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Carbon fiber recycling specialist Vartega (Denver, Colo., U.S.) celebrated a major milestone on May 23 with a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new facility at the Pecos Logistics Park in Denver. The state-of-the-art, 82,000-square-foot facility will enable Vartega to significantly scale up its production and meet the increasing demand for recycled carbon fiber.

CEO and founder Andrew Maxey was joined by the rest of the now 35-employee organization, as well as IACMI (Knoxville, Tenn., U.S.) CCO Dale Brosius and Rama Haris, Advanced Industries senior manager at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. In a speech in front of more than 100 guests to kick off the event, Maxey reiterated Vartega’s commitment to a sustainable future and a circular economy through carbon fiber recycling.

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Reflecting on the journey that brought Vartega to this point, Maxey remarked that the company has evolved beyond his initial expectations when he conceived of the idea 10 years ago: “I never imagined all the amazing people and perspectives that would help bring this all together. The evolving technology in this space has also challenged us to figure out what the market needed, versus what the market thought it needed, and this has allowed us to create a material that solves a very deliberate and immediate need in the industry. Being able to commercialize that and build a manufacturing facility this size is much different than what I had in mind, but certainly in a good way.”

In the face of a growing market and increased competition, Vartega has adopted a collaborative approach. Maxey said he believes that by working with competitors, his company can add value to its competitors while also gaining insights and ideas from them. Rather than growing Vartega’s slice of the carbon fiber recycling pie, Maxey said he and the rest of his team are more focused on growing the size of the pie as a whole. This philosophy has led to unexpected partnerships and collaborations, resulting in a more proactive approach to solving the issue of carbon fiber waste.

IACMI’s Brosius also spoke at the event, highlighting the important role Vartega is playing in the advanced manufacturing industry to combat climate change. He noted that one solution to the large carbon footprint of manufacturing virgin carbon fiber is to recycle it. Further, he noted, the effort to keep manufacturing waste carbon fiber out of landfills means that Vartega is well-positioned to address a serious industry concern.

The significant increase in Vartega’s operating capabilities will enable it to more efficiently accomplish its goal of making carbon fiber products more affordable while reducing waste. With the new facility, Vartega is well-positioned to meet the growing demands of the market and contribute to the development of a circular economy for years to come.