Vartega Showcases Recycled Carbon Fiber at CAMX 2021 – Sustainable Lightweighting Innovation

All photo credit: Vartega

Vartega (Golden, Colo., U.S.), a recycler of carbon fiber and composite materials, introduces its recycled carbon fiber into several products for the sporting goods, additive manufacturing (AM) and transportation industries.

On display at CAMX are several examples of highly filled thermoplastics incorporating Vartega’s recycled carbon fiber into structural applications for metals replacement and lightweighting. Specific parts include a cross-car beam, automotive seat structure and bicycle wheels made by Encore Wheels (Milford, Mich., U.S.).

Vartega also highlights its recent partnership with Braskem (São Paulo, Brazil) to launch a recycled carbon fiber reinforced polypropylene for 3D printing, which the company claims has superior part stability, increased stiffness and higher strength. Additionally, Vartega is offering what is said to be a first-of-its-kind filament takeback and recycling program for Braskem’s 3D printing customers.

Further, in May 2021, Vartega received an investment from Autodesk Foundation (San Rafael, Calif., U.S.) to accelerate Vartega’s growth and focus on supplying recycled carbon fiber into vehicle lightweighting applications to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and extend electric vehicle range. Vartega is now planning an additional capacity expansion in 2022 to support increased demand for its recycled materials as well as toll process recycling services.