FacadeReLog

Reverse logistics for the recovery of metals in the facade industry

FacadeReLog is a practical workshop and lifelong education series, co-created by key sector companies, branch associations, and scientific partners. Its aim is to unlock the great potential for the recovery of metals and components in the European façade industry. The series will address practical topics such as business models, industrial processes, and recovery logistics, which currently hinder the recovery of increasingly complex building products and the valuable materials in them.

What

A professional education series to:

  • Analyse cases to map in which building components the metal materials can be found, and determine their value hierarchy for economically-effective recovery.
  • Develop methodologies, including supply chain- and business-models, to advice companies on how to optimise their (re)manufacturing processes and extend the service-lives of their products.
  • Conduct a number of workshops with companies and experts to exchange knowledge and sketch best-practices for manufactured products. In collaboration with end-users and other stakeholders such as clients (building developers and owners) and municipalities.

Why

Addressing and realising circularity in the facade industry involves the training of professionals on retroactive processing of legacy equipment and construction materials, and the redesign of future components, business models, and supply-chains.Growing policy focus on "Recognized Technical Approvals" by municipalities and insurance companies further strengthen the need for standardisation and life-cycle based solutions. This requires a paradigm shift in companies’ current practices, which can be made possible by raising awareness in the industry about the current and rising economic and strategic value of raw materials.
Practical approaches to implement the reverse logistics need to be developed which fit companies’ business and production processes in a minimally disruptive way.

For Whom

FacadeReLog will develop lifelong learning educational material to support the Circular Economy transition of:

  • Façade industry companies.
  • Companies interested in becoming third party re-manufacturers or take another role in the remanufacturing ecosystem.
  • Industrial sector bodies / industry societies and branch associations.
  • Design and engineering consultants, entrepreneurs.
  • Developers and Commissioners of public and commercial real estate.
  • Municipal construction supervisors and regulatory bodies.
  • Industrial education & research and supplementary.

Facts

Funder:EIT
Programme:EIT RawMaterials 
Grant amount:€300.000
Contribution to TU Delft: €96.000
Role: Project lead
Project duration:January 2020 - December 2021
TU Delft researcher:Ir. Juan F. Azcarate Aguerre
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tillmann Klein
Dr.-Ing. Thaleia Konstantinou

Project partners

Technische Universiteit Delft (Delft University of Technology), Coventry University, FundaciĂłn Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Katholieke Universiteit te Leuven (KU Leuven), Leiden University, Rheinisch-Westfaelische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH Aachen)

Contact

Ir. Juan F. Azcarate-Aguerre