ToolTrace - Cutting Tool Traceability enabling Human Behaviors for circularity
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Luleå tekniska universitet - Luleå tekniska universitet Inst f ekon teknik konst & samhälle |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 3 067 000 |
| Project duration | June 2022 - October 2025 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | The strategic innovation programme for Production2030 |
| Call | Sustainable Work in the Manufacturing Industry |
Important results from the project
The ToolTrace project has developed knowledge and concepts to enable more circular flows of cutting tools in the metalworking industry. The objectives were met through operator studies, industrial demonstrations and traceability needs analyses. An important results was the role of a third stakeholder group, companies that regrind and reuse tools. The project has strengthened collaborations between industry and academia and laid the foundation for future solutions for reuse and recycling.
Expected long term effects
The project expects to contribute to more circular and resource-efficient material flows in the metalworking industry in the long term. Through increased traceability and understanding of user behavior, tools can be reused, resharpened and recycled with higher precision. This can reduce material losses, strengthen companies´ competitiveness and create new business models. The results can also support standardization and give SMEs better opportunities to participate in sustainable value chains.
Approach and implementation
The project was implemented in five work packages and recurring "sync points" where all parties jointly reviewed progress and steered the work forward. The activities were relevant and the schedule was kept. The collaboration between academia, SMEs and industry partners worked well and provided valuable knowledge sharing. An unexpected but important discovery was that tool regrinding and recycling companies are a central player in the circular value chain.