The MEMAN project aims at supporting European companies in the metal mechanical sector in their efforts to maximise their resource saving potential and increase competitiveness. The project is based on an innovative approach that will address resource efficiency optimisation of whole manufacturing value chains instead of isolated single company or process optimisation, and includes energy, raw materials, supplies and waste. MEMAN brings together fourteen partners from six countries, including enterprises, SMEs, and experts in eco-innovative models, who will be working on optimising resource efficiency across the complete metal mechanical value chain, from casting through machining to surface finishing.
CASTING
The casting sector comprises a large number of sectors, including mobility (aviation, railway, shipping, automotive), energy, agribusiness, and chemicals. The companies in all sectors directly employ around 34,960 people. Within the framework of MEMAN project, the cluster will test innovate technological processes of suspension control arm production, making us of light alloys and new design methods. The possibility of manufacturing the part in aluminium will be explored, together with the assessment of the alternative technologies such as new casting, cooling, and heat treatment processes.
MACHINING
Mecanic Vallée is a business and innovation cluster, specialised in aeronautics, spare parts for automotive industry, and machines tools. It gathers 173 members, representing 87% of the employees and constituting 85% of the turnover (€1.85M) in the area. Within MEMAN,the cluster will analyse the Product Life Cycle of aero-structural and engine components of the CFM 56 jet engine, equipping Airbus A 320 and Boeing aircrafts. Activities carried out by project partners will include the assessment of alternative technologies in different process stages, including milling, drilling, boring, and laser cutting, amongst others. The aim is to significantly reduce the time, cost, and energy involved in the production of the component.
SURFACE FINISHING
The cluster, focused on surface technology and finishing, includes over 200 companies and factories. It employs 12,000 people and has an accumulated turnover of about €1.4 bn. The sector is strongly affected by higher resource costs, as energy accounts for 12%, and materials and chemical supplies for 25-35% of total operating costs. The MEMAN project is therefore expected to enable a better re-design and re-engineering of stainless steel hydraulic piston rod under a life-cycle perspective and their manufacturing processes. These optimisations will contribute to substantially increased resource efficiency in the manufacturing of chromium plated products with reduced chromium use and losses, as well as increased chromium recycling and safer handling procedures.
