Manufacturing processes for complex structures and geometries with efficient use of material

Type of action: Research and Innovation action (RIA) Scope:Specific challenge:In current market and technological context, mechanical products have to be designed and produced taking into account structural optimisation (which often involves complex structures and geometries) and economically efficient production (i.e. productive and flexible manufacturing).  Automated manufacturing of complex geometries, such as additive manufacturing, can be related to issues such as 3D structured, multi-layered and hybrid materials, joining issues or the joint-free realisation of complex shapes. Moreover, newer constraints are coming from requirements of sustainability in production processes (resource and energy efficiency), both through additional regulations and through the increased materials and energy costs. The main aims in the manufacturing of complex structures are quality and productivity with minimum use of material and energy. Scope: Three complementary approaches can be considered: Innovative resource-efficient manufacturing processes (through tolerance to recycling within manufacturing processes and remanufacturing or through first time right approaches); innovative energy efficient machinery; and developments in process control allowing both to cope with more recycling in the process and to increase output quality (i.e. reduce out-of-tolerance products that have to be refused). Research activities should address several of the following areas: -          Manufacturing process control and monitoring strategies based on integrated models of both processes and machines, with modules for resource and energy efficiency planning and monitoring, and with capability of selection of the best process and machine for the part to be manufactured. -          Innovative process concepts and tools, including design supported by computational modelling, for resource efficiency in complex geometries manufacturing. -          Innovative machinery improving resource efficiency from the current state of the art in complex geometries manufacturing. -          Remanufacturing and recycling, with novel or improved use of waste streams. For this topic, proposals should include an outline of the initial exploitation and business plans, which will be developed further in the proposal project. Activities expected to focus on Technology Readiness Level 4-6. The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU between EUR 3 and 6 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts. Expected impact: The impact on the areas of application of the projects is expected to be:                 Reduction of at least 30% in the material usage pertaining to the manufacturing of complex structures and geometries when compared to current average values.                 Reduction of at least 20% in the overall energy consumption related to the manufacturing of complex structures and geometries when compared to current average values.                 Elimination of faulty manufactured parts by the adequate combination of integrated process-machine approaches with a continuous control of process parameters. Type of action: Research & Innovation Actions Cross-cutting Priorities:Contractual Public-Private Partnerships (cPPPs) FoF Please read carefully all provisions below before the preparation of your application. 1. List of countries and applicable rules for funding: described in part A of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme.   2. Eligibility and admissibility conditions: described in part B and C of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme.   3. EVALUATION 3.1 Evaluation criteria and procedure, scoring and threshold: described in part H of the General Annexes of the General Work Programme, with the following exceptions: The threshold for the criteria Excellence and Impact will be 4. The overall threshold, applying to the sum of the three individual scores, will be 12. In case of equal overall scores in the ranked list, the priority order of proposals will be established in accordance with part H of the General Annexes, except that proposals will be ranked on the basis of individual scores for the Impact criterion before the Excellence criterion. 3.2 Guide to the submission and evaluation process   4. Proposal page limits and layout: Please refer to Part B of the standard proposal template.   5. Indicative timetable for evaluation and grant agreement: Information on the outcome of one-stage evaluation: maximum 5 months from the final date for submission. Signature of grant agreements: maximum 3 months from the date of informing successful applicants.   6. Provisions, proposal templates and evaluation forms for the type(s) of action(s) under this topic: Research and Innovation Action: Specific provisions and funding rates Standard proposal template (administrative forms and structure of technical annex) Standard evaluation form Annotated Model Grant Agreement   7. Additional provisions: Horizon 2020 budget flexibility Classified information Technology readiness levels (TRL) – where a topic description refers to TRL, these definitions apply. Financial support to Third Parties – where a topic description foresees financial support to Third Parties, these provisions apply.   8. Open access must be granted to all scientific publications resulting from Horizon 2020 actions, and proposals must refer to measures envisaged. Where relevant, proposals should also provide information on how the participants will manage the research data generated and/or collected during the project, such as details on what types of data the project will generate, whether and how this data will be exploited or made accessible for verification and re-use, and how it will be curated and preserved.