Secondary Sand

Important results from the project

The project´s aim and goals are fulfilled. The common parts (quality demands for the sand, handling and transportation) are now known. Since the sand´s content of pollution differs between foundries, there is a demand for analysing the sand for each individual foundry. The new product´s properties must be decided together with the new customer. The aim is to have working business relations between foundry - sand supplier - sand customer. There was only a brief idea when the project started. The sand supplier has today found a customer interested in this, for future collaborations.

Expected long term effects

The results show that today´s cost situation (primarily cost for new sand and deposits) makes this a business with very small margins. However, the sand supplier believes that this will change, and that there will be an interesting economy in this within a few years. The transport of sand can not be too long (a sustainability demand). The foundry must control the properties of their waste sand better. The sand supplier must keep the secondary sand separate from the normal sand production, and they must also get a new environmental permission.

Approach and implementation

Process mapping (regarding the sand systems) at the two participating foundries. Analysis of the sand´s physical properties and content of pollution. Interviews with the sand transporter around equipment and their possibility to transport dirty sand. Discussions with the sand supplier about alternatives for disposal of and reprocessing the sand. Sustainability analysis, with the most likely alternaive as model. Estimation, together with the sand supplier, the future authorities demands that will follow when this secondary sand idea is implemented.