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US institutes sign landmark composite recycling pact

05 Jul '16

4 min read

US Senator Cantwell led the ceremonial announcement of historic agreements between a Tennessee-based national composites manufacturing institute, the world's first facility for product development from recycled carbon, and a Washington-based college.

The agreements establish the Port Angeles, WA-based Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) as a strategic partner and West Coast satellite location for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), and allows Peninsula College to expand their capacity to train the composites manufacturing workforce of the future, the IACMI said in a press release.

Stronger than steel and lighter than aluminum, carbon fibre composites are revolutionizing the aerospace industry. But 29 million pounds of composite scrap end up in US landfills every year– a challenge the new partnership will meet head on. IACMI, CRTC and Peninsula College leadership signed three way collaboration agreements to develop nationally deployable composites recycling technologies and train the advanced composites workforce of the future.

This new partnership will add CRTC's expertise in composite recycling to The Composites Institute, and serve to broaden the national impact of the Institute while expanding the capabilities of the Port Angeles facility. CRTC will serve as the West Coast "portal" for the Institute, working with other research institutions, industry and more on behalf of The Composites Institute. In addition, CRTC will have access to world-class level facilities, equipment and partners.

"Port of Port Angeles is taking the lead for the nation in solving carbon fiber recycling for manufacturing," said US Senator Cantwell. "This agreement gives the Composite Recycling Technology Center real world-class chops in solving how to break-down carbon fibre which will lead to jobs."

The Composite Recycling Technology Center is the world's first facility to divert uncured carbon fiber scrap from the landfill into innovative new products. IACMI-The Composites Institute, is the fifth Institute in the National Network of Manufacturing Innovation, with a focus deployment of advanced composites in clean energy technologies. It's supported by the US Department of Energy's Advanced Manufacturing Office and was created by the federal government to support US manufacturing by accelerating the development and commercial use of composites.

"This new partnership will help drive advancements across the board in clean energy innovations," said Dr. Mark Johnson, Director, Advanced Manufacturing Office, US Department of Energy. "It represents tremendous potential to innovate in the US and coordinate with groups across the nation to unlock this potential for a cleaner, safer, and economically secure future."