ELG Carbon Fibers is an expert in recycled carbon fiber materials and the British Ineos team is working together to ensure that sustainable materials and practices are incorporated into the 2021 America's Cup Construction Plan.
Since starting operations in 2018, ELG has been a technology supplier to the UK's Ineos team and has handled 1,000 kilograms of carbon manufacturing waste and end-use parts for UK challengers.
From ELG's specialized plant in West Midlands, the recycled fiber from the British Ineos team is converted into milled and shredded products to make thermoset and thermoplastic compounds and non-woven mats. These reprocessed products are then used to make composite structures for the AC75 ship, which will compete in Auckland in 2021.
Although the exact details of the ship's design remain a strictly confidential secret, ELG can reveal that their recycled nonwovens have been used to produce two brackets to support the AC75 and the hull and deck molds during transport.
ELG's technicians performed a series of fiber characteristics analysis on the raw materials of the British Ineos team. Each batch of processed material is also classified to support the traceability and consistency of the recycled fiber, thereby ensuring the traceability and consistency of the final product. All these processes comply with the BS EN ISO 9001: 2015 and EN 9100: 2016 quality standards.
Both organizations see this partnership as an important step in addressing global carbon consumption issues and raising awareness of the urgent need to achieve closed-loop recycling within the marine industry.
Naval architect Alan Boot of the British Ineos team commented: "Recycling of carbon fiber products is a real game changer. We are removing waste from landfills and closing loops as much as possible in our production methods. ELG's products are seamlessly integrated into our manufacturing processes, demonstrating the success of these materials in a variety of commercial markets. This is a very exciting time for marine production and is expected to lead other manufacturers to follow suit. "
Frazer Barnes, Managing Director of ELG Carbon Fibers, commented: "This is the perfect partnership. ELG's recycled carbon fiber products are helping to support important messages for sustainable development in elite sports, and we are very proud of it."
British team AC75 Ship 1 will be launched this summer.