Metal casting research will explore new moulding materials, sand casting and gravity die-casting processes, as well as simulation technologies.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Foundry, Composite and Processing Technology (IGCV) opened a new metal casting research centre in Garching, Germany where it will explore new moulding materials, sand casting and gravity die-casting processes, as well as simulation technologies. The foundry is part of the new research campus established by Fraunhofer, which is a network of industrial research institutes, and the location will allow it to coordinate work with the Technical University of Munich.

The new foundry has 1 500m² of working space, part of a nearly 36 500m² complex that includes workshops, laboratory areas, meeting and seminar rooms, office areas for scientists, and administration, community, and communication zones.

Along with the Fraunhofer IGCV foundry, other Fraunhofer Institutes at the Garching campus include the unit for Applied and Integrated Security (Fraunhofer AISEC) and Cognitive Systems (Fraunhofer IKS.)

Fraunhofer IGCV indicated its new foundry will provide a home for research into every stage of the casting process, mould manufacturing to the finishing process. Researchers will work on individual solutions in order to transfer knowledge and innovations into industrial applications.

Simulation technology will be a significant aspect of the research, with the staff there working on “embedding of casting systems in overall control solutions and thus dedicate themselves to the potential of Industry 4.0,” according to an announcement.