Key facts
Sectors covered: Technological innovation in textiles and clothing
Innovation priority: Smart, high-performance materials
Start: September 2021
ELIIT funding: €70 000
In the 3DFlax project, BPREG’s novel bio-composite UD tape is combined with TPAC’s groundbreaking 3D deposition technology. This is to produce natural fibre-reinforced 3D printable rods and 3D printed ready-to-insert, tailored preforms. These will provide affordable, sustainable and lightweight solutions for several sectors, including green mobility and consumer goods.
Key challenges
Natural fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites have been highlighted as a sustainable material, with the potential to replace or reduce glass and carbon fibre-reinforced composites. Additive manufacturing with continuous fibre-reinforced plastics may be the future of end-product manufacturing. However, there is not yet an option for 3D printing continuous, natural fibre-reinforced plastics.
How has ELIIT helped?
Thanks to the financial backing and mentoring of ELIIT, the collaboration between BPREG and TPAC has paved the way for developing 3D printable bio-composite rods and 3D printed preforms. These are the first of their kind in the composite market.
Meet the partners
BPREG Kompozit ve Tekstil A.Ş. produces unidirectional thermoplastic pre-pregs and woven fabrics with high mechanical properties, enabling a wide range of industrial applications.
Stichting Saxion ThermoPlastic Composites Application Centre is an independent innovation, research and development centre. It aims to gain an understanding thermoplastic composites and their manufacturing processes at an applied research level.
SME: BPREG Kompozit ve Tekstil A.Ş.
Country: Turkey
Founded: 2017
Tech provider: Stichting Saxion (ThermoPlastic composites Application Centre – TPAC)
Country: The Netherlands