A new financing round of CHF 32.4 mn (EUR 31.8 mn) is to fuel the further growth of Swiss natural fibre composites specialist Bcomp (Fribourg; www.bcomp.ch). According to CEO Christian Fischer, the aim is to expand production capacity and thus the number of employees, as well as sales and exports.

This time, investors included well-known names such as BMW, Porsche, and Volvo. In the past few years, other companies including Airbus or insurer Generali had already invested in the composite processor, which was founded in 2011.

BMW says it wants to intensify its cooperation with Bcomp not only in motor sports. Among other things, the Munich-based car maker intends to replace components made of carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) with natural fibre-reinforced plastic (NFRP) in its DTM touring car models. It also wants to start developing production vehicle parts at the same time.

Currently, several car makers are working with Bcomp and using LFRP solutions from the Swiss company – albeit only in individual applications or in concept vehicles. Volvo, for example, is testing the material in interior storage areas, the back of the headrest and the footrest, and on the outside in bumpers and sill trims.

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Bcomp is primarily focusing on parts built for motor sports, but its portfolio also includes applications in aircraft, boat building, and infrastructure. Its materials are based on woven fabrics, scrims and rovings made from natural fibres such as hemp, kenaf and flax.

In principle, a Bcomp part consists of a load-bearing, three-dimensional shell structure with reinforcing ribs. A layer of flax fibres then serves as visible cover material. According to Bcomp, this combination can save up to 70% of the plastic normally used in interior trim and thus reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 60%.