‘Simply do the opposite of what we are currently doing when designing components, then we are already much closer to Design for Recycling!’ introduced Prof. Hans-Josef Endres, as organiser, at tropical temperature to more than 100 participants in the recycling topic. For him, design at the beginning of the process chain plays an important role in the recycling value chain and mistakes made there can usually only be corrected in the subsequent process steps at great expense or not at all.
"There are usually many materials glued and welded together in one component. We have to do something about that," continues Endres. ‘But until the design fits, more intelligence is needed in the recycling processes to measure and control parameters and optimise processes using inline methods in order to reduce risk and increase recyclate quality at the same time.’
Dr Michael Merwart, head of the neu/wagen transformation network and sponsor of the 4th IKK colloquium, agreed with this. For Merwert, value creation networks and disassembly factories are an important factor here. He cited the ‘recycling’ story of StreetScooter in Hanover as an example of success.
This was followed by eleven exciting industry presentations with innovative approaches for better recycling:
Redesigning logistics paths and sorting solutions, rethinking material flows, ensuring quality, efficiently using known mechanical and advanced optical processes, guaranteeing and tracking the circular economy or innovative spectroscopic methods for inline analysis
Endres summarised that he was encouraged by the event, as it showed how intensively action is already being taken and not just waiting for politicians to decide. "High-quality mechanical recycling is only just beginning and it can also be combined synergistically with chemical and solvent-based recycling processes. We can become active ourselves, we, industry and research together," said Endres, spurring on all participants and it became clear how important the dialogue at such events is to him.
A special thank you goes to Dr Merwart for sponsoring the colloquium and thus for indirectly promoting the exchange of ideas and, of course, to the speakers for their exciting contributions and to all participants for their critical comments, suggestions and interest.
The speakers were:
- Markus Börger, Grannex GmbH & Co.KG
- Fuat Eker, ColVisTec AG
- Vasco Gerace, OCS Optical Control System GmbH
- Tobias Kreklow, Haip Solutions GmbH
- Felix Mehrens, IKK
- Dr Michael Merwart, Transformationsnetzwerk neu/wagen
- Jochen Moesslein, Polysecure GmbH
- Dr David Müller, Syft Technologies
- Dr Nabila Rabanizada, REMONDIS - Recycling GmbH & Co. KG
- David Rapp, KraussMaffei Extrusion GmbH
- Dr Maximilian Ries, Thermo Fisher Scientific
- Daniel Römhild, WIS Kunststoffe GmbH
- Nikolaus Vogl, Sesotec GmbH
We look forward to the 5th IKK Colloquium in summer 2026 - you will hear from us.
