Following a competitive funding call, the UKRI-ISCF Transforming Foundation Industries Network+ has awarded over £270,000 in funding to six collaborative projects supporting energy efficient manufacturing across the foundation industry sectors.

Two of the projects are related to the glass industry: Improved Energy Efficiency of Float Glass Production – Dr Peter Green (University of Liverpool) in collaboration with NSG Group; and Using Blast Furnace Waste Heat to Convert Various Wastes into New Raw Materials for Low Energy Glass – Dr Zushu Li (University of Warwick) in collaboration with British Glass, Glass Futures, Calumite Ltd and Materials Processing Institute.

A third project looks at the cold sintering of silica based shaped refractories led by Dr Linhao Li (University of Sheffield) in collaboration with Vesuvius UK Ltd

“The TFI Network+ has remit to help the foundation industries get ready for net-zero 2050. These projects are in key research areas that could radically alter the carbon footprint of several foundation industry sectors. We look forward to reporting their outcomes and to funding more high-quality projects in the future” said Professor Ian Reaney, Director of the Transforming Foundation Industries Network+.

All projects will begin in September, with project descriptions available on the TFI Network+ website.

In July, the Network launched its second funding call, inviting proposals under the themes of resource efficiency and industrial symbiosis.

www.tfinetworkplus.org

Image: Calumite hoppers at Scunthorpe