VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd
VTT is the WEAREND project coordinator and responsible for pilot scale upscaling of powder process.
VTT is a state owned and controlled non-profit limited liability company established by law and operating under the ownership steering of the Finnish Ministry of Employment and the Economy. VTT’s activities are focused on three areas: Knowledge of intensive products and services, Smart industry and energy systems, and Solutions for natural resources and environment. VTT powder piloting service is part of life cycle solutions research area consisting material experts specialized on powder based materials. For more information, please visit www.vttresearch.com/en/ourservices/powder-piloting-material-solutions-powder-product
VALMET Technologies Oy
Valmet’s main role in WEAREND is to perform thermal spray tests and coating performance qualification in relevant industrial environments.
VALMET Technologies Oy is the leading global developer and supplier of technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries. Their services cover everything from maintenance outsourcing to mill and plant improvements and spare parts. They focus on delivering technology and services globally to industries that use bio-based raw materials. Valmet has applied and developed thermal spray coatings, including WC based materials, in their products for several decades. Valmet is world leader in paper machine coatings and it is therefore exceptional subject of coatings testing.
Umicore Specialty Powders France
The main role of Umicore in WEAREND is the up scaling of the manufacturing method to industrial level.
Umicore Specialty Powders France (USPF) is located in Grenoble (France) since 1949, USPF is specialised in designing, manufacturing and marketing high-performance metal powders and granules dedicated to Diamond tools, Hard Metals and Refractory materials applications. Responsive, flexible, sized to anticipate and meet the needs of its customers and bringing them technical support and assistance. Umicore offers wide ranges of cobalt, pre-alloyed, additive, tungsten carbide and tungsten powders. USPF joined Umicore’s Cobalt and Specialty Materials (CSM) business unit in 2017. Umicore CSM is a worldwide leader in the recycling, refining, transformation and marketing of cobalt and nickel specialty chemicals.
SMS-group GmbH
SMS’s main role in WEAREND is to perform thermal spray tests and coating performance qualification in relevant industrial environments.
SMS-group is a group of companies internationally active in plant construction and mechanical engineering for the steel and non-ferrous metals industry. From pig iron production to metallurgical plant, rolling mills to strip processing lines, tube mills to thermal technology – SMS group covers all sectors – including electrical systems, automation and service. The family-owned company – now run by the fourth generation – stands out with its strong market position and corporate culture of responsibility, together with high-performance products and services tailored to individual customer requirements. SMS operates eight HVOF-coating centres worldwide.
Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen, RWTH Aachen
IOT (Surface Engineering Institute) is a part of the faculty of mechanical engineering of RWTH Aachen University. In the WEAREND project, IOT is responsible for coating process development the thermally sprayed coatings, the spraying technology optimization for pilot scale processed powders and overall coatings validation.
IOT’s active research and development work is carried out in the areas of thermal spraying, PVD/CVD technology, brazing and deposition brazing as well as modelling and simulation of these processes. For each of these individual technologies fundamental knowledge is acquired in the field of materials science and applied in the area of materials engineering from the project idea to complete system solutions to pilot production. In addition to material development, process optimization, procedural and quality assurance, our services include, above all, the development and application of coating and brazing systems. In case of thermal spraying, the development of high performance and customized material solutions for functional surface coatings is carried out in various areas of application.
Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
In WEAREND, CEA’s role will primarily be the evaluation and management of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) issues related to the manufacturing upscaling and the assessment of the risk-benefit balance of the innovative nano-enabled coatings throughout their value chain.
CEA is a public research organization whose mission is to develop know-how and ensure technological transfer in a large variety of civil and defence industrial applications (nuclear energy, biotechnology, environmental protection, microelectronics, optoelectronics, nanotechnology, and others). The Laboratory of Nanocharacterization and NanoSafety (L2N) located in Grenoble on the NanoSafety Platform (PNS) is strongly involved in Europe on Nanosafety. It hosts and organizes every two years at Minatec one of the most important international conference dealing with all the nanosafety issues called Nanosafe conference. The Laboratory of Materials Formulation (LFM) involves in powder metallurgy area thanks to the POUDRINNOV platform including the main net shape processes for metallic and ceramic powders: Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), Powder Injection Molding and Additive Manufacturing (Laser Beam Melting – LBM).
