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Our material

Hemp and flax — what our NFRP parts are made of.

Low density, natural damping and fibres from a renewable raw material — part concepts that can be recalculated technically, economically and in terms of their CO₂ footprint.

Why natural fibers

Not just reinforcement. Character in the part.

01

Lower density

Natural fibers have a much lower density than glass fibers, aluminum or wood — opening up new possibilities in lightweight design.

02

Cost & short logistics

Europe's agriculture and textile industries have been established and efficient for centuries — European NFRP is competitive.

03

Natural damping

The fiber structure absorbs vibration and noise differently than classic reinforcing fibers — relevant for large-area vehicle parts.

04

Bio-based share

Hemp and flax grow back instead of being mined. Depending on the layup, 30 to 80% of the mass of our parts consists of bio-based raw materials.

Raw materials

Which natural fibers we use.

Fibers from industrial hemp, flax and others are available in Europe at low cost, in large quantities and with an efficient value chain.

Industrial hemp

Fast-growing, robust fiber with high specific stiffness — grown and processed in Europe (France, Netherlands, Germany).

Flax (linseed)

Fine, high-performance fiber with a long European textile tradition — good mechanical properties and surface.

Nonwoven, woven & UD fabrics

Depending on the load case: nonwovens for flat parts, woven and unidirectional fabrics for targeted reinforcement.

NFRP sandwich layup
Layup

Sandwich — light and stiff.

Gelcoat, natural-fiber reinforcement, PU core and functional layers — combined in a defined way for large, stiff and light parts.

  • Topcoat / gelcoat for a defined surface
  • Natural-fiber reinforcement (e.g. industrial-hemp nonwoven)
  • PU core for stiffness at low weight
  • Local reinforcements & inserts as needed
The next generation of reinforcing fibers

Natural fiber composite as an engineering material.

Cutting natural-fiber textiles

Natural fibers bring fiber-reinforced plastics into the 21st century: lighter, damping, European. For large-area visible and cladding parts they are a real structural alternative — not a green add-on.

  • Lower density than glass fiber (~1.3 vs. 1.9 g/cm³)
  • Natural damping — calmer, quieter parts
  • Biogenic & European — renewable instead of mineral fibre
  • Comparable mechanical properties in suitable applications

In context: classic reinforcing fibers we do not process

Glass fiber (GFRP)

Established, low-cost, high strength — the standard for many composite parts.

Limitation

Higher density, mineral and energy-intensive to produce, less damping.

Our focus: NFRP

NFRP is the lighter alternative with fibres from a renewable raw material — especially for large-area visible and cladding parts.

Carbon fiber (CFRP)

Highest stiffness and strength at very low weight — for highly loaded structures.

Limitation

Very expensive and energy-intensive to produce.

Our focus: NFRP

For large-area cladding and structural parts, NFRP hits the economic sweet spot — without CFRP costs.

Part economics

Cost efficiency in focus.

The economic lever comes not from the fiber price, but from the interplay of material usage, part weight and manufacturing process.

FAQ

Good to know about the material.

How do natural fibers behave with moisture?
Moisture resistance is set deliberately via the resin system, additives and layup, and engineered for the specific application.
What about fire behavior?
Fire behavior can be set via additives in the resin system and engineered to requirements — for example for rail applications.
How durable and fatigue-resistant are NFRP parts?
In suitable applications they reach mechanical properties comparable to GFRP; the design is based on the specific load case.
Are the parts recyclable?
Yes — through chemical recycling. Our recycling partner Cyclize has confirmed that our material can be processed in its plasma process: the carbon it contains is recovered as synthesis gas and serves again as a feedstock for chemicals and plastics. This does not mean the part itself is reused as a material.
Where do the fibers come from?
From European cultivation, mainly hemp and flax, with a regional and efficient value chain.
Are natural fibers more expensive than glass fiber?
The economic lever lies in the finished part — from material, process and weight — not in the fiber price alone.

Looking for the basics first?

If you want to know what a natural-fibre composite actually is, how it is built up and where its limits lie — here is the material at a glance.

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.

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