Non-destructive meat texture monitoringprimary
2 projects
SliceWatch Phase 1 (2014) and Phase 2 (2016-2018) both focused on electromagnetic scanning to monitor meat texture in high-speed slicing lines.
Organization
LENZ INSTRUMENTS SL
Barcelona SME developing sensor technologies for non-destructive material testing in food processing and circular economy waste sorting.
Technology SMEfoodESSME
H2020 projects
4
As coordinator
2
Total EC funding
€2.2M
Unique partners
58
What they do
Their core work
LENZ Instruments is a Barcelona-based SME that develops sensor and measurement technologies for industrial quality control. They originally built electromagnetic scanning systems for non-destructive testing in meat processing lines, helping manufacturers optimize slicing yield and reduce waste. More recently, they have applied their sensor expertise to circular economy challenges — sorting complex waste streams, tracing construction materials, and enabling recycling of difficult materials like laminated glass with PVB interlayers.
Core expertise
What they specialise in
Electromagnetic sensing and scanningprimary
2 projects
Core technology behind SliceWatch — electromagnetic scan systems for real-time, non-contact material characterization.
Sensor-based waste sorting and recyclingemerging
2 projects
ICEBERG and SUNRISE projects (2020-2024) both involve advanced sorting and processing technologies for construction and demolition waste and complex materials like laminated glass.
Circular economy material tracingemerging
1 project
ICEBERG project includes RFID and QR smart tracing systems for tracking materials through circular building lifecycles.
Evolution & trajectory
How they've shifted over time
Early focus
Meat processing sensor technology
Recent focus
Circular economy waste sorting
From 2014 to 2018, LENZ focused exclusively on food technology — specifically electromagnetic sensing for meat processing quality control, taking their SliceWatch concept from feasibility (SME-1) through full development (SME-2). From 2020 onward, they pivoted their sensor and measurement expertise toward circular economy and waste management, joining two large Innovation Action consortia dealing with construction demolition waste sorting and complex material recycling. This represents a clear shift from food-sector instrumentation to environmental sensing applications.
LENZ is migrating its core sensing capabilities from food industry applications toward circular economy and recycling — expect them to pursue more waste characterization and material sorting projects.
Collaboration profile
How they like to work
Role: specialist_contributorReach: European12 countries collaborated
LENZ started as a project leader, coordinating both SliceWatch phases as an SME instrument beneficiary, which shows entrepreneurial drive and ability to define their own R&D agenda. In their more recent projects, they participate in larger Innovation Action consortia (58 unique partners across all projects), contributing specialist sensor technology rather than leading. This dual capability — able to lead small focused projects and contribute to large consortia — makes them a flexible partner.
LENZ has built connections with 58 unique consortium partners across 12 countries, primarily through two large IA projects (ICEBERG, SUNRISE). Their network spans a broad European footprint despite being a small company, giving them reach well beyond their Barcelona base.
Why partner with them
What sets them apart
LENZ brings industrial sensor and measurement know-how that bridges two very different sectors: food processing and construction waste recycling. Their ability to adapt electromagnetic scanning and non-destructive testing techniques from one domain to another is uncommon among SMEs of their size. For consortium builders, they offer proven instrumentation expertise that can be applied wherever real-time material characterization is needed.
Notable projects
Highlights from their portfolio
- SLICEWATCHLargest single grant (EUR 1.2M) as coordinator — took their core meat monitoring technology from concept to market via the SME Instrument two-phase path.
- SUNRISEApplies their sensor expertise to an entirely new domain — sorting laminated glass and complex waste for PVB interlayer recycling, signaling their strategic pivot to circular economy.
Cross-sector capabilities
Environment and circular economyConstruction and demolition waste managementIndustrial quality control and process optimizationMaterial characterization and sensing
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