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02 Apr 2008  -  France

Bio-materials from Bourgogne on the JEC Show

AFT Plasturgie and CRST, two companies specialized in the use of natural fibers for competitive and innovative industrial solutions, accompanied by Technical Centres and the agency Dijon Developpement, will be taking part in the JEC Composites Show the 1st, 2nd and 3rd of April in Paris - Parc des Expositions de la Porte de Versailles, with the aim of presenting local expertise in the area of agro-materials in research as well as industrial processes.

JEC, the world’s leading composites trade show, gathers together professionals of composite materials (manufacturers, producers of raw materials, machine manufacturers, service providers...) and receives more than 25,000 visitors.

AFT Plasturgie has been working for 8 years in the use of agro-materials in industrial processes, in particular concerning the automobile and construction sectors.
CRST has created significant interest in its technology of natural fiber-based technical textiles. 

Actions of national and international prospection combined with promotion among client companies and regional sub-contractors has today resulted in new references.
If the incorporation of plant fibers (hemp, flax, wood…) in thermoplastic or thermo-hardening materials, as a substitute for fiberglass, is a tried and tested method, it remains little used despite the interest that it represents for many industrial and domestic sectors: construction, automobile, aeronautics, packaging...

These materials are however harder-wearing, lighter, with strong insulating properties, as well as being better for the environment thanks to a higher grade of recyclability and biodegradability (the mechanical properties of hemp fibers diminish much more slowly than fiberglass during successive recycling). In addition, the use of renewable resources in the plastics industry is a genuine industrial need as well as responding to the desires of consumers.

In order to anticipate this still emerging market, Dijon Développement aims to unite local expertise in order to organize an agro-materials technological platform that allies scientific knowledge, a capacity for innovation and a potential for exchanges and industry transfer. The aim of this platform is to structure an economic sector with the ability to develop uses for plant fibers in industrial processes though a “Studies & Methods” approach. A pooling of know-how and expertise to allow all companies, including SMEs, to take advantage of the competitive and environmental benefits of agro-materials.

“With the aim promoting this action and of presenting local services in this area, we are taking part in the JEC Composites Show in order to shine a spotlight on the region’s potential in terms of research—CRITT 2ABI (Food processing and industry), CRITT 2MIL (Mechanical, Materials, Engineering, Lasers), ICM (Interface of the Characterization of Materials) and ESIREM (School of engineering and research in materials and Infotronics)—as well as in terms of industrial fabric”, explains Edgard Dauger, the general manager of Dijon Développement.

Two of Burgundy’s companies will represent this part of the offer :
AFT Plasturgie, present for the 3rd time at JEC Composites, who has developed an original method for processing hemp fibers in order to obtain an improved fiber/polymer interface without the chemical modification of components, ensuring an excellent compatibility between plant fiber and thermoplastic materials.
The company works on two product lines integrating hemp fibers :
Thermoplastic compounds (granules) destined for extrusion and injection processes.
Non woven materials: production of parts through thermo-compression and strengthening of moulded parts made from thermo-hardening resin.

The company CRST is specialized in the manufacture of multi-axial technical textiles integrating natural fibers (flax and hemp) which are used in the manufacture of composite materials.
It designs and manufactures textiles based on technical specifications.
It can also carry out weaving work for manufacturing companies.

"It is a question of promoting our expertise, offering company support, developing synergies, reinforcing a company’s know-how and potential for innovation, through the support of local technological skills. Considering current and future technical advances, there are now real, economically viable opportunities to develop industrial solutions in the area of agro-materials", concludes Edgard Dauger.

Source : SD Com'