Fimill develops new applications for waste materials. We look at them from a broader, unconventional perspective and, together with industry and research partners, transform them into materials with value beyond recycling itself.
Inventive Recycling means discovering new connections and new applications for materials that have already served their original purpose.
Grinding, classification and crushing are simply the means. The goal is a new application: a material that can become a valuable part of new products and processes.
Turning waste into a material that someone is willing to buy requires several things to work together. That is why we look at every material from multiple perspectives.
We start by understanding what the material can do: its composition, hardness, particle size and surface characteristics. Through grinding, classification and blending, we tailor these properties to meet the requirements of a new application.
Waste can only become a resource if the regulatory framework allows it. We know how to identify a compliant route to end-of-waste status, enabling the material to be placed on the market as a secondary raw material or product.
A good solution must work for everyone involved. The waste producer can improve its ESG performance, while the manufacturer can reduce its dependence on imported raw materials. From the outset, we also aim to make the secondary raw material economically viable.
New materials are developed in collaboration with industrial partners, research organisations and academia. We then validate the concept at our testing and pilot-scale centre.
Waste quartz glass from semiconductor manufacturing had originally been classified for disposal in landfill. The technical processing was relatively straightforward. The most difficult part was something else.
Before: Scrap
After: Crushed 0–10 mm
Quartz glass in a big bag before and after crushing. Move the slider in the centre of the image.
Explore each project to see the challenge we had to solve.
Development and testing of new composite materials based on recycled material from end-of-life photovoltaic panels. If you are interested in collaboration, get in touch.
Before: 0–20 mm
After: Specific Surface 467.5 m²/kg
Steelmaking slag before and after micronisation. Move the slider in the centre of the image.
We micronised the slag to a specific surface area of 467.5 m²/kg, corresponding to a median particle size Dv(50) of 11.4 μm, and prepared samples for testing as a cement replacement in concrete.
The customer specified the required fineness in terms of specific surface area measured by the air permeability method, while we use laser diffraction. We therefore carried out a series of tests and measurements to verify that laser diffraction could be reliably used for this particular material.
Malvern Mastersizer, measured 31 Aug 2023
The composite was first pre-crushed to a 0–15 mm fraction and then to 0–5 mm, providing an optimal feed size for micronisation. The material was subsequently ground to the required 0–100 μm fraction and samples were prepared for further testing.
We used a crusher that was not originally designed for fibrous materials. Initially, the glass fibres blocked the outlet screen, particle size control became ineffective and the crusher repeatedly overloaded.
After a detailed analysis of the individual stages of material breakdown, we adjusted the crushing parameters and successfully produced the required fraction.
This project involved particularly strict purity requirements. After resolving initial issues with minor iron contamination and modifying the production line, we successfully micronised several tonnes of material with no subsequent quality issues.
The micronised glass is collected as two separate 0–360 μm fractions: larger, heavier particles in one stream and smaller, lighter particles in another. The customer can then blend the two fractions as required for the final product.
To validate a new material before major investment is required, we bring development, testing and pilot-scale processing together at our facility in Slaný. We work with hard, abrasive and otherwise challenging materials.
Particles are ground through high-velocity particle-to-particle collisions in a supersonic air stream. With no moving parts in the grinding chamber, the process minimises the risk of contamination. We operate our own jet mill, based on a proprietary design protected by an international patent.
Efficient size reduction of large feed materials into defined particle size fractions, with control over the final particle size. Crushing is often the first step before grinding, classification or blending.
An air classifier separates particles according to a defined cut size, providing precise and repeatable results.
Controlled airflow mixes individual components without segregation or agglomeration, producing a consistent composition throughout the entire batch. This is particularly important for composite materials and formulation development.
We also provide crushing and jet milling as contract services for development projects, pilot-scale validation and production. Every project begins with material analysis and trial testing.
Request a Trial BatchTell us about it. Together, we’ll assess its properties and potential applications and propose a practical trial.
