Securing and preserving raw materials by processing and recycling foundry dusts - Research project
The research project of the University of Augsburg, bifa Umweltinstitut, four Bavarian foundries and two specialists for processing technologies looked at the topic of resource efficiency, which is highly relevant for the Bavarian economy.
The latter is very strongly integrated into the international raw materials markets and would also like to produce economically and in an environmentally friendly manner at its sites in the long term. A modern, sustainable resource strategy not only targets the beginning of the raw material chain (access, criticality), but also links it to the end of the material chain (residual materials, waste) to form closed recycling processes.
Together with Bavarian foundries and suppliers a research project should close material cycles in metal processing. The more than 30 large and 60 smaller Bavarian foundries are a key sector for the backbone of the Bavarian economy, from precision mechanics to the automotive and mechanical engineering industries. The project was funded by the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection.
Today, every second German company already uses recycled materials. In this context, a resource strategy supported equally by industry and the state is particularly expedient. An essential aspect of being able to provide even more high-quality basic raw materials for the domestic manufacturing industry in the future is to feed them into an efficient recycling economy.
The foundry industry plays an important role in metal recycling. Steel, cast iron and aluminum scrap are remelted into new products here. For many dusts separated during exhaust air purification in foundries, there are currently no or only inadequate recycling options despite high proportions of materials containing valuable substances.
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Funding code: BAFOISoFo-74128
Funding program: Project network for more resource efficiency in the Bavarian economy, especially for SMEs and crafts - ForCYCLE II
Funding: Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection
Funding priority: Securing and preserving raw materials by processing and recycling foundry dusts
Project duration: 2019 - 2022
Project partners: Universität Augsburg - Institute of Materials Resource Management - Franken Guss GmbH & Co. KG - Kemptener Eisengießerei Adam Hönig AG - Trompetter Guss GmbH & Co. KG - Giesserei Heunisch GmbH - GPS SIC Keßl GmbH u. Co. KG - AKW Apparate + Verfahren GmbH
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Similar to other industries, the way to even more environmentally friendly production and more resource efficiency is a highly topical and important issue for Bavarian foundries. Measures are needed to increase the reduction, recovery and reuse of waste materials. The economic efficiency of such a process is based on the savings in disposal costs and the recycling of the materials contained in the waste materials as a substitute for raw materials.
The aim of the project was to investigate economic and environmentally friendly alternatives to current disposal practices. The topic is being worked on in a network of the University of Augsburg and bifa Umweltinstitut GmbH together with four southern German foundries and manufacturers of processing technologies. The aim is to develop and implement practical ways of extracting, using and recycling metal dusts for Bavarian foundries. In this way, important resources for the Bavarian economy remain available in the material cycle.
The project partners are the University of Augsburg, bifa Umweltinstitut GmbH and the following Bavarian foundries and SMEs: Franken Guss Kitzingen GmbH Co. KG, Gießerei Heunisch GmbH, Kemptner Eisengießerei Adam Hönig AG and Trompetter Guss GmbH Co. KG, as well as the SMEs AKW Apparate+Verfahren GmbH and GPS SIC Keßl GmbH u. Co. KG.
For Cycle - Subproject 9: BGMR