Porcher Industries is strengthening its partnership with Terre de Lin, the global leader in flax fibre production, based in Normandy, France.

A new non-exclusive technical and commercial cooperation aims to develop sales of flax fibre based reinforcements for thermoplastic composites implemented by thermocompression.

The new Polypreg flax/TP thermoplastic composite reinforcements woven by Porcher Industries from these flax rovings, combined with the chemical expertise of Porcher Industries, are enabling lightweight bio-reinforcements for making parts with a semi-structural appearance by ultra-fast thermocompression with unlimited visual appearances.

TDL Technique, a subsidiary of Terre de Lin, is currently developing flax and thermoplastic rovings aiming to bring increased productivity to the use of flax fibre in composites and better manage the end of life for recycling.

This will meet increasing designer demands for composite parts that are simultaneously modern, attractive, durable and immediately recognisable as natural.

“This partnership will allow Porcher Industries to guarantee very large volumes for leading vehicle and aerospace suppliers, as well as sports brands seeking this high performance thermoplastic material with a lower environmental impact and which is easily recyclable,” says Porcher marketing director Pascal Joubert des Ouches.

With annual sales of £261 million in 2021 and employing over 1,600 people at 12 industrial sites, Porcher’s weaving expertise has constantly built on Lyon’s silk-weaving tradition, supplemented by the use of new mineral and synthetic fibres and additional chemical processes.

www.porcher-ind.com