Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry

What Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry does

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry Co., Ltd. (CFRI, カーボンファイバーリサイクル工業株式会社) is a privately held Japanese industrial recycling company founded in April 2008 and headquartered in Mitake-cho, Kani-gun, Gifu Prefecture. The company's core business is the recovery of carbon fibers from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) waste using a proprietary energy self-sufficient two-stage pyrolysis method, co-developed with Gifu University's Composite Materials Research Center under NEDO-sponsored R&D programs (2010-2012 and 2014-2016). The process uses resin contained in CFRP waste as fuel, eliminating external energy input while suppressing fiber degradation and preserving original carbon fiber properties.

The company operates three commercial lines: (1) a CFRP waste recycling service that accepts industrial scrap from manufacturers and recovers fibrous-grade recycled carbon fiber; (2) direct sales of recycled carbon fibers to industrial buyers serving automotive, aerospace, wind energy, industrial machinery, and molding applications; and (3) commissioned thermal-processing services for activated carbon regeneration, lithium-ion battery processing (rare metal recovery), and rare metal processing. Recycled carbon fiber is positioned at a 30-40% cost advantage versus virgin carbon fiber, traded off against a 10-20% tensile strength reduction. The vertical serves end-uses where cost-driven fiber substitution outweighs peak mechanical requirements, including molding compounds, sheets/mats, and structural secondary components.

CFRI generates revenue through direct B2B consultation-based pricing (not publicly disclosed) and event-driven go-to-market via industry trade shows. The 2015 relocation consolidated headquarters, factory, and research operations onto a Mitake site with a stockyard larger than Tokyo Dome, underwriting stable feedstock supply. Headcount is recorded inconsistently across sources (21 employees as of December 2020 per one source versus a 51-100 firmographic band). Disclosed growth capital totals ¥1.1 billion across two 2018 rounds, and disclosed revenue was ¥170 million for the fiscal year ending March 2020. The company holds ISO 9001 (quality) and ISO 14001 (environmental) certifications (January 2020), a 2017 CNB Venture Award Grand Prize, and 2019 METI Regional Future Driving Enterprise designation. Geographic operations remain Japan-domestic.

Name

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry

Legal name

カーボンファイバーリサイクル工業株式会社

Website

https://cfri.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry (CFRI) is a Japanese company that recovers carbon fibers from CFRP industrial waste via a proprietary energy self-sufficient two-stage pyrolysis method co-developed with Gifu University, selling recycled fibers and processing services to automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carbon Fiber Recycling and Recycled Carbon Fiber Materials

NAICS

Artificial and Synthetic Fibers and Filaments Manufacturing (32522), Nonwoven Fabric Mills (31323)

SIC

Broadwoven Fabric Mills, Man Made Fiber & Silk (2221)

akta.pro primary industry

Regenerated & Recycled Fiber Production (rPET/rNylon/Regenerated Cellulose) (IMAOAMAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Chemical Recycling & Depolymerization (e.g., PET/Polyamide/Cellulosics) (IMAOAMAC), Recycled Textile Compounding & Nonwoven Reprocessing (Insulation/Felts/Geotextiles) (IMAOAMAH), Textile & Apparel Recycling and Sorting (Non-E-waste) (BPALADAL), Mechanical Fiber Recycling (Shredding/Open-End/Re-fiberization) (IMAOAMAB)

Keywords

• Carbon fiber recycling
• CFRP waste processing
• Recycled carbon fiber sales
• Pyrolysis recycling equipment
• Industrial material recovery

Headquarters

HQ city

Mitake-cho

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Carbon Fiber Recycling Services: Accepting CFRP waste materials from businesses and recycling them to recover carbon fibers. Revenue is generated through service fees for recycling and material processing.
2. Recycled Carbon Fiber Sales: Sales of recycled carbon fibers recovered from CFRP waste materials. The company acquired land larger than Tokyo Dome in November 2015 to establish a large waste stockyard for stable supply of recycled carbon fibers.
3. Commissioned Processing Services: Contract processing services for activated carbon regeneration, lithium-ion battery processing for rare metal recovery, and rare metal processing. These are commissioned加工 services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry accepts CFRP (carbon fiber reinforced plastic) waste from industrial manufacturers and recovers carbon fibers through its proprietary energy self-sufficient two-stage pyrolysis process developed jointly with Gifu University. The recovered recycled carbon fibers are sold to manufacturers for use in automotive, aerospace, wind energy, and industrial machinery applications. The company also sells recycling equipment and plants, and provides commissioned processing services for activated carbon regeneration, lithium-ion battery recovery, and rare metal recovery.

Product overview

Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry operates as a recycling technology company with a portfolio of interconnected services centered on carbon fiber recovery and related processing. The core offering is the Carbon Fiber Recycling service, which processes CFRP waste materials using the proprietary Energy Self-Sustaining Two-Stage Pyrolysis Technology developed with Gifu University. The recovered Recycled Carbon Fiber is then sold as a finished product for various applications. Supporting services include Activated Carbon, Lithium-ion Battery, and Rare Metal commissioned processing, which apply similar thermal recycling expertise to other industrial materials. Together, these form an integrated industrial recycling platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Carbon Fiber Recycling Service (炭素繊維リサイクル) Core recycling service that accepts CFRP waste materials from industrial manufacturers and processes them through the company's proprietary energy self-sustaining two-stage pyrolysis method to recover carbon fibers while maintaining original fiber properties. Targeted at businesses generating CFRP waste.
• Recycled Carbon Fiber Sales (再生炭素繊維の販売) Sale of recycled carbon fibers recovered from CFRP waste, supplied in fibrous form with maintained high functionality, for use in automotive structural components, aerospace, wind energy, industrial machinery, and molding material applications. Supplied with a stockyard facility larger than Tokyo Dome for stable supply.
• Activated Carbon Commissioned Processing (活性炭の委託加工) Commissioned processing service that regenerates used activated carbon into clean, reusable activated carbon for industrial customers.
• Lithium-ion Battery Commissioned Processing (リチウムイオン電池の委託加工) Commissioned processing service for lithium-ion batteries and other batteries to recover rare metals and metals for recycling, serving industrial customers.
• Rare Metal Commissioned Processing (レアメタルの委託加工)

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-40% cost reduction compared to virgin carbon fiber
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gifu University (岐阜大学) - Composite Materials Research Center (GCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research partnership with Gifu University's Composite Materials Research Center (GCC), Graduate School of Engineering (Social Infrastructure Engineering, Environmental Energy Systems) for developing carbon fiber recycling technology. Co-developed the energy self-sufficient two-stage pyrolysis system through NEDO-supported projects including 'Low-Cost Energy-Saving Regeneration Technology for Recycled Carbon Fibers' (2010-2012) and 'Energy-Saving Continuous Carbon Fiber Recovery Process Development' (2014-2016).
• NEDO (新エネルギー・産業技術総合開発機構)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization provided R&D commissioning for recycled carbon fiber technology development. Two projects: 'Low-Cost Energy-Saving Regeneration Technology for Recycled Carbon Fibers' (2010-2012) and 'Energy-Saving Continuous Carbon Fiber Recovery Process Development' (2014-2016), conducted jointly with Gifu University.
• Gifu Prefecture Industrial Technology Center (岐阜県産業技術センター)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with Gifu Prefecture Industrial Technology Center and Otsuka Co. (株)オーツカ as part of Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's 'Strategic Foundation Technology Advancement Support Project' for developing recycled carbon fiber nonwoven fabrics.
• JST (科学技術振興機構)minorOthersCo-organizer of 'イノベーション・サービス2016' (Innovation Japan 2016) exhibition alongside NEDO, showcasing CFRP material recycling technology and business development efforts.
• Chubu Industry Liaison Association (中部産業連盟)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in 'Progress April 2019' magazine published by Chubu Industry Liaison Association. Organizer of 'ネクスト・イノベーション・テクノロジーフェア2020' where the company planned to exhibit.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Carbon Conversions: US-based carbon fiber recycling company converting manufacturing scrap and end-of-life parts into reusable carbon fiber for industrial applications. Directly comparable niche recycler serving similar B2B customer base.
• ELG Carbon Fibre: UK-based recycler of carbon fiber from composite waste using pyrolysis-based processes, supplying recycled carbon fiber to automotive, aerospace, and wind energy markets. Closest direct competitor to CFRI in process technology and end-market focus.
• Carbon Fiber Recycling (formerly Recycled Carbon Fibre): UK-based carbon fiber recycler operating commercial-scale pyrolysis-based recovery to supply recycled CF to automotive, aerospace, and consumer goods manufacturers. Closely comparable in process technology and customer verticals.
• Vartega: US-based carbon fiber recycler using proprietary chemical/thermal recovery processes to produce low-cost recycled carbon fiber for automotive, electronics, and sporting goods applications. Comparable in technology focus and downstream fiber sales.

Emerging players

• Shocker Composites: US-based recycler focused on recovering carbon fiber from thermoset composites for use in new composite manufacturing. Emerging player with overlapping pyrolysis-based recycling technology for similar end-markets.
• Fairmat: French carbon fiber recycler using mechanical/chemical processes to convert composite waste into reusable carbon fiber panels for sporting goods, electronics, and industrial applications. Emerging European peer with similar recycling approach.
• Adherent Technologies: US company specializing in advanced composite recycling technologies including chemical/thermal processes for carbon fiber recovery. Comparable emerging player in process technology for composite waste.

Broad incumbents

• SGL Carbon: European-based broad carbon products manufacturer with composite materials business and growing focus on recycled carbon fiber. Comparable incumbent serving overlapping aerospace, automotive, and industrial markets.
• Toray Industries: Largest global carbon fiber producer with significant investments in recycling initiatives and sustainability programs. Broad incumbent that competes as virgin-fiber supplier while also developing recycling capacity.
• Mitsubishi Chemical (Carbon Fiber & Composites): Major Japanese chemical and carbon fiber manufacturer with broad composite materials business. Domestic incumbent and potential partner/competitor given Japanese market overlap and sustainability initiatives.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors7 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Carbon Fiber Recycle Industry