Child Seat Components from Recycled Carbon-Fibre-Reinforced Plastics (KIKORECO)
Project description
The KIKORECO project focuses on developing innovative child seat components based on recycled car-bon-fibre-reinforced thermoplastics. At the core lies a functional demonstrator in the form of a headrest using directional recycled carbon fibre fleeces (grCV). Due to its high mechanical demands and critical safety function, the headrest serves as an ideal technology carrier.
Advanced manufacturing methods such as particle foam composite injection moulding (PCIM), Dry Fibre Placement (DFP) and Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP) are used to enable significant weight and CO₂ sav-ings while improving sustainability and performance.
A key element of the project is the acquisition of a Tailored Fibre Placement (TFP) machine tailored for processing recycled carbon yarns. With capabilities for components up to 1.80 m, automatic material change and integrated defect detection via AI-supported monitoring, this system ensures high-quality and efficient fibre placement. Initially installed at TU Chemnitz, the system will be transferred to the Carbon LabFactory in Boxberg in late 2026.
The project strengthens regional innovation capacity by establishing a leading infrastructure for recycled material processing in Saxony’s Lusatia region. The TFP system is a technological flagship and contrib-utes to structural transformation, CO₂ reduction and alignment with the Saxon innovation strategy on cir-cular economy and lightweight construction.
| Project duration | 09.01.2025 – 30.06.2027 |
|---|---|
| Project costs | 1,4 Mio. € (share MERGE: 364,000 €, investment funding: 205,000 €) |
| Funding | EFRE InfraProNet 2021–2027 (SAB), Just Transition Fund / SAB Sachsen |
| Project partners | Technische Universität Chemnitz, Professur Textile Technologien, Cetex Institut gGmbH (An-Institut der TUC) |
Dipl.-Ing. (BA) Jens BarteltReichenhainer Straße 31/33, Room C43.114 (alt: Rh31/114)
09126 Chemnitz, Germany
Email: jens.bartelt@…
