Recycling of Manufacturer’s Waste Becomes a Priority
With the ever increasing global pressure to recycle waste materials coupled with the escalating cost of disposal and regulatory requirements mitigating the dumping of composite waste in landfill sites, the composites manufacturing industries in Western Canada have said enough is enough, we have to do better. This problem is not a new one and there have been numerous instances where recycling programs have been implemented; however, these have generally not been economically sustainable or have failed because the markets have been misunderstood or misaligned, the materials have not been sufficiently consistent or waste supply and demand volumes have been unpredictable. As a result of industry interest, the Composites Innovation Centre has undertaken two studies; one in Manitoba and the second in British Columbia to determine the amount and type of industrial waste and to develop potentially viable recycling strategies that could be implemented. Commencing at the end of August, the CIC has been conducting surveys of industry partners to understand the type and quantity of waste products. Ideas on processing and use of recycled materials have been identified as part of extensive research and interaction with industry and has been supplemented by an international review of successful and ‘not so successful’ ventures. The results so far indicate that there are technical and economically viable solutions, some with applications ready for use, and others in need of varying levels of development. Final results are expected to be published by the end of this year. It is expected that with the large amounts of scrap currently going to landfill and the numerous interested parties engaged, that recycling composites will begin to become a normal part of the composites industry. There will be many challenges to overcome; however, we believe that it is not if solutions can be developed but when, and how best, to adopt them. Not only will it result in improving the environment but it will enable the composites industry to be viewed in a much more favourable light, especially due to the proactive approach being taken. We would like to express our thanks to those companies actively involved.
CIC’s Filament Winding Capability Finds a New Home
“We should have put our MacLean Anderson 4 Axis numerically controlled filament winding machine on wheels” stated Eugene Rothwell, CIC’s laboratory supervisor in reference to its recent move to a secure location within Structural Composite Technologies’ new state of the art manufacturing facility in Winnipeg. The purpose of performing this transfer is to situate the equipment in an environment conducive to development of high performance components as well as to leverage industry involvement. “With CIC’s mandate being to support industry in the development and commercialization of new products and technologies”, stated Sean McKay, CIC’s Executive Director, “it is essential that we provide an optimum set up for their use”. Commissioning of the equipment is near completion and opportunities in developing civil infrastructure and industrial products involving key clients and research institutions are being proposed. This will further advance processing capabilities that focus on winding pattern development and programming, prototype mandrel design and fabrication using wet winding techniques. For additional information, please contact Lisa Hibbert at lhibbert@compositesinnovation.ca.
Annual General Meeting – Wednesday, November 5, 2008
If you would like to find out more about the CIC, its operations and accomplishments, please join us at our Annual General Meeting on November 5, 2008. Details are listed in the “Future Events” section of the newsletter. Please contact Carmela Bucci-Vernaus at cbuccivernaus@compositesinnovation.ca. Membership is not required to attend.
