Aimplas, Redit Ventures launch Lofith Composites
New company launch will focus on the design and creation of long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic pellets and UD tapes for automotive, aerospace and construction.
Source | Aimplas
Aimplas, the Plastics Technology Centre (Valencia, Spain) and Redit Ventures (Spain), a specialized investment vehicle sponsored by the 11 Redit Technology Institutes that make up the Network of Technology Institutes of the Valencian Community, have launched Lofith Composites, a new technology company focused on developing long fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (LFTP) composites.
LFTPs are long and continuous fibers reinforced with a thermoplastic polymer matrix in order to develop materials like LFTP pellets and unidirectional tapes. Strong, lightweight, recyclable and more versatile than thermosets, LFTPs can also be functionalized, given properties like conductivity, shielding and fire resistance, which makes them ideal for demanding industries.
Moreover, Aimplas notes, components manufactured with these materials can have greater mechanical strength without losing ductility and also boast the added advantage of adapting to different manufacturing processes, such as injection, compression molding and automatic fiber placement (AFP).
Ultimately, Lofith Composites’ dedication to these materials will enable both companies to address increasing demand in sectors like aerospace, rail and automotive. The company’s business plan anticipates an income of €5 million and the creation of 25 jobs for highly skilled workers in the first few years of operation.
“The launch of this company is an important milestone for Aimplas, as this will be the first company created through one of our technological developments,” José Luis Yusá, president of Aimplas, explains. “It also showcases our commitment to environmentally friendly activities.”
Lofith Composites is Redit Venture’s fourth spinoff launched in 2024. “It is yet another example that underlines the level of excellence of highly disruptive R&D at Redit Technology Institutes, which enables us to continue creating technology companies in the community of Valencia,” Gonzalo Belenguer, general manager of Redit Ventures, notes. “This involves maintaining stability throughout the network, which helps guarantee the annual volume of R&D projects (there are currently more than 2,400), as well as technology transfer to the industrial community.”
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