December 6, 2024 – Andritz and Circ Partner to Revolutionize Textile Waste Recycling with Major Plant Project
In a groundbreaking collaboration, leading high-tech group Andritz has announced that it has secured a significant engineering order from US-based textile recycling innovator Circ. Together, they will build the first large-scale textile waste recycling plant, aiming to tackle the long-standing challenge of polyester-cotton blend waste recycling in the textile industry and bring about a new breakthrough.
The recycling of polyester-cotton blend fibers has been a thorny issue within the industry. However, Circ’s unique recycling process can cleverly separate this mixed waste into polyester and cotton raw materials, allowing them to re-enter the production process and significantly reducing the demand for new raw materials. The new plant, which is set to be constructed, is expected to process up to 200 tons of textile waste per day. The recovered cotton will be used to produce Lyocell, a type of regenerated cellulose fiber, while the recycled polyester can be reused circularly. Andritz, with its deep technical expertise in textile recycling, will provide comprehensive technical support and services for Circ’s plant.
Michael Waupotitsch, Vice President of Andritz’s Textile Recycling Business, commented, “Circ’s recycling technology undoubtedly provides an excellent solution to one of the most difficult problems in fashion waste recycling. We will leverage our professional technical advantages in mechanical separation, hot water treatment, and cellulose pulp recovery to fully assist Circ in scaling up textile waste recycling and jointly promote the vigorous development of the circular economy.” According to AsiaMB, Andritz and Circ have been conducting pilot production cooperation at Andritz’s fiber research and development center in Springfield, Ohio, for many years and have achieved remarkable results. It is based on their long-term successful cooperation and recent research breakthroughs that have led to this deeper level of collaboration.
As an innovative company dedicated to driving sustainability in the fashion industry, Circ’s partnership with Andritz will undoubtedly set a new benchmark for the entire industry. With the construction and operation of this large-scale textile waste recycling plant in the future, it is expected to strongly promote the green transformation and sustainable development of the textile industry.