A UK-owned producer of natural fibre non-wovens 90% automotive, 5% construction, 5% aerospace Turnover 2014: 10.5M€; 40 employees French non-woven factory established in 1995 UK Technical Centre set up in 2007 Very innovative: several pieces of associated IP Non-wovens are sustainable, affordable and lightweight Expanding into Eastern Europe, Mexico & North America Accepted European market leader in natural fibre non-wovens
3
Process overview
www.ecotechnilin.com
Cultivation
Fibre Preparation
Consolidation into mats
Flax grown by farmers
Fibres extracted by coops
Non-wovens made by ET
We advise on the whole process but this is our core activity End user applications
Automotive
Aircraft
Part forming by Tier1
Impregnation/Coating
4
EcoTechnilin locations
www.ecotechnilin.com
Huntingdon Biocomposite expertise R&D facility Group HQ
Non-woven Yvetot, France expertise + Needle-punch plant fibre knowledge
5
Non-woven distribution
www.ecotechnilin.com
Current automotive projects
Today 1
Non-woven production
EcoTechnilin deliveries
6
Thermoplastic non-wovens
www.ecotechnilin.com
flax/PP or glass/PP production
Flax/PP from 600 to 2400 g/m2 • 30% lighter than injection moulding • Cold tools => lower investment • One-shot process => faster process We produce FibriPlast for the following vehicles: Door panels Trunk trim Instrument panel
Parcel shelves
Mercedes E class
Opel Insignia
Renault Megane
VW Golf
Kia Ce’ed
Renault Clio
Ford Kuga
Mercedes C class
Renault Captur
Ford Transit
Nissan Qashqai
Mercedes Smart
Mercedes Smart
Citroen C4
Toyota Aygo
Truck cab interiors
Toyota Avensis
Volvo + new Renault Magnum
Audi A8
7
Thermoset biocomposites
www.ecotechnilin.com
flax non-woven/PFA bioresin
Fibres as non-woven flax mats • Weights from 300 to 2400 g/m2 • Very low environmental impact We supply FibriMat direct to large building companies for use as an underlay below wooden floors We have supplied FibriMat to some companies for use with polyurethane for parcel shelves (eg Audi and Jaguar) We convert most FibriMat into pre-preg which we call FibriPreg
8
Eco impact of flax fibres
www.ecotechnilin.com
Study conducted for flax non-woven flooring underlay
Calculated using the CML2 shadow price method Comparison to a phenolic and a polyester resin
PFA BioResin
11
FibriPreg - thermoset
www.ecotechnilin.com
flax / PFA sugar-based bioresin
Previous developments with flax/PFA sugar-based bioresin have excellent properties: • Lightweight • Low cost • Fast process • Formable material • Good impact resistance • Mechanical performance • Good Fire Smoke Toxicity
Door trim Flax/bioresin
Seat back Flax/bioresin
Load floor Flax/bioresin
Ceiling tile Flax/FR bioresin
12
Galley cart requirements
www.ecotechnilin.com
• Lightweight and robust • Good Fire Smoke Toxicity performance • Good mechanical performance (9G pull test) • Fast manufacturing process • Mouldable / formable material • Abrasion resistance (for runners) • Low Cost
Bonus properties requested
Ultra-fast curing time + low-energy process 100% bio-sourced (65% sustainable), very low eco-impact
Fibre cost and properties
www.ecotechnilin.com
Fibre property
Flax
E glass
Basalt
S2 glass
Carbon
Density (g/cm3)
1.54
2.5 - 2.7
2.6 - 2.8
2.5
1.74 - 1.8
70 - 80
74
75 - 100
83-86
200 - 250
200
460
600
300
500
Elastic modulus (Gpa) Temperature range (oC) Tensile strength (Mpa)
