In 2012, casting manufacturer Georg Fischer invested CHF 100 million ($109,075,000 U.S.) in research and development, registering more than 40 new patents. At the fourth Georg Fischer Technology Day, held in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, this October, the company’s three divisions presented an array of innovative solutions.
“Our innovations focus primarily on addressing our customers’ needs in those market segments where we can contribute the most,” said Yves Serra, CEO. “New products and services development involve more than 600 specialized engineers in a dozen R&D departments worldwide acting close to and in cooperation with our customers and leading academic institutions.”
GF Automotive provides iron, aluminum and magnesium cast components dedicated to the lightweight design of cars and trucks. GF Automotive showed an innovative structural component for car bodies (strut dome) replacing the previous assembly of 10 different parts welded together. The resulting 50% weight reduction leads to significantly lower fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Aerospace and aeronautics manufacturer GF Machining Solutions presented itself for the first time under this new name, in line with the corporation’s new brand architecture. The division presented, as a world premiere, a novel way to machine key components of aircraft engines with electro-erosion machines instead of the broaching process.
GF Piping Systems presented new high performance plastic water systems, free of dead space and featuring an innovative disinfection technology to prevent potential health risks caused by legionella.