FSW Competent and Testbed - PTC
The project aims to establish a nationally accessible test bed and competence node for advanced Friction Stir Welding (FSW) at the Production Technology Centre (PTC) in Trollhättan.
It addresses a clear industrial and research gap, as Sweden currently lacks a dedicated large-scale FSW facility for industrial validation and technology development. The test bed will support research, industrial pilot studies, education, and skills development in lightweight and sustainable manufacturing. The initiative integrates state-of-the-art FSW equipment, real-time process monitoring, material characterisation, and work-integrated learning. Through close collaboration between academia, industry, and public stakeholders, the project is expected to strengthen regional and national competitiveness, accelerate industrial implementation of advanced joining technologies, and contribute to Sweden’s green industrial transition
Research Area
- Materialteknik
Research environment / Institution
- Primus (KK-miljö)
- Institutionen för ingenjörsvetenskap
Project leader
Participants University West
Research Partner
- DOF Tools AB
- Volvo Car Corporation
- FEV Sverige AB
- GKN Aerospace Sweden AB
- SAAB AB Aeronautics
- SKB
Research funding
- Västra Götalandsregionen VGR
Project time
2026 - 2029