Sustainable Process and Product Developments
Optimal tuning of the chemical composition and processing parameters to achieve the required material properties is achieved through in-house developed (thermo-mechanical) models and well equipped laboratory simulators.
Replicating the whole metal production chain from casting over rolling and annealing until final product allows to understand and master the metallurgical phenomena occurring during metal processing and coating.
Final objective of this laboratory reconstruction of an industrial process is creating an in-depth view on the microstructure-property relationships.
This is achieved on one hand by access to detailed characterization, as highlighted in other sections, and on the other hand by acting on the potential actuators of the different processes involved.
CRM Group is specialized in a number of upstream and downstream steel production processes, where the synergy between product and process plays a crucial role. This synergy has led to several breakthrough product and process innovations.
Many examples can be found in the specialization on fast water cooling to increase properties and hence reduce alloying costs for modern steel developments.
Similarly, unique processes have been invented for continuous casting, lubrication, and cooling in the hot and cold rolling processes, as well as both metallic and organic coating processes that are today implemented with our industrial partners.
All of them started at low TRL levels with postcard-size trials in dedicated small setups to fine-tune the parameters as individually as possible.