Industries

NFRP components for rail vehicles.

Light interior and cladding parts for rail — focused on weight, surface and function integration. We assess fire and functional requirements at the concept stage.

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Challenge

What really counts in Rail parts.

Today every part has to meet several goals at once — that is exactly where natural fiber composite comes in.

Reduce weight for energy efficiency in operation
Part costs at demanding requirements
Assess and meet fire-protection requirements (e.g. EN 45545)
High-quality, durable visible surfaces
Acoustic and vibration comfort
Integrate functions into modules

Components & applications

What we manufacture for Rail.

Interior cladding

Light interior parts with a high-quality surface.

Front & nose modules

Large, complex exterior parts.

Visible parts

Design surfaces with a natural-fiber look.

Functional modules

Integrated components incl. fastening.

Covers & cladding

Light, dimensionally stable and durable.

Light interior and cladding parts.

Benefit

Lighter — and more economical.

NFRP reduces not only weight but directly the part cost — with properties comparable to GFRP.

−15%

Part cost

−30%

Weight

−90%

CO₂

Why NFRP lowers the part cost

Less weight = less material

Lower density and an optimized layup reduce material usage per part — directly cost-effective.

High automation

Semi-automated impregnation and digitally defined processes reduce manual work and manufacturing cost.

Manufacturing efficiency

Short cycle time through the reusable vacuum hood and ready-to-fit delivery save follow-up costs.

Weight reduction for more efficient operation
High-quality visible surfaces
Function integration into modules
Assessment of fire-protection requirements at the concept stage

Why natural fibre fits here

In rail vehicle construction, fire protection determines the part design

Cladding and interior parts in rail vehicles are subject to requirements that shape the design from the outset — above all fire behaviour to EN 45545. These requirements cannot be added retrospectively to a finished part; they belong in the design of the resin system, additives and layer build-up.

Weight nonetheless remains a topic: in rail operation, mass affects energy consumption over the entire service life, and on interior cladding acoustic and vibration comfort is added. We assess the specific requirements of a project at the concept stage before a part is designed — reliable statements on fire-protection classes are made per part, not as a blanket claim.

In practice

Already realised — with measurable results.

Commercial vehicle

Cover flap, commercial vehicle

−50%

Weight

Comparable deflection & pull-out at the mounting points
Lower material cost through higher material efficiency
Ready-to-fit component with a defined surface

From a single source

Concept, material, tooling, manufacturing and assembly with one partner — fewer interfaces, less risk.

Reproducible series

Digitally recorded process parameters ensure consistent part quality — up to ~5,000 units / year.

Our own technology

Patented NFK Wetpreg Molding and in-house material design as a real differentiator.

How we work

From the part concept to the ready-to-fit series.

One continuous path — series-ready and reproducible.

Part concept & package

Requirements, packaging, interfaces — thought through from the first concept.

Load cases & engineering

Stiffness, temperature, vibration, weather and fastening points.

Material & layup

Natural-fiber plies, resin system, sandwich layup, local reinforcements.

Prototypes & sampling

Sample parts, demonstrators, fit trials, iteration on the real part.

Tooling & manufacturing

Prototype and series tooling, process window, trimming, quality assurance.

Finish & assembly

Gelcoat, painting, inserts, fastening points, ready-to-fit delivery.

Start with an NFRP concept study.

You don't have to commit right away: send us an existing GFRP part, a drawing or an idea. We assess the potential — and you see whether the path is worth it.

Potential assessment: weight, cost and properties
Direct comparison NFRP vs. your current GFRP part
A concrete assessment on the real part — no theory
A clear recommendation for the next steps

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Frequently asked

Questions from this sector

Do your parts meet EN 45545?

Fire behaviour can be adjusted through additives in the resin system. Whether and in which class a specific part meets the requirements is assessed per project at the concept stage — a blanket assurance would be unsound with fibre composites.

Which rail vehicle parts are suitable for natural-fibre composite?

Interior cladding, visible parts, functional modules and front and nose modules. The focus is on large-area parts where weight and surface come together.

What does weight reduction deliver in rail operation?

In rail transport, mass affects energy demand over the entire service life. On large-area interior parts the saving adds up across the vehicle — the specific figure depends on the scope of parts.

What about acoustics and vibration?

The fibre structure absorbs vibration and noise differently from glass fibre. In the properties table, damping is rated “high” against “medium” for GFRP — a directly noticeable difference in the passenger compartment.

Let's talk about your component.

Send us a drawing, an existing GFRP part or an idea — we'll get in touch and assess the potential for natural fiber composite together.