project is a great opportunity to be part of a high level network of experts in the solar energy production, all together aiming to define a new state-of-art in this field.
How do you expect the PILATUS results will impact your organisation and the PV sector in Europe?
PILATUS project results are expected to consolidate Padanaplast as one of the strategic and most important suppliers in Europe for the PV module production.
