CRTC, ELG Carbon Fiber sign MoU

The Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC), a nonprofit corporation focused on growing the global composite recycling sector, and ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd. (ELG), a Coseley, U.K.-based company involved in developing new uses for scrap carbon fiber products, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on carbon fiber recycling efforts.

Under the terms of the MoU, the CRTC, headquartered in Port Angeles, Washington, and ELG will develop ways to use the carbon fiber that gets reclaimed by ELG’s pyrolysis process and turn it into value-added products.

“We are thrilled and honored to be working with an outstanding company like ELG," says David Walter, chief operating officer (COO) of CRTC. "Their industry-leading recycling process and technical know-how allows for them to recover carbon fiber from cured materials at a very competitive price. We see opportunities to combine their recovered carbon fiber with our repurposed carbon fiber prepreg to produce a wide range of value-added products."

In addition, Walter continues, “The CRTC is interested in manufacturing products from ELG’s blend of recycled carbon fiber and thermoplastics. This high-performance, low-cost material opens up significant doors for collaboration on multiple product applications.”

Frazer Barnes, ELG managing director, says, “We are very excited about the opportunity to work closely with the CRTC and are already discussing some major projects that will kick-start the recycled carbon fiber industry on an international level. Our fiber and resins combined with their research, product development expertise, and production capabilities are an excellent match that will lead to multiple innovations.”

“Today’s announcement represents a major milestone for the CRTC,” says Robert Larsen, CEO of the CRTC. “Working closely with ELG means that we can provide a one-stop carbon fiber recycling team that addresses the needs of large-scale generators of carbon fiber scrap. It also provides the CRTC with a consistent supply of low-cost recycled carbon fiber and thermoplastics.”

Larsen continues, “When combined with our recycled carbon fiber prepreg, it will create dozens of beneficial uses for this previously landfilled material. We believe this partnership creates significant opportunities for high volume production of cost-competitive components for automotive and clean energy applications. Our product development efforts and subsequent manufacturing initiatives will create living wage jobs for our community and will reap significant additional economic, energy and environmental benefits."