Teijin and FUJIFILM achieve closed-loop recycling of multifunction printer plastic exterior parts
Teijin Limited and FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp. have together established a horizontal close-loop recycling scheme for the exterior parts of multifunction printers.
Multion CM
Using recycled plastic derived from the exterior parts including front covers of FUJIFILM’s used multifunction printers, Teijin formulates its Multion CM, a family of circular materials combining recycled polycarbonate-based alloy resin. This resin, containing 80% recycled content, is used for the exterior parts of FUJIFILM’s remanufactured multifunction printers.
The remanufactured printer “ApeosPort C R”. (Source: FUJIFILM Business Innovation)
Multion resin is manufactured by a formulation designed to retain its physical properties and appearance while minimizing degradation and discoloration after long-term use.
Notably, components manufactured under this closed-loop system are suitable for the highly visible covers of multifunction printers.
By combining FUJIFILM's long-established closed-loop resource circulation system with Teijin's proprietary compounding technology, Teijin has achieved color matching for white shades in Multion CM, which had been difficult to realize with conventional closed-loop mechanical recycling.
Using Multion CM, FUJIFILM manufactures the front cover of multifunction devices, which require particularly high appearance quality among the exterior parts.
Working with recycling partners
FUJIFILM collects its used multifunction devices through its own network, then, in cooperation with recycling partners, removes metals and different types of plastics from the exterior parts before recovering, disassembling and sorting only the desired plastics.
The horizontal closed-loop recycling scheme.
A wet grinding process is employed to minimize contamination by foreign substances, enabling the production of recycled material that is used to produce Multion CM.
Teijin applies its proprietary compounding technology related to physical property restoration and color adjustment to ensure Multion CM, with its high percentage of recycled content, is comparable in quality to virgin material.
