Flax fiber-based technologies target application diversity

Bcomp (Fribourg, Switzerland) returns to JEC World 2024 off the back of success in production automotive, global motorsport and sports equipment. This year, Bcomp is bringing several parts from its ongoing collaboration with performance electric vehicle (EV) brand Polestar (Göteborg, Sweden), as well as motorsport components and high-performance sports equipment. 

With sustainability an increasing area of focus across numerous industries, the company’s flax fiber-based composite technologies, ampliTex and powerRibs, are seeing broader and production-scale appeal. Bcomp’s push into production automotive applications, for example, is on display via new Polestar seatbacks made using Bcomp technologies. The prototype seatbacks for the Polestar 5 are at the booth, while the Polestar 3 seatback versions are part of the JEC Mobility Innovation Planet. Bcomp’s booth also features an innovative bus A/C cover developed by Eberspächer (Esslingen, Germany), highlighting the diverse applications possible within the wider mobility sector.

In addition to its road-going parts, Bcomp is showcasing a selection of motorsport components from what is says are some of the world’s fastest race cars. This includes an award-winning engine cover for Japanese Super Formula — a highlight of JEC World 2023 — as well as BMW M4 GT4 pre-production diffusers, a motorsport seatback developed in conjunction with Sabelt and the JEC Innovation Award-winning KTM brake cover.

Bcomp says it has made great strides in the high-performance sports equipment industry, including volume production applications. Its technology has proven popular due to its stiffness, vibration damping and “feel” while in use. This year’s booth features kitesurfing gear developed with Duotone (kiteboard) and AK Durable Supply Co. (harness), K2’s latest Mindbender C skis, Movements skis, a CAPiTA snowboard, a Decathlon Sandever beach tennis racket and the Adidas RX Greenpadel — all benefiting from flax fiber technologies.

Moreover, Bcomp’s CEO and co-founder, Christian Fischer, is contributing to a speaker panel on “Unleashing the Power of Nature: Exploring Natural Fibers and Bio-Sourced Materials in the Composites Industry.” The 60-minute panel will take place March 5 from 12:00-1:00 in Hall 5 (Agora 5).

Harnessing the properties of flax fibers, Bcomp’s sustainable composites can be used to produce parts with similar stiffness and weight to carbon fiber while cutting CO₂ emissions by up to 85%, depending on the application. The technologies also offer improved vibration damping and ductile failure modes, all while offering more sustainable end-of-life solutions.

Visit Bcomp in the Natural Fibre village at Booth A63 in Hall 5.