TechnoCompound and RE Plano Expand Alliance to Advance Post-Consumer Plastics in Automotive Applications
RE Plano GmbH, a division of REMONDIS Recycling, Lünen, and TechnoCompound GmbH, Bad Sobernheim, have decided to step up their cooperation on the use of post-consumer recycled materials (PCR) for automotive applications. The End-of-Life Vehicles Directive, also known as the directive on the recycling of end-of-life vehicles, is one of several planned and accepted European Union legislation on the sustainability of businesses and products that are currently being discussed again.
There are many obstacles to overcome when recycling materials from the lightweight packaging portion of household garbage sorting (often known as the “yellow bag”) for use in technical products. In recent years, both businesses have made significant advancements and investments in this field. “Building on our 35 years of experience in the use of recyclates in plastic compounds, the collaboration with RE Plano is an important step for the upcycling of PCR recyclates from the lightweight packaging fraction for technical applications, such as in vehicle interiors,” said Dirk Breitbach, Managing Director of TechnoCompound. The mechanical qualities of our goods, as well as emissions and odors, are subject to extremely stringent standards in this sector of application.
At its newest sorting facility in Bochum, RE Plano uses AI-supported sorting that recognizes individual packaging and can be freely programmed with regard to sorting criteria. This enables the company to achieve the highest purity of the sorted fractions, making them suitable for later use, e.g., in cosmetic packaging and vehicle interiors. Managing Director Ralf Mandelatz: “This allows us to meet the volume requirements of the automotive market and we are delighted to have TechnoCompound, an experienced, market-leading partner for technical applications, on our side.” Dr. Nabila Rabanizada, Head of Research & Development at REMONDIS Recycling, adds: “The suitability of our recyclates for high-quality, contact-sensitive applications is further ensured by further multi-stage processing of the sorted fractions at our plant in Lünen. This also allows us to meet specifications regarding individual ingredients.”
Through compounding, additives, and further material processing, TechnoCompound transforms these raw materials into plastics that, among other things, pass the emissions chamber tests specified by vehicle manufacturers (OEMs) regarding odors and emissions. Regardless of the precise design of the future ELV directive, OEMs and major suppliers (Tier 1 and 2) are pursuing their own sustainability strategies that include the use of PCR recyclates. Dr. Gerald Aengenheyster, Head of Development & Application Technology at TechnoCompound, commented: “We can offer material solutions for which PCR and post-industrial recyclate (PIR) content is balanced according to the application and specifications. A revised ELV proposal even offers additional degrees of flexibility.”
While the recovery of PCR recyclates from end-of-life vehicle recycling is still in its infancy, the corresponding developments for the use of the PCR lightweight packaging fraction are now well advanced and available for series production. TechnoCompound’s PCR-based plastics are already present in numerous automotive series applications. Examples include dashboard supports made of the long-glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene grade TechnoGreen PP LGF, which are already being produced for two series vehicles. Through their collaboration, TechnoCompound and REMONDIS Recycling are supporting their automotive customers in meeting legal requirements and in further implementing their sustainability goals within the framework of the circular economy.
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