Hüttenes-Albertus Chemische Werke GmbH

Environmental protection: an opportunity and a challenge

HA was one of the first companies in the foundry industry to recognise the significant opportunities provided by environmental protection. This is why we systematically promote product developments that protect the environment. We research and develop materials that help our customers to reduce emissions from their production processes and to recycle materials.

Paving the way for energy efficiency and renewables

Core-Brake-Disc. © Hüttenes-Albertus GmbH

Modern foundries are making valuable contributions to help making powerful engines smaller, lighter and thus more economical. And none of this would be possible without innovative cast components. One method to reduce engine weight is to minimise the volume of materials used in their production. As a result, engine blocks are becoming ever more complex, walls thinner and loads higher. This is only possible with the highest precision moulds and casting processes. Innovative solutions from HA enable innovative casting processes and pave the way for downsizing and lightweight constructions.

At the same time, some castings are bigger than ever before. Without foundries, there would be no modern wind turbines. The hub of a wind turbine consists of a single cast component weighing up to 100 tons. Given the extreme demands on the strength, surface quality and load-bearing capacity of these giants, foundries need high-performance binder systems for hand-mould casting. As a leading foundry chemical supplier, HA has the perfect product solutions in this field too.

Committed to reducing emissions

Ressource: Sand. © Hüttenes-Albertus GmbH

From core production to curing, from casting to the regeneration or disposal of used sand, there are so many sources of potential emissions in any foundry. Nevertheless, governments all over the world are tightening regulations as they try to clean up the environment. Thus, foundries are increasingly faced with the challenge of reducing their emissions. Of course, this should not be at the expense of product quality, productivity or efficiency in production.

Challenge:

The foundry industry needs solutions that achieve the balancing act between lower emissions and uncompromised performance.

Solutions from HA:

Inorganic binder systems

Emission-free casting with high-performance inorganic binder systems from HA: well established in aluminium automotive foundries. Focus of further development: Optimisation of performance, use in iron casting

Wide range of Cold-Box binder systems with improved environmental properties

In order to reduce emissions, the following measures have been taken:

Improvements in tensile behaviour to reduce the quantity of binders required
Replacing aromatic solvents
Use of inorganic components in organic binders, thereby reducing carbon content and CO₂ emissions
Minimisation of free phenol and formaldehyde in base resin

Cold resin

Low-sulphur furan resin binder systems with reduced emissions (odour, SO₂ and BTX), reduction of free furfuryl alcohol and formaldehyde.
Reducing emissions remains a fixed target for all future developments
Our other binder systems and auxiliary materials, such as sizing agents and lustrous carbon formers, have also been – and are being – optimised with a view to reducing emissions.

About the Hüttenes-Albertus Group

Hüttenes-Albertus is a leading international manufacturer of chemical products for the foundry industry. Founded more than 100 years ago and active in more than 30 countries, the company supports its customers as an innovative problem solver. Foundries all over the world rely on the high-performance products and first-class service of the HA brand. Our products such as organic and inorganic binder systems, coatings, feeders, special sands, bentonite, parting agents, as well as metallurgical products cover the entire spectrum of casting chemical additives.