Swerim AB

Swerim now offers a comprehensive solution – from powder manufacturing, characterization, and consolidation to post-processing and final application. Comparisons can be made between additive manufacturing with laser and electron beam and near-net-shape hot isostatic pressing of powder. Questions please contact Annika Strondl Emil Strandh or Tatiana Fedina #research #aditivemanufacturing #powdermanufacturing

Great collaboration!   As the steel industry looks for innovative ways to reduce carbon emissions, Kanthal and Swerim collaborate through the ELROS project to tackle the challenge of electrifying steel reheating processes. Along with partners like ABB, Alleima, Outokumpu, SSAB, and Jernkontoret, the research project focuses on replacing fossil fuel-driven furnaces with electric alternatives. By integrating induction heating and electric resistance heating, the project aims to achieve the high temperatures needed for steel production while significantly reducing CO2 emissions.   Thomas Helander from Kanthal and Stefan Marth from Swerim AB discuss their contributions to the project, which include advanced technical aspects of simulations, furnace conversions, and pilot trials. Their work underscores Kanthal and Swerim's commitment to providing scalable solutions for decarbonizing the steel industry.   The project tested three methods: inductive heating, resistive heating, and a combination of both. According to Stefan Marth, the combined approach produced the most promising results, balancing speed with precision and reducing the time required to reach the target temperature by about one-third compared to resistive heating alone.   Practical implementation and overcoming challenges were carried out at Swerim’s facility in Luleå, where an existing gas-fired furnace was converted to electric heating.   "Our objective was to electrify these furnaces while still achieving the high temperatures – up to 1,350°C (2,462°F) – needed for steel production," Thomas Helander says. “The project demonstrated that it’s possible to make a real difference with Kanthal’s electric heating technology.”   "The pilot trials closely resembled real industrial conditions," explains Stefan Marth. "This should make the transition to full-scale industrial implementation straightforward since we tested dimensions and setups similar to real production environments."   Both Kanthal and Swerim are optimistic about the scalability of the technology.   The project ELROS (Electric heating of slabs) has been financed by Vinnova, Formas, a Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development and the Swedish Energy Agency within the Strategic Innovation Program Metalliska material. The project has been going on for 3 years and ended in the summer of 2024. Participating companies have been: Swerim (Coordinator), Kanthal, ABB, Alleima, Outokumpu, SSAB and Jernkontoret.   Photos: 1.    Electrified furnace with Kanthal Super 1700 heating elements mounted in the roof during the ELROS test campaign. 2.    Heated blank with thermocouples removed from electrified furnace at Swerims Pilot facility in Luleå. 3.    Swerims researchers during induction heating trials. 4.    Heated blank for cooling outside at Swerims Pilot facility in Luleå. 5.    Thomas Helander, R&D expert, Kanthal (Photo: Kanthal) 6.    Stefan Marth, Researcher and Group Manager - Heating and Metalworking, Swerim

Thanks to the organizers of the GARM Career Day at Luleå University of Technology! Our colleagues Johanna Alatalo, Linn Svensson, Dan Sandström, and Johan Stenman had a fantastically inspiring day full of interesting meetings and discussions.   "It was a day filled with engaging conversations with students, where we received many insightful questions about Swerim and what it means to work as researchers with us", says Johanna Alatalo. "We also received several inquiries about thesis projects and internships".   For those interested in upcoming thesis opportunities, keep an eye on the LTU and our own website for more information.   A big thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to a successful day! #research #careerday #masterthesis

Sten Wessman, Swerim was there! Were you? During the Material Selection at the Duplex World Advanced Conference & Expo 2024 in Rotterdam this week, Sten Wessman had an appreciated presentation about the safe use of duplex stainless steel weldments at elevated temperatures. #stainlessteel #research #duplexstainlessteel

Thank you all for a rewarding day! It was a full house at the seminar on Material Challenges in the Nuclear Industry organized by Swerim and Forsmarks Kraftgrupp.   An incredibly topical and exciting area where development is progressing rapidly. There was great interest and many questions.   We got to listen to very interesting presentations from Martin Löfgren, Swedish Energy Agency, Fredrik Gustavsson, Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB, Vattenfall, Per Waernqvist, Ringhals AB, Martin Bjurman, Studsvik, Jan Sarnet, Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB, Anders Magnusson, Quintus Technologies, Conny Persson, Alleima, Magnus Limbäck, Westinghouse Electric Company, Peter Szakálos, Blykalla, Irma Heikkilä, Swerim AB, and finally Swerim's research on materials for nuclear power with Pontus Rydgren.   The day was rounded off with a tour of Swerim's lab.   Instead of flowers or chocolates for those who presented, Swerim has donated a sum to Engineers Without Borders Sweden / Ingenjörer utan gränser in their names. #nuclearpower #research #materialchallages

Johan Martinsson and Oscar Hessling, Swerim have recently visited POSCO Silicon Solution in Pohang, South Korea, to discuss the new project ”Development of Metallurgical Process for >87% Ultra-High Efficiency Silicon suboxide Anode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries”. The visit was very fruitful. The researchers gained a deeper understanding of the full-scale production and a better understanding of how to contribute to the project and costumer. The project is financed by the Korean Institute for Advancement in Technology. #metallurgy #research #lithiumionbatteries #production

New Challenge for Malin Hagemalm! After two years as a senior researcher at Swerim, it is now time for her to take on the responsibility as head of the new Primary Metallurgy group. She held a similar position with her previous employer Metso (then known as Outotec), and it was a role she enjoyed.   "My new group consists of members with strong competencies focused around the electric arc furnace and its process control, the use of hydrogen and biochar as replacements for propane and other carbon-based reduction agents, and scrap management," explains Malin Hagemalm. " We are simply a very strong team in the industry's ongoing transition." #newposition #metallurgy #processcontrol

The ZincVal project (valorisation of low zinc-containing residues) participated in the ESTEP annual event 2024 in Linz, where Damiano Capobianco, Esin İplik, Yanping Xiao and Marianne Magnelöv, presented the different recycling methods to be developed in the project. We also had the opportunity to participate in the poster-section.   We appreciate the discussions with the participants at the conference and it was inspiring to see other initiatives addressing similar issues.   Thanks to The European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP) for an excellent organization of the event.   Participating companies are Swerim AB, RINA Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali, Tata Steel Nederland, AGA Group, CRM Group (Centre de recherches métallurgiques), Acciaierie d'Italia S.p.A. in A.S., ORI Martin Group   The project is funded by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS).   If you want to know more about the ZincVal project please contact Marianne Magnelöv, at the metals research institute Swerim AB.   #zincval, #recycling, #circulareconomy, #valorisation, #steel

Nu samlar vi kärnkraftsbranschen, materialtillverkare och forskningsaktörer för att diskutera utmaningar relaterade till metalliska material i dagens och framtidens kärnkraftsindustri. Materialutmaningar inom kärnkraftsbranschen är titeln på vårt kostnadsfria seminarium i samverkan med Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB, Vattenfall. När? Onsdagen den 13 november 2024 kl 10.00–16.30 Var? Swerim i Kista (Stockholm) Din anmälan vill vi ha senast den 5 november! Program 10.00–11.30 Session I – Välkomna till seminariet! Pontus Sjöberg, Swerim – Energimyndighetens satsningar på forskning och innovation inom kärnkraft. Martin Löfgren, Energimyndigheten – Material- och provningsutmaningar inom kärnkraften. @Fredrik Gustavsson, Forsmarks Kraftgrupp AB, Vattenfall – Möjligheter med additiv tillverkning. Björn Forssgren och Per Waernqvist, Ringhals AB – Materialutmaningar i dagens kärnkraftverk – Studsviks perspektiv. Anna-Maria Alvarez Holston och Martin Bjurman, Studsvik 11.30–12.30 Lunch 12.30–13.50 Session 2 – Krypning och åldring i slutförvarskapsel. Jan Sarnet, Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB, SKB – Materialutmaningar vid tillverkning av stora koppardetaljer. Rickard Nilsson, Svensk kärnbränslehantering – Kärnkraftsrör för framtiden. Conny Persson, Alleima – Materialutmaningar – bränsle i lättvattenreaktorer. Britta Helmersson och Magnus Limbäck, Westinghouse Electric Company 13.50–14.20 Fika 14.20–15.20 Session 3 – Korrosionsresistenta aluminiumoxidbildande stål för blykylda reaktorer. Peter Szakálos, Blykalla – NuMap samlar industri och forskning för ett fossilfritt Sverige. Irma Heikkilä, Swerim – Swerims forskning inom material för kärnkraft. Nuria Fuertes och Pontus Rydgren, Swerim 15.30–16.30 Visning av Swerims labb   Anmäl dig via vår webbsida. #seminarium #research #kärnkraft #nuclearpower

Thanks to the recent acquisition of an SLM®280 2.0 from Nikon SLM Solutions, Swerim can now offer complete, in-house solutions across the entire metal powder value chain.   “The printer enables us to work with development along the entire metal powder value chain for our industrial customers,” said Annika Strondl, Swerim. “From powder manufacturing, characterization, and consolidation to post-processing and final application.”   Comparisons can be made between additive manufacturing with laser and electron beam, and near-net-shape hot isostatic pressing of powder.    If you would like to know more about our new equipment, please contact Tatiana Fedina, Swerim. #additivemanufacturing #metalpowder #research