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Trek Bicycle Starts Carbon Fiber Recycling Program

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PRESS RELEASE: Trek Bicycle has instituted a full-scale carbon recycling program at its Waterloo, WI-based US manufacturing facility and is now recycling all scrap carbon fiber; the material primarily used in its domestic production. The material that Trek introduced to the cycling world and has pioneered the usage of since 1992 is revered for its strength and weight properties but has long been believed nearly impossible to recycle.

Through a partnership with Materials Innovation Technologies (MIT LLC) and its wholly owned subsidiary MIT-RCF, a South Carolina carbon reclamation facility that is revolutionizing carbon recycling processes, Trek completed a three month trial period to determine the viability of adopting the step as an official part of the manufacturing process. “Throughout the trial period we worked with Trek to show them how beneficial carbon recycling can be to their overall business practices.” Said MIT’s President and CEO, Jim Stike.  “Working with a world leader like Trek to help them become the first bicycle company to begin recycling carbon fiber is very exciting for us.”

Throughout the manufacturing process, Trek collects excess trimmings, non-compliant molded parts and combines it with select reclaimed warranty frames to send to MIT’s South Carolina facility to begin their reclamation process. Reclaimed carbon fiber is currently being used in reinforced thermoplastic applications while research and development is ongoing for use in automotive, aerospace, medical, and recreational applications.

“One of the company’s major initiatives is that we will work to drive more eco-friendly processes into everything that we do,” said Trek Senior Composites Manufacturing Engineer, James Colegrove. “Carbon fiber recycling holds massive potential not just for Trek, but the entire industry.”

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KGr
KGr
12 years ago

Considering CFRP’s resistance to biodegrading, a recycling program is very good news. Kudos to Trek. I would love to see them offer an incentive for people to recycle their old CFRP frames in exchange for a deal on a new ride.

Loma Alta-mater
Loma Alta-mater
12 years ago

“I would love to see them offer an incentive for people to recycle their old CFRP frames in exchange for a deal on a new ride.”

The legal crew would love this idea. Less chance of an old carbon fiber frame catastrophically failing when you hit a pothole or case that curb in front of the coffee shop.

C2
C2
12 years ago

Note: Calfee was making carbon bikes in the 80s predating Trek. LeMond used one in the 91 Tour. See http://www.calfeedesign.com/history/

Germ
Germ
12 years ago

Hopefully, the reclamation process does not include being recycled into product development in the military industrial complex.

gringo
gringo
12 years ago

Trek introduced Carbon to the bicycle world?!
I would have thought that the writers on Bike Rumor would actually research for ‘stories’ rather than just blindly reprint press releases without even reading them.

oh well.

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