Collaboration on Carbon Fiber Recycling will help advance composite industry
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​For Immediate Release: April 22, 2016

​Port Angeles, WA— Friday, April 22, 2016 --The Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Toray Composites (America), Inc. to collaborate on carbon fiber recycling efforts.

“As the value of carbon fiber composites continues to transform transportation systems through light-weighting and increased efficiency, we have a responsibility to continually look at the full lifecycle of our products,” said Timothy Kirk, Vice President – Sales and Marketing at Toray Composites America (TCA).  “We foresee future developments, new technologies and new markets with recycling; and we see great alignment with the CRTC’s mission and the broader needs of the carbon fiber materials lifecycle.”

TCA’s primary role will be to provide the supply of scrap carbon fiber materials from TCA to CRTC. Additionally, TCA and the CRTC will work together to enable technical and market developments for recycled products.

“Today’s announcement represents a major milestone for the CRTC,” said Robert Larsen, CRTC’s CEO. “It ensures a consistent supply of carbon fiber scrap for our recycling efforts that will create beneficial uses for this previously landfilled material that we will turn into new and innovative product applications. Our recycling efforts will create dozens of living wage jobs and reap additional economic, energy, and environmental benefits.”

Founded in Washington State’s Frederickson Industrial Area in 1992, Toray Composites (America), Inc is a leading innovator and supplier of carbon fiber materials. TCA is a solution provider for high-demand aerospace, industrial and recreational customers. Their catalog of industry-leading products is used across sectors and consistently provides value-added materials technology unmatched in the industry. As a leading developer of new composite materials, TCA also incorporates as stand-alone Composite Materials Research Laboratory – focused on new materials and process development through fundamental research and customer collaboration.

Founded in September 2015, the Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) is an innovative non-profit company whose mission is to lead and grow a composite recycling industry that diverts carbon fiber scrap that is destined for landfill, and turns it into value-added products. Since carbon fiber is stronger than steel with 75% less weight, the product applications in segments like transportation, aerospace and high performance sporting goods are boundless. The CRTC will accomplish its mission through direct product manufacturing, by providing technical design services, and by making low-cost recycled carbon fiber feedstock available for other manufacturers to utilize.

The CRTC’s start-up has been made possible by the Port of Port Angeles that pioneered the concept of composite recycling in Clallam County. The Port obtained grant support from Clallam County, Washington State's Clean Energy Fund, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration to complete CRTC’s facility. It is scheduled to open in August of 2016. Other significant CRTC partners include Peninsula College, whose composite workforce training program will be co-located with the CRTC, Washington State University, and other research and industry partners throughout the U.S. and internationally.

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For more information, media only: 
TCA Media Contact:
Tim Kirk:
(253) 875-1316; [email protected]
 
CRTC Media Contact:
Jennifer States:
C: (509) 554-1037, [email protected]
 
For more information on TCA: https://www.toraycompam.com/
For more information on CRTC: www.compositerecycling.org

Additional Resources and Coverage:
http://www.konp.com/local/11539

The newly-launched Composites Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) was introduced to the international composites community at the 2016 JEC World Composites Show and Conference that took place outside Paris, France on March 8 – 10. This annual event is the largest gathering of companies involved in the composite industry in the world with more than 30,000 attendees and 1,200 exhibitors. It provides the best opportunity to make crucial industry connections and learn about new industry developments. 

A Port Angeles delegation was included in the Washington State Department of Commerce booth. Participants included Jennifer States from the Port of Port Angeles, Bob Larsen and Geoffrey Wood of the CRTC, and Jill teVelde of Peninsula College. 

The Port has had a presence at this world-wide conference in recent years to promote the local composites industry at the Composites Manufacturing Campus at the Airport Industrial Park. The Port Angeles delegation shared a booth organized by the Washington State Department of Commerce (WDC) as co-exhibitors together with other Washington State organizations and companies. This is the most cost-effective way to gain visibility with the international composites industries. 

All the key players in the global composite industry were gathered under one roof at the JEC Composites Conference for three days. CRTC and the Port representatives took advantage of this opportunity by having multiple meetings each day. It was an extremely time efficient way to initiate contact, holdmeetings and have discussions with industry leaders and senior decision-makers, composite manufacturers, and suppliers. 

From the WDC website: “Washington State is one of the few places in the nation, if not the world, where the entire composites supply chain is represented,” said Commerce Director Brian Bonlender. “From our research labs to factory oors and breaking new ground in composite recycling technology, this industry is creating good jobs and economic activity in communities large and small, urban and rural, throughout the state.” 

Read more here: 
http://www.commerce. wa.gov/media/Pages/PressRe- leaseView.aspx?pressrelease- id=233 

Jennifer States, the Port’s Director of Business Development, attended the conference to attract new businesses to Clallam County. She developed twosignificant leads with companies who are now considering Port Angeles for their planned facilities: one for aircraft manufacture and another for recycling cured carbon ber. For the latter company, being located near the CRTC is a major attraction. “JEC World provided a great opportunity to once again put Port Angeles on the world stage for composite manufacturing,” said Jennifer. “The Washington State Booth saw a stream of interested companies and organizations look- ing to connect on composite recycling.” 

Composites Manufacturing Campus 

Construction is underway on a new Port facility for the CRTC and Peninsula College’s Composite Manufacturing program, both located at the Port’s Composite Manufacturing Campus. The facility was made possible by $4 million in infrastructure grants from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Washington State Clean Energy Fund through WDC, and from Clallam County’s Opportunity Fund. 

CRTC is a first-in-the-world company to divert and repurpose carbon- ber pre-preg scrap from the land fill, transforming it into commercially viable products. This generated significant interest with composite industry leaders at JEC because they are pioneering an economically viable way to solve a major problems holding back the growth of the carbon ber industry – its high volume of scrap. Washington State produces more than 2 million pounds ofcarbon ber pre-preg scrap each year, providing an ample supply of this material for reuse. However, up to now, no company has been able to demonstrate a market demand for this material. CRTC statements made important connections with companies and organizations. “We have already executed seven new non-disclosure agreements, signaling significant new business relationships providing substantive benefits,” said Bob Larsen, CRTC’s CEO. “We metwith senior leadership from the world’s largest composites suppliers and users, laying the groundwork for multiple new partnerships and opportunities in the near future.” 

The day before JEC opened, CRTC made an invited presentation at the American Composite Manufacturing Association’s Global Recycling Workshop. The presentation was well received by the mix of EU and US attendees, generating considerable interest in CRTC’s progress and potential. The Workshop showed the CRTC was in a world leadership position in recycling carbon ber pre-preg. 

Bob Larsen will be making a series of presentations around Clallam County to service clubs, business groups and other public entities to share more information about the CRTC’s progress. Watch local media for times and dates. 

Resources:
http://portofpa.com/DocumentCenter/View/696

Bill Will Save Consumers Money, Eliminate Energy Waste and Invest in New Technologies that Improve Global Competitiveness
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For Immediate Release: April 20, 2016

Contact:            
Bryan Watt (Cantwell)
(202) 224-8277
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), led the Senate’s passage of the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S. 2012) by a vote of 85-12. 
More than a year in the making, this comprehensive energy bill will modernize the electric grid, invest in renewable energy and train a new generation of energy workers. The bill’s passage marks the first time since 2007 the Senate has passed a comprehensive energy bill.

“The investments we make today will benefit American taxpayers for generations to come,” Sen. Cantwell said. “This bipartisan bill is an important next step for saving consumers money on energy costs, providing more options to power U.S. homes and businesses, and preparing the next generation of workers for jobs in clean energy.”

The bill may now move to a joint conference committee with the House of Representatives.
​
Key provisions include:

•          Launching a smart buildings initiative, a public/private partnership to demonstrate and evaluate the costs and benefits of new energy-saving technologies;
•          A package of energy efficiency provisions that would provide $60 billion net savings to consumers, create more than 100,000 new jobs, and reduce emissions equivalent to the emissions from all US cars, trucks, and trains in a year;
•          Modernizing the gridto help integrate renewable technologies to make our grid more distributed and resilient and tripling investments in energy storage to help protect the grid during emergencies, during outages and to deploy more clean energy sources.
•          Supporting research and development of new clean energy technologies, in addition to geothermal and marine hydrokinetic energy; 
•          Investing more in energy research through the successful energy research arm of the government – ARPA-E –$325 million for fiscal year 2016 and 2018 and $375 million for 2019 and 2020;
•          Better workforce training to help meet the needs of a changing energy sector and to help fill an upcoming shortage of 1.5 million energy workers in the next decade;
•          Permanently reauthorizingthe Land and Water Conservation Fund, one of the nation’s most effective conservation programs, originally created by U.S. Senator Scoop Jackson of Washington;
•          Doubling the Energy Department’s recent investments in cybersecurity research and development, supply chain security and public-private partnerships for information-sharing and including cybersecurity representatives on the new 21st Century Energy Workforce Development Advisory Board; and
•          A demonstration project on recycling carbon fiber – an initiative underway in the Port of Port Angeles, Washington.

Over the course of the last year, Ranking Member Cantwell and Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) worked together to compile bills from dozens of Senators (40 in total)—Democrats and Republicans, alike; and held hearings with experts on these proposals. The senators continued to improve the text by considering hundreds of amendments to the underlying bill text and processing more than 60 of those amendments through a series of Senate votes. 

Key impacts for your region:

•   Boosting Carbon Fiber Recycling

Carbon fiber has a potential market value of $50 million if it can be reused and recycled. Currently, 30 percent of the carbon fiber used in manufacturing is recyclable. Producing recycled carbon fiber requires only one-tenth of the energy compared to manufacturing new carbon fiber. This legislation authorizes a study on the recycling of carbon fiber and creates a demonstration project in collaboration with the Department of Energy and industry.

“The Boeing Company is pleased that the Energy Policy Modernization Act includes a provision (Section 3701) that will have the Department of Energy explore additional opportunities to recycle carbon fiber, including the development of a demonstration program.  These important activities will strengthen advanced manufacturing in the U.S. by expanding the utilization of composite materials in the economy,” said The Boeing Company.
 
Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) CEO Bob Larsen expressed strong support for the passage of the Senate Energy Bill.
 
“With Senator Cantwell’s leadership, the U.S. Senate has passed a comprehensive package of visionary energy legislation that strengthens the nation’s move towards a sustainable energy future,” Mr. Larsen observed. “Of particular importance is Section 3701 for recycled carbon fiber, which will provide critical funding for research and demonstration in support of composite recycling. The CRTC is taking the first steps towards establishing a new industry; this bill is critical to accelerate the rate of growth of this new industry and reap the economic, energy and environmental benefits we see before us.”

• Expansion of Energy Workforce Development Programs

With more than 18,000 utility jobs, Washington state leads the Pacific Northwest in terms of total utility employment and that number is expected to grow by 6.1% by 2020. However, 17 percent of utility workers in the Pacific Northwest are expected to retire within 5 years. To overcome these challenges, the legislation helps meet the needs of a changing energy sector by making investments in workforce training by establishing a 21st Century Energy Workforce Advisory Board at the Department of Energy to develop the model energy training curriculum.

The legislation also creates a $20 million a year competitive workforce grant program to provide job training through a community college or registered apprenticeship program to provide students with industry-recognized credentials. The average salary for a utility worker in Washington state is 57% higher than the average salary across all industries in the state.

“With this innovative piece of legislation we are able to intersect blue collar, white collar and green collar mechanisms; by providing the training and resources needed to only further help launch IBEW into the future. With this collaborative effort, we have the opportunity to shape the energy industry, which is the 3rd largest industry in the United States, into one that benefits all working men and women for years and years to come,” said Louis Walter, Business Manager for IBEW Local Union No. 77.

• Permeant Reauthorization of the Land & Water Conservation Fund

The legislation permanently renews the Land and Water Conservation Fund — the nation’s most successful conservation program. The Outdoor Industry Association has found that active outdoor recreation contributes more than $11.7 billion annually to Washington’s economy, supports 115,000 jobs across the state, generates $650 million in annual state tax revenue and produces $8.5 billion annually in retail sales and services across Washington.
Created by longtime U.S. Senator from Washington state Henry “Scoop” Jackson, the LWCF has helped protect places such as Olympic National Park and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. 
 
The bill also establishes a National Park Service Critical Maintenance and Revitalization Conservation Fund to address high-priority deferred maintenance needs of the National Park Service, with a prohibition on the use of funds for land acquisition and permanently reauthorizes the Historic Preservation Fund.
 
“Today's vote for permanent authorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund is a historic step forward for communities across Washington state and across America to conserve our most treasured places. These landscapes are not only places for us to camp, hike, hunt, and fish. They are also major economic drivers for our state and are critical for healthy fire-resistant forests, clean water, and wildlife habitat and are an important part of our state’s identity,” said Hannah Clark Executive Director of the Washington Association of Land Trusts.
 
“Investments in our public lands through the Land and Water Conservation Fund touch the lives of the 142 million Americans who recreate outside each year," said Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) Executive Director, Amy Roberts. "The outdoor industry contributes more than $646 billion in consumer spending annually and depends on our public lands and waters for vital recreation infrastructure. OIA and our 1,300 members deeply appreciate Senators Murkowski and Cantwell for their commitment to make America’s premier recreation and conservation program permanent, so every future generation will continue to enjoy the benefits of time spent outside.”
 
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Washington Industries Highlighted At Committee Hearing On Advanced Manufacturing

Read Her Opening Statement Here.
​
Washington, D.C. – Today, Ranking Member Of The Senate Energy And Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) Highlighted Advanced Manufacturing Work In The State Of Washington, Demonstrating How The Nation Can Lead Worldwide In Advanced Manufacturing. 

“The Success Of Our Manufacturing Sector Is Vital To Growing Our Economy,” Sen. Cantwell Said. “New Technology Can Improve Efficiency, Reduce Emissions And Increase U.S. Competitiveness.”
......
Another Example Of Advanced Manufacturing In Action Is The Port Of Port Angeles, Which Has Been Working On New Methods To Recycle Scraps Of Carbon Fiber Waste From The Manufacturing Process Into New Composites. These Advanced Carbon Fiber Composites Are Used In The Aerospace, Automotive And Energy Sectors.

Recycling Carbon Fiber Reuses Scrap Destined For A Landfill And Provides Significant Energy Savings; In Fact, Manufacturing Recycled Carbon Fiber Uses Only One-Tenth Of The Energy Needed To Manufacture New Carbon Fiber. This Emerging Market Is Why The Port Of Port Angeles Is Retooling Their Facilities And Their Workforce.

This Process Is Just One Example Of How Advanced Manufacturing Is Transforming Certain Sectors. The Aerospace Industry Has Long Been A Leader In Developing New Technologies, Such As Composite Materials, To Make Aircraft Lighter And More Fuel Efficient....

...Recycling Carbon Fiber Reuses Leftover, Scrap Materials From The Manufacturing Process. All Of This Really Can Help Us In The Manufacturing Process. While We’ve Come A Long Way On Carbon Fiber, Now We Need To Figure Out The Recycling. 

“Recycling Carbon Fiber Saves Energy In The Manufacturing Process. Recycled Carbon Fiber Composites Use Only One-Tenth Of The Energy Compared To Manufacturing New Carbon Fiber Composites. It Holds Great Potential. 

“In Washington State Alone, Two Million Pounds Of Carbon Fiber Scraps Are Being Sent To Landfills Each Year. If This Can Be Recycled, It Has A Potential Market Value Of $50 Million....

To Read The Full Article, Please ClICK HERE.

ChooseWashington Delegation To Promote Multi-Billion-Dollar Advanced Materials Sector At JEC World 2016 Composites Show And Conference

​ChooseWashington delegation to promote multi-billion-dollar advanced materials sector at JEC World 2016 Composites Show and Conference.  Commerce hosts Washington State Pavilion, B2B meetings in Paris at largest annual international gathering of composites professionals
OLYMPIA, WA  –  The Washington State Department of Commerce leaves for JEC World today to showcase the state’s dynamic composites sector, which now includes over 100 advanced manufacturing companies  and 230 materials scientists. Washington researchers and businesses make up a “who’s who” of innovation in these new age materials that are transforming everything from aircraft and automobiles to high-end recreational equipment, musical instruments and medical devices.

Co-exhibitors in Washington State’s booth in the U.S. Pavilion at this all-important worldwide industry show come from many communities around the state: General Plastics Manufacturing from Tacoma; HEATCON Composite Systems, Seattle; Columbia River Economic Development Council based in Vancouver, Clark County; Gemini Composites, Seattle; Peninsula College, the Port of Port Angeles, and the Composite Recycling Technology Center in Clallam County on the Olympic Peninsula.

Also represented in the Commerce catalog are Fiberglass Supply from Burlington, Skagit County; Globe Machine Manufacturing, Tacoma; Harper Engineering from Renton in south King County; Innovative Composite Engineering (ICE) from White Salmon, WA on the Columbia River, and the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance (PNAA), based in Redmond, WA.

“Washington State is one of few places in the nation, if not the world, where the entire composites supply chain is represented,” said Commerce Director Brian Bonlender. “From our research labs to factory floors and breaking new ground in composite recycling technology, this industry is creating good jobs and economic activity in communities large and small, urban and rural, throughout the state.”

Anchored by the Boeing Company’s world-leading 787 and 777x aircraft programs and SGL Automotive Carbon Fiber’s factory where a fifth of the world’s carbon fiber is produced, a broad swath of businesses is growing Washington’s advanced materials and manufacturing sector. Here they find favorable incentives, world-renowned research and development centers, a highly-skilled workforce and some of the lowest-cost hydroelectric power in the world, among other sought-after business and quality of life advantages.

“With 75-year-old roots in Washington State, General Plastics is proud to be representing the remarkable innovation and talents found in our great state – a global leader in the advanced composite materials industry,” said Bruce Lind, president of General Plastics, a returning co-exhibitor with Commerce.

The Port of Port Angeles, Wash., is also returning, along with partners Peninsula College and the Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC). An interim prototyping and R&D facility recently opened and construction is well underway on a new facility for the CRTC and Peninsula College’s Composite Manufacturing program, both located at the Port’s Composite Manufacturing Campus. The new facility is helped by $4 million in infrastructure grants from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Washington State Clean Energy Fund from Commerce, and local community support from Clallam County.

The center will be a collaborative for research, development, training and production for innovative repurposing of carbon-fiber scrap into commercially viable products. Washington state produces 1.4 million pounds of carbon fiber scrap each year, but aerospace manufacturers cannot use recycled materials in structural aerospace configurations. However, it can be used in products ranging from solar panels frames to ski poles, computer cases to snowboards.

Jennifer States, Composite Recycling Technology Center vice president for external affairs, is presenting at the American Composite Manufacturing Association’s Global Recycling Workshop on Monday in Paris, joined by interim CEO Bob Larsen and VP of Innovation Geoff Wood.

Three of this year’s participants received financial support through Commerce export assistance vouchers, funded by the U.S. International Trade Administration and the Small Business Administration, to help offset expenses of attending the show. Commerce provides other marketing assistance to small and medium-sized businesses throughout the state through its Washington State international trade services team and representatives in Europe.
Read about all the members of Washington’s delegation to JEC World 2016 on www.choosewashington.com  and follow them next week on social media at @WAStateCommerce #JECWorld16.
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