With injection moulding and 3D printing boosting wood-plastic composites (WPC) and natural fibre composites (NFC) as areas of high interest for a multitude of applications, market developments are favourable for biocomposites.
Stable in established markets such as construction and automotive, and strengthening in consumer goods and packaging, new players are providing innovative opportunities. The biggest increase is expected for traded biocomposite granulates for furniture, toys, consumer goods and cases, primarily in injection moulding and 3D printing.
According to calculations by the nova-Institute, the production of biocomposite granulates in Europe will double over the coming ten years.
The ‘Eighth Biocomposites Conference Cologne’ (14-15 November 2019) is set to offer a comprehensive overview of current developments, product diversity and application areas. With an average of 250 participants and 30 exhibitors, the conference has established itself as the leading international conference in the sector of biocomposites.
One theme of the Biocomposites Conference Cologne will focus on the automotive industry, where biocomposites are primarily used for lightweight construction. The resulting lower CO2 footprint plays a crucial role in technical applications and in the automotive industry in general. Wood-Plastic Composites are mainly used for rear shelves, trims for trunks, spare wheels, and interior door trims. Natural Fibre Composites have a clear focus on interior trims for high-value doors and dashboards, that are processed either with thermoset or thermoplastic matrix.
Most producers still use fossil-based polymers for the production of biocomposites, but many bio-based polymers allow the use of renewable rather than fossil carbon.
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