CIRCI Innovation Vouchers: Mid-point check-ins conducted

Within CIRCI project, seven companies were awarded inovation vouchers to encourage the exploration of their industrial sidestream utilization . Facilitators were appointed  to each project in order to monitor, advise and help the voucher recipients in overcoming potential obstacles. Kick-off meetings in July were followed by mid-term meetings in October, some of which were conducted on-line to allow for the presence of Norwegian partners EYDE Cluster. For the majority of the voucher projects, work is progressing as planned with very promising and encouraging results. Results of all seven voucher projects will be presented during the next CIRCI partners meeting and workshop, held in December in Ljubljana.

Learn more about the winning projects

A significant portion of the materials are PP and ABS, which the company has prepared into recycled granules with the help of a subcontractor and is now ready for the injection moulding. This two materials will be used in extensive testing for the production of one of the newly developed components, specifically, cup holders that will be a part of Adria's new motorhomes in the coming years. The company has successfully completed the design of the new cup holder, confirmed its suitability through numerical simulations of plastic injection, and placed orders for the injection molding tools. The first batches of recycled components are expected to be produced at the beginning of December when the mould will be ready for the pilot run. We are eagerly looking forward to the final results of the voucher and their vehicles with a higher proportion of recycled materials included in the CIRCI database.

In the first phase of the project, they explored the possibilities of making briquettes from side streams - what influence does the ratio of individual components have to determine the most appropriate ratio. Preliminary tests were carried out in Germany, followed by the rental of a briquetting machine and the production of the first 150 tons of test briquettes at Livar, which confirmed the suitability of using briquettes made of sidestream materials in their production process. In the next phase, a detailed analysis of the final product (recovered material) will be carried out to optimize the composition of briquettes and the process of their production (briquetting), as well as to determine the necessary parameters of the briquette production machine, which is planned for purchase.

CAP is currently collaborating with an external partner to prepare offcuts (e.g. Polyester thermoplastics, Glass fiber-reinforced polypropylenes,  PP+GF blends with polyesters) that are generated during the production of 2D/3D parts. These offcuts are being ground into smaller pieces, making them ready for the subsequent phase of synthesizing boards. These boards are later employed as thermal or sound insulation barriers and will now also be used for 3D transformation into new parts.

ROTO has initiated a collaborative venture with a Czech recycling company to create a new material from post-consumer waste for constructing new plastic parts using rotational molding technology. They are presently in the process of developing the material formulation with the appropriate percentages of virgin and recycled materials to achieve the desired MFI, ductility, and other mechanical and processing characteristics. Furthermore, the first prototypes have already been manufactured. Over the coming months, optimization efforts will be undertaken to ensure the successful scaling-up of the project and the effective utilization of recycled materials.

During the med-term check-in with the project the possibilities and appropriate mixing ratios of materials were explored, while partner ZAG checked the environmental suitability and mechanical properties. At the next stage, the construction and verification of the suitability of the manufactured construction composite (most appropriate ratio identified) for the rehabilitation of building surfaces will be carried out.

In order to produce high-quality plastic parts, different percentages of Antiignis powder were mixed into plastic scrap. Specified specimens were produced and send for testing at a certified laboratory. As an integral component of their ongoing commitment to enhancing the production processes, ELVEZ undertook a comprehensive assessment of electricity consumption during the grinding of different plastic scrap materials. Further analysis about moulding, electricity consumption, material use, material sales, etc. are in progress.

In the first phase of the project, the company carried out the categorization and systematization of residues (profiles and columns) of their own sidestreams, added the available data of subcontractors in the metal industry and recorded the dynamics of side streams. This was followed by a pilot planning of possible finished products, which the use of available sidestreams allows (a ready-made proposal of a bench for introduction into the database as "auxiliary" products). An external provider was also selected to create an algorithm for smart planning of the consumption of secondary raw materials or side streams in the company. In the next phase they will simulate market requirements, the possibility of increasing the added value or use of sidestreams, the storage plan and marking of sidestreams, and the preparation of new project ideas for the use of cuttings.

Are you interested in cooperation? 

We invite you to join us in the database which offers your organization a new outlook on uses for secondary materials in production processes and allows for building connections between businesses for freer sidestream material flows.

For more information on the CIRCI project, please contact one of the project partners 👇 who will be happy to answer your questions.

• SLO: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
  Andreja Hlišč   (andreja.hlisc@gzs.si)
  Klara Grašič (klara.grasic@gzs.si)

• SLO: TECOS – Slovenian Tool and Die Development Centre
  Simona Knežević Vernon   (simona.vernon@tecos.si)
  Peter Fajs  (peter.fajs@tecos.si)

• NO: EYDE Cluster
  Stine Skagestad (stine@eydecluster.com)
  Frank Spetland   (frank@eydecluster.com)

• SLO: Institute of Metals and Technology (IMT)
  Marko Sedlaček (marko.sedlacek@imt.si)
  Bojan Podgornik (bojan.podgornik@imt.si)

We look forward to working with you!

Are you interested in cooperation? 

We invite you to join us in the finalization of the database which offers your organization a new outlook on uses for secondary materials in production processes. 

For more information on the CIRCI project, please contact one of the project partners 👇 who will be happy to answer your questions.

• SLO: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
  Andreja Hlišč (andreja.hlisc@gzs.si)
  Klara Grašič (klara.grasic@gzs.si)

• SLO: TECOS – Slovenian Tool and Die Development Centre
  Simona Knežević Vernon (simona.vernon@tecos.si) 
  Peter Fajs (peter.fajs@tecos.si)

• NO: EYDE Cluster
  Stine Skagestad (stine@eydecluster.com)
  Frank Spetland  (frank@eydecluster.com)

• SLO: Institute of Metals and Technology (IMT)
  Marko Sedlaček (marko.sedlacek@imt.si)
  Bojan Podgornik (bojan.podgornik@imt.si)

We look forward to working with you!

CIRCI Innovation Vouchers - success stories

Within CIRCI project, seven companies were awarded inovation vouchers to encourage the exploration of their industrial sidestream utilization. Results of all seven voucher projects was presented during the final conference and workshop held in December in Ljubljana.

Best practices - Secondary materials as a path to circularity

A significant portion of the produced materials are PP and ABS, which the company has prepared into recycled granules with the help of a subcontractor and prepared it for injection moulding. This two materials will be used for the production of one of the newly developed components, specifically, cup holders that will be a part of Adria's new motorhomes in the coming years. The company has successfully completed the design of the new cup holder, confirmed its suitability through numerical simulations of plastic injection. The first mould was successfully piloted by the end of the project.

In the first phase of the project, Livar d.d. explored the possibilities of making briquettes from side streams - what influence does the ratio of individual components have to determine the most appropriate ratio. Preliminary tests were carried out in Germany, followed by the rental of a briquetting machine and the production of the first 150 tons of test briquettes at Livar, which confirmed the suitability of using briquettes made of sidestream materials in their production process. In the next phase, a detailed analysis of the final product was carried out to optimize the composition of briquettes and the process of their production (briquetting) which would be continued even after the project end.

CAP collaborated with an external partner to prepare offcuts (e.g. Polyester thermoplastics, Glass fiber-reinforced polypropylenes, PP+GF blends with polyesters) that are generated during the production of 2D/3D parts. These offcuts are being ground into smaller pieces, making them ready for the subsequent phase of synthesizing boards. These boards can later be employed as thermal or sound insulation barriers and will now also be used for 3D transformation into new parts.

ROTO has initiated a collaborative venture with a Czech recycling company to create a new material from post-consumer waste for constructing new plastic parts using rotational molding technology. Theydeveloped the material formulation with the appropriate percentages of virgin and recycled materials to achieve the desired MFI, ductility, and other mechanical and processing characteristics. In conclusion of the project, the first prototypes have already been manufactured. Over the coming months, optimization efforts will be undertaken to ensure the successful scaling-up of the project and the effective utilization of recycled materials.

During the project the possibilities and appropriate mixing ratios of materials were explored, while partner ZAG checked the environmental suitability and mechanical properties. At the next stage, the construction and verification of the suitability of the manufactured construction composite (most appropriate ratio identified) for the rehabilitation of building surfaces was carried out, resulting in a material which is able to be used in the rehabilitation of sand excavations.

In order to produce high-quality plastic parts, different percentages of Antiignis powder were mixed into plastic scrap. Specified specimens were produced and send for testing at a certified laboratory. As an integral component of their ongoing commitment to enhancing the production processes, ELVEZ undertook a comprehensive assessment of electricity consumption during the grinding of different plastic scrap materials. Further analysis about moulding, electricity consumption, material use, material sales, etc. was carried out, and the conclusive results will be used by ELVEZ in their future production.

In the first phase of the project, the company carried out the categorization and systematization of residues of their own sidestreams, added the available data of subcontractors in the metal industry and recorded the dynamics of side streams. This was followed by a pilot planning of possible finished products, which the use of available sidestreams allows. An external provider was also selected to create an algorithm for smart planning of the consumption of secondary raw materials or side streams in the company. In the next phase they simulated market requirements, the possibility of increasing the added value or use of sidestreams, the storage plan and marking of sidestreams, and the preparation of new project ideas for the use of cuttings in their future business.

Are you interested in collaborating? 

We invite you to join us in the database which offers your organization a new outlook on uses for secondary materials in production processes and allows for building connections between businesses for freer sidestream material flows.

For more information on the CIRCI project, please contact one of the project partners 👇 who will be happy to answer your questions.

• SLO: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia
  Andreja Hlišč  (andreja.hlisc@gzs.si)
  Klara Grašič (klara.grasic@gzs.si)

• SLO: TECOS – Slovenian Tool and Die Development Centre
  Simona Knežević Vernon  (simona.vernon@tecos.si)
  Peter Fajs  (peter.fajs@tecos.si)

• NO: EYDE Cluster
  Stine Skagestad (stine@eydecluster.com)
  Frank Spetland  (frank@eydecluster.com)

• SLO: Institute of Metals and Technology (IMT)
  Marko Sedlaček (marko.sedlacek@imt.si)
  Bojan Podgornik (bojan.podgornik@imt.si)

We look forward to working with you!