The Prades recycling association opens a fab-lab space

The Catalan Recycling Association (ARC) now has ten years of existence and has set itself the mission of recycling all types of obsolete computer equipment to give it a second life.Or, failing this, perform manual disassembly element by element for a recovery and return of the various parts to the industries concerned.

The founders, Pascal Riera with Audrey Sabina-Riera, the president, have established a large partnership with numerous administrations and companies which send their computer scraps for recycling;Currently the association employs four employees reinforced by five hyperactive volunteers, in the words of the president, the association has opened an annex to Perpignan.

Since its creation, the CRA has evolved and has added other services to its activities, thus the sale at low prices of recycled computer equipment allows you to equip themselves with advantageous conditions and the Internet space authorizes access to servicesIT, digitization of documents, photocopies ... to all audiences.

The first Fab-Lab space of Conflent

Always looking for new services, the Arc opens a Fab-Lab space which will be inaugurated on Tuesday 26 and Wednesday 27 January in its premises.

"The Fab-Lab is a place to share knowledge where individuals and professionals find at their disposal a set of technological equipment allowing to create, manufacture and experiment.So a place of exchange of knowledge, transmission of know-how and popular education, "explains the space host, Pascal Riéra before explaining his objectives:" allow everyone, neophyte or passionate,student or individual curious about new technologies, to have access, alone or accompanied, to sophisticated tools to discover the handling, use and ultimately the creations they allow.Nine machines are accessible with the advice of a trainer.A 3D scanner to scan in 3 dimensions all kinds of objects that you can make on the 2 3D printers: like this broken washing machine button which will be created by yourself without having to order it at the other end of the world.We also offer a corner of micro -repair of tablets and computer equipment with a precision welding station, or a floac to print on fabrics or ceramics a text, a logo, a photo;Your sports club will have its personalized t-shirt or cap and the grandson Son mug signed ".

Audrey Riera-Sabina, the president, impatient to welcome future users continues: "The vinyl cutter for the marking of a showcase or a vehicle; the CO2 laser engraver which allows the cutting of precision all of tender materials until'with aluminum; the laser mini-patch for wood engraving, boxes, leather and metal and the CNC precision engraving by wicks with digitally controlled titanium by computer and finally more classic the precision drill on a bench.The creator of reduced models can make the inventions of Léonard de Vinci in ultra-précise, and will find all the necessary tools at the Fab-Lab ".

This project was supported and funded by the Departmental Council up to 70 % for the purchase of the equipment made available.