ELG Carbon Fiber (Coseley, UK) has partnered with the British sailing team INEOS Team UK to ensure the inclusion of sustainable materials and practices into the 2021 America's Cup construction plan. Specifically, ELG's recycled carbon fiber material will be used to produce the AC75 type that will be at the Auckland Regatta in 2021.
ELG has been a material supplier to the British INEOS team since 2018, and the company has reportedly processed 1,000 kg of carbon fiber manufacturing waste and end-use parts for the British Challengers.
From ELG's specialized plant in West Midlands, INEOS Team UK's recycled fibers are converted into milled and shredded products to make thermoset and thermoplastic compounds and nonwoven mats. According to ELG, its recycled nonwovens have been used to produce two brackets to support AC75 during shipping, as well as the hull and deck molds.
According to reports, ELG's technicians performed a series of fiber characteristics analysis on the raw materials of INEOS Team UK. Each batch of processed material is also classified to support traceability and consistency of the recycled fiber end product. All these processes are said to comply with BS EN ISO 9001: 2015 and EN 9100: 2016 quality standards.
Both organizations have stated that they see this partnership as a solution to global carbon consumption and raise awareness of the urgent need for closed-loop recycling within the marine industry.
"Recycling carbon fiber products is a real game changer," said Alan Boot, a naval architect on the British INEOS team. "We are removing waste from landfills and recycling our production processes as much as possible. ELG products are seamlessly integrated into our manufacturing processes, demonstrating the success of these materials in various commercial markets. This is a very exciting time for ship production and it is expected to lead other manufacturers to follow suit. "
"ELG's recycled carbon fiber products help to support the sustainable development of elite sports, which we are very proud of," said Fraser Barnes, managing director of ELG Carbon Fibers.
INEOS Team UK AC75 Boat 1 will be launched this summer.