International Aluminium-Pressure Die Casting Competition 2012
 
The competition has again been organised jointly by the Association of the Aluminium Recycling Industry (Verband der Aluminiumrecycling-Industrie, VAR) and the Organisation of the European Aluminium Recycling Industry (OEA), supported by the Association of German Pressure Die Casters (Verband Deutscher Druckgießereien) and the Die Casting Technical Committee of the Federal Association of the German Foundry Industry (Bundesverband der Deutschen Gießerei-Industrie, BDG). The aim of this highly regarded competition is to demonstrate the high quality standards aluminium die castings have to offer and publicise die-casting-friendly design. The extent to which recycled aluminium is used in the casting is also an important aspect of the competition.
 
Thirteen castings were entered; seven originated from Germany with two each from Italy and Austria, and one each from Switzerland and the Netherlands. In this year’s competition, attention focussed on process customisation and not on trend-setting innovation as in previous years. This change has signalled a break with traditional entries: new ideas for the future in fields of tooling technology and tooling design are apparent. Experience in series production will lead to new design concepts being developed for the future. One should point out the very great potential of aluminium die casting in lightweight construction that enables the growing demands for sustainable development to be satisfied. The castings submitted were produced mainly from recycled aluminium.
 
The assessment and choice of the prize-winning castings was carried out by a jury of experts from research and industry. Three prizes were awarded and a further three entries were highly commended.
 
The Awards (6 images)
Further Entries (7 images)
 
There are two first prizes because both castings exhibit innovative component design using the same technology. One of the components is an extremely thin-walled, intricate and lightweight design whereas the other is extremely thick-walled but thus correspondingly strong. The heavy gauge shows that it is actually possible to produce this structural element reliably by means of die casting, a process that is supposedly not suitable for such parts. The diversity in the possible use of the process to produce innovative die castings can be seen from the differences between the two winning components.
 
The results of former competitions can be seen here.  
 
 
 
11th OEA International Aluminium Recycling Congress
21 and 22 February 2011 in Vienna

The 11th OEA International Aluminium Recycling Congress, successfully celebrated in Vienna in February 2011, was very well received by the experts of the international aluminium recycling industry.
 
Aim of the Congress was to show economic, technical and political developments in the field of aluminium recycling in Europe and the rest of the world. During two days, the numerous delegates had the opportunity to listen to interesting presentations of top class speakers, to exchange views with colleagues and to form new contacts.
 
Programme
 
– Welcome Address
Roberta Niboli, Raffmetal, Italy
– Keynote
Tadeu Nardocci, Novelis, Switzerland
– Ressource Efficiency – The Solution for Europes Raw
Material Shortage?
Reinhard Bütikofer, Member of the European Parliament
– The present and future EU Policy and its Impact on
the Aluminium Recycling Industry
Guy Thiran, Eurometaux, Belgium
– Urban Mining – Opportunity to further close
the Aluminium Loop?
Stefan Glimm, German Aluminium Association (GDA) and
European Aluminium Foil Association (EAFA), Germany
– Perspectives of Aluminium Recycling in Europe
in the next Decade
Günter Kirchner, OEA, Germany
– Improved international Communication
of Aluminium Recycling
Marlen Bertram, International Aluminium Institute (IAI),
Germany
– Metals pro Climate – Pace-Setter for Resource
Efficiency and Climate Protection
Martin Kneer, WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle, Germany
– Recycling in Middle and Eastern Europe
Lubomir Lepen, Trimet Prag, Czech Republic
– Aluminium Recycling in CIS
Alexey Alipchenko, Trimet Moscow, Russia
– Aluminium Recycling in Switzerland – A model for
Europe?
Jürg Gerber, Switzerland
– Bench Remelt Plant for HAI Romania, Automated Billet
Production Dross – Quo Vadis
Franz Niedermair, Hertwich Engineering GmbH, Austria
– New Expert System for improved Processing in the
non-ferrous Metal Sector
Christian Windhövel, ALTEC GmbH, Air Liquide Technology
Center North & Central Europe; Dietmar Wieck, Air Liquide
Deutschland GmbH, Germany
– The Contribution of modern Recycling Technology
to more recycled Aluminium
Michael Schwalbe, Ingenieurbüro FMS, Germany
– REALCAR Project: Sustainable Aluminium Automotive
Body Sheet
Adrian Tautscher, Jaguar Land Rover, Great Britain
– Modern Car Technology and its Impact on
Aluminium Demand
Dr. Christoph Haberling, Audi AG, Germany
– The Reason for recycled Aluminium in Flat TV’s –
The Philips Econova Case
Tom Devoldere, Philips Consumer Lifestyle, Belgium
 
There was a simultaneous translation of the presentations in English and German.
 
The Congress proceedings are available as CD-ROM from the OEA Secretariat in Düsseldorf.
> commander