KA-RZ Was Produced Live at NTUA
On 14 October, the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) hosted a live production test of KA-RZ, the innovative insulation material made from recycled coffee grounds. Led by Olaf Elze, Director of K-MÄLEON, the demonstration allowed participants to observe the transformation of coffee waste into a functional building material.
The KA-RZ mobile production plant was driven from Germany to Greece and “parked” at the NTUA Zografou Campus, illustrating the system’s flexibility and low-energy requirements, an approach also highlighted in the press release.
Participants witnessed each step of the process:
Coffee waste preparation: freshly collected grounds were measured for moisture content, sun-dried, and dehumidified to reach the required residual moisture level.
Plant setup: Elze prepared the mixing system, applied lubricant, and loaded the dried coffee into the unit.
Material production: the mobile plant mixed the grounds using fan-blade stirring, enabling control over density and thermal properties.
Sample creation: KA-RZ samples were produced to demonstrate how input conditions affect final material characteristics.
Throughout the session, attendees engaged with Elze and our project coordinator, Maria Founti, discussing the material’s potential applications in sustainable construction. The event provided a hands-on demonstration of KA-RZ’s practicality, reinforcing its readiness for future deployment in circular and low-carbon building applications.
