Expert Committee

Continuous Casting

Process technology, casting quality and material behaviour in continuous casting.

From melting to solidification: continuous casting, mould technology and spray forming in exchange between research and industry.

Members154

Founded1972

UnitDGM e.V.

Chair

Univ.-Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Rüdiger Böhmer
Universität Hildesheim

Open committee platform

Continuous casting covers the process chain from melting and casting to solidification and cooling. Casting parameters influence solidification, cooling and contraction, and thus casting quality, residual stresses, microstructure and homogeneity.

Established in 1972, the DGM Expert Committee addresses continuous casting with furnace-dependent and furnace-independent moulds for a broad range of materials, including aluminium and copper materials. It also covers spray forming of special aluminium, copper and steel materials.

01 · Technical topics

Process chain and material condition

Solidification and cooling

Casting parameters in context

Considering effects throughout the process chain.

The Expert Committee examines how casting parameters influence solidification, cooling and contraction.

Casting quality

Microstructure and residual stresses

Understanding the links to casting quality.

Casting quality, residual stresses, microstructure and homogeneity are discussed in relation to process control.

Process variants

Mould technology and spray forming

Linking continuous casting and special materials.

Topics include furnace-dependent and furnace-independent moulds as well as spray forming of special aluminium, copper and steel materials.

Foundry practice

Digitisation in foundries

Addressing digital developments as an overarching topic.

The further development of digitisation in foundries is a long-term topic of the Expert Committee.

02 · Meetings and visits

Technical exchange between industry and research

Experts from production facilities, suppliers of refractory materials, melting and casting furnaces, casting plants, and measurement and operating technology meet with specialists from research institutes, universities and colleges. Technical questions and practical experience are central to the exchange.

Reciprocal plant and institute visits complement technical presentations by members and invited experts. The annual conference takes place once a year, while the working groups usually meet twice a year. German is the working language; guest presentations in English are welcome.

03 · Membership and young professionals

Contributing actively to committee work

The Expert Committee and its working groups are open to persons and institutions with relevant expertise. Young professionals in industry and research, as well as students before graduation, can also contribute.

Guest members participate on a selective basis according to their professional focus or are invited to specific topics. Permanent members contribute continuously in at least two target areas of the Expert Committee and/or its working groups and can form problem-related ad hoc working groups where needed. Admission takes place by election following a personal introduction.

The three current working groups address overarching topics as well as working-group-specific subjects. Their focus is on expanding process knowledge and continuously improving processes from melting and casting through to solidification, taking economic, sustainability and quality considerations into account. Further topics include the development of occupational safety to reduce accidents and near misses, technical solutions from energy and process technology, digitisation in foundries and the exchange of practical casting experience.

Practical interdisciplinary exchange, reciprocal plant visits and technical presentations by members and invited experts shape the committee’s work. Regular benchmarking to define the state of the art, technical support for funded research and development projects, and the involvement of young professionals complement these activities.