RecAL Project Shines at Global Conferences: Bridging Innovation and Industry

The RecAL Project recently showcased its pioneering work in manufacturing optimization and sustainable materials innovation at three major international conferences. From aluminium recycling breakthroughs in London to collaborative industrial tech solutions in Kraków, these engagements underscored RecAL’s role as a leader in bridging academic research with real-world industrial applications.

At the 16th World Congress on Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization, held on 20th–24th May at the Kobe Convention Centre in Japan, RecAL researcher, Dr. Vanessa Cool (KU Leuven) delivered a presentation on integrating geometric manufacturing constraints into topology optimization for products/components. The method achieved designs with just a 1.5% stiffness reduction compared to theoretical optima while drastically improving manufacturability. This sparked lively debate between academia and industry attendees at the conference in Japan, discussing how to balance performance ideals with production realities.

This presentation demonstrated the practical viability of optimization tools for industrial use, vital to the outcomes of this project. Dr. Cool’s presentation also highlighted RecAL’s ability to translate complex algorithms into actionable workflows, and positioned the project as a mediator between theoretical research and factory-floor needs

Above: Dr. Vanessa Cool (KU Leuven) at WCSMO-16 (© RecAL)

As part of the 2025 CRU World Aluminium Summit – held in London’s St. Pancras Hotel – Dr. Carina Schlögl from RecAL coordinator AIT-LKR represented RecAL on the Recycling Panel on 14th May. Dr. Schlögl touched upon advanced alloy development for recycled aluminium, digitalization of sustainable process chains, and AI-driven quality control in circular production systems. As part of the panel. Dr. Schlögl was able to emphasise RecAL’s data-driven approaches are overcoming key barriers in aluminium recycling:

“By integrating machine learning with material science, we’re not just optimizing recycling—we’re redefining what’s possible for closed-loop metal ecosystems.”

RecAL’s participation at this premier industry event forged some key connections, and raised its credibility among global aluminium producers and recyclers. Continued engagement aims to position the project as a critical partner in achieving EU circular economy targets.

As part of the European Industrial Technology Conference 2025 in Kraków on 3rd – 5th June, RecAL partnered with Process4Planets (a Horizon Europe initiative for green manufacturing), to host a stall alongside several other circular economy-focused projects. Some of the other solutions shown included energy-efficient process optimization in heavy industries, digital twin integration for reduced material waste, or cross-sector scalability of optimization algorithms.

The collaboration showcased RecAL’s ability to adapt its core methodologies to diverse industrial contexts, and connected the project with a variety of areas – from aerospace to consumer goods manufacturing. Joint demonstrations with Process4Planets highlighted concrete pathways to achieving 30% energy reduction in metal processing through AI-enhanced system design.

Above: Impressions from IndTech2025 in Kraków (© RTDS)

Together, these three events highlight RecAL’s multidimensional approach—combining academic rigor, sector-specific innovation, and cross-industry scalability. By embracing the “1.5% paradigm shift” discussed at WCSMO-16, RecAL is helping the industry move beyond the pursuit of perfect simulations and toward the creation of practically perfect solutions that balance performance with real-world manufacturability. This evolving conversation is redefining what’s possible in sustainable manufacturing, and RecAL is proud to be at the forefront.