Bosch Power Tools has launched a pilot project that has produced a limited series of 10,000 units of its UniversalImpact 800 hammer drill, renamed the “Closed Loop Edition”, which incorporates recycled plastic from end-of-life tools.
Before initiating any recycling process, Bosch conducted a preliminary feasibility study on approximately 6,900 end-of-life tools; each device was completely disassembled and recorded according to various criteria, including the type of tool, its weight, and material composition.
This process led to the identification of glass-fiber-reinforced plastics suitable for manufacturing the Bosch drill.
The device housings were ground into extremely fine plastic particles, sorted by color, and meticulously cleaned. Through a melting process known as compounding, the plastic particles were transformed into recycled engineering plastic that meets the industry’s rigorous quality standards.
In the final stage, the recycled material was transformed into new casings using manufacturing processes already in use at the company.
The body of the UniversalImpact 800 Closed Loop Edition drill is made from 78% recycled plastic, while the remaining components include parts such as switches, chucks, and soft grips.
The Bosch drill that “closes the loop”
Category
End of Life
Europe - Germany