Articles and blog posts on Manufacturing and production conversion

Sweden is now stepping up to compete with the rest of Europe in the use of industrial heat pumps. A new initiative aims to help companies reduce electricity consumption while lowering their climate footprint – with the potential to save terawatt-hours annually.

In the event of a major crisis – or, ultimately, war – much of society would feel the consequences, not least the manufacturing industry. Yet how does one prepare for a scenario that is, in many respects, uncertain? "The most important thing is to have thought it through," says Emma Mattisson, Proj…

How can remanufacturing become a viable business model? A key starting point is to develop clear strategies and roadmaps that map the journey from the current state to circular product life cycles. By working with a roadmap, UBD Cleantech gained fresh perspectives and a tool that simplifies concret…

Polar Light Technologies (PLT) has revolutionized the manufacturing of pyramid-shaped microLEDs through a new bottom-up method. This method enables controlled crystal growth atom layer by atom layer, which has eliminated the destructive etching used in today's top-down methods. This has resulted in…

Launched in response to industry's need for increased competitiveness, the challenges of the future have become more numerous and complex. The development programme led by RISE is more relevant than ever.

When Emil Hed did his thesis project at RISE, he did not know that it would be the start of an exciting career in research and development. But when a job opening came up that matched the content of his thesis, he took the chance – and got the job.

The construction sector has a lot to gain from reclaiming materials - especially load-bearing structures such as concrete frames, which often have a long lifespan after demolition. Despite the great climate potential, development is being slowed by unclear rules and uncertainty about quality. To sp…

AstraZeneca in Södertälje is one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical manufacturers. Each year, nearly 12 billion tablets and capsules are produced here, along with significant quantities of inhalers, granules, powders, ampoules, vials, and syringes. The production accounts for approximately five …

Thin glass wires are helping Hitachi Energy make production in Ludvika more data-driven, with the aim of sharpening its products. "Fibre optics can give us much more information than traditional sensors," says Christos Athanasopoulos, chief engineer at Hitachi Energy in Sweden.

The tyres on our cars and the ink in our office printers contain carbon black, a chemical manufactured with a significant climate impact. Researchers at RISE were the first in the world to develop a special method of producing black carbon powder that is more environmentally friendly.

Stena Line’s new concept vessel Stena Futuro can reduce energy usage by 20 percent or more, combining existing technologies such as wing sails and air lubrication. RISE independently assessed the saving potential of the wing sails and helped with a study to confirm that the vessel fulfills certain …

What happens when the next crisis hits – and who does what? The Prepare Sweden initiative aims to strengthen society's preparedness. The concept: common approaches, clearer responsibilities. And the technical ability to act quickly.

Increased productivity, more consistent quality, and an improved work environment in the steel plant. These are the results as specialty steel manufacturer Alleima now implements RISE’s research into actual production.

The energy system of the future is based on batteries. But while other countries and regions have secured the entire chain – from raw material to finished product – Europe has lost momentum and is struggling with failed investments. How can we reverse this trend?

Giving used products a new life is not only a sustainable solution—it can also make strong business sense. Join Husqvarna Construction on its journey towards a more circular business model. “We see both environmental and economic benefits in reintroducing products to the market,” says Adam Björk…

Does start-up Reselo have the answer to fossil-free rubber? The company's material is already used for shoe soles – and together with a manufacturer it is now being adapted for tyre production, which accounts for 70% of the world's rubber consumption. "The material is made entirely from birch bar…

The plastics in our children's toys, the synthetic fibres in our clothes and the ingredients in the salve we use to lubricate our hands. The common denominator? The products contain chemicals of fossil origin that need to be phased out. Green chemicals is the key.

In the summer of 2023, Polar Light Technologies achieved a highly controlled blue light from microLEDs in the shape of small pyramids for the first time. Just three months later they also managed to achieve green light. With an ambition to produce red light, the most difficult to achieve, before th…

Hyundai Mobis from South Korea has collaborated over a two-year period on the development of power electronics semiconductors. The collaboration is based at the Electrum Laboratory, part of 'Silicon Carbide Valley'. Mobis has had developers on site in Sweden and worked closely with RISE experts on …

.Two major global crises in a short space of time. The coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine have highlighted the need for greater food security. This is to ensure that we can all put food on the table even when global transport chains are disrupted. And striving for greater self-sufficiency …

We have become accustomed to getting what we need on time, whether it comes from Sweden or not. The pandemic, with its closed borders, was therefore a rude awakening. "We must now do everything we can to ensure that everything we need is available in Sweden, even in the event of a crisis. We need…

At a time when resources are increasingly limited and the need to reduce waste, emissions and energy consumption is more urgent than ever, the aluminium industry is facing major challenges. The energy required to produce one tonne of aluminium from bauxite ore is equivalent to the annual consumptio…

Plastic can be highly damaging to the environment thus replacing it with entirely new bio-based materials could be one solution to reducing environmental impact. In the future, fibre-based foam could be used in everything from packaging and furniture to cars and houses.

How do you ensure that every step in the production of a high-volume product is really beneficial? Volvo Cars analysed data from the production of 120,000 cars. The result: an entire complicated step was eliminated – while at the same time identifying possible improvements in the production line.

Batteries are essential for the transition to a fossil-free society. They are already used in millions of consumer products, but also for various industrial applications - and demand is expected to increase. Sweden is well placed to become a leading battery nation. "But to do so, we need a comm…

Is it possible to test your product reliably when it is so unique that no standard has been developed that can be applied? The Norwegian company AutoStore found the answer to this question in Sweden.

The next generation oil company. That's how Votion Biorefineries in Sundsvall describes itself. The company has developed a method for converting waste products into biofuels and biochemicals. The process has now been thoroughly tested and it is time to scale up operations.

The quality and price of products, business models, collaborations, value chain management, and automation – many factors determine a company's competitiveness. However, the foundation of it all is often overlooked: good measurements.

Sweden's security of supply is back in the spotlight. This means that more and more companies need to review their robustness and resilience. "Preparing your organization will make you more innovative, more flexible and better able to deal with unexpected events," says Elenor Bernelow Loyd of RIS…

Technological developments are opening up new opportunities for industry to optimise its production assets. Now it is time for maintenance organisations to follow suit. - To take the next step, technology and organisation must evolve in parallel. It's not enough to install sensors and collect data…

Over the past year, RISE, in collaboration with Uppsala universitet, Chalmers tekniska högskola and Blue Institute, as part of the SweBIC project, has investigated the feasibility of establishing a national technological infrastructure for battery cell and material production, with the goal of supp…

Sweden's largest aerospace company supplies global giants and makes sure their satellites get into the right orbit. To get there, Beyond Gravity has carried out many material tests in extreme temperatures.