“In response to the urgency of the climate crisis, PANORAMA CYCLES, an independent bicycle company located in Quebec (Canada), is proud to announce its agreement with C7 Composites to recycle unusable composite products. PANORAMA CYCLES becomes a supplier of C7 Composites, and will provide them with unused prototype frames, tested parts and some of the production rejects, thus reducing the volume of obsolete products destined for landfill.”
“C7 Composites has developed a process to transform an obsolete composite part (carbon/epoxy) into a polymer additive. This additive can be used in many ways to improve the mechanical, physical and chemical properties of the polymer. The resulting products can then be used in various applications, giving new life to the original part.”
“We are particularly pleased to be moving towards a more circular economy for our carbon bikes. 5 of our 7 models currently offered are steel, and we know that steel can be recycled for ever. For our 2 carbon models, end-of-life management was more of an issue,” explains Simon Bergeron, Engineer and Co-Founder of PANORAMA CYCLES. “All of our prototype/test frames, some production scraps and damaged bikes that could not be repaired will be sent to C7 composites. They will be transformed and can have a second life in another form.”
“The composites industry is growing, these materials are used in more and more markets to improve product performance, but their end-of-life was previously a challenge that many turned a blind eye to. We are proud to have tackled this one and to propose today an alternative to landfill. We are even prouder to see that companies like PANORAMA CYCLES want to integrate the end-of-life of their products into their development philosophy,” says Martin Chambert, President of C7 Composites. “By converting obsolete products into very long-life applications, we keep these materials out of landfills for a long time. We then turn a problem (low degradation over time, chemicals and weathering) into an opportunity.”
Other known solutions to recycle carbon/epoxy parts are typically very limiting. Energy consuming thermo/chemical processes are the norm, and the parts to be recycled must be practically pure (free of paint, clear coat, …). The mechanical solution that C7 Composites now offers is adapted to the sports industry, and to the parts that we manufacture and distribute. Panorama Cycles is now very excited about the possibility of using the frames transformed by C7 Composites to design new products dedicated to its market.
About C7 Composites
“Company specialized in design and recycling of composite material products. We accompany you from the creation phase of your products until their end of life.” Visit www.c7-composites.com
About Panorama Cycles
“Independent bicycle company based in Canada dedicated to backcountry cyclists – those who prefer gravel, snow and off-road trails.” For more information, visit panoramacycles.com