108 Innovative technologies Innovative technologies by Fritz Winter setting standards for a sustainable foundry By Thomas von Reth, Head of Technical Acquisition and Product Development and Markus Semmler, Head of Plant Planning and Environmental Protection Fritz Winter Eisengießerei, a leading supplier to the automotive industry, is driving sustainable development in the sector with its pioneering eco solutions. The company has set itself the goal of developing resource-friendly products for the automotive, commercial vehicle and hydraulics industries, proving that industrial production and environmental protection do not exclude each other. Three innovative technologies are at the core of eco solutions: ecoMelting, ecoCasting and ecoCoating. These processes are designed to significantly reduce the ecological footprint of the iron foundry while simultaneously enhancing product quality. Fritz Winter has a longstanding commitment to designing its melting processes as sustainably as possible. The company has been using 100% scrap iron as a raw material for its products since 1953. With ecoMelting, further steps are being taken to achieve a CO2-neutral foundry independent of fossil energy sources. These include the use of green electricity, the replacement of a cupola furnace with electric crucible furnaces, the optimal utilization of waste heat and hydrogen as a substitute for fossil fuels. Fritz Winter has set itself the ambitious goal of achieving CO2 neutrality by 2045. Decarbonization is to be implemented step by step to ensure a sustainable transformation of the melting process. Fritz Winter has revolutionized the casting process with ecoCasting. This innovative solution does not require moulding sand and therefore not only saves valuable resources, but also reduces water consumption and CO2 emissions. As a result, several million liters of fresh water are saved per casting line each year. This process allows casting with significantly reduced tolerances, enabling lightweight design concepts and resulting in weight savings of up to 40 kilograms per cylinder block. ecoCasting is an excellent example of how lightweight design and sustainability can be combined in the iron foundry. ecoCoating, the third pillar of eco solutions, is a coating process for brake discs developed by Fritz Winter. This innovative technology makes a significant contribution to the reduction of fine dust, a key factor for sustainable mobility and compliance with the limits of the upcoming Euro 7 standard. „ecoCoating not only reduces particulate emissions, it also ensures that a brake disc lasts throughout the vehicle‘s service life,“ explains Thomas von Reth, Head of Development at Fritz Winter. Investments in the green foundry of the future Fritz Winter will invest more than 300 million euros in these pioneering technologies, which will also involve extensive changes in production and infrastructure as well as employee training. This investment reflects the company‘s commitment to sustainability and its confidence in the viability of eco solutions to play a leading role in the sustainable transformation of the iron foundry industry. „Our eco solutions are more than just technological innovations. They are our contribution to a sustainable future and are proof that economic success and ecological responsibility do not have to be opposites,“ explains Markus Semmler, Head of Plant Planning at Fritz Winter. „Our eco solutions not only benefit the environment, but also the competitiveness of our company. With its eco solutions, Fritz Winter is also becoming an even more important partner for the automotive industry. These innovative concepts will further support manufacturers on their way to clean mobility. Fritz Winter is not only setting new standards in the industry and underlining its position as an innovation leader in the field of sustainable iron foundry but is also making a clear commitment to its responsibility towards the environment and future generations. For more information on Fritz Winter‘s eco solutions, please visit the company‘s website at: www.fritzwinter.com/de/eco-solutions Images: © Fritz Winter
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