SFI FAST - Future Aluminium Structures
News
Monday 15. December it was officially announced by the Research Council of Norway (RCN) that 8 new SFI centers will start in 2026. One of them SFI FAST (Future Aluminium Structures) is closely related to SFI PhysMet and to some extent also represent a continuation of SFI PhysMet with its recycling focus. However, as opposed to SFI PhysMet it is an ‘all aluminium’ center and with a stronger focus on end product properties and performance, related to automotive, large structures and electrical cables.
SFI FAST will make it possible to recycle aluminium indefinitely without loss of ownership, by controlling the urethra and alloying elements. The centre will create new knowledge and promote innovation, circularity and value creation. The centre will use digital tools to optimise products and processes and has an own education platform to develop the aluminium experts of the future. The goal is to strengthen Norway's position internationally and promote circular low-carbon aluminium, especially in the automotive industry, large structures and cables.
In SFI FAST NTNU and SINTEF has 16 industry partners - eleven Norwegian companies, three partners from the public sector and two foreign companies. The centre will be hosted by the Department of Mechanical and Engineering Department. Professor Randi Holmestad (NTNU) will be the centre director. As SFI FAST will run in parallel with SFI PhysMet over a 2-2.5 years period and continue and extend activities in SFI PhysMet, it will be important to establish a good collaboration, to ensure complementary in activities and enable synergies when relevant.
