“It all started in a small garage with some friends who wanted to build lighter and better skis.” – Sounds cliché but this really was the beginning of Bcomp. The real birth of Bcomp as a young startup happened in 2011 in Fribourg though. Venturelab and Innosuisse provided Bcomp with the most valuable support tools for the company’s early-stage phase and the foundation was quickly followed by a win at the IMD Startup Competition. This first year already set the tone for the action-packed decade that was to follow.
Early years
Within the first year of Bcomp’s foundation ampliTex™ natural fibre reinforcements and the lightweight, high-performance core material for skis and snowboards – the bCores™ – were officially launched. The revolutionary and patented powerRibs™ technology was launched shortly after in 2013 and these three technologies still form the core of Bcomp’s sustainable lightweighting solutions to this date.
The first five years of Bcomp were dominated by extensive research and development efforts. Year after year the team gained more knowledge and expertise of the complex natural fibre materials and applied these findings to our technologies. bCores™ were hitting the snowsports market with perfect timing for the rise of the freeride and freetouring wave and many of the big names in skiing launched lightweight high-performance freeride skis with bCores™ inside. 2016 marked a special point as more than 30 different brands presented skis with bCores™ at the annual ISPO in Munich in the year of Bcomp’s 5th birthday. This special year was topped off with Bcomp winning the 2016 Swiss Economic Award at the Swiss Economic Forum (SEF).
A journey of collaboration
From the very beginning, Bcomp put an emphasis on company culture and the humans that make everything happen. The team consists of dedicated and passionate individuals from different backgrounds, nationalities, and ages, sharing the drive to create better technologies for a cleaner future. The company’s motto – play naturally smart – is not just a phrase but something which people at Bcomp actively live from day to day. The whole team at Bcomp values their freedom, leisure, sports, and hobbies as well as family time, and having fun plays a crucial role in the creativity and performance of every team member.
Everyone at Bcomp shares the goal to play a role in the ongoing revolution towards cleaner mobility and we put all our efforts, passion, and energy into creating high performance solutions from sustainable materials. Bringing the latest innovations to the market requires a smart approach. This is why from the very beginning we have worked closely with leading universities, research institutes and laboratories. Going even further, we have always sought out collaborations with our suppliers and customers and built long lasting and very deep relationships that are based on a set of shared values and trust.
Upping the pace
The second half of Bcomp’s lifetime started with a bang in the form of entering the motorsport market. Partnerships and collaborations with the Electric GT racing series for bodyworks, Automobiles Gillet for their Vertigo that participated in 2018’s Pikes Peak race and with DAB Motors for their unique “ALTER” Yamaha Yard Built project bike set the pace and were early signs of the momentum that Bcomp was about to pick up. With more than 12 customer development projects together with automotive OEMs, 2018 marked yet another milestone in Bcomp’s journey to shaping the future of mobility. Winning the JEC Innovation Award for Future of Composites in Transportation together with Persico Automotive as well as the Don Burgoon Most Innovative New Motorsport Product 2018 at the World Motorsport Symposium showed the growing team at Bcomp once more that they were on the right track.
Sustainable lightweighting in many forms
By 2019 hundreds of cars were racing with ampliTex™ and powerRibs™ natural fibre bodywork in 16 racing series worldwide and together with Porsche Motorsport, Bcomp was a finalist for another JEC Innovation Award with natural fibre bodywork parts made in small series production. In the framework of the European Space Agency’s Clean Space program the world’s first natural fibre reinforced satellite panel was developed by Bcomp and ESA while ampliTex™ flax fibre reinforcements also started to enter the marine industry – beautifully showcased in the form of the stunning Flax 27 made by Greenboats. 2020 continued to demonstrate the versatility of Bcomp’s sustainable lightweighting technologies with the inauguration of a record-breaking bio-composite bridge near Ritsumasyl in the Netherlands. After becoming a member of the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions in 2019, ampliTex™ and powerRibs™ technologies became part of Solar Impulse’s 1000 Solutions in 2020.
Start of a new chapter
The partnership with electric performance car brand Polestar announced in early 2020 marked the start of a new chapter for sustainable interior panels for large scale automotive. Natural fibres are also continuing their penetration of the sports-, motorsports- and marine sectors. McLaren Racing’s natural fibre F1 seat, Porsche’s full natural fibre body kit on the Cayman 718 GT4 CS MR and Baltic Yacht’s Café Racer 68 are all prime examples of how far Bcomp has come in the last 10 years.
With all this, it is only fitting that after these successful years Bcomp just renewed and reinforced its commitment to the location in Fribourg by building its first production line here. The town of Fribourg and its surroundings are quickly becoming a hub for innovation, know-how, and forward-looking companies. With the new production site and the headquarters in Fribourg, Bcomp is contributing to the local job market, ensuring that young people from the area can find challenging positions with an impact and that valuable know-how is concentrated in this area of Switzerland. At the same time, we have benefitted from the tremendous support we have been receiving from the Fribourg Development Agency throughout all these years.
Looking back on the past 10 years has us more than excited for what is yet to come. It has been a wild ride to where we are now, and we are far from slowing down anytime soon. The next ten years will see us apply everything we have learned about sustainable lightweighting from the sports and motorsports sectors to help the mobility sector reduce its climate impact. Make sure to tag along for the next round as we will push even harder towards a circular economy.
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Recent News
Oct 03, 2023
AK Durable Supply Co Method RS FlaxFusion Harness With ampliTex™The beginning of fall season in the northern hemisphere also marks the prime time for launching new kitesurf gear. We’ve recently taken a look at our flax fibres taking a prominent role in kiteboards and improving their performance while replacing synthetic materials with a more sustainable alternative. Now we can expand the list of kiteboard gear with our ampliTex™ flax fibres by another great piece. AK Durable Supply Co has just introduced their new Method RS harness with FlaxFusion construction. Featuring ampliTex™, the Method RS FlaxFusion waist harness comes with ergonomic hardback support and the Aerobar RS quick ratchet adjustment. Designed using years of composite experience, the new Method RS harness has a 3-stage flex pattern with added edge flex and accurate anatomical curvature for the ultimate ergonomic fit. The ampliTex™ hardback combines maximum stiffness through the center with flexibility along the harness edge and flexes along with your body’s movements. Additionally, a full neoprene interior and a layer of memory foam protect your back from the hard external shell and guarantee ultimate comfort. Created in collaboration with Bcomp, AK Durable Supply Co created the FlaxFusion construction with ampliTex™ natural fibre reinforcements for a long-lasting rigid structure, giving you the same high-level support for a long time to come. Jack Rieder, freestyle kiteboarder, is excited about his new harness: “The Method FlaxFusion RS provides me with endless back support while still allowing me to move freely in the directions I need for grabs unhooked. The RS system allows me to fine tune how tight I wear my harness depending on the discipline and conditions. If I want it a bit more snug, I can even tighten it up while riding in for my next trick.” Product designer, Craig Tompkins, is very happy about this great collaboration with Bcomp: “We really enjoy working with the knowledgeable experts at Bcomp. Not only was the technical material information available, but the collaboration allowed for the R&D process and for us to appropriately specify the material for accurate performance and flex characteristics.” The Method RS FlaxFusion waist harness now joins the Apex Eco board with ampliTex™ flax fibre reinforcements from partner brand Airush. Already launched earlier this year, the Airush Apex Eco kiteboard is an all-around versatile twintip for performance freeride and big air. The mix of flax fibre and basalt reinforcements creates stiffness between the feet while the ampliTex™ natural fibres provide increased damping for a smooth ride in choppy conditions and buttery landings. Learn more: 23-24 AK Durable Supply Co. product range Method RS FlaxFusion harness Airush Apex Eco kiteboard All images © AK Durable Supply Co. and © Airush Have a question or want to stay in touch? Contact us now
Sep 26, 2023
Duotone Launches the 2024 Concept Blue Range with ampliTex™Duotone has just launched its new collection for 2024 and we couldn’t be more excited about it! Our ampliTex™ natural fibre reinforcements make a prominent entry into the Duotone kiteboard lineup for the next season. With new shapes and construction, the Select and Soleil become the first twin tip boards to join Duotones Concept Blue Range. Using more sustainable materials and only renewable energy in the production process makes these new boards the most ecologically responsible ones from Duotone to date. With a fresh design, new asymmetric deck shape and updated outline, the Select is the perfect choice for riders who want to enjoy cruising and boost big jumps on the water. The Soleil comes with a narrower outline and marks the Select’s counterpart that is specifically designed for women and riders with a smaller frame and weight. Designed by women for women, the Soleil will ensure loads of fun carving from rail to rail, while the larger Space Flex windows in the tips ensure a smooth ride in all conditions. Reno Romeu, Duotone rider, is excited about his new board: “The Concept Blue from Duotone is something that I was really happy about! As we kiteboarders are always connected 100% to nature, we take a lot of care of the environment and also spread the word how we should act eco-friendly. Well, now we have an amazing product that we use in our sport of which we know is 100% made from natural resources. Not only the product itself is amazing, the Select is one of my favourite boards from the Duotone range. It’s a perfect board for someone who wants to improve fast and get their first tricks nailed. With a very early planing, which makes it easier to get going in light wind conditions, the Select also is the best board to push your upwind angle to the max. It's my favourite board, now in my favourite Concept Blue construction.” Concept Blue Aware of the environmental impact of their passion and sport, Duotone has initiated Concept Blue as a means to minimise their environmental impact, protect our playgrounds and create a sustainable future for watersports. Duotone’s R&D team designs products with the latest and most sustainable high-performance materials and they are committed to explore what can be done in the immediate future and years to come. Bcomp and Duotone are very aligned in a sustainable ethos that drives everything from selecting raw materials to production processes and the lifecycle of everything that our companies create. We are very glad to be part of Duotone’s next chapter with their first Concept Blue boards. Flax fibres to replace glass fibres The Select and Soleil, two of Duotone’s most popular twin tips, are now made with the Concept Blue construction. With flax and basalt, they introduce new raw materials into the Duotone range. As a renewable plant material, the creation of flax fibre reinforcements uses fewer resources and energy than traditional materials. For the twin tips, Duotone uses Bcomp’s ampliTex™ flax fibres to completely replace glass fibres in the production process. Our ampliTex™ fabrics offer them similar properties to the conventional glass fibres but add further benefits like superior damping for a smooth ride and excellent torsional flex characteristics. Incorporating ampliTex™ flax fibres alongside local basalt fibre reinforcements in these new Duotone boards not only enhances their performance, giving you a better ride, but also replaces carbon with flax and basalt, a material with similar mechanical properties and a significantly smaller environmental footprint. Going one step further in their efforts to reduce the environmental impact of their boards, Duotone has chosen to manufacture these boards in a facility that is run with 100% solar energy. “Two of our most popular twin tips are now part of the Concept Blue range, featuring new materials for kiteboarding, flax and basalt,” says Manuel Zwinz, Product Designer at Duotone. “For the twin tips, we are using flax and basalt fibre to mainly replace glass fibre in the production process; it offers similar properties, but with many added benefits. It is a natural material that is eco-friendly to create, far more so than traditional glass fibre. It also offers superior damping capabilities compared to glass fibre. These attributes make it a great material to use in our twin tips.” All images © Duotone Sports Learn more: Duotone Select Duotone Soleil Duotone's Concept Blue Project Have a question or want to stay in touch? Contact us now
Jul 17, 2023
Northern Light Composites’ ecoracer30Our good friends from Northern Light Composites have just launched the world’s first recyclable production boat at The Ocean Race Grand Finale in Genoa. Following the great success of award-winning ecoracer25, the ecoracer30 OD takes everything a step further. The first production boat to utilise Northern Light Composites’ proprietary rComposite technology is a 9-meter sailing boat, designed by acclaimed yacht designer Matteo Polli who has an impressive track record in designing ORC championship-winning yachts. Over the last 4 years, Northern Light Composites has refined their rComposite technology and proven with several projects that there is indeed a readily available alternative for more sustainable performance boats with a viable end-of-life solution. While it is currently estimated that about 95% of fibreglass-boats simply end up abandoned at the end of their lifecycle, the ecoracer30 is living proof that the marine industry doesn’t have to continue on this same old path. With a composite construction that makes use of renewable and recycled materials to begin with and allows the boat to be recycled and materials to be reclaimed at the end of its life, this is a significant departure from the status-quo. At Bcomp we are more than excited to be contributing to this solution with our ampliTex™ high-performance natural fibre reinforcement fabrics and our patented powerRibs™ technology. To maximise the sustainable impact of their composite solution, Northern Light Composites is sharing their expertise with interested shipyards and boat builders by licensing the rComposite technology. Exemplary for this approach, the ecoracer30 has been built in a collaborative effort with the help of Magnani Yachts who took care of the composite manufacturing while the boat was eventually assembled in Genova with technical support from well-known Sangiorgio Marine. Magnani Yachts is also the first shipyard to hold the rComposite license and we can’t wait to see will be coming from them in the future. The ecoracer30 will very soon be in good company as the 2nd boat is currently under construction and has already been sold. We should also be seeing much more of the ecoracer30’s beauty and performance in the coming years since Norther Light Composites are working actively to launch the Ecoracer Sailing Series. With a strong focus on sustainability this new one design class will see exciting regattas taking place in Mediterranean countries known for their rich sailing heritage while promoting state-of-the-art technologies and increased sustainability in the sailing world. We are thrilled for Northern Light Composites to be taking this big step forward and can’t wait to see our materials as an integral part of a new sailing series with sustainability at its heart! Learn more:www.sail-world.com/news/263998/Introducing-the-first-recyclable-production-boat www.northernlightcomposites.com www.ecoracersailing.com All images © Bcomp / Flurin Efinger Have a question or want to stay in touch? Contact us now
Jun 12, 2023
Sustainable Flax Composites Enter Serial Automotive Production in New Volvo EX30The small SUV focuses on sustainability and is designed to have the lowest carbon footprint of any model in Volvo Cars’ history* Bcomp’s ampliTex™ natural fibre composites to be used in EX30 dashboard, and door trim ampliTex™ combines a low environmental impact from renewable natural fibres with high performance and unique design opportunities Fribourg, Switzerland… Swiss sustainable lightweighting company Bcomp has announced the application of its natural fibre composite technology, ampliTex™, in the new Volvo EX30. This landmark project will see Bcomp’s flax fibre composites offered as an optional trim for the dashboard, and doors of the EX30. The collaboration follows Volvo Cars Tech Fund’s Series B investment in Bcomp last year. While Bcomp’s natural fibre composites have been well-proven in demanding motorsport applications like Formula 1, Formula E, and SuperFormula, this is the first production vehicle to reach consumers. The highly innovative Volvo EX30 is an all-electric small SUV that combines safety, sustainability, cutting-edge tech, and Scandinavian design. Drivers can choose from four distinct interior ‘rooms’, two of which embrace the natural aesthetic of ampliTex™ trim panels: the Mist and Pine rooms. Bcomp had worked with Volvo Cars previously, in 2018, for the Volvo Ocean Race Recycled Plastics Demonstrator Vehicle. This was followed by the Concept Recharge in 2021, which demonstrated the future direction that Volvo Cars would take in all-electric car development. It included extensive use of Bcomp composites in both the interior and exterior, from storage areas to bumpers and sills. ampliTex™ is a technical reinforcement fabric made from renewable flax fibres grown in Europe. It combines sustainability, low weight and unique design opportunities. The use of ampliTex™ in the EX30 marks a significant stride in Bcomp’s vision for mobility, reflecting a shared commitment to sustainability and long-term efforts to reduce the lifetime emissions of passenger vehicles. It is also in support of Volvo Cars’ sustainability strategy, which includes the aims to sell solely all-electric cars by 2030 and to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. The Volvo EX30, featuring Bcomp's ampliTex™ technology, was officially launched on June 7th 2023 and is available for order or pre-order in selected markets. Christian Fischer, CEO and Co-Founder at Bcomp, commented: “This is a milestone moment for Bcomp. We are all incredibly proud to see ampliTex™ composites in the new Volvo EX30 – it will be the first production vehicle delivered to customers with our materials! We have had the pleasure to work closely with Volvo Cars for a long time, sharing the same vision for sustainable mobility and the potential for biobased materials to contribute to a circular future. This is the first step of our plan to scale into the large-scale mobility industry and continue our mission to help our customers decarbonize their supply chains." For more information about the new Volvo EX30, please visit: www.volvocars.com *The lowest carbon footprint of any Volvo car to date statement relates to globally available products over 200,000 kms of driving. All images © Volvo Car Group Have a question or want to stay in touch? Contact us now