Trackwise is pioneering a new PTFE recycling technique which aims to
yield re-usable laminate.
Trackwise is investigating the technical and commercial feasibility of
recycling the manufacturing and end-of-life waste associated with Microwave
PTFE printed circuit boards(PCBs) into fresh laminate that can be reused
as the raw material for more printed circuit boards.
Queens-Award winning Trackwise, a leading producer of Antenna
using Printed Circuit Technology, is developing a new technique for
recycling PTFE laminate called REEETrack™
In the future Customers will be invited to send their end-of-life antennas
to Trackwise for the PTFE PCB to be separated and ground into dust before
being made into fresh laminate.
REEETrack™ is being developed as a new for old service designed
to meet the new EC WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Directive.
The WEEE Directive covers the design and production of electrical and
electronic equipment to aid repair, possible upgrading, re-use, disassembly
and recycling at end-of-life.
For more detail on the WEEE legislation see:
www.envirowise.gov.uk
www.dti.gov.uk/sustainability
From August 2005, the WEEE directive makes producers of such equipment
responsible for financing at least the collection of waste electrical
and electronic equipment from central points, specialist treatment, and
meeting the targets for re-use recycling and recovery.
Trackwise have had considerable interest from Antenna producers and other producers of products with PCBs made from PTFE. The producer can be helped to meet the obligations within WEEE through the REEETrack™ recycling process.
For the full research project REEE™ NOT WEEE
Recycling End of Life Antennas
Presented by Managing Director Philip Johnston to the Antenna Systems
conference 2005 in Santa Clara California please download
the PDF.