In a surprising and quite interesting turn of events, Canon Ecology Industry Co., Ltd. (a company founded in 2004 for the repair and regeneration of miscellaneous electrical and electronic equipment) has independently developed two types of filaments (PC-ABS, HIPS) for 3D printers made of 100% recycled plastic as the first in-house developed products. This filament is made from recycled plastic for the exterior of broken and old Canon multifunction devices, including copiers and toner cartridges collected from the market.
3D printers that use materials such as resin and metal are widely used because they can easily prototype and manufacture high-mix low-volume parts. On the other hand, environmental problems are becoming more serious worldwide, and each country is required to make more efforts to achieve SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). Under these circumstances, Canon Ecology Industry Co., Ltd. is pursuing advanced resource recycling through the reuse and recycling of Canon products.
Manufacturing on Demand
The raw materials for recycled plastics are PC-ABS and HIPS, which have a proven track record as plastic materials and are widely used in the exterior of multifunction devices and cassette pedestals. Applying consolidated proactices cultivated in the recycling of Canon products, the exterior of multifunction devices and toner cartridges collected from the market are crushed, washed, and extruded using advanced technology to achieve a stable line, while using 100% recycled plastic. It has become possible to manufacture filaments with highly precise diameter. For anyone who understands the challenges of recycling used plastics into filament, this is an impressive feat!
The two types of filaments, PC-ABS filament, which has an excellent heat resistance and high strength, as the main material for making shaped objects, and HIPS filament, which has excellent impact resistance and can be dissolved in limonene, as a support material, it’s possible to produce highly complex shapes.
Canon Ecology Industry Co., Ltd. will continue to work to reduce the environmental burden with the aim of realizing a society where affluent lives and the global environment are compatible.
Plastic parts that can be used for the recycled filament are removed from old devices
The plastic parts are put into a crusher and processed into a granular size.
The granular plastic is cleaned and powder is removed
The cleaned up plastic is melted to extrude a plastic wire.
The recycled filament is winded into a new spool.
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Author: Davide Sher
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