CompPair joins NERTHUS initiative propelling mobility-focused green composites development

CompPair (Renens, Switzerland) announces its involvement in a €2.8 million Eurostar program secured by a consortium comprising companies from Spain, Italy and Switzerland (see more below) to accelerate the transition to green mobility through sustainable composites development. Partners have already received the interest of several OEMs in the automotive, aeronautical and rail industries.

This initiative, NERTHUS, was launched in response to the pressing needs of the transportation sector for eco-designed materials and sustainable practices when manufacturing lightweight structures. It is strategically aligned with the European Commission’s NextGen goals, aspiring to position Europe as a global benchmark in sustainable technologies. The Eurostar project is dedicated to achieving two primary objectives:

• The development and industrialization of a new generation of environmentally friendly composites. This includes enhancing the properties of natural fibers and formulating bio-based, self-healing and fire-resistant resins
• The subsequent demonstration of their feasibility through targeted case studies defined by participating OEMs. 

In addition to CompPair’s expertise in self-healing composites, each consortium member brings its own materials know-how to the table:

• Spanish test center, Advanced Materials Testing and Consulting SL (AMTEC, Girona, Spain). AMTEC is a spin-off of the University of Girona. The AMADE research group is a reference in Europe in complex composite structures simulations as well as in material characterization, holding all required approvals for aerospace testing, among others.
• Composites Ate SL (Barcelona, Spain), a parts manufacturer focused on medium-to-high production series. Its new branch is developing fast-cure composite applications and delivers homologated carbon fiber to the European automotive industry. 
• Bcomp Ltd. (Fribourg, Switzerland), a reference in Europe for the development of fiber fibers. Bcomp is already well integrated in the mobility market.
• Angeloni Group S.p.a. (Venice, Italy) has been focused on innovation, continuously developing and offering new materials and solutions into the advanced composite market. Its capabilities cover resin formulation, fabric weaving and prepregging of reinforcements.

The consortium’s mission is rooted in a comprehensive approach that seeks to address various facets of sustainability. This includes the incorporation of bio-based resins and natural fibers. There will be an emphasis on developing fast-curing resin systems, particularly those bio-based and suitable for press curing, as well as an endeavor to create bio-based self-healing materials with CompPair’s HealTech technology, capable of restoring structural integrity through a simple application of heat. 

Ultimately, the NERTHUS project aims to facilitate the development of lightweight composite structures, thereby improving vehicle range and reducing consumption, in addition to addressing repair solutions, extending part lifetime and reducing CO₂ footprint.

Eurostars is part of the European Partnership on Innovative SMEs. The partnership is co-funded by the European Union through Horizon Europe. This international program is supported by InnoSuisse, the Swiss Innovation Agency.