Letters: A waste(d) opportunity
The following responses have been received following the recent question posted about re-use of prepreg waste (A waste(d) opportunity).
Re-use options available
In response to the comment ‘A waste(d) opportunity’ posted recently by Pete Rayner of CHC, Canada, we would like him to know that there are like minded people concerned enough about providing the composites industry with viable options to dumping the composite waste and associated money generated during manufacturing activities into our environment. Under the direction of Wolfgang Unger, Seawolf Design and FRP Equipment have been involved for years in developing, testing and offering these alternative processing ideas to the composite industry for many years. There are proven methods to reclaim composite materials in forms that allow the re-use of post manufacturing waste. The resulting products have been proven to be equivalent or better than the products produced with virgin materials in independent testing.
Whether this recycled material is reintroduced into the same product from which it was reclaimed or used to produce other products, there are uses for this material. As material, labour, and waste disposal costs continue to increase perhaps more pressure will be applied to the industry to transition and adapt these technologies into their manufacturing process.
James Shriner
Seawolf Design Inc, USA
www.seawolfindustries.com
Simple concepts
The subject of waste not only concerns prepregs but also other materials like glass/carbon fibres, core materials. This could be greatly reduced if the raw materials supplied were tailor-made instead of buying standard sizes which leads to a lot of wastage. But critical industrial players like rotor blade manufacturers (with whom I have worked with over the past three years of my 12-year composite career), feel that this is equivalent to giving away their design. Most of the manufacturers who consume large volume of composite materials pay little or no attention to proper storage of waste which could be easily used for manufacture other useful components like car parts (door, bonnet etc.) without much of trouble.
A compromise needs to be addressed fast. One way is to get into a secrecy agreement with the supplier, which is again debatable; on the other hand, if we could find uses for the waste products. Simple concepts like improved storage conditions for waste products, manufacturing small components which are normally out-sourced for better economics, or alternatively returning or supplying these materials to original suppliers or to vendors who could use them based on their requirements.
More people needs to think in a similar way in order to reduce waste as everyone knows that waste has an impact on economics and on our livelihood.
J. Prabhakaran, QA Engineer
BFG International
Bahrain
Thermoplastics recovery
In answer to the recent question about composite waste I would like to refer to the recovery activities of my company. Although this reader is talking about thermosets, I would like to draw their attention to Eco-Care’s recovery of composite waste from glass-filled thermoplastic components such as automotive instrument panels.
This company is probably new to Asean and US markets in the way in which we recover high purity recyclate and return it to its original application. We are currently working with Ticona and Volkswagen AG (Reinforced Plastics, November 2006, page 14).
Jean Jacques Collin
Eco-Care BV
www.eco-carebv.com
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