Ecofactory. Ecologically conscious manufacturing for 21st century

The Ecofactory concept aims to establish next generation manufacturing engineering, contributing to the resolution of global environmental disruption problems without impairing the manufacturing economy or activities for technological progress. The importance of minimizing the environmental burden of a product during its whole life cycle (material-production-use-recycling), has been pointed out. Several essential technologies to be developed, such as global concurrent design engineering, automatic dismantling technology, high quality material recycling technology and assessment methodology for environmental burden, are investigated and discussed.<>