Proven Future Technology

This is not a contradiction: The Cold-Box process has been the leading core production process for series casting for 50 years. In sync with the further advances in castings for highly developed consumer markets, HA, as one of the leading foundry chemical suppliers, has continuously optimized its binder systems ever since. A comprehensive product range is now available, especially for the Cold-Box process, so that foundries can always find the optimum binder solution depending on the area of application and their individual requirements.

HA's Cold-Box binder systems strike the perfect balance: lower emissions and uncompromising performance.

The Strengths of Cold-Box Technology

The Cold-Box system owes its position as the leading core production process to its wide range of applications, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Excellent strength properties and very good dimensional accuracy mean that Cold-Box cores meet the growing demands placed on modern castings. Special technical criteria, such as elasticity, thermal stability, and low gas generation, have also been continuously optimized.

Focus of Development: Improved Environmental Properties

An increasing challenge for foundries, however, is meeting ever-stricter environmental requirements. Since emissions in the Cold-Box process are inherent to the system, efforts to further develop Cold-Box binders have focused not only on technological optimization but also on improving environmental properties. For more than three decades, the research department of HA has been dedicated to reducing the environmental impact and emissions from its products. Our research and development aim to reduce emissions step by step through the reduction of organic components.

Sustainability Milestones of the Cold-Box process

Biocure: Almost 30 Years of Experience with Plant-Based Solvents

In 1996, HA was the first supplier in the world to launch a patented, more environmentally friendly Cold-Box alternative, which enabled both a reduction in odor emissions during core production and a significant reduction in VOC's and HAP's emissions. HA has replaced the aromatic solvents in Biocure products, for example, by using methyl esters that are obtained from plant-based, renewable raw materials such as rapeseed. Since the chained (aliphatic) molecules contain more hydrogen and less carbon, CO2 emissions are also reduced.

Sigmacure: A Robust Classic

Silcure: Inorganic Elements in Solvent

Additives

Additives are required to both reduce casting defects and achieve specific properties. They are organic, inorganic, or mixed. Inorganic additives can make a major contribution to reducing foundry emissions (CO2, pollutants, odor, and smoke).