Page 16 - ITAtube Journal 1 2019

Technical Papers
Messe Düsseldorf GmbH
Tremendous potential – environmental, eco- nomic and social sustainability in foundries
Foundries are one of the best examples of resource efficiency and sustainability. Because cast- ings implement the recycling concept almost completely.
Once their life cycle is over, cast- ings are recycled, i.e. they are melted down to manufacture a new casting. Old and new scrap metal is used to produce castings too. Iron and steel foundries buy about 3.5 million different scrap materials year in, year out. About 95 per cent of the sand required to make moulds is recycled as well. Modern processing systems make this possible. So the foundry industry deserves special credit where recycling is concerned.
Sustainability and resource efficiency
This energy-intensive industry has, in addition, always had a strong commitment to the objectives of sustainability and resource effi- ciency. Innovations in the product and process simulation field make it possible nowadays to manufac- ture cast components that satisfy the requirements of economi- cally and environmentally sound lightweight structure production. Cesare Troglio, Technology and Innovation Division Manager at the German Foundry
Association (BDG), thinks that there are numerous significant ways to take account of the demands for sustainability and resource minimisation in product development, in production and
during product life: “Cast com- ponents embody the basic idea behind the ecoMetals label out- standingly well.”
With the latter, the four Düs- seldorf metallurgy trade fairs GIFA, METEC, THERMPROCESS and NEWCAST emphasise the impor- tance of resource and energy efficiency, climate protection and innovative processes and products. Exhibitors who present products, solutions or process operations relating to at least one of these areas will once again be highlighted particularly strongly in Düsseldorf in June 2019 (25. to 29. June). “The USP of the four trade fairs GIFA, METEC, THER- MPROCESS and NEWCAST is their coverage of almost the entire market – so sustainability is an issue that cannot be left out”, explains Friedrich Kehrer, Global Portfolio Director Metals and Flow Technology at Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. Visitors to the event can inform themselves about what the exhibitors are presenting at ecoMetals via a special brochure about this subject as well as online. There will also be guided tours – known as ecoTrails – spe- cifically for all visitors who are interested.
A number of exhibitors are allowed to display the ecoMetals label in this context. Because many foundries are investing in manu- facturing processes, are increas- ing vertical integration and are reducing resource consumption on an ongoing basis. One major feature of this process – and the
With the 3D printer, the Leipzig location has become an innovation centre. picture credit: GF Casting Solutions AG
ITAtube Journal No1/February 2019
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