Global Shaper 2010: Bcomp, Renewable composite materials for superior performance
29.11.2017
This summer we asked you to vote for your favorite of our supported startups from the past 10 years: those that you felt had the power to change the world. We announced our Global Shapers at our 10 year anniversary event on 29th November and will update you with them on our website throughout December.
 Bcomp
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RENEWABLE COMPOSITE MATERIALS FOR SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE
The global transportation sector is undergoing radical changes driven by customer requirements, technology advancements and increasingly strict regulations. Recently, lightweight materials have moved up on the agenda as a key area for further reach, reduced emissions and increased sustainability.
Realizing this, Fribourg startup Bcomp decided to leverage its expertise in high performance lightweight materials. It therefore brought cost-efficient and high-performance materials to the automotive industry to replace or reinforce carbon fiber, glass fiber or aluminium. Plus, the materials are renewable, based on European flax and FSC labeled balsa.
BORN FROM LIGHTWEIGHT SKI CORES, TOWARDS THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
The step may seem far-fetched for a company born six years ago out of a garage quest for the perfect ski. Knowing the story it’s not: since its inception, Bcomp has developed a unique knowledge of lightweight natural fiber materials for high performance uses. The bCores are the most highly engineered ski cores on the market and can be found in top brands such as Faction, Stöckli and K2. They are also found in snowboards, surfboards, skateboards – and a variety of other board sports. The balsa/flax cores have exceptional damping properties, high stability and light weight, meaning more fun for the users.
Motorsports prove a natural stepping stone for the high-tech company: low weight and performance are at the very heart of racing. By using powerRibs in car body parts, the stiffness increases at the same weight, and reduces dangerous shattering by carbon in a crash scenario. A partnership with the Tesla-based Electric GT Championship makes for an exciting 2018.
Meanwhile, in the Blue Factory workshop, Bcomp engineers are working on sample interior pieces for major global car brands. powerRibs’ reinforcement together with ampliTex technological fabrics can cut weight, costs and emissions in line production. For Bcomp it is essential to challenge the preconception of natural fibers as a compromise on performance. “We compete on performance”, says CEO Dr. Christian Fischer, “then we are renewable, too”.
THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, HYPERLOOP COMPETITION AND THE FUTURE
The workshop is something of a Santa’s grotto and provides the means for new product development, testing, building prototypes, and hand-made production for luxury brands within lifestyle and fashion. Upstairs, another Bcomp engineer is calculating on a screen and smiles “Well, there are projects with the European Space Agency, as well as for commercial carriers, but that is all I can say for now.” Apart from the well-established sports applications, Bcomp materials are already found in, for example, the first all-natural car monocoque, in the Swiss Loop pod at SpaceX HyperLoop, as well as in canoes, travel items and even guitars.
From 2012-2016 Bcomp has held its position in the TOP 10 of the TOP 100 Swiss startups, and took in CHF 3m financing in 2017 to scale up and focus towards the automotive industry. Thanks to early funding from Venture Kick, the company could “firmly establish itself in the sports- and leisure markets as a foundation for further growth”, explains Dr. Christian Fischer.
The global transportation sector is undergoing radical changes driven by customer requirements, technology advancements and increasingly strict regulations. Recently, lightweight materials have moved up on the agenda as a key area for further reach, reduced emissions and increased sustainability.
Realizing this, Fribourg startup Bcomp decided to leverage its expertise in high performance lightweight materials. It therefore brought cost-efficient and high-performance materials to the automotive industry to replace or reinforce carbon fiber, glass fiber or aluminium. Plus, the materials are renewable, based on European flax and FSC labeled balsa.
BORN FROM LIGHTWEIGHT SKI CORES, TOWARDS THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY
The step may seem far-fetched for a company born six years ago out of a garage quest for the perfect ski. Knowing the story it’s not: since its inception, Bcomp has developed a unique knowledge of lightweight natural fiber materials for high performance uses. The bCores are the most highly engineered ski cores on the market and can be found in top brands such as Faction, Stöckli and K2. They are also found in snowboards, surfboards, skateboards – and a variety of other board sports. The balsa/flax cores have exceptional damping properties, high stability and light weight, meaning more fun for the users.
Motorsports prove a natural stepping stone for the high-tech company: low weight and performance are at the very heart of racing. By using powerRibs in car body parts, the stiffness increases at the same weight, and reduces dangerous shattering by carbon in a crash scenario. A partnership with the Tesla-based Electric GT Championship makes for an exciting 2018.
Meanwhile, in the Blue Factory workshop, Bcomp engineers are working on sample interior pieces for major global car brands. powerRibs’ reinforcement together with ampliTex technological fabrics can cut weight, costs and emissions in line production. For Bcomp it is essential to challenge the preconception of natural fibers as a compromise on performance. “We compete on performance”, says CEO Dr. Christian Fischer, “then we are renewable, too”.
THE EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY, HYPERLOOP COMPETITION AND THE FUTURE
The workshop is something of a Santa’s grotto and provides the means for new product development, testing, building prototypes, and hand-made production for luxury brands within lifestyle and fashion. Upstairs, another Bcomp engineer is calculating on a screen and smiles “Well, there are projects with the European Space Agency, as well as for commercial carriers, but that is all I can say for now.” Apart from the well-established sports applications, Bcomp materials are already found in, for example, the first all-natural car monocoque, in the Swiss Loop pod at SpaceX HyperLoop, as well as in canoes, travel items and even guitars.
From 2012-2016 Bcomp has held its position in the TOP 10 of the TOP 100 Swiss startups, and took in CHF 3m financing in 2017 to scale up and focus towards the automotive industry. Thanks to early funding from Venture Kick, the company could “firmly establish itself in the sports- and leisure markets as a foundation for further growth”, explains Dr. Christian Fischer.