Recycling of hazardous carbon and glass fiber containing materials into valuable materials

Summary

An Austrian SME with expertise in material science (classification and recycling) and mechatronics developed a mobile and automated process to collect, sort, downsize, reuse, recycle and refurbish glass fiber and carbon fiber containing materials. This solution offers the potential to stop the disposal of hazardous waste and to return it to the state of a valuable material. Partners are sought for commercial agreements with technical assistance, joint venture agreements and license agreements.

Description

PROBLEM DESCRIPTION
High-tech industrial progress leads to growing generation of hazardous carbon and glass fiber waste in production processes and with end of life of products (wind rotor blades, airplanes, ...). Currently materials containing these strategic materials are disposed of in landfills, an expansive state of the art which requires innovative technology to be solved. The European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan presents a set of interrelated initiatives to establish a strong and coherent product policy framework. Disposal of these materials will be forbidden in Austria (2022) and in the EU (2025) but in fact there are no technologies available yet to tackle this issue.

DESCRIPTION OF THE SOLUTION:
The mobile recycling solution consists of a collection pod and a cleanup unit. Within the collection pods carbon and glass fiber containing materials are collected. The pods contain technology that is capable of automated, high quality classification of the collected material. This classification enables an economic reuse of carbon and glass fiber materials bringing back today´s hazardous waste to the state of a valuable material (sunglasses, furniture, technical parts, C-donor in steel). The filling level and the material classification can be monitored via an online solution. Subsequently the classified material is shred on-site in the patented cleanup unit. The technology is certified to treat, recycle and reuse carbon and glass fiber materials in a dust free sealed system without generation of hazardous, respirable fibers on-site. The mobile devices can be installed temporarily or permanently on-site to collect, classify and shredder scrap.

CERTIFICATION
Technology is certified to treat, recycle and reuse carbon and glass fiber materials according to Austrian regulations. Corresponding international certifications are in progress.

AWARD
Austrian Innovation Award

APPLICATION AREAS:
1) Industrial sectors:
- Aerospace
- Automotive
- Marine
- Wind turbines
- Buildings
- Sports (Tennis, ...)
- Carbon fiber mat manufacturers
And all type of industries using carbon or glass fiber materials

2) Company types:
- Manufacturers (Production scrap)
- Companies using products containing carbon and glass fibers (End of life)

THE AUSTRIAN COMPANY IS NOW LOOKING FOR:
Companies with a need to treat carbon or glass fibers and waste service providers treating this kind of materials. Depending on the type of company (business, know-how, ...) the Austrian company is interested in commercial agreements with technical assistance, joint venture agreements and license agreements.

Stage of Development

Prototype available for demonstration

Stage of Development Comment

Start of serial production (Summer 2022)

Earliest date of delivery (Fall 2022)

Requested Partner

1) Companies with a need to get their carbon or glass fiber containing materials treated:
Commercial agreement with technical assistance. Parts from the production process could be sent in advance so that the company from Austria can create a collection and recycling concept.

2) Waste service providers treating carbon or glass fiber containing materials interested in integrating this technology into their portfolio.

2a
Companies capable of operating the developed technology and with the necessary expertise regarding re-use of collected and treated material -> License agreement

2b
Companies active in the field of waste collection and waste treatment lacking the necessary know-how for carbon and glass fiber re-use -> Joint venture agreement with the Austrian company as consultant providing the missing expertise.