#Composites

2025-02-13

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp host Natural Fibre Composites Village at JEC World 2025

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp will host a Natural Fibre Village at JEC World 2025 that will showcase the activities of the Alliance and nine of its members in a 250m2 area dedicated to natural fibre composites. Partnering with the JEC Group, the Alliance will lead the European flax and hemp industry exhibit where Bcomp, Demgy, Depestele, Eco-Technilin, Flipts en Dobbels, Libeco, Norafin, Safilin and Terre de Lin and, for the first time, Linificio e Canapificio Nazionale SRL, will all exhibit a wide range of flax and hemp raw materials and composite products.

The façade of the new Cité Scolaire Internationale Jacques Chirac in Marseille is clad with 880 panels © 2025 Lisa Ricciotti

Materials on display throughout the village will include new services and products developed specifically for key Automotive, Architectural and Industrial Design applications such as: 2D woven flax reinforcements, roving, flax based thermoplastic tape, flax reinforcements produced from natural fibres and automotive industry waste, non-woven reinforcements, bio-sourced flax fillers for automotive OEM structural parts and much more.

On the JEC Mobility planets, JEC Innovation Award Finalist Bcomp and its partners Windicty, Arkema and NMG Europe, will display the rComposite® vertical wind blade, manufactured from recyclable materials including a mix of glass, flax and recycled carbon fibers combined with thermoplastic resins.

Bcomp will also showcase its collaboration with Temca on the Industrial Planet. Designed by Rudy Ricciotti and Roland Carta for Bouygues Bâtiment Sud-Est and manufactured by Temca using Bcomp's ampliTex™, 880 cladding panels were created for the façade of the new Cité Scolaire Internationale Jacques Chirac in Marseille.

Also on the Industrial Planet, EcoTechnilin and Babolat have partnered to develop NF²-TECH for high performance sports rackets. Prioritizing the technical advantages of flax fibers, such as enhanced vibration damping and improved comfort, this innovation, used across Babolat’s premium racket range, demonstrates flax's ability to meet strict technical and industrial requirements.

Finally, as part of the JEC Composite Exchange program, Alliance experts Julie Pariset Innovation & CSR Director and Marie Demaegdt Sustainability Director with the support of Bruno Pech, Innovation Project Manager will present a session entitled Advancing European Flax-Linen & Hemp Composites: Innovations, Insights, and Sustainable Pathways. This session, held on 4 March, 16.30, Agora Stage, will explore the latest advancements in the European flax-linen and hemp composites sector, shedding light on its technical innovations, environmental contributions, and strategic pathways for a more sustainable future.

JEC World 2025 will form a key part of the Alliance’s acceleration of its sustainable transformation trajectory and will include updates on the evolution of Flax-Linen certifications, new environmental footprint tools and scientific validations on the technical properties of Flax-Linen.

Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp expands technical capabilities with addition of CIRCULAR STRUCTURES

The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is pleased to welcome CIRCULAR STRUCTURES, a Bremen-based platform for sustainable material development and product incubation, to its Technical Section. This addition further enhances the Alliance’s mission to accelerate the industrial adoption of European-grown flax and hemp fibres in high-performance composite applications.

Groundbreaking architectural projects using natural fibres

Paris, May 19 2025 : The Alliance for European Flax-Linen & Hemp is proud to spotlight a growing wave of innovative architectural and civil engineering applications featuring flax and hemp fibres. As the global construction industry turns toward sustainable solutions, flax and hemp are emerging as high-performance, low-impact alternatives for a new generation of bio-based architecture.

Engineering depth and diversity for composites

Airbond is the latest member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) to receive recognition for contributions to the composites industry. The engineering firm based in Pontypool, South Wales, has just received the Make UK Energy and Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing project.

MEL Composites delivers advanced hull infusion for Técnico Solar Boat’s hydrogen-powered São Gabriel 01

MEL Composites has reinforced its partnership with Técnico Solar Boat through the successful hull infusion of the São Gabriel 01, an 8m long, 2.4m wide, hydrogen-powered hydrofoiling vessel. Designed to compete at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in July 2026, the São Gabriel 01 is the team’s most technically demanding project to date and showcases the future of sustainable marine engineering by combining advanced composite manufacturing with clean energy systems.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Rieter responds to higher raw material prices

Global political and economic developments have been leading to rising raw material and energy costs for some time. The textile machinery industry is also affected by this trend. Rieter machines and components consist to a large extent of steel, copper, aluminum and electronics. These materials in particular have seen higher demand and higher prices in recent months.