STAMP-IT: INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS IN ALUMINIUM PANEL MANUFACTURING

STAMP-IT (Sustainable Technology for the Advanced Manufacturing of Panels for the Interior of Trains) is a project by MCG – Manuel da Conceição Graça, Lda, developed in co-promotion with idMEC - Mechanical Engineering Institute of Instituto Superior Técnico. Its main goal is to research, develop, and validate an innovative solution for aluminium side panels for railway interiors.

To achieve these goals, the project makes use of advanced technologies such as warm stamping and Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) as a solution for the rapid production of tooling, enabling a more efficient and sustainable approach to the manufacturing of components for railway vehicles.

Warm stamping of large aluminium panels emerges as a promising technology for railway interior applications, as it enables more advanced and complex geometries without relying on conventional processes and tooling that are often more complex and less energy-efficient.

Nevertheless, warm stamping requires advanced tooling, with active components such as punches, dies, and blank holders that need to be heated to high temperatures.

However, the traditional manufacturing of these tools, through casting and machining, limits the integration of sensors, cooling channels, and heating elements. In this context, Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) offers a more efficient and flexible solution, allowing for the incorporation of internal cavities and channels, ensuring improved thermal control of the tooling.

Launched in February 2025, the STAMP-IT project has a duration of three years. Through this initiative, MCG and IST idMEC strengthen their commitment to innovation by developing cutting-edge technologies that optimise production and contribute to a more competitive and environmentally friendly railway sector.