Boeing and BMW join forces on recycling

Boeing and BMW Group plan to jointly research carbon fibre recycling as well as sharing knowledge on carbon fibre materials and manufacturing.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is made up of 50% carbon fibre material and BMW will introduce its i3 and i8 ranges in 2013, making recycling composites at both point of use and the end of life critical to both companies.

“This collaboration agreement is a very important step forward in developing the use and end use of carbon fibre materials,” said Larry Schneider, Boeing’s vice president of product development. “It is especially important that we plan for the end of life of products made from carbon fibre. We want to look at ways to reclaim and reuse those materials to make new products.”

“Boeing for us is a suitable partner for collaboration in the field,” added BMW board member Herbert Diess. “Boeing has many years of extensive experience using carbon fiber in the field of aviation, while the BMW Group has earned a significant competitive advantage through its use of special manufacturing methods for series production of carbon fiber parts. Through this cooperation, we can merge know-how between our industries in the field of sustainable production solutions.”

As part of the collaboration agreement, the two companies will will also share carbon fibre manufacturing process simulations and ideas for manufacturing automation.

In 2011 BMW opened a plant in Moses Lake, Washington, that will provide the carbon fibre parts for the 2013 i3 and i8 models which will be assembled in Leipzig, Germany. At a second German plant in Wackersdorf, all of the waste from the different process steps will be turned into nonwoven products.
Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire was instrumental in securing the location for the BMW plant and promoted the partnership between Boeing and BMW.

“This exciting partnership between two global players and industry leaders is a win for our state,” said Gregoire. “This will help Washington further develop our capabilities and leadership position in the game-changing technology of carbon fibre. This is a logical next step for the industry.”