English (UK) 
Deutsch (Sie) - Pyrum develops first automated, semi-industrial recycling plant for carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP)
- This is the first time in the world that the company has achieved holistic recycling of CFRP
- Breakthrough opens up new market that harbours enormous growth potential
Pyrum Innovations AG (“Pyrum”, the “Company”, ISIN: DE000A2G8ZX8), a pioneering company that sustainably recycles used tyres with its globally patented, unique pyrolysis technology, has commissioned the first automated, semi-industrial recycling plant for carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) after almost four years of development – making it the first company in the world to recycle CFRP in its entirety. The facility is located at the main plant in Dillingen/Saar and will serve as the foundation for the construction of an industrial plant.
This opens up another promising market for Pyrum alongside the recycling of used tyres. Fibre-reinforced composites, which include CFRP, are used in a wide variety of areas, including the transport industry in the manufacture of cars and commercial vehicles, in aviation and in public transport. They are also used in the construction, electronics and electrical industries. The wide range of applications has led to an acutely increasing waste problem in recent years. It is not yet possible to fully recycle CFRP in the sense of complete material utilisation. Disposal is currently by means of waste incineration or landfill. Pyrum wants to make a decisive contribution to solving this problem in the future. Europe’s share of the global CFRP market is around 25 %, as is America’s share. Asia currently accounts for around half of the global CFRP volume.
Pascal Klein, CEO of Pyrum Innovations AG: “Pyrum is committed to developing and promoting a sustainable and circular economy. In addition to used tyres, we also want to contribute to this in the future by recycling CFRP. The commissioning of the first automated, semi-industrial plant is a milestone for the recycling industry and an important step for us on our way to building the first industrial plant.”
The current Pyrum model has a capacity of 1 kg of CFRP per hour. In addition to the recovered fibres, the recycling process also produces pyrolysis oil, which Pyrum already sells profitably to the chemical industry when recycling used tyres. Investments in the plant to date have totalled around EUR 170 thousand, a large part of which was subsidised by government grants. In addition to Pyrum Innovations AG, a number of other partners are involved in the project (“Infinity”) under the leadership of the Fraunhofer Institute for Casting, Composite and Processing Technology (IGCV).
