Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry (CFRI), established in 2006 and incorporated in April 2008, is a Japanese firm specializing in the recycling of carbon fiber and the sale of regenerated carbon fiber products. The company's President and Representative Director is Hideto Itazu. CFRI has positioned itself to address the growing demand for sustainable materials, driven by the expanding use of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) in the aerospace and automotive industries for lightweighting and fuel efficiency improvements.

The core of CFRI's operations is a proprietary two-stage pyrolysis process developed in collaboration with Gifu University. This technology, which leverages traditional Mino tile firing techniques, enables the energy-efficient extraction of carbon fibers from waste materials while preserving their structural integrity and length. The process is notable for using the thermal decomposition gas from the resins as a heat source, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to virgin carbon fiber production. This allows the company to handle materials that are typically difficult to recycle, such as manufacturing waste from the aircraft industry.

The firm's business model encompasses several revenue streams. The primary activities are the recycling of carbon fiber waste and the subsequent sale of the regenerated fibers. These recycled fibers are marketed as a cost-effective alternative to virgin materials and are used as reinforcement in resin pellets for applications in the automotive, home appliance, and civil engineering sectors. Additionally, CFRI engages in the sale of its carbon fiber recycling plants and offers commissioned processing for materials like activated carbon and lithium-ion batteries. The company serves clients across multiple industries, helping them manage carbon fiber waste and achieve a lower carbon footprint.

Significant milestones for the company include securing a joint research and development grant from NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) in 2010. In 2018, CFRI successfully raised a total of 800 million JPY in growth funding through a third-party allotment and loans from investors including UMI, Mori Roku Holdings, and Airbus Ventures, aimed at scaling up mass production capabilities, R&D, and marketing.

Keywords: carbon fiber recycling, CFRP recycling, regenerated carbon fiber, pyrolysis, sustainable materials, circular economy, industrial waste management, automotive lightweighting, aerospace materials, green technology, Hideto Itazu, Gifu University, two-stage thermal decomposition, energy-efficient recycling, recycled fiber sales, recycling plant sales, commissioned processing, activated carbon recycling, lithium-ion battery processing, resource recovery