Carbon Fiber Recycling and James Cropper win CAMX innovation award

Carbon Fiber Recycling and James Cropper Advanced Materials won the CAMX 2026 Unsurpassed Innovation Award on Sept. 22 in Atlanta for UNIMAT™, a recycled carbon fiber material for high-performance composites. The win spotlights an industrial-scale circular supply chain that turns carbon fiber waste into a material for aerospace, automotive and other advanced manufacturing uses.

Why it matters: - The award puts recycled carbon fiber in the same conversation as high-performance virgin materials. - UNIMAT™ is designed for structural and semi-structural composite applications, which broadens where recycled fiber can be used. - The recognition underscores a circular supply chain that can support industrial-scale manufacturing, not just pilot projects.

What happened: - Carbon Fiber Recycling, LLC and James Cropper Advanced Materials won the CAMX 2026 Unsurpassed Innovation Award on Sept. 22 in Atlanta. - The winning entry was UNIMAT™, described as an aligned recycled carbon fiber material for high-performance composites. - CAMX announced the award during its Opening General Session at the Georgia World Congress Center. - The entry title was “Aligned Recycled Carbon Fiber Delivering High-Performance Composites at Industrial Scale.”

The details: - CFR recovers carbon fiber from dry fiber, prepreg and cured composite waste at its continuous-flow plant in Tazewell, Tennessee. - James Cropper Advanced Materials uses VECTIS™ alignment technology to turn that recovered fiber into UNIMAT™. - The award recognizes technologies with technical novelty, commercial viability and the potential to change existing markets or open new ones. - UNIMAT™ is compatible with resin transfer molding, stamping, thermoplastic consolidation and prepreg systems. - The material is made with proprietary VECTIS™ alignment technology. - The process keeps recycled and post-industrial waste carbon fiber properties while delivering semi-structural reinforcement, formability and manufacturing readiness. - The target markets include aerospace, automotive, advanced air mobility and sporting goods. - CFR said its recovery process produces clean, virgin-like quality fiber. - Doug Griffin, CEO of Carbon Fiber Recycling, said recycled carbon fiber can be a specification material for structurally sound and upcycled materials. - Griffin said the same recovered fiber can also be used in concrete crack control, milled carbon fiber grades, CFRP compounding and other nonwoven applications. - CFR’s commercial product line includes rCF for plastic-shrinkage crack control in ready-mix and precast concrete. - CFR also sells 24 mm rCF for concrete, mortar, asphalt and nonwovens. - CFR offers 6 mm rCF for composites and coatings. - CFR sells milled rCF for compounding, BMC, coatings, injection molding and 3D printing. - CFR cites more than 99% CO₂ reduction versus virgin PAN carbon fiber production, at a lower cost than virgin fiber. - CFR was founded in 2018 and operates a continuous-flow carbon fiber recycling plant. - CFR accepts dry fiber, prepreg and cured composites. - CFR sells clean recycled carbon fiber for concrete, milled and pelletized compounds, CFRP and nonwovens. - James Cropper Advanced Materials develops high-performance nonwoven and engineered fiber solutions for aerospace, transportation, energy and industrial markets. - CFR will be at CAMX 2026 through Thursday, Sept. 24, at Booth D51. - James Cropper Advanced Materials will be at Booth EE20. - More information is available on Carbon Fiber Recycling's website and on Carbon Fiber Recycling's LinkedIn page.

Between the lines: - The win signals that recycled carbon fiber is moving from sustainability messaging to performance-led commercialization. - The combination of recycling, alignment technology and multiple manufacturing routes suggests a push to make recycled fiber easier to adopt in existing supply chains. - The broad product lineup points to a strategy that extends beyond composites into concrete and other industrial markets.

What's next: - CFR and James Cropper Advanced Materials are showcasing the award-winning technology at CAMX 2026 through Sept. 24. - The companies will likely use the recognition to expand awareness of UNIMAT™ and related recycled carbon fiber products. - The broader test will be whether more manufacturers adopt recycled fiber as a specification-grade input in production programs.

The bottom line: - CAMX’s top innovation award gave recycled carbon fiber a high-profile validation as a commercial material, not just a sustainability story.