From FCE to the world’s largest recycling line. Plastic Guys have opened a new production facility

It started as a student experiment using a pizza oven – today, Plastic guys are succeeding on the global market. A trio of architecture graduates from the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Brno University of Technology has opened its own production hall in Kuřim featuring the world’s largest recycling line of its kind. Their story shows just how far an idea born during university studies can grow.

A New Production Hall Marks the Beginning of Another Chapter

At the end of April, the premises in Kuřim welcomed more than a hundred guests. The official opening of the new production hall was not just a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony, but above all proof that a small student project can grow into a globally successful start-up.

The dominant feature of the new hall is a unique recycling line that makes it possible to produce large-format panels from plastic waste on a previously unseen scale. These “giga” formats open up entirely new possibilities for architects and designers – from interiors to public spaces. Plastic guys are thus pushing the boundaries of recyclable construction materials, which represent the future of sustainable building. Producing a single recycled plastic panel can save dozens of kilograms of CO₂ emissions.

It All Started with a Pizza Oven in a Garage

The trio of students from the Institute of Architecture at FCE BUT – Marco Aulisa, Štěpán Macek, and Ondřej Venclík – began experimenting at the faculty with how to give plastic waste a new value. The first material prototypes were created under improvised conditions, including in a pizza oven.

A breakthrough project came in the form of the forest shelter Plastic Crystal, created in 2019 directly on the Faculty of Civil Engineering campus. Combining wood and recycled plastic, the shelter offers a functional place to stay overnight in nature while also addressing the growing issue of waste. Another notable project is the CheeZ relaxation room in Building Z, featuring an illuminated wall made from recycled materials collected directly at the faculty. Both projects attracted the attention of the public and experts alike and opened doors to further opportunities for the team.

From Brno to the World of Design

The student project evolved into a start-up in 2020 and today collaborates with architects, designers, and major brands such as Adidas, mmcité, and Ambiente. Plastic guys transform plastic waste into designer panels and functional elements used in furniture production, architecture, and public spaces.

And they are thriving. They have achieved success in design competitions both in the Czech Republic and abroad – in addition to winning the Czech Interior Award 2025 and Czech Grand Design, they also impressed in the Trail by VINCI Construction competition. Ondra and Marco have recently launched their own design brand Off-space. Materials created in Brno have appeared at international trade fairs and are now part of more than a hundred projects across Europe.

The story of Plastic guys demonstrates how a student project can grow into a successful international start-up. Join us and kick-start the career of the future!

Source: Faculty of Civil Engineering

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Author	Mgr. Veronika Balko
Published	2026-05-14 08:15
Link	https://www.vut.cz/en/but/f19528/d328596