Efficient solutions for the development and optimization of products and processes
Elkeme, Hellenic Research Centre for Metals S.A. was founded in 1999 to support the Greek metallurgical industry. Through its state of the art laboratories, it focuses on industrial research and technological development. The majority of its efforts are concentrated in four major metals sectors: aluminium, copper, steel and zinc. Elkeme activities mainly focus on applied technological research towards:
- The development of new, innovative and high added value products as well as improvement of existing products.
- The optimisation of industrial processes to support energy and cost-efficient operations, prioritising health, safety and the environment.
- Research into plants environmental performance, impact assessment, recycling, stabilization and utilization of by-products to ensure sustainable growth of companies.
Elkeme provides high value-added R&D services and technical solutions applicable to products, business and plant production processes, through:
- The employment of highly skilled scientists, engineers and technicians.
- Investment in human capital via continuous professional development and education.
- Adoption of a flexible “customer-focused” business model.
- High quality and cutting-edge laboratories.
- Conducting research projects in metallurgy, materials science and environmental engineering for product and process development and optimisation.
- Strong relationships with customers, employees and partners, together with national and international research and/or academic organisations, building a “knowledge, competence and excellence network”.
Elkeme laboratories have a state-of-the-art technological infrastructure, focus on excellence and are recognized and distinguished worldwide for:
- Successful collaboration with external consulting, technical partners/organizations and Academic institutions on joint research projects and
- Participating in international contests and proficiency testing / inter-laboratory measurement schemes.
Elkeme team members participate in international scientific/engineering associations and serve as members of worldwide scientific committees and boards. They also regularly contribute to scientific journals and conferences and are invited to offer lectures at Universities and in technical meetings and seminars. Elkeme regularly cooperates with national and foreign Universities regarding practical training internships and Diploma, Master and PhD theses based on industrial projects with significant technical and economic impact. It also participates in national and EU-funded research projects
The main departments/laboratories are the following:
- Process metallurgy
- Physical metallurgy and forming
- Metallography and electron optics
- Mechanical testing and manufacturing technology
- Surface science and coatings
- Corrosion
- Hydrometallurgy
- Manufacturing systems and automation
- Numerical modeling
- Analytical chemistry
- Sustainability.
Special focus on the following fields:
- Aluminium, copper, steel and zinc metallurgy
- Production process operations
- Surface and coatings characterization
- Electrochemistry methods
- Analytical chemistry methods development
- Alloy design and process development and optimization
- Development of new metallic products
- Fracture mechanics
- Mechanical properties determination
- Industrial trials with scientific monitoring
- Simulation of pyrometallurgical, thermal, casting and forming processes
- Joining and welding
- Microstructure and crystallographic characterization
- Failure and root cause analysis
- Characterization and study of sandwich composite materials
- Industrial environmental and energy control and analysis
- Corrosion protection
- Recycling, waste stabilization and utilization of by-products
- Chemical, mineralogical and texture analysis.
Elkeme is also closely cooperating with the ElvalHalcor’s technology centres which monitor new market trends in order to meet customers’ expectations and fulfil their requirements.
Elkeme is certified as per ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 17025:2017 international standards.
For more information about Elkeme, please visit the website http://www.elkeme.gr