Boeing and BMW to collaborate on carbon fibre recycling

Boeing and BMW are both pioneering the use of carbon fibre in their products. Boeing's 787 Dreamliner is made up of 50% carbon fibre material and BMW will introduce two vehicles with passenger compartments made of carbon fibre in 2013. Recycling composite material at point of use and the end of product life is critical to both companies. “This collaboration agreement is a very important step forward in developing the use and end use of carbon fibre materials,” said Larry Schneider, commercial airplanes vice-president of product development, who represented Boeing at the signing in Seattle. “It is especially important that we plan for the end of life of products made from carbon fibre. We want to look at ways to reclaim and reuse those materials to make new products. Our work with BMW will help us attain that goal.” BMW’s development board member, Herbert Diess added: “Boeing for us is a suitable partner for collaboration in the field of carbon fibre. Boeing has many years of extensive experience using carbon fibre in the field of aviation, while the BMW Group has earned a significant competitive advantage through its use of special manufacturing methods for series production of carbon fibre parts. Through this cooperation, we can merge know-how between our industries in the field of sustainable production solutions.” As part of the collaboration agreement, Boeing and the BMW Group will also share carbon fibre manufacturing process simulations and ideas for manufacturing automation. www.boeing.com www.bmwna.com