SG-based Nandina REM launches carbon fibre material reclaimed from end-of-life aircraft

By 2050, Asia will see 102,500 tonnes of unused, end-of-life carbon fibre from aviation.

Nandina REM, a member company of Singapore A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing & Technology Centre, has launched high-quality carbon fibre materials reclaimed from end-of-life aircraft.

The materials will be accessible to manufacturers for different products, including aircraft cabin galleys and seats.

By reclaiming high-value materials from end-of-life aircraft, Nandina REM will give markets access to new sources of ultra-low emission, high-quality carbon fibre composites that are comparable in quality to virgin materials and cost less.

“The novel approach addresses the long-standing issue of ensuring reclaimed carbon fibre retains the same mechanical properties as its virgin counterpart,” the company said.

Nandina reclaimed high-value materials from end-of-life aircraft through the help of A*STAR.

The carbon fibre recovery technologies used by Nandina and A*STAR will tap into the growing opportunity that decommissioned aircraft present as a new source of valuable circular materials. 

“An estimated 8,000 retired aircraft are parked in deserts, jungles, and storage yards around the world that will never be used again, and approximately 15,000 more aircraft will be decommissioned in the next 10 years,” Nandina said.

“The scale of this is also immense in Asia, with the region making up the largest share of aircraft, and will see a cumulative 102,500 tonnes of unused, end-of-life carbon fibre from aviation by 2050,” she added.