Further development of an international test and demonstration facility towards sustainable cast components

Purpose and goal

The industrial paradigm towards sustainability implies changed or completely new customer requirements and demands on the foundry industry. The extensive business plan developed in the project, describes how the ToD facility needs to be developed to provide the foundry industry and its stakeholders with the support of refining ideas and innovations towards new industrializable and sustainable castings products. The business plan also describes how ToD becomes a successful industrial and investment catalyst for new environment and energy efficient equipment and processes.

Expected results and effects

Based on conclusions from industrial workshops, study visits, tests and demonstrations, a new business plan has been compiled. This identifies how the ToD facility needs to be developed on several levels; equipment and infrastructure, data and information as well as knowledge and business value, to meet industry needs and conversion to sustainability. An establishment of strategic partnerships with equipment suppliers, foundry customers and foundries has begun and will be essential in the next step of the ToD development.

Planned approach and implementation

The project has been performed together with the project team consisting of the Swedish Foundry Association and two foundries as well as through dialogue, workshops and study visits with a larger number of stakeholders from the foundry industry, its customers and suppliers. Combined, this has settled the design foundation of the business plan, and in addition a broad grounding and relevance. The demonstrators of the two participating foundries have enabled testing and evaluation of concepts.