WS11 Material-Efficiency in Swiss Industry based on systematic Ecodesign – 3 Case Studies with big potential

· Workshop Organisers: FOEN and Reffnet.ch

· Workshop Chair: Rainer Züst

· Date and Time: Tuesday 13, 12h30 – 14h20

· Room: Wisshorn

· Description: 

Three main topics

-Further development of Ecodesign: from incremental improvements to scaling effects

-Integration of economy and new business opportunities in future solutions

-Success with systems efficiency, natural grows and product innovation

Where are the future potentials of Ecodesign & Material Efficiency?

-The solution is simple: radical efficiency! More with less! Maximal added value with minimal resource input!

-The optimisation of economic costs and ecological benefit was always the domain of Ecodesign: Energy and material efficiency, reduction of waste and reoperation, improvement of processes and shortening of process chains creates impacts. No small steps are in demand – big jumps are required! In the workshop, Swiss entrepreneurs and experts are looking for new approaches.

Two main targets

-Contributions from Swiss industry will show “big jumps” in Ecodesign and material efficiency, based on new products and technologies

-How to make benefit out of big technology jumps?

Content

-Opening speech given by Bruno Oberle, director of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN)

-Introduction:

– From small improvements to big jumps – Ecodesign in Swiss Industry” –  Rainer Züst, Züst Engineering, Seegräben. PRESENTATION

– Ecodesign and economy – which are the challenges?” – Stefan Gürtler, FHNW, Windisch-Brugg. PRESENTATION

-Three examples:

– Packaging industry: „natural light” instead of expensive chemistry – how ebeam-Technology is revolutionizing the systems efficiency of Tetrapack – Michael Bielmann, COMET-ebeam in Flamatt / Bern. PRESENTATION
– Production of measuring instruments: Vacuum-Sensors for efficient processes in production equipment – intelligent systems as an example for scaling effects – Christian Berg, Inficon, Balzers (FL) PRESENTATION
– Lighter, faster, better…: how additive manufacturing processes are reducing material input in production and usage phases of new products – Christoph Klahn, inspire / ETH Zürich, Zürich

Conclusion: Trap of ROI, cost curve and economy of scales – how economy could support technical improvements – Stefan Gürtler, FHNW, Windisch-Brugg