Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Meeting with SKYTECH: Circular Economy Innovation
Activity and specialties of SKYTECH
SKYTECH produces premium regenerated plastic resins from the grinding of waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) as well as end-of-life vehicles (ELV), enabling their recycling on an industrial scale.
We are one of the few European companies capable of separating post-consumer ternary mixtures with a purity rate of around 99%—ABS, PS, and PP—providing plastics manufacturers with granules that have properties comparable to virgin resins.
SKYTECH is located in Bonnières-sur-Seine (78) and has 20 employees, a workforce set to double in 2021. The Xerys Funds, SKYTECH’s majority shareholders, have been supporting the company since 2014.
TRIBLAST: an innovative and patented process
We have developed and perfected TRIBLAST, a patented technological process for separating plastic polymers using triboelectricity. Triboelectricity refers to the phenomenon of electrification by friction, which allows different types of materials to be separated based on their ability to acquire positive or negative charges depending on their nature. Thanks to this process, we are able to sort these three raw materials with high-quality purity, which is verified in our laboratory. We then obtain a high-quality raw material to begin the granulation and additive phase, meeting the specifications set by plastics manufacturers (rigidity, tensile/flexural properties, impact resistance, flow, thermal resistance, etc.).
A rapidly growing market
We target the recycled ABS, PS and PP market — an 18 million ton/year market outside the US that is rapidly expanding (*recycled + virgin).
Multiple sectors, including automotive, home appliance manufacturers, luxury, as well as building and construction, are major consumers of these plastics and are increasingly committed to integrating recycled materials. Whether driven by regulation, demand, environmental concerns or technology, industrial sectors must transform rapidly. SKYTECH provides them with a solution perfectly tailored to their challenges.
Multiple sectors, including automotive, home appliance manufacturers, luxury, as well as building and construction, are major consumers of these plastics and are increasingly committed to integrating recycled materials. Whether driven by regulation, demand, environmental concerns or technology, industrial sectors must transform rapidly. SKYTECH provides them with a solution perfectly tailored to their challenges.
After an initial commissioning phase of its granulation line, enabling the production of around 10K tons as early as 2021, SKYTECH will expand its production capacity in France to reach 30K tons by 2023, and will establish itself internationally by quickly opening new sites.
Long-term commitments
By using raw materials from complex mixed waste that would otherwise be landfilled or incinerated to produce virgin-like pellets, SKYTECH extends the lifecycle of plastics.
On top of this advantage, the company relies on a technology that reduces the carbon footprint by 91% compared to conventional techniques such as optical sorting.
By giving plastics a second life, SKYTECH is, by nature, a key player in the circular economy.
On top of this advantage, the company relies on a technology that reduces the carbon footprint by 91% compared to conventional techniques such as optical sorting.
By giving plastics a second life, SKYTECH is, by nature, a key player in the circular economy.
To get to know you a little better:
Quote: “Alone we go faster, together we go further” – African Proverb
Favorite dish: Flemish Carbonnade
Favorite hobby: Windsurfing
Favorite dish: Flemish Carbonnade
Favorite hobby: Windsurfing