KLE Tech Students Win Special Recognition at ICTIEE 2026 for Waste-to-Filament Innovation
Hubballi, 14 January 2026: KLE Technological University students have earned prestigious recognition at the International Conference on Transformations in Engineering Education (ICTIEE) 2026 for their groundbreaking project, "Development of 3D Printing Filament Making Machine Using Waste Plastic", mentored by Dr. Praveen Petkar.
The project clinched a Special Recognition Award for Complex Projects along with a ?50,000 cash prize, celebrating its innovation and environmental impact.
Transforming Waste into Value: Project Highlights
The machine converts waste PET plastic bottles into high-quality 3D printing filament through a seamless process:
- Shredding plastic into uniform flakes
- Controlled melting and extrusion
- Cooling and automated winding for usable filament
Designed to be compact, cost-effective, and ideal for decentralized recycling, the innovation promotes sustainable manufacturing by turning plastic waste into a valuable resource, aligning with global goals for responsible consumption and production.
Meet the Winning Team.
All team members are from Mechanical Engineering, 8th Semester:
- Prathamesh S. Anvekar (Team Leader)
- Prateek P. Prabhakar
- Mohammed Nawaz Byahatti
- Susheel Shirashyad
- Aseem M. Honnapur
- Rabbani N. Khazi
This achievement underscores KLE Tech’s commitment to fostering sustainability-driven innovation and preparing students for impactful engineering solutions.