The BOCAR Networking Day 2024, which was organised for the first time this year and took place at the BOCAR Technology Centre (BTC) in Schramberg-Waldmössingen, provided plenty of inspiration for the foundry industry. The two-day event with the motto ‘Strong partnerships to promote sustainable mobility’ kicked off with the networking evening on Monday, 17 June, which offered participants numerous opportunities to exchange ideas, including public viewing of the 2024 European Football Championship.
The BOCAR Networking Day 2024, which was organised for the first time this year and took place at the BOCAR Technology Centre (BTC) in Schramberg-Waldmössingen, provided plenty of inspiration for the foundry industry. The two-day event with the motto ‘Strong partnerships to promote sustainable mobility’ kicked off with the networking evening on Monday, 17 June, which offered participants numerous opportunities to exchange ideas, including public viewing of the 2024 European Football Championship.
Among the guests were OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers and technology suppliers with whom the BOCAR Group has long-standing partnerships, as well as representatives from universities and associations. The event was officially opened on Tuesday, 18 June, with a welcoming speech by BOCAR Group CEO Karl Schary, followed by the presentation ‘Introducing BOCAR’ by Dr Bernhard Fritsche, Director BOCAR Germany and Jochen März, CTO BOCAR Germany.
Climate policy goals and the promotion of sustainable mobility can only be achieved together
Fritsche emphasised that OEMs are pursuing different strategies in 2024 when it comes to ICE, BEV and PHEV. While some see the electric drive of vehicles as the only model for the future, for others the decision about the end of the combustion engine from 2035 is still open. Although demand for BEV vehicles is currently weakening, the long-term trend would be towards electric vehicles. In this context, Fritsche referred to the achievement of climate policy goals for carbon neutrality and the promotion of sustainable mobility, which, however, can only be achieved together. He emphasised the benefits that arise from the collaboration between the BOCAR Group and its cooperation partners, such as access to new technologies, joint research and development projects, CO innovation opportunities, new insights and impetus on the part of the markets and consumers, as well as shared economic risk.
Enforcement of e-vehicles depends on many criteria, some OEMs are focussing on the further development of ICEs and PHEVs
The presentation by Jochen März, CTO BOCAR Germany, also focussed on current developments and key figures for BEVs in the EU. According to März, the question of whether e-vehicles will become established in the future depends primarily on four different criteria: Government regulations (ICE phase-out, climate targets, Euro 6e, Euro 7), the strategies and goals of OEMs, the general competitive situation of BEVs and, of course, customer demand (price sensitivity, purchasing power, availability of e-fuelling stations, etc.). A major challenge for OEMs lies above all in the competitive situation of new market participants (BEV manufacturers) from the Far East. Some traditional OEMs have already responded to this problem by focussing on the further development of ICEs and PHEVs - particularly with regard to pollutant emissions and CO2 emissions from combustion engines.
Topic Giga/Megacasting: Has the limit already been reached?
Other highlights of Networking Day 2024 included a tour of the BOCAR Technology Centre (BTC) and various specialist presentations and workshops. One of the topics discussed was giga/megacasting, which raised the question of whether the limit for casting on large machines has already been reached and in which direction the industry will develop in the long term. In his presentation, Marco Tobler, Director Global Product Management & Marketing Die Casting at Bühler Group, emphasised that very large structural components can be cast in the future, but that the lifetime of vehicles (single-use of cars) must be redefined in this context. Tobler also emphasised that casting on small and medium-sized die casting machines will be just as important as gigacasting in the future.
Further topics of the BOCAR Networking Day 2024
Other workshop topics included OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) / technical feasibility: everything to do with the casting cell of the future; simultaneous engineering: what potential can still be exploited? Innovations: What new developments can we expect in the next few years? as well as fast-die parts and services from BTC.
After the workshops, there was another opportunity for networking and a cosy get-together. All in all, the event was a complete success, with a clear focus on ‘achieving goals together’ - just as Jochen März emphasised in his closing speech: ‘We keep on discussing, we keep on collaborating.
About the BOCAR Group
The BOCAR Group has been active as a manufacturer of aluminium components for 65 years and supplies the USMCA market from the USMCA. The parts are produced by aluminium die casting, gravity die casting and low pressure die casting. In Germany, the BOCAR Group operates a unique technology centre in Schramberg-Waldmössingen, which specialises in die casting technology. With three casting cells, samples, small series, technology development and complete ready-to-install prototypes can be produced.
