MATERIALS
Created using a holistic approach for
relative sustainability and relative cost evaluation on the product level
needs across all process phases, from extraction of natural resources to their transformation, logistics, manufacturing of products, energy consumption during the use phase, and recycling at the end of life, is imperative. Political interests, lobbying or ideological ideas must be consistently pushed back. Furthermore, the cost analysis
of all phases must be considered too. When applying this method, and when comparing competitive technologies for the realisation of different products, decision makers, stakeholders and politicians will have transparent and clear grounds – i.e., precisely knowing the impact on cost
and also on sustainability, climate change and the earth’s protection – from which to make the decision whether or not to invest in a product. It is about making sustainability measurable, assessable, qualifiable and quantifiable. This is vital for avoiding
greenwashing, as most decisions are motivated today by the ideological thinking of politicians or large OEMs defending their position, which is often driven by purely economic aspects.
A REAL WORLD EXAMPLE As a case study, we examine here a sustainability value analysis for a
lightweight seat wound by the Gradel Robotic Additive Manufacturing (GRAM) system. It concerns the winding of complex 3D structures by a 7-axis robot. The materials used are basalt fibres and bio-based resin, with a back panel of flax and Alcantara upholstery. The basalt structure has a weight of 1,800 grams. With the described method and
holistic approach, the basalt structure, as well as the Rayon fibres, proved the best result. Compared with steel and plastic injection moulding they cannot compete on price, but they do save energy in the use phase. Carbon and aluminium structures induce the same production cost as basalt or Rayon. Both carbon and aluminium semi-finished products have a huge C02
footprint as they consume a huge
amount of energy, which cannot be recovered during the use phase. Finally, it is obviously important
to analyse the market you are in. For aeronautic passenger seats, for example, the use phase has a much higher importance and therefore carbon has improved chances, as it still offers the best weight/stiffness ratio and mechanical properties. ●
The whole lifecycle of a product must be examined to make the best choice
The author is CEO of Gradel Sàrl. See
www.gradel.lu or
www.gradellw.eu for more information
www.engineerlive.com 31
Source: AMC GmbH
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