Consortium

Coordinated by AITEX, r-LightBioCom brings together a multidisciplinary consortium consisting of 15 project members from research and academia as well as from the automotive, aeronautics and construction industry from 4 European countries (Spain, Italy, Netherlands and Germany) and one associated EU country (UK).

7 technological research experts and universities (AITEX, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Hochschule Kaiserslautern, The Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe, The German Aerospace Center, CIDAUT Foundation, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and Coventry University) carry out research activities to develop innovative technologies and solutions to achieve the objectives. These are complemented by 7 industrial technology developers and validators (AEP Polymers, FeyeCon, Gen2Carbon, FECSA, Centro Ricerche FIAT, Acciona and Aciturri) who have the production infrastructure and know-how to implement the proposed solutions in the market and establish new circular value chains. Market orientation is guaranteed with an exploitation strategy individual business plans, both defined by Coventry University Services.

CoordinatION

AITEX Research and Innovation Center

AITEX is the leading technology centre in Spain and at the forefront of innovation, research and technological development, and one of Europe’s foremost centres. With more than thirty-five years’ experience, we are committed to ongoing investment in infrastructure to provide solutions to the private sector and creating development opportunities in a range of sectors in the present and the future. AITEX has a network of eleven international offices providing cover for its associates and clients in fifty countries, and this has led to the center becoming one of Europe’s leading research centres.

AITEX research work has culminated in the signing of several bilateral agreements with centres from around the world to exchange experiences, participate in international R+D projects and generate know-how to provide the private sector with a value-added factor for their products. AITEX, is a research & innovation center which performs characterisation trials and certification of textile materials and articles for a wide range of sectors including interior design, fashion, work wear, healthcare, sports and leisure, land and sea transport, aerospace and sports surfaces.

Within r-LightBioCom, AITEX will coordinate the activities related to textile valorization in order to get the intermediate solutions to be implemented by the consortium in different application scenarios. Carding, wet-laid, spinning, weaving, finishing and honeycomb manufacturing technologies will be implemented by AITEX. AITEX will also support the consortium in terms of mechanical pre-treatment and chemical recycling of selected technical textiles, more over AITEX will support the consortium in terms of LCA performance for innovative products and technologies derived from the project, and us a project coordinator AITEX will be responsible of technical coordination and administrative tasks derived from the project.

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) is a public university that specialises in the fields of architecture, engineering, aeronautics, economics, health sciences and applied mathematics. The Group of Molecular and Industrial Biotechnology (GBMI) at UPC is a multidisciplinary research group combining basic and applied research in the fields of biotechnology, molecular biology, polymer engineering and genetic engineering towards the development of bio-based or bio-inspired technologies and high added value products. During the last 15 years GBMI has participated in 22 European projects in the area of applied biotechnology, nanotechnology and health, raising over €70 millions of total funding.

In r-LightBioCom, partner UPC will provide expertise in the nano-formulation of bio-based enzymatically-upgraded lignocellulose biomass for application as structural and functional additives in lightweight composites.

Hochschule Kaiserslautern - University for applied Sciences

The Hochschule Kaiserslautern (HSKL) is a modern university for applied sciences and design. Around 6,300 students from more than 80 countries and some 150 professors study, teach, and research in five faculties at the Kaiserslautern, Pirmasens, and Zweibrücken campuses. The courses offered consist of more than 70 innovative Bachelor’s, Master’s, and vocational training courses in the fields of Life and Engineering Sciences, Design, Business Studies, IT, and Communications. The study courses are designed to be practice-oriented, interdisciplinary, and flexible. In international cooperation, since many years the HSKL is maintaining a lively exchange with many European partners. The HSKL is making a considerable contribution to safeguarding the next generation of skilled future-oriented workers and employees. The application-oriented research & development is mostly carried out in cooperation with the industry. The university has reinforced its research profile by establishment of the four applied research focus areas of “Integrated Miniaturized Systems”, “Reliable Software-Intensive Systems”, “Sustainable Materials Products and Processes”, and “Highly Efficient Technical Systems”.

Within r-LightBioCom, HSKL will lead development and processing of sustainable bio-based resins, CANs and their hybrids in WP1 as well as participate in WP2-3 with development of nonwoven hybrid structures for composites based on bast and basalt fibres.

Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe

The Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe (IVW) is a non-profit research institution of the state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the University of Kaiserslautern-Landau.

It researches the basics for future applications of composite materials, which are of great importance for the mobility of the future, the fields of energy, climate and environment, production technology as well as for health care. New materials, construction methods and manufacturing processes are investigated and – after the basic understanding has been developed – tailor-made for the respective product requirements.

The focus is on the entire process chain, from the basic materials to characterization and simulation, from construction methods and production technology to component testing and recycling. New ideas and innovative concepts are not only an essential part of the research and further development of the institute, but also lead to spin-offs.

Within r-LightBioCom, IVW will develop curing procedures for new bio-based high performance polymers/resins (including prepregs that can be stored at the room temperatures). Moreover, development of the suitable dispersing procedures for new developed fillers and resins and up-scaling of formulations for bio-composites will supported with in-line monitoring of the dispersing quality (WP1). Developing of the recycling procedures for whole composites by different routes, e.g. solvolysis, redox-based dissolution, epoxydolysis at atmospheric/high pressure, at MW-irradiation, in Sc-liquids as well as combination of different abovementioned extraction processes together, could result in a better performance of recovered fibres, fillers and dissolved matrix (WP4). The reusing of recyclates will be tested in resins/composites formulations by partially replacement of original material (WP1, WP2, WP7).

AEP Polymers

AEP Polymers (AEP) is an Italian SME specialized in R&D for the development of bio-based building blocks and polymers for industrial application in polyurethane foams and CASE (coating, adhesives, sealant and elastomers), as well as in composites and thermoplastics.

AEP uses renewable sources (e.g. plant-derived oils, bio-aromatics like cashew nutshell liquid, lignin, etc.) to explore and validate new valorisation routes, coupling raw materials selection and synthetic approaches to deliver easily industrially scalable bio-based monomers, polymers and formulations that can have at least the same technical performances as their commercial fossil-derived counterparts. Spanning from organic chemistry to polymer science and having a proactive and result-oriented attitude, AEP supports industrial clients in developing new products and brings this experience into collaborative projects, where new valorisation routes are explored.

Within r-LightBioCom, AEP collaborates with WP1 partners to create new bio-based polymers and formulations for composites, with special focus on frontal photo-polymerization and pultrusion processes

CIDAUT Foundation

CIDAUT Foundation (CID) is a private non-profit institution committed to strengthening the industrial fabric in the transport and energy sectors through specific research and development programs.

Within r-LightBioCom, CIDAUT will be responsible for the design and optimisation of the new composite manufacturing processes based on the materials developed, as well as the Life Cicle Analysis.

FeyeCon D&I BV

FeyeCon D&I BV is SME based in The Netherlands focusing on product and process development based (but not limited to) on supercritical carbon dioxide (Sc-CO2) technology. Sc-CO2 is versatile and can be used as an alternative to traditional organic solvents. It finds its application in different areas such as: waste treatment, polymer foaming, chemical reactions, cleaning, dyeing, impregnation, sterilization, particle formation, fractionation, extraction and etc.

In r-LightBioCom FeyeCon D&I will focus on fiber and polymer matrix recycling technology development.

FECSA

Fábrica Española de Confecciones SA, (FECSA) is the Spanish global leader in manufacturing high performance garments, textile materials and ballistic protections for civil and military sectors.

The company was founded in 1934 and has been built on more than 90 years of a constant innovation. FECSA has its origin in both the entrepreneurial spirit of the founders during the Spanish industrial revolution in the latter half of the 20th century and the earliest days of the research and development. Our aim for the future is a continuous innovation and expansion to new markets and technological applications.

FECSA’s main role in the r-LightBioCom project is focused on developing new technologies and methods for aramid composite recycling, acting also as material supplier for the final demonstrators.

Coventry University

Coventry University is an ambitious university with a reputation for delivering innovative research solutions to current and emerging global, societal and economic challenges.

Our 16 challenge-led interdisciplinary research centres house over 500 world-renowned experts, from professors and directors to research associates. We have a thriving community of 800 doctoral candidates, who all support each other and work together to deliver solutions to global challenges.

Our research in future transport and cities is at the forefront of mobility innovation in a rapidly changing technology-enabled world.

Coventry University’s primary role in r-LightBioCom is to develop, verify and apply a Coupled Ecological Optimisation (CEO) framework. The ultimate aim of the CEO is to promote and standardise holistic sustainable High-Performance Composite (HPC) design, modelling and systematic optimisation, leading to continuous sustainable catalogue growth and inclusion of new families of biobased, recyclable lightweight HPC at competitive cost.

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR) – German Aerospace Center – is not just the aeronautics and space research centre of the Federal Republic of Germany. With more than 50 different institutes and numerous other testing and operating facilities, it also conducts and combines scientific work and technological developments in the areas energy, transport, security and digitalisation.

With its Transport Program, the DLR is the second largest institutionally funded transport research body in Europe. It uses networks and synergies – with national and international facilities and economic and political bodies – to develop concrete solutions for a sustainable transport system. The DLR Institute of Vehicle Concepts (FK) researches, develops and evaluates new vehicle concepts and technologies in light of future demands on the transportation system.

Within r-LightBioCom, DLR will characterise composite properties at lab scale in WP3 and WP5 and generate a validated and automated numerical material calibration process for applications to use-cases of the project. In addition, DLR leads the dissemination, exploitation and communication activities resulting in the maximisation of the project.

Gen2Carbon

Gen2Carbon is an SME based in UK. It is a world leader in recycling and conversion of CFRP waste into a nonwoven. G2C offers 2 different types of nonwovens:

1) r-CF nonwoven made from 100% recycled carbon fibre (r-CF)

2) r-CF commingled with a thermpoplastic.

These materials are currently being used or developed in automotive, electronics, wind energy, marine and aerospace.

The primary role of G2C in the r-LightBioCom project is to develop sustainable prepregs and UD tapes and to provide r-CF nonwovens.

Acciona

ACCIONA is a MNC based at Madrid, Spain that develops and manages sustainable infrastructure solutions in 2 main divisions: Energy and Infrastructures. Within Infrastructures we cover the activities of Construction, Industrial, Water and Services. ACCIONA Construction has over 100 years of experience and, covers every phase of the value chain, from design and engineering to the execution of all types of projects. ACCIONA Construction has its own Technology and Innovation Center in Madrid, working on following research areas: Materials, Infrastructures, Ecoefficiency and Digital Innovation.

Polymeric and composite group, which is a part of materials area, is participating in this project and will bring its expertise in characterization and optimization of resin formulations, laminating composites with GF and CF using different process like resin infusion and pultrusion with the final aim of developing civil infrastructures using composite materials.

Our main role is to lead WP7, validation of r-LightBioCom High Performance Composites in 3 industrial sectors. Apart from leading this WP, we will also be leading the task 7.1, gathering and compiling requirements from the end-users and sharing it with the technology/product developers within the consortium and, task 7.3, where we will be validating the developed technologies/products for civil infrastructure use-case. Other than this we will also participate in WP2, 3 & 4.

Centro Ricerche FIAT

CRF mission is to develop and transfer innovative powertrains, vehicle systems & features, materials, processes and methodologies together with innovative expertise in order to improve the competitiveness of STELLANTIS products

To represent STELLANTIS in European and National collaborative research programs, joining pre-competitive projects and promoting networking actions.

The project will be carried out by a CRF Business Unit Materials & Sustainability Engineering (MSE) where competencies and equipment to study and develop new materials and processes are available. The MSE departments involved in the project are: Polymers focused on organic material development including plastics and upholstery materials and sustainability following all aspects of green materials and homologation application.

Aciturri

Aciturri is a Spanish private organization, Tier One supplier for Airbus and other main aircraft manufacturers worldwide for both aerostructures and engine business as Airbus Operations, Airbus Defence & Space, Boeing, Embraer, Fokker, GKN, Safran, ITP, Rolls Royce, General Electric, etc. Aciturri is capable to develop activities from design up to customer support service, and always growing up

based on a continuous R&D activity. Aciturri has an extensive experience in “Design & Build” projects held for the most important civil aircraft actors mentioned before, participating in most relevant programs for aerostructures.

Taking into account the experience that Aciturri Engineering has for defining and developing aerostructures.

Aciturri will apply its know-how in defining the requirements for the aeronautical use case and to develop a solution using the developed materials within r-LightBioCom project.

Coventry University Services Limited

Coventry University Services are a member of the Coventry University group, responsible for establishing strong links between the University’s academic expertise, and a wide breadth of public and private sector organisations across global markets. Active in a range of sectors (including manufacturing, mobility, healthcare, and the creative economy), individual members of the EIO are typically involved in the writing of bids, tenders, and business plans for investment, securing new skills, research, or consultancy contracts, commercialising IP, providing specialist SME support, account management and sales, and marketing/PR.