Highly interesting contributions from the North Hessian Foundry Valley at the University of Kassel
When Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Fehlbier welcomed the participants almost 200 people came together for the GTK Colloquium at the University of Kassel to experience two intensive days with an interesting and varied exchange of information and excellent networking.
The main topics were the change in die casting and sand casting, digitalisation, large moulds and giant castings in die casting, rheocasting, thixomolding, ecoCasting and much more.
The future of the foundry industry in turbulent times
In his opening address, BDGuss Managing Director Dr. Max Schumacher reported on the future of the foundry industry in turbulent times. He made it clear that legislation and politics offer little leeway, while the change to e-mobility and digitalisation is already in full swing.
Despite currently rising sales and an expected turnover of €15.2 billion in 2023 in German foundries, this is at best a sideways movement due to inflation. In view of the European requirements for climate neutrality and the decided ban on combustion engines by 2035, Max Schumacher also recognises serious social changes with regard to mobility and the perception of the industry in the younger generation. In this context, he also refers to the BDGuss study Casting 2035. The association will present a roadmap to its members by March 2023 with a compass for achieving the goals, and there will be a special show on the topic of "Castainability" at GIFA.
Schumacher names the biggest challenges for the foundry industry in Germany as follows:
- Maintaining technology leadership
- Shortage of manpower
- Long life cycle of the foundry industry - Weakened financial strength
- Availability of raw materials - magnesium, aluminium, steel scrap
- Climate and energy policy
In order to defend technology leadership in Germany and Europe, it is not only necessary to invest quickly in future technologies, but also to repeatedly demonstrate the perception of the foundry industry in the media with interesting examples.
The rest of the programme had many interesting approaches to offer foundrymen, students and suppliers from all sectors - here is an excerpt from the list of topics and speakers.
Productive driving in times of change
Dipl.-Ing. M. Wöllenstein, Head of VW Foundry Kassel
Megacasting: Opportunities - Status - Outlook
Dipl.-Ing. M. Lagler, Head of Global Product, Bühler AG Switzerland
Large casting moulds - challenges and opportunities
Andreas Kant, Sales Department Manager, Costamp Group Italy
Clever production of structural parts on efficient machine sizes
Dipl.-Ing. S. Padovan, HPDC Technology GmbH
Battery housings - challenges in development and production
Dipl.-Ing. A. Hennings, Director Global Programmes, Nemak, Europe
Rheocasting - The sustainable future of HPDC
Dr. Per Jansson, Comptech Sweden
ecoCasting HD - Development of a sustainable iron casting process
Dipl.-Ing. W. Steinberg, Head of Technical Acquisition and Product Development Drive, Fritz Winter Eisengießerei
Inorganic 3D sand printing - status quo and outlook
Dipl.-Ing. E. Bader, Managing Director ExOne
Thixomoulding - practical experience
Dipl.-Ing. S. Schneider, Head of Sales, Castwerk Technologies GmbH/CWT
Introduction of new products and shortage of skilled workers Digitalisation in the field of tension between productivity increase, cost reduction, introduction of new products and shortage of skilled workers
Dipl-Ing. J. Schmiezek, Board Member for Growth, Tvarit GmbH
Advanced Aluminum parts @Mercedes-Benz Cars - Approach for a sustainable future
Dr.-Ing. M. Pfitzer, Body-in-White, Mercedes-Benz AG
Primary Al Casting Alloys on the Way to Zero CO²
Dipl.-Ing. L. Heusler, Hydro Aluminium Deutschland GmbH
CO² balancing of die casting processes
Dipl.-Ing. N. Schwenke, PhD student Uni Kassel / GTK
Method development for the characterisation of the damage mechanism of an AlSi10-based alloy on the microstructure level
M.Sc. T. Ickler, PhD student Uni Kassel
On the evening of the first day of lectures, the traditional foundry evening took place again in the Metakushalle in Baunatal. Excellent food and drinks and a good atmosphere in the middle of a technical centre, which is now equipped with facilities for many processes. The evening included a demonstration of 3D printing of sand cores on the ExOne S-Max.
With its university environment and proximity to VW, Kassel seems to be a good place for a small but intensive Foundry Valley in Northern Hesse. Thanks to Prof. Dr.-Ing. M. Fehlbier, his colleagues and the 20 or so students, it is a highly interesting environment for the further development of the foundry industry.
