Photo caption, left to right: Robert Stokes, Consulting Designer & Artist, Corey Delikat, City of Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Director, Dave Walter, CRTC Chief Executive Officer, Guy Houser, CRTC Director of Engineering
The bench will be in the IACMI booth at the ACMA Composite Recycling Conference in Knoxville, TN., April 10-12
Knoxville, TN, April 10, 2018 … The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), a Manufacturing USA institute driven by the University of Tennessee, Knoxville and the U.S. Department of Energy, announces its collaboration with the Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) to create the world’s first park bench made from recycled aerospace grade carbon fiber. These lightweight but extremely strong benches were designed specifically for an outdoor setting by Robert Stokes, who served as the consulting designer and artist on the project. While other benches may degrade overtime, the carbon fiber product is durable and rot-proof, is impervious to insect damage, and will look like new for years to come.
CRTC is working with IACMI on a technology project to develop new machine systems for the repurposing of carbon epoxy prepreg to enable the highly variable scrap to re-enter production in industrial and clean energy applications. The CRTC engineering team utilized components from the machine systems being developed for the IACMI project to produce the recycled materials used to create the recycled carbon fiber park bench.
“The technological advancements through IACMI collaborations are having a real impact on the development and adoption of composite products,” said John Hopkins, IACMI CEO. “Key learnings from IACMI projects can help us reach our goals of creating low-cost, energy-efficient manufacturing processes.”
The City of Port Angeles, Washington, will be the first to purchase these benches to replace all of its wooden benches in public parks through a new Adopt-A-Bench program. Each bench has a unique ceramic plaque built into the back that can display full-color graphics, making it a great outreach tool for local businesses that want to use a bench for advertisement. The plaque will also serve as a great way to memorialize a loved one or to recognize a community hero.
“Carbon fiber is such an outstanding material and makes the bench so strong and light. We really believe this has the opportunity to revolutionize the parks and recreation space,” said David Walter, CEO of the CRTC. “Using recycled aerospace-grade carbon fiber doubles the benefit for the environment, as it keeps scrap carbon fiber out of landfill.“
CRTC and IACMI leaders are unveiling the prototype bench this week in Knoxville, Tennessee at a national composites recycling conference hosted by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA). Many IACMI members, including economic development and industry partners representing the composites ecosystem, will be on hand to preview the prototype and learn more about the research and development that led up to the creation of the bench.
Those interested in purchasing a bench or learning more about the offering can visit www.compositerecycling.org/bench. The MSRP is $4,500 per bench, with volume discounts available. To learn more about the Adopt-A-Bench program with the City of Port Angeles, contact the City at 360-417-4523 or at parksandrecreation@cityofpa.us.
About IACMI-The Composites Institute:
The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), is a partnership of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state and local governments working together to benefit the nation’s energy and economic security by sharing existing resources and co-investing to accelerate innovative research and development in the advanced composites field. CCS is a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. The national Manufacturing USA institute is supported by a $70 million commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, and over $180 million committed from IACMI’s partners. Find out more at IACMI.org.
About the Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC):
Founded in September 2015, the Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) is an innovative independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, whose mission is to inspire and grow the global composite recycling community through innovation in technology and manufacturing, that transforms carbon fiber scrap into products that positively impact people’s lives and our environment. The CRTC is supported through commitments from the Port of Port Angeles, with infrastructure investment from partners at the US Department of Commerce-Economic Development Administration (EDA), a grant from the EDA i6 Regional Innovation Strategies Program (RIS), WA State’s Clean Energy Fund, Clallam County, and the City of Port Angeles. Find out more at www.compositerecycling.org.
See more coverage from the following: CRTC, Peninsula Daily News, Composites Manufacturing Magazine, CompositesWorld