Aim of the project is to develop new methods for an optimised order scheduling that considers holistic process assessment in terms of sustainable economics. The evaluation of results will be done in the field of plastics processing (casting).
Highlights of Factory of Tomorrow presented at the information platform renewable
resources
This project links sustainability and entrepreneurial spirit with the method
of joined-up thinking. A workshop and a workshop book will be developed.
The intention of the project is a shift in the provision of information, focussing on education experts and sales staff. Main target of the project "eco fashion - fashion for the future" is the information of disseminators on deplorable social conditions and negative ecological and health effects of the conventional production of textiles.
Further development of a new technology for the production of lightweight sandwich-elements consisting only of one polymer component (for example polypropylene). This pilot machine is the basis to get all the necessary figures and experience for the development of the production machine and to produce the first parts of the car bodies for the zero series.
Sensitizing and capacity building for networking of venture capital and developers of sustainability technologies was performed to develop options for establishing a financing platform which regards sustainability requirements.
Development of the service of de-lacquering in industrial plants on the
basis of pulsed high pressure water with a new, energy efficient high pressure
pump. Further possible applications will be searched for and evaluated.
Development/preparation of a mobile repair and service-point and pilot-implementation at large
company sites or centres with high customer-frequency. Supporting of sustainable product-services - especially repair-services - in connection with efficient logistical and organisational processes in relation to product-service-systems; reduction of market-barriers and sensitisation of the general public for sustainable consumption.
Transfer of results of the program "Factory of Tomorrow" with respect to
energy efficiency and increased adoption of renewable energy technologies into
the target groups of internal energy managers and external energy consultants.
The transfer activities include carrying out a one-day-seminar twice and the
preparation of freely available training materials.
Modelling of wood processing in order to demonstrate the developments' impacts on performance
Awareness raising and knowledge transfer by means of information processing and training of financial service providers concerning sustainable investment
A Supply Chain Management concept for sustained use of the mountain forest in collaboration with all the individual participants is to be drawn up. Harvesting and transport from the forest to the mill will be registered and controlled by WEB-GIS technology. A CO2 balance sheet will be prepared and optimization potentials shown in the process. An outline will be made of an integrated job model.
Extraction of insecticidal active substances in pilot plant scale from tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.) for field trials against the economically important pest codling moth (Cydia pomonella) as well as approval procedure.
Transfer of conceptual knowledge about rating of sustainability performance of SMEs to three different groups of consultants dealing with financial data. Sustainability in business, that is the thesis, contributes significantly to an increasing repay capability.
Analysis of the problem on the occasion of expected increase in the use of bio fuels and the shifting of production to non-European countries. Security of supply of Austria and the EU as well as the relevance for climate change.
Comprehensive implementation of the SMS in four Austrian companies with a specific focus on the conceptual development of a companywide stakeholder management. Distribution of the project results through the publication of the praxis hand book "Systemic Sustainable Management"
Based on a feasibility study an interdisciplinary team of researchers supports hospital practitioners implementing the concept of sustainable development in a pilot hospital. Changes within three key areas should lead to significant improvements.
The mechanical properties and thus the application area of wood plastic composites with a wood content > 60 % shall be explicit increased by means of long wood fibres. This novel advancement enables an innovation jump of this wood like material.
The aim of this project is the development of a measuring standard for the energy demand and efficiency criteria for classifying plastics processing machines. Based on this a communication instrument for the energy efficiency shall be developed.
Diffusion of the FdZ project line on environmental and material flow cost accounting (EMA and MFCA) for corporate and national system boundaries, as well as related tools for sustainability accounting in existing post graduate studies.
Development of the production technology for cattail insulating materials. Basis study to the feasibility of a serial production.
During a two days training course managers are trained in sustainable management.
Development of technological optimisation of cleaning processes within the automotive industry which guarantee defined cleaning requirements and fulfil the criteria of a sustainable process design with near zero emissions.
Development of a comprehensive, transparent and user-friendly concept of enhanced interlinkage of material and energy flows through increased information exchange and shows the resulting pollution reducing in conjunction with economic benefits for the companies.
Development of an organic binder for asphalt, in order to effectively replace bitumen running short due to shrinking crude oil resources. Studies to choose the ideal natural base product, regarding the aspect of utilization of remaining material and the elaboration of practical methods of synthesis.
Das RFU-Model for sustainability analysis and evaluation was developed for an application particularly on Austrian corporations. Meanwhile it is widely accepted. The project's subject is the enhancement of this model towards an international utilization with focus on Central and Eastern Europe.
Minimisation of the consumption of water, chemicals and energy in the textile industry.
Potentials to use hardwood with small diameters (SDH) in Austria. Analysis and evaluation of availability, quality and market potential.
Development of solutions to reduce the energy cost during the stand-by-mode of industry facilities. Focus areas: innovative control and communication system for the problem of the shut down and start up, entire concept on energy savings cost during the stand-by-mode, creating awareness concerning the problem in the industry
Possibilities to stop the peat usage in horticulture by using renewable resources and biological wastes which are regional available. Efficient economical as well ecological solutions for the usage of alternatives to peat, development and testing of treatment technologies which are necessary to create such a substrate in laboratory and field scale.
Maize cobs accrue as an agricultural by-product can be used for a core material of light weight panels with good material properties and insulation characteristics. The aim is to work out a concept for the production and optimisation of material properties.
"Heading towards Sustainability" is the central motto for a six-day summer academy. During July 2009 "Emerging Sustainability" will offer an inspiring and activating framework for learning how to successfully implement sustainable development in companies.
"Sustainable trend-setters" investigates the consumer group "cultural creatives" by appyling the Q-methodology and provides criteria for product development and promotion of LOHAS products and services in the sustainable textile sector and for sustainable tourism.
By means of optimization of the production of vegetable dyes and dyeing technology, the vegetable dyestuff "Colors of Nature" will achieve market maturity. In co-operation with farmers and companies of the textile, food processing and wood working industry there will be developed a competitive product throughout the value chain, which will not only yield an ecological advantage, but also generate regional creation of value.
A comprehensive planning approach for the short term flow of material, energy and production orders in sawmills in order to improve the value added in the wood supply network.
Development of a concept and method for the required data for an Ecodesign learning game. The intended use of this game is in schools and youth organisations for disseminating basis knowledge of sustainable product development to support green consumption.
Developing a non-destructive and fully automated testing to detect surface cracks and laps in rolled wires during the production at temperature values of 800-1000°C and at a material speed of 30-40 m/s, with regard to reduction of rejections.
Development on core techniques and processes units of the "green biorefinery"- a multy product process to produce lactid acid, amino acids as well as gras fibres and energy using ensilage (mostly gras).
Development of alternative construction material "Mixolith" with wood ashes from power plants (biomass energy) as hydraulic binders. Evidence of product properties for construction of embankment safeguard dams or road construction. Many years of experience with alternative construction material.
New and better solvents for CO2 absorption can reduce the costs of Carbon Capture and Storage significantly. Therefore, the ability to absorb CO2 and the vapour - liquid equilibrium curve of different new solvents will be determined in the laboratory and under real operating conditions at a power plant. Furthermore, the achievable CO2 removal efficiency of spray towers will also be investigated for different solvents.
INNOWATEC develops as a basis for a sustainable regional water management a new method to treat water and waste water based upon a combined technology to saturate fluids with oxygen combined with catalytic and bioactive components.
The total use of the plant Quinoa wich can be cultivated in Austria is planned. Processes to isolate surfactants from the skin and to gain a high quality diet nutrition from the fruit will be developed and the potential of fibres received from the stem will be evaluated.
Based on a market analysis and on selected laboratory experiments the economy of utilization of oilseed processing remnants should be improved. Product suggestions resulting from the market analysis will be analysed for their technical feasibility by laboratory tests and a synopsis of both developed.
Mechanical processing of the non-reusable part of collected end-of-life apparels (e.g. cutting, sifting, etc.); development of marketable application for the obtained short fibers in the field of construction materials (e.g. bitumen modification)
By means of suitable thermomechanical pretreatment a process for the production of bioethanol on the basis of the waste compounds straw and wood will be developed. Regional plants will use local raw materials for local energy production.
The emerging gases of the process of refinement of timber seen not longer as fall-out but a starting point for a subtle value added for products used in the timber industry represents a new approach for sustainable utilisation of timber.
Biogenic SiC-Ceramics on the basis of specific wood-based composites. A highly practical moulding technique which paves the way to the commercial utilization of a high performance material made form renewable resources and enables the development of new applications.
Development and evaluation of a process to automatically create models from existing production data of industrial plants. These models can be used to optimize the production process and plant equipment (scrap, quality, use of raw materials and energy) or to detect and predict faults.
Corn production in Europe is seriously threatened by a new pest. Highly toxic insecticides are currently the only means of control. Biological signals (Semiochemicals) offer an environmentally friendly alternative, which is yet to be made available for corn as for many other crop plants.
Construction of a biogas tank built of prefabricated reinforced concrete elements, erected and operated at an existing biogas plant in Bruck an der Leitha. The precast concrete technology promised a lot of advantages but also posed a lot of questions that had to be solved. These problems considered especially the sealing method and the general construction with precast concrete elements.
The development of the wood fusing technology to an innovative, ecological process of production of wood-only parquet elements, which do not contain any wood foreign substances as glue or thermoplastics.
Production of railway crossties ("sleepers") from an alternative (renewable) raw material
Development of strong, light, weather and heat resistant natural fiber profiles by combining the the advantages of a pultrusion technology with the advantages of natural fibers.
NATUBAR is an industrial research project. It consists of researching and developing a totally new approach to starch modification namely selective oxidation as patented by Glycanex as well as the application in modern folding box boards and the photopaper production environment.
Green Biorefinery stands for the sustainable and highly integrated processing of green biomass into multiple products. The project deals with the assessment and development of required technology for selected feedstock and evaluates market potential for out-products as well as the implementation potential for introduced processes.
Developing a new process based on selective recovery of calcium carbonate from paper mill effluents and sludge, purification, conversion into precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and reuse as filler in paper making.
For vacuum degassing of liquid steel, as it is used for production of high quality steel grades, an improved on-line monitoring and control system will be developed and applied. Thus the reliability of the vacuum degassing process will be improved, and simultaneously the consumption of energy and resources will be reduced.
Market analysis for sustainable gardening products and research of marketing strategies. Promotion of a range of sustainable products in the Austrian retail sales market specialized in gardening. Development of a concept for implementation together with one Austrian chain of garden centres (bellaflora).
Industrial waste heat is predominantly instationary. Thus utilisation of
industrial waste heat in district heating systems is constrained. A database
and an evaluation methodology were developed to support increased utilisation
of this heat source.
Harmonisation of disclosure reqirements of statistical agencies regarding material and energy consumption, environmental investments and expenditure with the IFAC guidance document on environmental management accounting and the GRI guideline on sustainability reporting and performance indicators.
Assessment of user requirements was studied. Furthermore, the technical feasibility of selected lightweight applications based on renewables in the furniture and interior design sector is investigated through participation of all relevant stakeholders (panel manufacturers - further processing enterprises - distributors -consumers) in the value chain.
Development of a strategy and a down-to-earth and user-friendly set of methods for a regionally embedded process for the transfer of knowledge between crafts enterprises (SME) in order to introduce sustainable products and services in crafts enterprises
Development of a measurement and control system that detects paper deformation during production. Thus, broke is reduced, significant savings in energy use are achieved, and the economic efficiency is well increased.
A solar thermal cooling system consisting of a parabolic trough collector field and a steam jet ejector chiller will be developed. The necessary components will be built and tested and finally put together to get an operating pilot plant at the test facility.
Eliminating the usage of mineral oil based lubricants in deep drawing processes by an innovative machine for clean application of environmentally friendly wax-based forming emulsions.
Development of tailor-made ionic liquids as additive for coatings to prevent electrostatic loading in case of floors. The aim is to enhance the well-being in living areas to improve the quality of life and the quality of living.
The objective of the project is the method development for sustainable product design in close cooperation with industrial partners. The ECODESIGN Toolbox for Green Product Concepts - a six step approach has been developed here.
Implementation of a scorecard-based sustainability management system in four enterprises; adaptation of a web-based software for sustainability management and reporting; preparation of the manual "Sustainability Managing Systems" on the basis of the OIN guidelines "Reporting about Sustainability".
Creating a concept for the bio-cascading of apple and pear pomace in the Mostviertel region for an increased value added through innovative local products. Development of strategies for the implementation of a pilot plant.
Concept for launching of a new business unit or an independent ROI-Contracting Consulting with effects on sustainable development.
Supporting SME bakeries in the involvement process of their stakeholders in sustainability oriented product service innovation processes. Development and pilot testing of a dialogue oriented toolkit ("The INNOVATIVE Bakery Dialogue" Handbook).
Feasibility study / implementation concept for central repair- and service points (mobile or stationary) for repair- and other household services located directly at big company sites; raising the demand for sustainable services by private households.
Development of a procedure for the design of innovative and sustainable products, processes and services by making use of customer and supplier knowledge. Orientation of the developed sustainability strategy towards the supply chain of producing SMEs.
Selection of electrical and electronic equipment disposed as waste back into a reuse-cycle, bulding up an operational network between social enterprises, linking up and improving the workflows necessary for this purpose and the creation of a second-hand-shop for electrical an electronic equipment.
Foam bodies are produced by extrusion of renewable primary products and/or residue and then squeezed with adhesives to plates, which can be used for door inner layers.
Evaluation and disseminaton of the field-tested, modular eLearning tool for sustainable business planning and successful founding.
The scope of the project comprises the development of criteria for a Sustainability Label for repair-friendly constructed appliances, marketing and PR activities with a focus on producers and consumers, training of auditors and labelling of at least one product.
Instruments and Strategies for the involvement of users and other relevant social groups in the design process: the example of fuel cell technology in end-user markets and wood-plastic composites.
RISKMIN is a project for the mitigation of risks along the supply chain of plant raw material to the provision of plant dyestuff. Considering the measures concerning risk mitigation, a business plan for a plant dyestuff manufacturer for the effective realization of the business idea was created.
The project analysed selected TRIGOS projects and organisations and further developed assessment approaches for sustainable management accounting and corporate social responsibility. TRIGOS is an award scheme for organisations who combine economic performance with social and environmental responsibility.
Compilation and integration of activities carried out in the field of cascade utilisation of stone fruits seeds ("KernCraft Austria") and planning of a demonstration project to start implementation of KernCraft Austria.
Aspects of sustainable beyond pure ecological goals become increasingly important for consumers, corporations and the general public. The well-known Austrian Environmental Label should be extended to meet these comprehensive requirements.
Development of a concept for a product service system (PSS) in the area of surface treatment (varnish, laquer, paint). Instead of selling varnish and pain, the service of surface treatment (per square meter) should be developed for private and commercial users.
The methodology of living labs centers the requirements of the user into the development process. The original approach of the MIT should be adapted to the sustainable discrete production in the region of Vorarlberg as a living lab.
Preparation tool for the bank rating; model and indicators - concept for communication and technological options.
Improving the tecnology of manual dismantling processes of small electric and electronical appliances, used in social enterprises. Via software modules, developed do analise dismantling processes, from dismantling-factories to dismantling-parks.
Developement of a concept of "service ozone as a special gas" has the main reason to support the chemical industrie, laboratories and others to substitute chemical oxidatives, which is a big ökological advantage.
Creating all the necessary fundamentals for a future standard in funding the "SMEs of the future" with private equity in order to close the money gap of these companies by providing "green money".
Based on a previous FdZ project it is intended to develop and implement strategies for sector specific sustainable product-servicesystems-innovations along product-chains in workshops with companies and other actors involved. Focus will be placed on implementation and possible restricting factors.
Create sustainable products, services and lifestyles: Analysis of typologies of lifestyles, scope for design for companies, involvement of consumers and stakeholders.
Optimum communication strategies and motives for the purchase of eco-textiles by specific target groups are investigated. The results are reviewed with respect to the transferability to other branches of sustainable production and marketing. Aim of the project is to foster the supply of eco-textile products and thereby promoting the Austrian eco-textile producers and retailers.
Concept development for establishing a service system "plant protection". Clarification of core issues and key factors determining the success of application.
The target of this project is to develop a specific performance and risk-management concept for companies in sustainable supply chain networks. By using this concept the involved companies will be able to reduce various risks and have more success with sustainable development.
The ecological, economic and social effects of services, wood and non-wood products on sustainable forest management, the marketing potential and the relevance of sustainable measures are analysed.
In contrast to other countries there is currently no reprocessing and reuse of single use medical devices in Austria. Thus the potential for major ecological and economical savings remains unused. In a stakeholder dialogue, practical implementation strategies were developed to change the trend towards a sustainable value-added chain.
Development of success oriented planning strategy for Austrian PSS providers based upon an analysis of best practice examples and international systematic PSS development approaches.
In RISP a process model for the development of product-services is worked out, which consists of seven steps and so called "gates" between the single steps. The questions which have to be answered before entering the gates to the next step are derived from a failure mode and the effect analysis of the single steps.
Creating a concept of a "lubrication service" to maximize plant life and reduce their resources consumption - a combination of development service, production and lubricating service.
Analysis of factors that support or hinder the implementation of Product-Service-Systems in public procurement, development of strategies to overcome those obstacles and investiga-tion and documentation of available Good-Practice-Examples.
Developing of suitable bonding agents, fibres and processing technologies for the production of form stable fibre composites made of natural components. Production of prototypes like boards and moulded parts. Material testing.
Pollen for medical applications can be sorted by special machines. An integrated database and a spectrometric calibration allow a precise separation of the species with an identification of the plant species.
Elaboration of the principles for zero emission enterprises. The results show that this approach can be realistic and economically advantageous in many cases.
Basing on a model and indicators for valuing sustainability of companies quoted at the prime market of the Vienna stock exchange methods and instruments have been developed to analyse their performance. By the connecting step company data have been collected and analysed by four different methods (SPSS, EVA, SVA, MCA Outranking).
On a 100 scores scale five companies exceeded barely the mark 70, 6 rank between 60 and 69 further 5 between 52 and 59. The aim is to launch a sustainability EASEY index 2004 or beginning 2005.
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.
ZERMEG II is the follow up project of ZERMEG, which was commissioned after the first call of the Austrian Factory of the Future program in 2001. 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.
The project provides enterprises with a new self-evaluation model, which serves the purpose to support sustainable decisions. Focal point and innovation are: more active participation of the employees and better consideration of regional economic factors for success.
The target of this project is the screening of the opportunities, resulting of the combination of treating Cellulosic bodies with supercritical carbon dioxide.
In general, the change of the porous structure depending on the way of fiber drying and the opportunity to incorporate active compounds and the development of analytical methods to track them within Cellulosic bodies.
The method Balanced Scorecard was used to build a company-wide management-system which facilitates an easy communication and a focused and controllable implementation of the defined strategies (strategies for the company, business segments and defined areas of knowledge). The aspect of sustainability was strongly emphasized.
Facing the problem of decreasing demand for large dimensioned timber, investigations are carried out concerning certain properties like strength and fibre characteristics. Due to the data it is possible to create a model about the variability of special properties of a stem. Based on the model new concepts for optimised processing and products will be developed.
Development of a technical process to separate lactic acid from Brown Juice. Lactic acid is a promising chemical commodity which may be produced from silage juice at low costs and in an environmentally friendly way for subsequent synthesis of valuable products.
In the metal working industry high-speed-cutting (HSC) in connection with minimal quantity cooling-lubrication promises a high potential for saving process materials. On the one hand costs of purchase and disposal of metal working fluids (MWF) decrease, on the other hand the reduction of dermal diseases and emissions of MWF-dusts are expected.
Research and development of the technical process to separate protein from grass juice to gain high-protein concentrate for animal feed by ultra-filtration and other separation technologies.
Conventional cooling has adverse effects on environment (eg. ozone depletion, global warming). One option for environmentally compatible cooling systems for near ambient temperatures (-10 to -50°C) is the Stirling cooler with environmental friendly process.
New cooperations between agriculture und industry are necessary to ensure the utilization of renewable materials. The project´s focus is upon natural dyes and their application in textile industry. The goal of the project is to create a contact institution which connects various suppliers of diverse plant materials, takes on the processing, and standardising of the natural dyes, and makes a product that can be used by the industry.
Use of waste heat and covering of the remaining energy demand by the renewable energy sources hydropower and biomass in a metal-processing company.
Development of a Minimum quantity lubrication system employed in metal working industry using an oil-in-water emulsion based on renewable primary products.
Development and testing of processes to produce adsorptive materials from agricultural residues of corn production with focus on corn cob grit as oil bonding agent (e.g., applicable to the remediation of oil spills).
Documentation of realized plants for the use of thermal solar energy in trade and industry companies. Identification of production processes and branches, which have a demand for low-temperature heat. Determine the potential of solarthermal systems to provide low-temperature heat. Case studies for branches and processes with the highest mid-term potential for realization of a solar plant.
Paper factory in the year 2030 as an integrated part of a sustainable economy and a supplier of sustainable paper products fulfilling criteria for sustainability at highest possible level.
Development of wood-processing techniques employing high-frequency ultrasonic vibrations in terms of applications in the woodworking industry.
The factory of tomorrow as a regional production network using renewable raw materials. A pilot project in the field of insulating materials.
Based on promising preliminary work feasibility and recycling strategy of the modifying process shall be evaluated economically and ecologically.
ARAFIT develops a concept for the regional management of the loads of public water treatment plants in a partnership of planners, operators and major water consumers following the idea of sustainable least cost planning resulting in efficient, flexible and future oriented regional infrastructure.
The goal of this project is the devepolment and evaluation of criteria and measurement methods for the quality assurance of thermally treated hardwood. They are to be implemented directly into the production process of Thermowood to increase the resource efficiency and the customer acceptance.
An innovative approach aiming higher resource-efficiency and added value by using new quality standards and production systems in parquet industry. A customer friendly product will be possible by combining industrial production methods with the flexibilty of a manufacture.
Developement of a businessnetwork for the market implementation of biodegradable products made out of renewable substances.
Developing and implementing product-service-systems in the IT-sector. Bringing the idea of sustainable IT-solutions for enterprises towards marketable models.
Business GuideLines Inducing Social Sustainability (BLISS): a practical guidance based on the instrument 'social performance analysis', its adaptation and application in a pilot enterprise.
The development of a holistic model comprising method and instrument to evaluate ac-tivities from companies in context with sustainable development by integrating objective and subjective view.
Based on former FdZ projects in the area of PSS, EMA and Zero Emission PSS Water develops and realises a guideline with which sustainable water management in industry and public utiliies as a service can be offered.
A repellent against deers containing sheep fat in different formulations for usage in forestry and vineyards should be developed with special attention to get a stabilized formulation with high quality. Efficacy and stability will be tested.
The project aims a strengthening the market for sustainable Product-Service-Systems (PSS) by clearly identifying success factors and hindrances. Restraining factors and basic conditions are worked out on the basis of best-practice examples.
Accelerated design of a pilot scale process for enzyme-catalyzed hydrolysis of lactose in whey using microreactor technologies. Development of a prototypical immobilized enzyme microreactor for optimisation of enzymatic reactions; improved gathering of process-relevant parameters for reduced time-to-market and decision support for investment decisions.
Further development and implementation of the sustainability scorecard for definition of sustainable objectives on cross-company level (local agenda 21 project ÖKOPROFIT) and company level. Comparing the target systems.
NAWARO-CASCADING PILOT has investigated professional biocascading strategies for fruit
stone utilization (pits from apricots, peaches, cherries and plums) in order to convert them
valuable products (novelties like delicacies, cosmetics and technical abrasives) as well as
establishing a practice- oriented network.
The project at hand is the continuation of the last years project of the same name. It is the aim of the project to develop an integrated, IT-based management model for a meat processing enterprise taking into account the value chain as well as the regional environment.
On the basis of conventional and recycling-oriented supply-chains and/or -networks a concept for the implementation of industrial sustainability networks will be developed. Together with a taskforce which needs to be founded a pilot implementation will be prepared.
Further development of the established management concept business plan to the Sustainable Business Plan. Production, testing and dissemination of the holistic user-oriented IT Tool "Sustainable Business Planner" in the context of an Austrian start-up initiative.
By utilising fresh raw materials, the process of producing meat and bone meal can be avoided and products of higher quality may be obtained.
Objective is to improve the competitiveness of reprocessing-activities as strategies towards higher resource productivity.The study will analyse the changes of the supply chain necessary to achieve this beyond the Point of Sale with regard to the re-integration of used goods in the supply chain.
Feasibility study of candles based on growing again, regional raw materials, corresponding to todays market demands and produced with current production techniques.
From all information should be made a tool for soul-searching, which allows all operators of pumps to calculate the possible reduction of costs (energy, cost of operaton, amount of fresh water, ...).
Based on a representative empirical study among ultimate consumers (1000 interviews) and an empirical survey among 200 model companies in regard to sustainable management, communication strategies and concepts are developed.
Main topic of the project is the incremental change of business logics in mass shoe production by changing product-push to customer-pull concepts. Results need to integrate the entire supply chain, add value to the brand and its products and contribute to the company's sustainability.
The application of nano scaled powder and powder injection moulding (PIM) for energy efficient co-sintering of miniaturized solid oxid fuel cells which can produce current and heat by using renewable raw materials.
Development of a GIS-Onlineplatform for the forestry which enables its users to carry out all necessary tasks online: the complete data of forest work can be viewed, changed and newly calculated at any time, including the ability to control machine-use more efficiently right at the beginning of use.
Working together with practitioners scientists from the fields of social ecology, sociology of health and economics introduce the concept of sustainable development into a pilot hospital. The feasibility study establishes the base for ecological, social and economic improvements within the hospital.
EasyCell - A common use of PEM fuel cells is not yet established. It is the aim of this project to optimize the design of PEM fuel cells (minimization of peripheral units, simplified handling of gases and the right design for mass production) to ease a widespread use of PEM fuel cells.
Analyses of biochemical reactions causing colour changes during the hygrothermal treatment of selected hardwoods will lead to a model for defined and process-based colouration or maintenance of colour in drying and steaming processes. Based on this development the new drying and steaming schedules will be implemented in the industry.
Developing an integrative concept for the evaluation of sustainability achievements of enterprises noted at Vienna's stock exchange.
Sustainable services in co-operation with the housing sector will be investigated, their effects on environment, employment, acceptance by consumers, hindrances as well as prerequisites for sustainable facility management and a new positioning of concierge systems analysed.
Training kit for environmental management accounting and investment appraisal
Inventory of product-related environmental information systems, survey of implementations within Austrian companies, and analysis with respect to principle applications
Basic properties of grass fibres from a green biorefinery will be investigated in order to have a sound base for comparison of grass fibres with other renewable fibres. Selected prototype-products with these grass fibres as main raw material source (e.g. insulation materials, gardening material, animal nutrition) will be developed, tested and evaluated whether they are technologically as well as economically feasible.
Step by step methodology for the development of future markets by the introduction of eco-efficient product service systems
This application oriented and basic research aims to develop a pilot-master-project in the region of eastern Styria and Burgenland for the cascading use of regional cultivated plants and plant-residues in order to produce wellness and lifestyle-products - by which the creation of value is strongly realated to the functional qualities of the available biomatters.
Development of a wood composite direct dosing system
The introduction of spacious information systems on GIS basis (geographical information system) in the forest federations of Austria and Bavaria is examined. This offers for the first time the possibility to connect biological and technical characteristics (attributes) with geographical data to compensate for the disadvantages of small structured forest estates. A substantial goal is also the development of a scanner method for the automated, EDP-supported identification of forests and their most important ground and stock characteristics.
Regional manufacturers and suppliers of products made of renewable raw materials shall be summarized to develop a common product line with corporate identity and corresponding quality management to sale more and increase the value in the wellness sector.
Juice from pressed silage grass has a high content of lactate and free amino acids. The goal of this project is to develop a technology for the separation of these valuable products.
The latest technology for the filtration of beer is the use of ion exchangers. The reclaim contains high-potent substances (vitamins and minerals from the yeast, hops and other proteins) in concentrated form which should be processed and characterised. In a further step this substance should be the main ingredient of a food supplement. After a technical adaptation this concept can be used within other ranges of the food and natural substance industry.
Tests on optimisation of the essential process unit mechanical fractionation of the primary raw material "green biomass" into a liquid and a solid - fibres containing - fraction. Furthermore, lab and pilot scale tests with respect to technologies and processes for primary processing of the solid fraction (e.g. technologies for obtaining specified well defined fibre fractions, reduction of odour etc.). Finally, lab and pilot scale tests regarding manufacturing of prototype fibre products (fibreboards and adhesives & fillers for the construction sector) based on specific well defined fibre fractions from green biomass as primary raw material.
The aim of the project is, to come to general expressions on one hand of the market potential and on the other hand of the restrictions for ecoleasing in the field of technical commodity goods. Within the project an evaluation on the relevance of ecoleasing for the sustainable development will also be done.
A individual company and process evaluation defines the tools-mix of sustainable orientated management methods implemented in the companies. The well know in Instrument Prepare will be further developed adding the innovation strategy TRIZ "systematic inventing", making the new Prepare plus instrument.
The project aims to provide the basis for a transition strategy towards the establishment of sustainability-orientated production and consumption systems. Together with participants and addressees of the programme "Factory of the Future", the project will develop a common framework for the management of transition processes.
A modular and web-based "Sustainability Skills" qualification programme on how to think, plan, and act in terms of sustainability and how to successfully apply these skills in a business environment.
Application and expansion of knowledge gained in the project Rainbow1 for the production of new, functionalised fibres using renewable resources as well as other fibre manufacturing methods in a pilot plant scale production.
Purification and disposal of production effluents in waste water from metal manu¬fakturing processes is of economical and ecological importance for the Joh. Pengg AG. Econamical solutions for optimised purification of the filter textiles and the drying of the filter cake with waste heat have been found.
In this project the utilisation of untreated larch wood is promoted by means of innovative measuring-technologies. optic-spectroscopic measurements are linked to extractive contents and mass-decay, in order to predict the "natural durability". The innovative measurement process allows a quick and accurate estimate of natural durability during the manufacturing process.
The project is based on the results of the currently running project "Use of waste heat and renewable energy sources in a metal-processing factory". In this project it was found, that nearly the half of the consumption of natural gas is needed for steam production. Based on calculations already carried out, it is planned to investigate experimentally the possibilities of increasing the resource-efficiency by lowering the steam temperature and by replacing steam by hot water. Further increasing of resource-efficiency shall be achieved by use of internal residues as an additional fuel in a solid fuel furnace.
Development of a new generation extrusion tool for a wood plastic composite. This material will be developed in a second project an should show a fiber content of 60 - 85%. Important is a high profile quality as well as a high output to ensure an economical production.
Method to optimize existing galvanizing plants consequently with the goal of zero emission and zero waste enterprises, to minimize operating cost including benchmarks and three case studies
The cultivation of flax (linseed) in Austria should be enhanced by arrangements to increase the technical grade of linseed oil produced. Austrian agriculture should be enabled to provide raw materials sufficient in batch and technical grade for the Austrian varnishing industry.
The application of PEM fuel cells is limited to certain singular products. The reason for this are the relatively high prices for the components of a PEM fuel cell. It is the aim of this project to fabricate the components of a PEM fuel cell by using mass production technologies such as injection moulding. In sequence this will lead to wide-spread applications of PEM fuel cells (personal-power-plant).
Biopolymers consist of renewable resources. The concept deals with the development and implementation of technologies in the sector of renewable biodegradable materials.
Development and optimization of a parabolic trough solar collector for generation of process heat for industrial processes. The operating performance and optimization possibilities of a prototype were evaluated and an improved prototype was tested with respect to its efficiency characteristics as well as in a small-scale application with a realistic load profile.
Pollen is a valuable natural resource for active agents, which is collected by bees in a natural way. To use the pollen a processing (sorting) is necessary. The project deals with the basics of the identification and separation of bee-collected pollen.
Inquiry of requirements, implementation of qualification schemes and coaching in the design of sustainability reports for selected companies of the styrian automobile cluster with special emphasis on environmental and social costs.
From an idea to a trade product ready for marketing: Plant dyes for the textile industry.
For the major resource intensive commercial sectors the real function of products will be ana-lysed and elaborated how to provide the function of the product without selling it. Based on the present material intensity of the branches the potential reduction of environmental burden by applying such models as well as economic and social implications will be deduced.
The main objective of the project is to improve the method for producing biodiesel by enzymatic catalysis.The target is to find a method to catalyze the production of fatty acid methyl esters by corn-cob-immobilized lipases which can be used in industrial scale.
It is the aim of the project to develop a model of sustainability management for a company of the meat processing industry. The management model includes strategy development, goal setting, evaluation of achievements of goals and support to the operationalisation of the model in form of an IT-system.
The model is designed and implemented for the production processes of the company in year 1, and in the further years for the whole company and the value chain of the company.
An extrusion process is applied for the production of foamed profiles and filling materials consisting of biogenous raw materials. Pellets can be used as insulation material in the building industry, profiles shall break into new markets because of its little weight.
Scientific attendance of sustainability reporting processes in two partner enterprises (VA Tech and ÖBf AG). Development of the guideline "Reporting about Sustainability" based on these practical experiences.
Windings of rotating machines or electrical generators (e. g. wind and water power generators) are impregnated with resin. A new technology using the heating effect of current is investigated. The high efficiency of heating with the joule effect results in quick heating of stator leading to fast gelling of the resin, which implies low emission.
The results of this project were to deliver the basics for chemical process engineering taking into account the requirements of sustainable development. The proposed results will have to be in conformity with ecological, economic and social requirements for sustainability. Hence the processes will mostly be based on renewable resources.
This project drives at optimizing the energy input at the manufacturing process of oil tempered spring steel. This aim is met by investigating different options of waste heat recovery from industrial furnaces and heat insulation of heat treatment bathes. Besides, options of lead removal from anthracite will be listed.
