GREEN CASTING LIFE project
(LIFE21-ENV-FI-101074439) (2022-2026)

The LIFE project 6 European flagship ferrous foundries will implement at industrial scale the inorganic binder system on their production process implying major changes, starting with selection of the suitable inorganic binder system, changes in processes and investments in new equipment.
In parallel different sand reclamation methods will be demonstrated. Based on the results obtained, the foreseen techniques will present an outstanding knowledge for BAT technologies participating to tackle environmental problems and to produce greener products to European market.
Project objectives and activities
Green Casting LIFE project aims to demonstrate the technical and environmental feasibility of using inorganic binders, instead of traditional organic ones, in ferrous foundries.

Objectives
- To successfully use inorganic binder systems on an industrial scale in 6 flagship ferrous foundries, including necessary equipment investments, in five European countries.
- To develop tailor-made inorganic binder systems solutions for iron and steel foundries, in cooperation with the flagship foundries.
- To demonstrate different type of sand reclamation methods for inorganic binder system sands (thermal, mechanical and wet methods).
- To enhance the replication potential by
- contacting 200 and interviewing 100 potential ferrous foundries.
- guiding and testing inorganic binders in 15 selected follower pilot foundries in Europe.
- providing new results and experiences for the preparation of the Reference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Smitheries and Foundries Industry (BREF document).
- To ensure an efficient communication and dissemination of the project activities.
- To arrange training workshops in six partner countries for potential follower pilot foundries and other relevant stakeholders.

Expected results
- Experiences and know-how from six flagship foundries for implementing inorganic binders in their production.
- Step-by-step implementation plans for flagship foundries for the full-scale implementation of inorganic binders.
- Emission reductions after changing from organic binder systems to inorganic binder systems:
- To reduce total hazardous airborne emissions by 80-95% (VOC, SO2, NOx, Particulate Matters) in the production lines using inorganic binders compared.
- To create a healthier environment for the workers by improving indoor air quality in foundries by 70 (CO, VOC, PM, formaldehyde, phenols).
- To reduce the harmful substances in waste sand by 80-90% (DOC, phenols, fluoride, BTEX concentrations)
- To decrease the amount of waste sand to be landfilled by 90% in the partner foundries.
- After 5 years from the end of the project 300 ferrous foundries in EU are expected to change from current organic to inorganic binder systems.
EU Green casting measurements
Partners
-
Metalurgica Madrilena S.A.
Spain Contact: David Valle
direccion@metamsa.com -
Centre Techniques des Industries
Mécaniques Contact: Jean-Bernard Virolle
jean-bernard.virolle@cetim-ctif.fr -
Valumehaanika AS
Estonia Contact: Harri Salu
harri@valumehaanika.ee -
Fundacion Azterlan
Spain Contact: Erika Garitaonandia Areitio
egarita@azterlan.es -
PEAK Deutschland GmbH
Germany Contact: Theo Kooyers
theokooyers@4cube.nl -
Peiron Oy
Finland Contact: Markku Eljaala
markku.eljaala@peiron.com -
F.A. Engineering srl
Italy Contact: Ivan Stefani
ivan.stefani@fonderiediassisi.com -
AINS Group
Finland Contact: Marko Liikanen
marko.liikanen@ains.fi -
Sand Team spol s.r.o
Czechia Contact: Michal Vykoukal
vykoukal@sandteam.cz -
Foundry Association of the Basque Country and Navarre
Spain Contact: Oroitz Unzain
programas@feaf.es -
Voestalpine Railway Systems JEZ, S.L.
Spain Contact: Asier Renteria
asier.renteria@voestalpine.com -
AGH University of Science and Technology
Poland Contact: Rafal Danko
rd@agh.edu.pl -
Foundryteam Oy
Finland Contact: Erkki Karvonen
erkki.karvonen@foundryteam.fi -
OPSA Ltd
Poland Contact: Maciej Krolikowski
maciej.krolikowski@odlewniepolskie.pl -
Universita degli studi di Perugia
Italy Contact: Stefano Saetta
stefano.saetta@unipg.it
-
Coordinator
Sara Tapola, Meehanite Technology Oy
tel +358 40 5518761
sara.tapola@ains.fi
For further information
-
Marko Liikanen vice president, environmental and safety engineering
Industrial and building systems engineering
@ains.fi Tampere -
Sara Tapola project coordinator
Industrial and building systems engineering
@ains.fi Tampere
TOWARDS ZERO EMISSIONS IN EUROPEAN FERROUS FOUNDRIES USING INORGANIC BINDER SYSTEMS
- Total budget: 7 162 398 €
- EU contribution (60%): 4 297 432 €
- Duration: 09/2022-02/2026

News
Visit of the Ministry of the Environment
Visit of the Ministry of the Environment, March 9, 2023
Foundry visits to Railway Systems JEZ SL and Metalurgica Madrilena SA in Spain
Foundry visits at Spanish flagship foundries of Voestalpine Railway Systems JEZ SL and Metalurgica Madrilena SA.
Project coordinating beneficiary Markku Tapola from Meehanite Technology Oy and Foundry Senior Expert Pekka Kemppainen visited the two project flagship foundries in 15.-18.-5.2023 with Erika Garitaonandia from Azterlan.
Trade Fair for Castings and Forgings with Processing in Stuttgart on 4-6.6.2024.
Green Casting LIFE is present at the Trade Fair for Castings and Forgings with Processing in Stuttgart on 4-6.6.2024. You can find project partner foundries at the stands: Metalurgica Madrilena, S.A. Stand number 5D41 and Odlewnie Polskie S.A stand number 5E54. You are welcome to our stands to discuss of the project activities and experiences in using inorganic binders in ferrous foundries!
“Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.”
