ZERMEG

Starting point

One of the main postulates for a sustainable economy implies that industries do not generate waste or emissions. This requires so-called "zero-emission" processes, which permit complete recycling or re-use of all raw materials and energy flows that are not contained in the final product.

Challenge

The project developed a method to revamp existing galvanising plants in order to operate them with a maximum reduction of the use of chemicals and maximum recycling.

Results

ZERMEG was commissioned after the first call of the Austrian "Factory of the Tomorrow" program. ZERMEG II is the follow-up project. It could be shown that for total recycling and a serious zero-emission-concept in depth research of degreasing and pickling in galvanising companies is necessary. Additionally, ZERMEG II aims at disseminating the approach. By involving new project partners the number of applications of the method is drastically increased. At the same time the feedback from the applications renders a broader data basis. ZERMEG III creates a virtual factory of the future from the combination of the research results of different projects. This model will be used to generate real experience for managers in experimenting taking organisational and technical decisions with regard to a sustainable development.

Fotoquelle: Petra Blauensteiner ÖGUT