In accordance with the Group’s decentralized R&D strategy, activities in the Research & Development sector are located at various sites within the Group. Despite the fact that development centers are geographically centered in Europe, employees, particularly those working in the area of process development, are being trained for worldwide deployment in order to be able to handle country-specific customer requirements. For example, as locations in North America are currently being expanded, processing expertise is being transferred there in accordance with local requirements in the interests of further development at the individual sites.
The Group project “KW50+” is currently the subject of particular focus, where know-how and process development for the production of components made of new materials for low-carbon steam power plants are being advanced across multiple divisions. CB2, a highly temperature-resistant casting material, has now been introduced successfully on the market and the appropriate welding process qualification has already been completed. The pilot production of components made of nickel-based alloys as well as development of processes for seam welding of dissimilar metals (nickel-based alloys with steel) have been successful.
The Special Steel Division, which has R&D sites in Austria, Germany, Sweden, and Brazil, is currently focusing on the further development of high-performance tool steel, special materials for the oil and natural gas industries, energy production, and the aviation industry. In addition to pure materials development, the current R&D portfolio also includes development of groundbreaking processing technologies and the development of new products for the aviation industry as well as innovative hard coatings for tools including the coating facilities needed for these processes.
In the Metal Engineering Division, DOBAIN®, the tear-resistant, bainitic brand of rail steel, is being intensively tested in Europe on various test tracks. Due to its cold resistance, it offers additional safety when used at extremely low temperatures. A newly developed type of rail steel for the tram segment, which has improved welding and wear properties, has been introduced on the market and has already proven to be very successful.
Under “HORIZON 2020,” the new EU Framework Program for Innovation and Research, voestalpine is participating in the “SPIRE” and S2R programs. SPIRE (Sustainable Process Industry through Resource and Energy Efficiency) is an initiative of energy-intensive industries with the aim of creating new, cross-sector energy- and resource-efficient process solutions. S2R (Shift to Rail) has the objective of increasingly shifting freight transport volume from road to rail. The Metal Engineering Division is participating in this project as part of VVAC (Virtual Vehicle Austria Consortium) with new and improved products.