Aptiform (Chesterfield / UK; www.aptiform.com) is a new business formed to mould components from self-reinforced plastics, materials that bridge the gap between isotropic polymers and fibre-reinforced composites. Typically, they have stiffness and strength values five times greater than conventional unreinforced plastics. The business has been created by NetComposites (www.netcomposites.com), an applied R&D, consultancy and information organisation that has carried out extensive development work into self-reinforced plastics. It was launched officially at "Composites Europe 2006" in mid-September 2006.

Moulding self-reinforced plastics by conventional techniques gives mixed results, but Aptiform uses a special forming technique developed in conjunction with industrial companies and universities. It is able to produce complex shapes and moulded parts can be finished, joined and painted. And because the materials do not contain dissimilar reinforcing additives, like glass fibres, they can be easily recycled. Components moulded by Aptiform are already being used in a range of industrial sectors: automotive (parcel shelves and exterior panels); construction (shuttering and formwork); medical (orthoses and temporary supports); protective equipment (helmets and ballistic protection). Key benefits include light weight and low cost compared with standard materials such as GRP, ABS and GMT (glass mat thermoplastics).