How can remanufacturing become economically viable? What tools are needed to realise circular economy models? How can old components be identified and correctly orientated in the machine coordinate system in order to give them a second (or further) life? These and other questions were lively discussed by the researchers at the EREP project meeting in Landshut and Dingolfing and solution strategies for a more sustainable economy were developed. A visit to the model factory of TZ Puls (Technologiezentrum Produktions- und Logistiksysteme) was organised by the host, roeren GmbH, in order to gain new insights.
In addition to the long-term topics, the current status of the work was discussed, and the subsequent work steps planned. A particular focus was placed on the economic feasibility of remanufacturing, the reliability of the WAAM process and active forecasting/process monitoring and qualitative material testing.
A central aspect of the work is the detection of damaged areas on the basis of scan data and the automated generation of valid tool paths for hybrid production.
Following the joint discussion, the work will continue to be carried out in close co-operation across the usual large physical distance. The first results will be made available to the public at the Circularity Days in Hanover (https://circularity-days.com/).