Foundry Technology Center of the University of Kassel inaugurated

The University of Kassel is thus developing into an important location for basic research in this future technology, especially in lightweight casting. In addition, the research infrastructure also serves the transfer of knowledge to industry and small and medium-sized businesses as well as the training of young scientists.

The equipment of the casting technology center includes a Frech hot-chamber magnesium die casting cell with a 580-ton locking force and a 1,400-ton Buhler Carat aluminum/magnesium cold-chamber die casting cell with vacuum connection, plus a high-performance Junker medium-frequency melting system for nonferrous and FE materials as well as various simulation and analysis laboratories. The facilities are housed in the university's Metakus Hall in Baunatal. The university's Department of Metal Forming Technology also maintains a laboratory there, so that metal forming research is now concentrated in Baunatal.

The Department of Foundry Technology, headed by Prof. Dr.-Ing Martin Fehlbier, conducts research into innovative energy- and resource-efficient production processes in lightweight casting construction, materials development with new materials for ultralight components, including multi-material mixes, and their structural design and failure simulation. An EXIST start-up grant for several graduates of the foundry technology department has already been successfully applied for at the BMWI (Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy). In the field of knowledge transfer, the GTK cooperates with numerous German and international companies.

Foundry technology is becoming increasingly important in sectors such as the automotive industry, but also, for example, in mechanical and plant engineering, the furniture industry or medical and energy technology. Many end or intermediate products that are welded or assembled using conventional methods can be manufactured in one piece using innovative casting technology. This saves weight, time and resources. Lightweight casting also plays a decisive role in the further development of electromobility: firstly, because the low weight of the components increases the range of the vehicles, and secondly, because the drive block or battery housing of e-vehicles are particularly suitable for production using casting technology.

The casting technology center has already been in operation since last summer, and the equipment has recently been completed. The equipment is worth around 3.5 million euros, with further permanent industrial loans amounting to around 1.1 million euros. It was financed by the German Research Foundation (DFG), industrial contributions and the university's own funds. The ceremony took place as part of a two-day foundry colloquium on "Lightweight Castings in the Context of New Mobility Concepts and E-Mobility" with a high-caliber audience of around 200 people.

Contact:

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Fehlbier
University of Kassel
Department of Foundry Technology (GTK)
Tel.: 0561 804-7595
E-mail: sekretariat-gtk[at]uni-kassel[dot]de  
Internet: www.gtk.uni-kassel.de

Sebastian Mense
University of Kassel
Communication, Press and Public Relations
Tel.: 0561 804-1961
E-mail: presse[at]uni-kassel[dot]de