P 2009-04 SuM, Sustainable Manufacturing of Light Weight Solutions

Project owner:                  Sintef Raufoss Manaufactoring

Partners:                            Norwegian Composite Center 
                                           Ragasco AS
                                           Nammo Raufoss AS
                                           Kongsberg Automotive
                                           Others

Funding:                             Norwegian Research Concil; KMB-projeckt

Main objectives:

"Green" products and sustainable manufacturing has been increasingly focused the last 25 years and sustainable transportation are currently one the most important issues. Solution for sustainable transportation will in most cases benefit from light weight. One example is the Raufoss Alternative Fuel System composite high-pressure H₂ container which allows the double capacity to a steel container (70 MPa vs. 35 Mpa) trough the higher strength/weight ratio. On the down side, composites are currently not recyclable such as aluminum. To be accepted in the global marketplace with increasing emphasis on sustainability, the solutions must prove to be sustainable throughout the life cycle including manufacturing and end of life (EOL).

Norwegian industry has a globally outstanding position on light weight solutions for automotive, aerospace and other sectors. Aluminum and composites are some of the materials used, but the uniqueness of current solutions is the application of material and process knowledge into superior manufacturing processes and high performance products. This KMB will build on this knowledge to create new knowledge on manufacturing of light weight solutions for sustainable transportation. The results should give Norwegian industry a potential for taking a globally leading role in providing sustainable light weight solutions for transportation and thereby both contribute to saving the planet as well as increasing Norwegian manufacturing industry competiveness.

Norwegian Composite Center will participate as an knowledge partner on the composite issues in this project. The center will look at:

• New knowledge on advanced light weight low grade input materials for increased re-use and recycling
• New knowledge on End of Life scenarios for light weight materials - including composites and disassembly
• Light weight solutions in a closed loop life cycle perspective
• Proof of concept trough industrial demonstrators

Photo: GFRP-scrap for resirculation
Source: Ragnar Sandmark; NSK