VEREIN FUER PRAKTISCHE GIESSEREIFORSCHUNG

Their core work

The Österreichisches Gießerei Institut (OGI) is Austria's dedicated foundry research institute, based in Leoben — the same city as one of Europe's leading metallurgy universities. They apply scientific methods to real production challenges in metal casting, with particular depth in aluminum alloys and composite materials. In H2020, they contributed laboratory expertise and process know-how to large Innovation Action consortia focused on producing lighter, stronger metal components for transport applications. Their work sits at the intersection of materials science and industrial manufacturing: they don't just study metals — they help producers make better parts at scale.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their earliest H2020 project (LightMe, 2019), OGI's focus was broad process engineering — additive manufacturing, sintering, simulation, and quality characterization across composite production routes. By the time FLAMINGo began in 2021, the emphasis had narrowed and sharpened: aluminium specifically, metal matrix nanocomposites, extrusion, mechanical alloying, and recycling replaced the earlier breadth. The shift suggests a move from general lightweight manufacturing towards aluminium MMC specialization with a growing sustainability angle — recycling is now part of the picture in a way it was not before.

OGI is deepening its specialization in aluminium metal matrix composites for transport lightweighting, while adding a recycling and sustainability dimension — making them increasingly relevant to green mobility supply chains.

How they like to work

OGI has participated in both H2020 projects as a consortium member, never as coordinator — a pattern consistent with a specialized institute that contributes defined technical tasks rather than managing multi-partner projects. Both projects were large Innovation Actions, meaning OGI operates comfortably in complex, industry-heavy consortia aimed at bringing technology close to market. With 34 unique partners across only 2 projects, they are clearly embedded in broad international teams rather than working in small circles.

OGI has built connections with 34 distinct consortium partners spanning 14 countries through just two projects — an unusually wide network for such a small portfolio. Their reach is European in scope, likely including automotive OEMs, materials companies, and university partners given the sector focus.

What sets them apart

OGI occupies a rare niche as Austria's specialist foundry research institute — an applied research body focused exclusively on casting and metal production, rather than a broad materials or engineering department. Being based in Leoben, adjacent to Montanuniversität, gives them direct proximity to one of Europe's strongest metallurgy academic ecosystems. For a consortium needing credible, industry-connected casting expertise without the overhead of a large university partner, OGI is a precise fit.

Highlights from their portfolio

• LightMe
  The larger of the two projects (€781,250) and the broader in scope — an open innovation ecosystem for lightweight metal composites spanning additive manufacturing, sintering, and simulation, suggesting OGI contributed across multiple process stages.
• FLAMINGo
  Focused squarely on aluminium metal matrix composites for green vehicles (2021–2025), this project reflects OGI's sharpening specialization and connects their foundry expertise directly to EV lightweighting — a commercially high-value application area.