Turning non-recyclable aluminum waste into metal foams with multiple applications

Project Information

ALFOAM

Grant agreement ID: 836177

DOI

10.3030/836177

Project closed

EC signature date 28 November 2018

Start date 1 January 2019

End date 30 June 2019

Funded under

• INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs

Total cost

€ 71 429,00

EU contribution

€ 50 000,00

Coordinated by

CREATEC SP ZOO
Poland

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ALFOAM (Turning non-recyclable aluminum waste into metal foams with multiple applications)

Reporting period: 2019-01-01 to 2019-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

At CREATEC, we develop a breaking cost effective proprietary technological process which utilizes the non-recyclable aluminum waste such as metal chips and solid particles created during milling, drilling and grinding. We use these by-products to produce aluminium foam. Such foam can be used in a variety of value-added products, e.g. in panels and beads with multiple applications in automotive, mining, and construction sectors. With the ALFOAM project we aimed to enhance our understanding of the market in the international context, to identify potential business partners, and to precise our business model.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Being assisted by our coach assigned by the EASME, we verified our view on the target markets, as well as we identified other, new to us, market segments which may be interested in products manufactured with the ALFOAM technology. Within the technology related part of our work, being supported by scientists, we conducted trials and proved that the technology of processing waste from the production of aluminum into metallic foams is scalable. We also identified possible fields for improvements in various stages of the process. This includes changes in the consolidation of aluminium chips and subsequent extrusion stage. Also, the potential for further optimization was identified in the foaming stage where opportunity for automation was identified revealing the possibility for continuous operation. The conducted in-depth market analysis helped us better understand both global and regional market conditions which contributed to an update of our commercialization strategy and our business plan. As a part of market research, we also investigated into the competitive landscape updating and extending our knowledge of competitors and their offering. We also reviewed our IPR strategy, consolidating our knowledge of IPR assets in our position and drafted plan for future activities in the domain of IPR protection.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

Finally, we updated and extended our business plan also including future revenues generated from collaboration a B2B client in the military sector which was identified and contacted during the project. We are now convinced that the ALFOAM concept matches confirmed needs and expectations of industrial players in the technological, economic and practical aspects. We aim to prove it by further development of the technology and finally – by successful entering to the market, possibly with support from the EIC Accelerator mechanism.

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