​The Consortium is formed by a steelmaker, a surface hardening company, an end-user, a university and a technology development consultancy, representing the following countries: Spain, Italy, Germany and Austria.
SIDENOR is one of the European leaders in special steel long products. With an installed capacity of 1 million tonnes per year, it produces straight bars (round and flat) up to 220 mm diameter of high quality engineering steel grades. The production route comprises EAF-LF-VD-CC (billet and bloom). It has 5 rolling mills, heat treatment and finishing facilities. The main SIDENOR markets are automotive and energy.
SIDENOR I+D is the R&D centre of SIDENOR. It has a manpower of 44 persons (90% PhDs and engineers) working in 2 departments: Process and Product. It has its own research laboratory, equipped with modern testing facilities for metallurgical characterization and physical simulation. It also has capabilities for numerical simulation through the use of commercial (FEM…) and own developed software. The Centre has extensive experience in RFCS projects over many years, as coordinators or partners, in nearly all the Technical Groups. In the last years, the performed innovative work has leaded to the obtaining of three international patents related to the development of new steel grades for automotive applications. Some recent works have been presented in international congresses/conferences such as: the European Congress on Advanced Materials and Processes 2019 or the International Conference on Materials Structure & Micromechanics of Fracture 2019.
​
Contact: roberto.elvira@sidenor.com
CRF, headquartered in Orbassano (Turin) and with other branch sites in Italy, was established in 1978. As a focal point for research activities of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Group, CRF has the mission to develop and transfer innovative powertrains, vehicle systems and features, materials, processes and methodologies, to improve the FCA products competitiveness; represent FCA in European collaborative research programs, joining projects and promoting networking actions; support FCA in the protection and enhancement of intellectual property.
The operational structure is organized into four technical areas: Powertrain Research & Technology, Vehicle Research & Innovation, Group Material Labs and World Class Manufacturing Research & Innovation. CRF conducts collaborative research initiatives at national and international levels in partnership with all the key public and private stakeholders concerned with sustainable mobility and automotive manufacturing, targeting specifically the industrial exploitation of research. Among others, CRF has developed expertise in the following fields: high efficiency engines and transmissions and advanced technologies aiming at the reduction of emissions, including alternative fuels, hybrid and electric propulsions, reduction of environmental impact during the product lifecycle…
​
Contact: eva.butano@crf.it
ALD Vacuum Technologies GmbH is a world-wide supplier of equipment and systems for thermal and thermo-chemical treatment of metallic materials in solid and liquid form. The process and systems know-how in vacuum metallurgy and vacuum heat-treatment is based on developments over the past 80 years successfully brought about by the companies Degussa, Heraeus and Leybold.
The ALD research and development department, which will take part in the TOPGEAR project, has being pioneer in the development of the fundamental parameters and equipment of Low Pressure Carburising (LPC) in combination with High Pressure Gas Quenching (HPGQ) for automotive components such as gear-wheels, gear-shafts, injection nozzles etc. over the past 2 decades.
​
Contact: Christof.Ziegler@ald-vt.de
The Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL) of Aachen University of Technology (RWTH) is one of the largest university institutes of its kind in Europe. The institute carries out both basic and applied research projects directly addressing the needs of industry, and finding practical solutions for more modern and efficient production.
It is one of the most experienced research groups in gear technology in the world. The gear department is subdivided in research teams on design, manufacturing (soft/hard) and testing (lifetime, NVH, efficiency). Consequently, it is the only research facility in Europe that works on all three relevant areas of gear technology in simulation and experiment.
​
Contact: J.Brimmers@wzl.rwth-aachen.de
i2m is a technology development and management consultancy focusing on technology development for automotive, industry/machinery as well as the pharma and energy sectors. Bringing results of basic research as well as concept development with national and international partners from industry and research, with a cooperative approach, to market maturity is one of the strengths of i2m. The resulting products and services have a strong competitive advantages and are characterized by reduced development costs and short development times.
​
i2m focuses to boost the return on innovation by shortening time to money and making innovations more digital and green. The latter fits perfectly with its project activities on LCA.
Contact: marcel.egger@i2m.at
