The “Biocomposites Conference Cologne” (BCC) will take place on 6 and 7 December 2017 in Cologne, Germany. This year’s conference and exhibition will be the largest industry meeting on biocomposites worldwide. More than 300 participants and 30 exhibitors are expected.Thirteen companies applied for this year’s Innovation Award. The biocomposite experts of the advisory board met on 4 September 2017 and selected six top products. Now, we can present the nominees:
- BASF SE & Sonae Arauco Deutschland AG (DE): 3D mouldable Medium-Density Fibreboard (MDF)
- Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) (NL): Fully bio-based pedestrian bridge
- GreenBoats (DE): GreenBente24 - boat from 80% renewable materials
- G.S. Stemeseder GmbH (AT): GS Stratos passive - sandwich window scantling system
- OWI GmbH (DE): Injection moulded school seat shell
- Raimund Beck Nageltechnik GmbH (AT): LignoLoc - Collated wooden nails
BASF SE & Sonae Arauco Deutschland AG (DE) The innovative 3D mouldable MDF provides the furniture industry with a new wood-based material. It is a thermoplastic processable and storage-stable composite which can be produced on existing MDF production lines. In contrast to standard thermoset boards, it offers post-mouldability and surface structuring of the composites on standard equipment in short cycle times. Due to the increased mouldability of the composite, new design options are possible. The resin system is offered formaldehyde free.
A fully bio-based pedestrian bridge, the first in the world, has been realised at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) (NL). After a successful load test (5,0 kN/m2), the bridge was installed by the company NPSP bv (NL). Flax and hemp fibres provide the strength for the bridge, combined with a bio-based epoxy resin. Polylactic acid (PLA) bio-foam provides the core. The production method was vacuum-infusion: layers of natural fibres were glued around a laser-cut shape of bio-foam.
Usually, mass produced boats are made of fossil-based resins, glass fibres and plastic foam. By contrast, GreenBente24 from GreenBoats (DE) is made from 80% out of renewable materials like flax, cork and bio-based epoxy resin. The GreenBente24 has the same weight and stiffness as a standard boat. The boat achieves a 80% reduction of carbon footprint compared to other options and is and thermally recyclable.
Stratos passive - sandwich window scantling system by G.S. Stemeseder GmbH (AT) is a combination of a foamed PP and wood composite material with solid wooden elements. The system was developed for the building of passive house windows. Through the reduction in density of approximately 50%, the required specific heat conductivity and Uf-value of ≤ 0.8 W/m2K were achieved. The components are produced with standard machinery and tools of the wood industry and are certified combustible.
