AMAG entered the aerospace component manufacturing business one and a half years ago with AMAG components. AMAG components is involved in additive manufacturing for titanium structural components for the aerospace industry - in research through to demonstration parts. Using the so-called WAAM process - Wire-Arc-Additive-Manufacturing (wire buildup welding) - components are built up layer by layer and then given their final shape by mechanical processing.
TU Graz operates an additive manufacturing laboratory headed by Franz Haas, head of the Institute of Production Engineering and Christof Sommitsch, head of the Institute of Materials Science, Joining and Forming. Both professors are members of AMAG's Scientific Advisory Board, a body that advises AMAG on R&D strategy and project selection, and is also a link to university research and training.
State-of-the-art research and teaching environment
In order to strengthen the cooperation and promote research and training in the field of additive manufacturing, AMAG has now donated a state-of-the-art facility from the inventory of AMAG components in Übersee am Chiemsee in Germany to TU Graz. In doing so, AMAG once again highlightes the great importance of innovation, cutting-edge research, as well as training in the field of metallurgy in Austria.
The plant, which has a value of around 800,000 euros when new, was last used at AMAG components for research and the production of demonstration parts made of titanium. In the university environment, insights into material behavior and the achievable properties of the components produced from different materials (e.g. also aluminum) are now to be gained by incorporating the expertise of the two participating institutes. This will provide students with a state-of-the-art industrial tool for their education.
"For AMAG, innovation is an essential pillar of the corporate strategy. Accompanying this, the training of experts and thus cooperation with top universities is particularly important for us. We have been cooperating successfully with Graz University of Technology for years in research into innovative production technology and materials development for light metals, and intend to continue to drive this forward. The training of up-and-coming scientists in the area of production technology is a major concern for us, not least because AMAG wants to continue to grow in the area of component production,and needs competent employees to do so," says Helmut Kaufmann, AMAG Austria Metall AG's Chief Technology Officer.
"Researchers and students alike benefit from our cooperation with AMAG and the new high-tech facility. They find a high-performance, state-of-the-art research environment and can immediately and purposefully link their studies and research with business-specific requirements of the industry. The young technical talent at TU Graz is directly integrated into ongoing research projects and is thus prepared in the best possible way for jobs and careers in industry and business," says TU Graz Rector Harald Kainz, pleased with this generous donation.
"The cooperation with AMAG and the donation of this facility is a clear sign of appreciation for our work and achievements. The timing of the donation is particularly appropriate, as we are holding a major international conference on the subject of 'additive manufacturing' at Graz University of Technology in the fall, where we also intend to present the new plant," concludes Franz Haas, head of the Institute of Production Engineering at Graz University of Technology.
This research area is anchored in the Fields of Expertise "Advanced Materials Science" and "Mobility & Production", two of five strategic research areas of TU Graz.
About the AMAG Group
AMAG is a leading Austrian premium supplier of high-quality aluminium cast and rolled products, which are used in a wide range of industries such as the aircraft, automotive, sporting goods, lighting, mechanical engineering, construction and packaging industries. The Canadian Alouette smelter, in which AMAG holds a 20 percent stake, produces high-quality primary aluminium with an exemplary eco-balance. The AMAG components division, with its headquarter in Übersee am Chiemsee, combines expertise and years of experience in the production of ready-to-install metal parts for the aerospace industry.
