InfraHeater - revolutionary technology to improve heat treatment of metal
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | INFRASONIK AB |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 857 704 |
| Project duration | March 2020 - December 2021 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Innovation projects in enterprises |
| Call | Innovation projects in small and medium-sized companies - autumn 2019 |
Important results from the project
The project aimed to show that infrasound enable reduction of heating time for plates by at least 30%. This should be verified by designing and manufacturing a test equipment (InfraHeater) that heats plates with infrasound and through performing tests. Another goal was to interest an oven manufacturer to drive further development after the end of the project. This work is not finished but it has begun. For example, a demo is booked for presentation of the project result.
Expected long term effects
The results of the project and the tests that have been carried out exceed the expectations. The result indicates a reduction of the heating time by at least 40%. The next development step will take place with an established oven manufacturer. There are a number of defined design challenges that will need to be addressed in future development stages, but provided that they are solved, there are great opportunities for technology.
Approach and implementation
According to the plan, tests would be carried out well in advance of the project completion so that there would be time to present the results of the tests to potential stakeholders (and to Gestamp and Nordic furnaces). Due to the fact that the design work, manufacturing and tests took so much time ( results from the tests came right at the end of the project), marketing activities have not had time within the framework of the project. However, they are planned after the project. One lesson is that the budget and time frame for this scope needed to be larger.