From challenge to circular transition

CHALLENGE

  • High-value EEE/ICT equipment essential 
    for manufacturing in key industries is often discarded before end-of-life
  • Embedded value & critical materials are lost to scrap or grey markets 
  • Manufacturers and operators forego benefits of avoidable costs, CO₂ savings and access to secondary-market value (40-70% of original)

PROJECT ACTIVITIES 

  • Close the loop for automation products and components across selected pilot groups (switches/control cabinets, servo motors/robots)
  • Execute end-to-end recovery & qualification via take-back, disassembly, testing and grading for reuse, refurbishment, or recycling
  • Assess feasibility, economics and policy to enable viable circular business models

OUTCOME

  • Proof of concept delivered with first pilots with components taken back and analyzed with 5-figure residual value vs. low scrap value
  • Value chain collaborations established with ambition to scale to system- and line- scopes (unlocking materially higher total value)
  • Ecosystem expanded beyond the core project, connecting industry, start-ups and academia

CIRCULAR TRANSITION

  • Overcoming unclear demand, limited supply and processing bottlenecks, the project contributes to creating a European recycling and processing value chain for rare earth elements and further increase of copper recycling
  • Economic, geopolitical and massive environmental benefits go hand in hand
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