The Compass project will manufacture new products from aircraft and automotive waste | from Metales y Máquinas
The COMPASS project, under the Horizon Europe program, seeks to transform waste from the aerospace and automotive industries—such as metal sheets and thermoplastic composite panels—into new, high-value products.
AITIIP Technology Centre plays a central role in this initiative, developing advanced remanufacturing techniques to give end-of-life aircraft and automotive components a second life. By innovating processes like thermo-forming through pressing, heating, and tooling systems, AITIIP enables dismantled composite panels to be re-shaped into new functional parts.
The COMPASS consortium, made up of 13 international partners, is also building a digital product passport that will track every component’s journey through its life cycle. This data-driven approach aims to improve dismantling efficiency, quality control, and remanufacturing planning.
Economically, COMPASS projects substantial market potential: by 2035, recovered metallic waste could generate around €60 million/year, while composite materials could reach €500 million/year. At the same time, it aims to reduce waste by about 30% in production and end-of-life phases.
Ultimately, COMPASS is driving a shift toward a circular economy in high-tech manufacturing, turning what was previously considered waste into valuable, traceable components.