GIANCE Online Recycling Workshop
How can composite waste become a valuable resource for new materials?
This online workshop brings together experts from research and industry to explore innovative approaches to the recycling and reuse of composite materials, with a particular focus on carbon fibre reinforced composites. Through four complementary perspectives, the session will showcase solutions ranging from thermomechanical extrusion-based recycling and tailored recycling technologies to circular composite solutions and the recovery of high-value secondary materials. The workshop builds on GIANCE’s work on end-of-life strategies and recycling technologies, contributing to the transition towards more circular and sustainable composite value chains. Join us to exchange knowledge, discover practical recycling approaches and discuss how composite waste can be brought back into the value chain.
Introduction
From composite waste to new material: A thermomechanical extrusion-based recycling approach
Ali Rezaei, TNO, the Netherlands
Tailored recycling technologies for carbon fibre reinforced composites
Ronny Hanich-Spahn, Fraunhofer, Germany
Crosspreg®, the EoL circular recyclable composite solution; use cases analysis
Gianluigi Creonti, Crossfire, Italy
Closing the Loop on Carbon Fiber: From Composite Waste to High-Value Recovered Materials
Jacopo Ortolani, HERA Group, Italy
Workshop Speakers
Ali Rezaei
TNO, the Netherlands
Ronny Hanich-Spahn
Fraunhofer, Germany
Gianluigi Creonti
Crossfire, Italy
Jacopo Ortolani
HERA Group, Italy
Ali Rezaei
- Ali is a Scientist Specialist and Tech Lead with 20 years of experience in numerical simulations, polymer composite materials, and recycling technology. He holds a PhD in Electromechanical Engineering from Ghent University and completed management training through the MBA department of Sharif University of Technology.
- He has worked and trained at KU Leuven, the University of Waterloo, and the Technical University of Denmark. Alongside his scientific contributions, he has directed and developed several novel technologies for the automotive, construction machinery, and R&D equipment sectors.
- His recent work at TNO (NL) centers on developing novel recycling technologies and multiscale numerical simulation methods for composite materials, in collaboration with leading technical universities and industry in the Netherlands.
Ronny Hanich-Spahn
- Researcher since 2015 at Fraunhofer ICT
- PhD at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Chemstry faculty 2021
- 2022 Group Leader of Recycling technology at Fraunhofer ICT
- Responsible for different project (national and EU) with chemical recycling context
Gianluigi Creonti
- PhD at Bologna University, Industrial Chemistry faculty
- Cabot Italiana and Cabot Corp. from 1981 up to 2000
- MBA Cabot College at Harvard University
- Tech. Marketing Cabot College at Harvard University
- Shareholder at PFlex to produce Elastomeric Copolyester (CoPe) up to 2012
- Founder of Crossfire as Consultant at Samyang Corp, first to support their EU production plant startup and marketing their CoPe in EU, than (2018) to develop their reactive Composite resin. The COVID event changed the Samyang policy to the EU market and I reminded the already developed technology in my hands in Cy2022.
- Crossfire Laboratory went physically open!
Jacopo Ortolani
Jacopo Ortolani is the Vice Plant Manager at Herambiente’s FIB3R plant, with a background in materials science and engineering, particularly in composite materials and carbon fiber applications. He has been involved in the FIB3R project for over three years, contributing to the development and industrial implementation of innovative solutions for the recovery and regeneration of carbon fiber. His work focuses on combining technological innovation, circular economy and sustainability to create new value from end-of-life composite materials.
Organised by:
