LKR’s Innovative Work in the Spotlight

The outstanding work on innovations being done at Leichtmetallkompetenzzentrum Ranshofen (LKR) has been very much in the spotlight in recent weeks. The LKR project “Development of Additive Manufacturing Consumables for Large-Scale Metal Components” was chosen as one of the five outstanding entries in the category “Non-University Research” for the prestigious 2024 Houska Award presented by the B&C Privatstiftung. In addition, LKR was the runner-up for the 2024 Upper Austrian Innovation Award in the category “Research Institutions” for its project “Development and Establishment of WAM Technology for Lightweight Aluminium Applications”.

We congratulate the LKT team at the AIT on these flagship projects which provide impressive proof of the long-term benefits of wire-based additive manufacturing (WAM) technology. For more information, see below.

In the top 5 for the 2024 Houska Award

Although using directed energy deposition (DED) and light metal wire processes for 3D printing of large-scale components shows tremendous promise, it presents challenges because standard consumables often contain defects or inadequate properties that make them unsuitable. The LKR team at the AIT developed special additive manufacturing consumables for this application. A three-phase development process encompassing alloys, wire production and workability in industrial processes offers partners in Austria competitive advantages with technologies that save energy and resources.

Second place in the 2024 Upper Austrian Innovation Award

LKR was the runner-up for the 2024 Upper Austrian Innovation Award for its development and establishment of WAM technology for lightweight aluminium applications. One example of the ground-breaking possibilities offered by this manufacturing technology is the project “LH2-WAM-Tank”. The project focuses on using WAM technology to develop an aluminium, and therefore lightweight, liquid hydrogen tank. Currently, these tanks are made of stainless steel which, however, is three times as heavy as aluminium. Aluminium, three times less dense, could represent a promising solution for the efficient use of climate-friendly fuel in aviation. LKR explains the advantages of WAM technology in an interview with the Austrian newspaper Die Presse. The article (in German) is available online under the title Wasserstoff im Tank: Eine Aluminiumdose schafft das (DiePresse.com).