The knowledge to produce high-technology castings is already a key-factor for the survival of Swedish foundry industry. Price-wise we can’t compete with low-cost countries. We have to find other benefits such as complex designs, integrated functions and high technology materials.

The wind-power and heavy truck industries are very important for Sweden. These industries use a lot of cast components with complex designs and high demands on mechanical properties. It is very important to continue to develop these industries and their suppliers to maintain a strong and competitive foundry business in Sweden.

The project focus is to increase the competitiveness of the Swedish foundries by develop high technology castings. This will be achieved by increasing the fundamental knowledge of mechanisms, improve material strengths, develop new processes and decrease weight of components. Implementation of the results will lead to decreased scrap ratio, decreased energy consumption, more efficient production and castings with higher mechanical properties and more consistent quality. Other commercial intentions are to implement the new knowledge and material data in simulation software.

Totally 18 foundries, suppliers and end users are involved in the project, which is divided into four different Work Packages (WP);

-          WP1: Project management

-          WP2: High Strength Cast Iron

-          WP3: Light Weight Components

-          WP4: New Technologies

Contact: Stefan Gustafsson-Ledell