As part of the CIRCMAN5.0 project’s ongoing efforts to foster collaboration and innovation in circular manufacturing, a successful technical meeting was recently held at the premises of ASCA GmbH & Co. KG in Kitzingen, Germany. The event brought together consortium partners from across Europe to align on project developments, exchange technical insights, and witness firsthand the groundbreaking advancements in Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) technology.

ASCA, serving as Demonstration Manufacturing Site 3 within CIRCMAN5.0, plays a key role in showcasing circular design alternatives and AI-aided production process assessments for next-generation OPVs. Specialising in flexible, 3rd generation OPV technology used in building-integrated, vehicle-integrated, and smart object applications, ASCA employs a low-energy roll-to-roll manufacturing process on PET films using primarily organic materials. Their innovative process supports high customisation and end-of-life recyclability through a thermal recycling method known as Solid Fuel Recovery (SFR), which substitutes fossil energy and recycles ashes. Within CIRCMAN5.0, ASCA aims to improve the recyclability of materials, enhance eco-design via AI-driven parametric tools, assess environmental impact through cognitive digital twins, and collaborate with sustainable material suppliers through the project’s digital platform — advancing circular, low-carbon manufacturing in the PV sector.

The meeting, hosted by ASCA, featured an in-depth tour of their pilot site and production facilities. Participants explored a wide range of OPV modules — varying in size, shape, and colour — and gained hands-on insights into ASCA’s production line through before-and-after samples at each stage. These demonstrations enriched technical discussions around integration strategies, use-case applications, and upcoming milestones within the CIRCMAN5.0 project.

The gathering also highlighted the critical importance of cross-sector collaboration and knowledge exchange in accelerating Europe’s transition toward sustainable and circular manufacturing ecosystems.