Research & Development

The EICF encourages participation in collaborative projects which benefit the industry by reducing costs and developing manufacturing technology. Currently the Federation is engaged in two financially supported projects.

Ceramic Waste Disposal

The EICF is in partnership with the Mineral Industries Research Organisation to investigate the possibility of using industrial ceramic waste such as shell moulds as lining materials for land fill sites.

Preliminary trials carried out by the MIRO and Coventry University in the UK have been successful and a full size land fill site trial is to be launch late 2003. The success of this project will enable foundries to dispose of their shell waste on a cost neutral basis.

Dimensional Stability

Members of the EICF and BICTA are partners with the UK National Physical Laboratory in a project to determine the shell mould properties that control the dimensions of cast components. Selected shell systems will be investigated to determine the effect of strength, refractoriness, thermal expansion etc on the accuracy of final cast dimensions.

Details of these projects and future R&D activities can be obtained from the Secretary General.