Bcomp has announced a strategic collaboration with Dubai-based SFG Composites to bring flax fibre composites to the automotive industry.

The collaboration will provide manufacturers with a high-performance, lightweight and eco-friendly alternative to traditional plastic, glass and carbon fibre-based materials, helping drive the transition towards more sustainable vehicle production.

With growing regulatory pressure and consumer demand for greener solutions, the automotive sector is seeking scalable and cost-effective sustainable materials. Bcomp’s ampliTex and powerRibs flax fibre technologies offer exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, superior vibration damping and significant CO2 reduction, making them an ideal choice for inerior and structural applications.

High performance bio-based materials also offer new possibilities in automotive interior aesthetics with enhanced cosmetic options and mechanical properties. Bcomp’s natural fibre composites are already used by industry leaders like BMW, Cupra and Volvo.

“Automakers worldwide are looking for ways to reduce their environmental impact without compromising on performance,” said Johann Wacht, manager business development and strategic customer relationships at Fribourg, Switzerland-headquartered Bcomp. “Through this collaboration with SFG Composites, we can scale the adoption of natural fibre composites, providing a lightweight, high-performance solution that meets the needs of modern mobility.”

With its state-of-the-art, ISO9001-certified 53,000-square-metre production hub in Dubai, SFG will integrate Bcomp’s flax fibre reinforcements into its compressed moulded technology and manufacturing processes. Operating 365 days a year with 11 presses and a manufacturing capacity of up to 6,000 tons, SFG ensures high-capacity, precision production that enables automakers to seamlessly transition to natural fibre composites at an industrial scale. SFG is a Tier 1 qualified supplier for the automotive industry and has also completed projects in the racing car sector, demonstrating its expertise in high-performance industries. 

“Bcomp has been a trusted partner of SWS Board Technology, part of the same family group of businesses, for a few years, helping bring flax fibre innovations to the action sports industry,” said Ines Polewka, SFG’s business development director at SFG. “By extending this collaboration to SFG Composites, we can bring the same sustainable innovation to the automotive sector, ensuring performance, quality and cost efficiency at scale.”

Flax fibre composites provide a balance of weight reduction, safety and durability, that is critical in next-generation vehicle design. Compared to traditional materials, they offer:

- Reduced weight by up to 50% compared to similar plastic parts, with equivalent performance and improved fuel efficiency and EV battery range.

- Up to 60% lower CO2 footprint compared to similar plastic parts.

- Increased safety performance with no sharp edges compared to carbon.

- Enhanced vibration damping, increasing ride comfort.

- Circular opportunities to large-scale industries including for inevitable scrap that can be recycled into a new base material.

- A full new range of sustainable design possibilities by using woven and nonwoven natural fibres to fit the unique language of every brand.

- Seamless integration into existing automotive processes, from one-step back-injection to compression moulding.

Bcomp and SFG Composites are showcasing their flax fibre composite solutions at JEC World 2025 in Paris this week (March 4-6) in Hall 5, at stand C142.

www.bcomp.com