Innovation Award for Ticona Plastics Recycling Concept
Sep 25, 2006
ESSEN/GERMANY -- The new recycling concept for Celstran®+ long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic from Ticona has won an innovation award in the environment category from the Federation of Reinforced Plastics (Industrievereinigung Verstarkte Kunststoffe AVK e.V.). The award is presented at the 9th International AVK Conference in Essen.
In the Celstran recycling concept, recovery of valuable materials used in the manufacture of structural components starts right from the production stage. It has previously been the practice for processors themselves to regrind production scrap from long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics in-house and return it to the original production process. However, they then run the possible risk of variations in the processing behavior of the material and property profile of the finished part. This is no longer the case with the Celstran recycling concept, which is being used for the first time in the production of the dashboard support for the VW Golf 5 and the Golf 5 Plus. Ticona takes back the punching and start-up scrap after it has been processed by suitably qualified recycling companies and adds it to virgin long-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) material in an optimized pultrusion process. At the end of the process, high-quality Celstran pellets are obtained, which are then processed into dashboard supports. This effective recycling loop for LFT scrap also impressed the jury of the Federation of Reinforced Plastics (AVK e.V.). Material recycling of production scrap helps preserve the environment and saves disposal costs that would otherwise be incurred. In addition, it can significantly reduce energy consumption in the manufacturing phase. So, besides preventing waste, the recovery of recyclate helps conserve resources in a sustainable way.
About Ticona and Celanese
Ticona, the technical polymers business of Celanese Corporation, produces and markets a broad range of engineering polymers and achieved sales of $ 887 million in 2005. Ticona has approximately 2.000 employees at production, compounding and research facilities in the USA, Germany and Brazil.
As a global leader in the chemicals industry, Celanese Corporation makes products essential to everyday living. Our products, found in consumer and industrial applications, are manufactured in North America, Europe and Asia. Net sales totaled $6.1 billion in 2005, with approximately 60 % generated outside of North America. Known for operational excellence and relentless execution of its business strategies, Celanese delivers value to customers around the globe with innovations and best-in-class technologies. Based in Dallas, Texas, the company employs approximately 9,300 employees worldwide.
