Axion Polymers has added Axpoly PP51, derived from end-of-life vehicles (ELV), to its range of 100% recycled polymer materials after months of detailed research and significant investment.
The Salford-based recycling specialist claims its new high performance grade of black polypropylene (PP) has great potential for closed-loop applications in new automotive-related products and is inviting inquiries from customers interested in pursuing further market testing.
Axpoly PP51 is made from automotive shredder residue recovered from ELV at Axion’s multi-million pound Shredder Waste Advanced Processing Plant (SWAPP). Axion is one of the European leaders in this sector, having designed and purpose-built the Trafford Park facility, which opened in January 2011.
With capacity to process and extract non-metal fractions from tens of thousands of end-of-life vehicles annually, this pioneering plant is at the forefront of this type of recycling and is capable of recovering up to 95% of automotive residues.
Extracted from bits of bumpers, air vents and various underbody components, the material undergoes a sophisticated cleaning process prior to final compounding and injection moulding-grade pellet production. Bespoke grades tailored to customers’ specifications can also be supplied.
Axion Polymers Director Keith Freegard comments: “We believe Axpoly PP 51 offers manufacturers tremendous opportunities for more sustainable vehicle components in successfully replacing virgin resin. PP is an ideal compound for car parts manufacture as it has a good balance of strength and impact resistance as well as high and low temperature resistance.
“This polymer will appeal to ‘greener’ customers as it offers at least 80% savings in CO2 impact, while helping to reduce manufacturers’ carbon footprints,” he says.
As well as automotive applications, early interest in Axpoly PP51 includes possible use in the utility, construction and wider manufacturing industries.
Keith adds: “The European End of Life Vehicles (ELV) Directive aims to reduce the amount of waste produced from vehicles when they are scrapped. Since 2006, the UK and all other EU member states have been expected to reach a national recycling, reuse and recovery target of 85%, rising to 95% in 2015.
“Through working in partnership with car take-back firms, our SWAPP facility and new Axpoly PP51 polymer shows how we can help to fulfill a critical element of producer responsibility while contributing to automotive closed loop recycling.”
Axion Polymers is part of the Axion Group that develops and operates innovative resource recovery and processing solutions for recycling waste materials. The Group works with a wide range of clients within the recycling and process industries on the practical development of new processing and collection methods.
