Coordinated by the Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, the project brings together research and industry expertise from the Fraunhofer IGCV, Borbet GmbH, TRIMET Aluminium SE, and Jordan Spritzgusstechnik GmbH. Running from January 2023 through December 2025, the initiative is backed by approximately two million euros in funding.
SUPA-Wheel takes a holistic approach to research across the entire product lifecycle, with a central focus on CO₂ reduction based on the cradle-to-cradle principle. Key areas of development include:
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Optimization of aluminum alloys using secondary aluminum,
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Selection of suitable polymers for the multi-material wheel structure,
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and the creation of a standardized methodology for early CO₂ evaluation to guide sustainable material, design, and production decisions.
The Fraunhofer IGCV plays a crucial role in maximizing resource efficiency in metallurgical processes. This includes analyzing impurities in alloys, assessing their impact on castability, and developing integrated sorting strategies to mitigate their effects in the production process.
By the end of the project, the team aims to achieve a recycling rate of up to 30% of annual production, while significantly lowering the carbon footprint of aluminum wheel manufacturing.
SUPA-Wheel is paving the way for sustainable mobility solutions—technologically sophisticated, economically viable, and ecologically responsible.
Have also a look into the video: Kostbare Netzwerke: SUPA-Wheel - Medien - Videoportal FH Dortmund
Contact:
Dipl.-Ing. Robert Kleinhans
(Fraunhofer IGCV)
