New edition of this conference aimed at plastic processing companies.
ALLOD Werkstoff (specialist in R&D in thermoplastic rubbers -TPR) and the GAIKER Technology Centre invite companies from the plastic processing sector to the fourteenth conference on "Innovation in Plastic Materials and Technologies". This latest edition will be held in the Edificio Barco on the Bizkaia Technology and Science Park (Zamudio) on 14th November.
Once again, the different talks will present the latest national and international trends in the plastics sector, along with the most innovative developments and advances in the fields of raw materials, processing and machinery for the plastic processing sector.
This conference is a benchmark for companies and suppliers in the sector, enabling them to get to know each other and build relationships. The event, which is free of charge, has a limited number of places.
In-Cosmetics Global 2025 will be held in Amsterdam from 8th to 10th April.
For yet another year, GAIKER, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance (BRTA), will be presenting its range of R&D&I services in the field of dermo-cosmetics and will share a stand with Dr. Goya Análisis and Anmar Clinical Services, like in previous years.
In-cosmetics Global brings together the global cosmetics industry by driving innovation, fostering connections and putting forward ideas that shape the future of beauty. It is the ultimate platform to explore new ingredients, discover emerging trends and develop formulas that captivate consumers and meet their expectations.
Article written by Rafael Miguel - Recycling and Circular Economy Market Manager at GAIKER - See original
Lithium is classified by the European Union as a key component in the transition away from fossil fuels towards clean energy. More and more electronic devices and electric vehicles are using lithium batteries. The increasing consumption of these devices means that these batteries need to be managed properly at the end of their useful life, they need to be recycled responsibly and the materials they contain need to be recovered to minimise their environmental impact.
GAIKER we research and develop technologies and processes to improve and make progress in the different stages of recycling lithium-ion batteries.
We develop different processes for the different stages of recycling lithium-ion batteries and other batteries with complex chemistries.
In the first stage, we discharge batteries so that we can deliver a safe, environmentally friendly process with a capacity and processing time in line with industry requirements.
We dismantle batteries and remove the electrodes in order to extract the black mass. We extract high purity black mass from different types of EV battery waste (modules, cells, production rejects) by mechanical (crushing and shredding) and physical (ultrasound) methods.
We have developed a process for automatically sorting battery cathodes by electrochemistry, prior to extracting the black mass. To this end, we applied artificial intelligence techniques to spectral information obtained by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS). We have successfully tested different types of batteries (PAE, mobile, EV) with very good results.
We have looked at different physical ways of removing the adhesive covering the active material on the the anode and cathode: calcination, cryogenic grinding with a rotor mill and ultrasound.
We have investigated how to separate the carbonaceous fraction on the anode from the Li metal oxides on the cathode using both dry and wet techniques. We have tested a number of different options, particularly gravimetric techniques, and prioritised the concentration of metal oxides with minimum loss.
We have looked at separating the different types of materials contained in the shredded batteries after the black mass has been extracted.
We have recovered the following active materials from the black mass: Li, Co, Ni, Mn, etc. by means of hydrometallurgy, by optimising the different stages of selective leaching, precipitation and crystallisation.
All of these developments allow GAIKER to provide environmentally and economically positive solutions to industry to ensure the circularity of batteries at the end of their useful life.
The European SOILUTIONS project will validate and optimise four value chains to produce at least five bio-waste soil improvers.
The GAIKER Technology Centre, member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance, BRTA, is one of the twelve partners participating in the European "Transforming underused bio-waste feedstocks into safe and effective market-ready soil improvers,SOILUTIONS" project whose objective is to reverse soil degradation by developing bio-waste improvers.
Around 70% of EU soils are degraded due to unsustainable management practices and the overuse of synthetic chemicals. This degradation is increasing and is endangering the fertility and productivity of the soil.
Therefore, in order to tackle this major problem and offer sustainable alternatives derived from bio-waste, using a circular economy approach, this project is funded by the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and will run for three years (2023-2026).
During this time, four value chains will be validated and optimised to produce at least five bio-waste soil improvers. Living Labs will also be set up in Flanders, Valencia and Murcia to work directly with stakeholders in real-life environments and hence, ensure that the soil improvers developed address market needs, have positive environmental, economic and social effects and meet social expectations and legal regulations.
The SOILUTIONS project is currently working on the chemical, biological and toxicological characterisation of the bio-waste that will later be transformed into soil improvers, and a review is being carried out of the different regulations that affect placing these improvers on the market.
GAIKER is responsible for the safety study of the bio-waste that will be used as a raw material for the development of the soil improvers, and will ensure that they meet the established quality and safety requirements. This study includes the assessment of the potential toxicological risks of the bio-waste and soil improvers to be developed, both for human health and the environment, by means of in vitro and ecotoxicity tests. In addition, a metagenomic analysis will be carried out to study possible changes in the structure of the bacterial communities in the presence of the developed soil improvers. The results of this safety study will be integrated and used to select safe soil improver formulations, following a safe and sustainable design (SSbD).
About SOILUTIONS
The SOILUTIONS project is funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and will run for 3 years from June 2023 to May 2026.
The 11 partners working on the project are: S.A. Agricultores De Lavega De Valencia (Coordinator - Spain), NuReSys (Belgium), CETENMA (Spain), GAIKER (Spain), Draxis Environmental (Greece), Greenovate! Europe (Belgium), Collaborating Centre On Sustainable Consumption And Production - CSCP (Germany), Las Naves (Spain), Entomo Consulting (Spain), Ghent University (Belgium), Fertiberia (Spain).
The SOILUTIONS project is funded by the European Union. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
The application and industrialisation of solvolysis and dissolution processes enable complex plastic waste from textiles, composites and multilayer laminates to be upcycled.
The GAIKER Technology Centre, a member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance, BRTA and expert in plastic and chemical recycling technologies, is coordinating the COMPLESOLV project which seeks to extend the circular economy to complex plastic waste from textiles, composites and multilayer laminates through the research and development of chemical recycling technologies based on solvolysis and dissolution processes. To do so, it has the support of Koopera Servicios Ambientales, S.Coop.I.S., Mecanizados Martiartu S.L. and Trienekens País Vasco, S.L.
This research,which began in 2024 and is funded by Bizkaia Provincial Council as part of its Line 1 Technology Transfer programme, seeks to provide a solution to the recovery of waste that cannot be treated by mechanical recycling technologies due to the complexity of its texture, composition or the bond between the materials that make it up.
The proposed solution is based on chemical recycling by solvolysis and dissolution, as its application and industrialisation enable upcycling, i.e. the production of new plastic materials or products of a higher quality, ecological and economic value, avoiding linear models and opting for circular models for the use of resources. It is a question of promoting the circular economy.
To achieve this goal, COMPLESOLV is divided into four phases:
1. Characterisation and conditioning of complex waste (multilayers, textiles and composites).
2. Research into solvolysis and selective dissolution processes applied to complex waste that is difficult to recycle.
3. Research into advanced purification and quality control of solvolysis and selective dissolution products.
4. Technical-economic and environmental validation and assessment
The development of this project sets out to meet current demands for infinite recycling to products of equivalent quality to virgin material, plastic products derived from chemical recycling with synthesis or food grade and recycled products with very low levels of impurities to fulfil the specifications demanded by secondary raw material markets. Furthermore, it also seeks to contribute to better management of complex waste with plastics that are difficult to treat deposited in landfills in the Basque Country and to ensure that the recycled products that reach the markets come from processes with a lower impact on the use of resources (natural solvents), energy (low temperature reactions) and zero waste (products and by-products used globally).
The European FENICE project aims to develop battery boxes that are recyclable, lightweight and fire resistant.
The GAIKER Technology Centre, member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance, BRTA, is participating in the European Fire Resistant Environmental Friendly Composites (FENICE) project, the aim of which is to develop lighter and safer battery boxes for the automotive sector, which are recyclable thanks to the use of sustainable and innovative materials.
This research stems from the need to find efficient and affordable solutions to build lighter and fire resistant battery boxes for the electrification of vehicles. It involves 10 international partners who will be responsible for developing and designing their own process know-how to a TRL8 technology maturity level (complete and certified system through testing and demonstration in a real environment).
In the course of the project, different materials based on fibre-metal laminates (FML) and innovative composites with advantages in terms of sustainability and safety will be developed. For the production of these materials, pre-impregnated glass fibres and basalt will be used to ensure a competitive cost of the final material and a reduction in environmental impact.
The main reason for the choice of FML materials is that they have good fire performance properties. In addition to FML, this research also proposes the use of reinforced geopolymers as another solution for the manufacture of battery boxes, which also have excellent thermal properties and reaction to fire.
GAIKER, expert in laboratory tests for the characterisation of materials, has a reaction to fire laboratory that is accredited by ENAC and by the European entity ILAC-MRA. Its task in this project will be to carry out fire tests on the materials developed, as well as mechanical tests on the specimens, before and after their exposure to fire, to observe their residual resistance.
The FENICE project, which started in 2022 and will end in 2025, has been funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) under Horizon 2020, the EU's Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.
The SMYRNA project seeks to unite technological synergies and capabilities to keep Basque industry competitive in the field of water treatment.
The GAIKER Technology Centre, member of the Basque Research & Technology Alliance, BRTA, is participating in the "New materials and processes in physicochemical water treatment, SMYRNA” project.
The aim of this project is to bring together technological synergies and complementary capabilities among the six entities participating in the proposal for the development of new advanced materials and processes in the field of water treatment. The aim is to relaunch Basque industry through the development of new materials and processes in physicochemical treatment technologies.
The new regulations on water treatment foster the re-use and efficiency in the use of water in industrial processes. In the coming years, this will require the adaptation of these processes in terms of water saving through re-use and resource recovery of critical materials, biomaterials derived from sewage sludge and energy generated from biogas. There is a need to move from a concept of treatment for landfill to a concept of treatment for re-use, which leads to the need to address the following challenges: • Develop new materials to increase the efficiency of existing water treatment processes. • Eliminate emerging compounds present in the water and which may pose risks to the environment or to health. • Guarantee the sanitary quality of treated water • Increase the energy efficiency of the processes while facilitating the recovery of value-added compounds in liquid streams.
Facing these challenges means addressing them with a vision of sustainability, adopting technologies that reduce the use of chemical compounds and energy.
The SMYRNA project seeks to address these challenges and to do so, it proposes different strategic lines, such as the development of materials for their incorporation in water treatment systems and the development of new water treatment schemes for the elimination of compounds of emerging concern (CEC), pathogens and for the recovery of materials.
Funded by the Basque Government as part of the Elkartek collaborative research grant programme, the SMYRNA project will conclude at the end of this year. GAIKER, as an expert in advanced physicochemical treatment systems and water re-use technologies, will be responsible for developing new materials for the filtration and treatment of water by means of additive manufacturing and membrane modification and for testing and validating the materials developed. On the other hand, it will evaluate different treatments of emerging pollutants by means of advanced oxidation, adsorption and membrane separation processes. It will also carry out different water disinfection systems and assess their toxicity. Finally, it will collaborate in the simulation and modelling of the different innovative water treatment processes evaluated.
Supported by the development of technological tools, the DIGITAP project aims to monitor, prevent and optimise the water supply system.
Five Basque companies and organisations have launched the DIGITAP project. Through the development and implementation of digital twins, DIGITAP aims to contribute to improving the integrated management of water supply systems. The monitoring and surveillance of the health of water bodies, based on the possibilities derived from innovative technological tools, will enable new methods to be implemented in order to facilitate the availability of early warning systems for the quality of water intake at supply plants.
This initiative, which will run until April 2026, addresses the major challenge of integrated water management in a scenario in which there are increasing uncertainties, and in which digitalisation will be a key tool to address the challenges, not only in relation to mitigating and adapting to climate change and improving the state of aquatic ecosystems, but also to improve the management of the water cycle in order to anticipate scarcity events that will become increasingly frequent.
Water is an indispensable resource for life, and its scarcity is a limiting factor for the development of any type of activity. This, along with the fact that its permanent availability and quality is increasingly uncertain, more than ever makes the assessment of water risk a strategic challenge. Water management must now be synonymous with risk management. Water service providers must be able to manage periods of scarcity, drought, floods, water quality, and a long etc. that is addressed through the concept of water security.
Extreme events are becoming more and more common as a result of climate change. With periods of prolonged droughts, along with periods of very intense rainfall that may even entail the risk of flooding, the integrated management of the water cycle must adapt to a new water reality and adapt management systems to guarantee a normal supply in terms of both quantity and quality due to its strategic importance for society as a whole.
The innovative nature of the DIGITAP project consists of the application of digitalisation and the development of technological tools that specifically address problems concerning the integrated urban water cycle and its interrelation with the water environment in order to achieve a prediction of water quality at source, as well as the prediction of water shortages and droughts. Within the framework of the project, a pilot case will be developed at one of AMVISA's (Aguas Municipales de Vitoria-Gasteiz) supply plants, in order to contribute to improving resource efficiency and decision-making.The DIGITAP project aims to develop technological solutions that offer a quantitative and qualitative analysis of water contingencies, which can identify and anticipate various situations leading to the minimisation of risk situations through decision-making based on data analysis.
The different work phases include the conceptualisation and development of the digital tool and a subsequent application for its validation which identifies the needs and requirements of the water cycle sector in relation to companies dedicated to the IoT (Internet of Things) and digitalisation, in addition to encouraging innovation.
Project consortium
The DIGITAP consortium is made up of Aclima, Basque Environment Cluster as project leader and coordinator and Agrupa Laboratorio, Aquadat, Cimas and the GAIKER Technology Centre.
The project is funded by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism’s Support Programme for Innovative Business Clusters (AEI) through the EU-funded Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Mechanism - Next Generation EU.
GAIKER's work
GAIKER, as a technology centre of recognised prestige and extensive experience in the field of water, will contribute its knowledge of the water quality indicator parameters in water bodies, as well as their influence on the different treatments that make up the drinking water treatment process. All this will be integrated into the digital tool to be developed in the project.
The kick-off meeting of ECORES WIND, an ambitious European initiative aiming to contribute to the development of sustainable and environmentally conscious practices in the wind energy industry by providing a viable alternative to conventional resin systems, took place on 18th and 19th September 2024, at the Basque Technology Park (Euskadiko Parke Teknologikoa) in Zamudio near Bilbao. The initiative is led by GAIKER, member of Basque Research & Technology Alliance, BRTA, which is a private non-profit organisation with 39 years of experience dedicated to research and offering innovative tech solutions to companies in several sectors.
In addition to leading the project, GAIKER will work on characterizing the new materials to be developed, as well as the manufacturing processes. The Centre will also be in charge of scaling up the recycling processes defined by the partners developing the new resins.
ECORES WIND Overview, Consortium and Collaboration
ECORES WIND, a Horizon Europe-funded Research and Innovation Action, aims to revolutionize the wind energy sector by developing novel circular resinsystems tailored for composite structures in wind energy applications. The initiative will run for 42 months, focusing on enhancing the circularity of wind turbine components, particularly wind blades, to minimise their environmental footprint throughout their lifecycle.
ECORES WIND addresses environmental challenges associated with conventional resin systems in the conditions of a fast-evolving European wind power industry by developing alternatives that promote recyclability, extended lifespan, and efficient decommissioning processes. ECORES WIND seeks to introduce innovative circular resins combined with advanced disassembly strategies, enabling cost-effective decommissioning and material reutilisation.
The project is led by GAIKER with a consortium of 13 partners from across Europe, including leading research institutions, universities, and industry stakeholders. The diverse expertise of the partners will ensure a comprehensive approach to tackling the project’s objectives.
The Challenge Ahead: The urge for the wind power generation to go circular
ECORES WIND is set to make significant strides in the wind energy sector by advancing the development of sustainable materials and processes. Wind energy plays a critical role in enabling the European Union to decarbonise and develop a clean, resource efficient, and carbon-neutral future. Its current infrastructure used for clean electrical energy generation is, paradoxically, a source of contamination. While Europe is the main market for wind power generation and the global leader in offshore wind, the industry is expected to grow by 6.5% on average by 2030. The increase of the wind power capacity, which grew by more than 70% from 2019 to 2023. From 2024 to 2028, global wind power capacity is expected to continue growing rapidly. The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has increased its growth forecast for 2024-2030 by 10%.
Wind farms also have a finite operational lifetime. For the oldest wind farms this is typically in the area of 15 – 25 years. As the European wind turbine fleet ages, a solution for EoL is paramount. Many of Europe’s onshore wind farms are approaching the end of their planned operational lifetime.
The strategies to address the replacement or repowering of wind farms are complex with legislative frameworks for repowering not yet in place. Most rotor blades are constructed from composite materials, including glass and carbon fibres, plastics, and resins which have a typical lifespan of 25 years and critically present challenges for recycling.
Specific objectives of ECORES WIND
Key Objectives and Innovations of ECORES WIND include the development of circular resin systems that enhance the recyclability and sustainability of wind turbine blades and incorporation of advanced disassembly strategies to ensure that wind turbine blades can be decommissioned, and their materials reused efficiently. The setup of the project is developed in close cooperation with RTOs, universities, SMEs and other relevant stakeholders to integrate the supply chain. This collaboration is essential to ensure the proposed solution is industry ready. Furthermore, the initiative encompasses an ecological impact evaluation of aimed solutions: ecological advantages of the developed resin systems will be evaluated and compared to state-of-the-art materials, aiming to establish benchmarks for improved sustainability in the wind energy sector.
For more information about the ECORES WIND project, please visit www.ecoreswind.eu
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101148066.
