KTM Technologies motorsport component earns SPE Automotive Award
Brake disc protection comprises a balance of flax fibers and bio-based polyamides for almost 70% savings in CO2, improved recycling properties.
Photo Credit: KTM Technologies
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Danbury, Conn., U.S.) Automotive Award in the “Body Exterior” category has been awarded to KTM Technologies (Niederalm, Austria) for the development of a hybrid composite brake protection solution. “With this innovation, we have proven that sustainability and performance are not mutually exclusive,” Stefan Czarnecki, director sales and business development at KTM Technologies, said during the award ceremony on Oct. 17 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
The Conexus technology’s coupling layer comprises a combination of thermoset and thermoplastic materials. “On the one hand, we achieve efficient use of materials, and on the other hand, the components can be sorted for recycling [through thermal separation of the materials]. The positive damping properties of flax fibers were exploited and, in combination with bio-based polyamide, a component for motorsport was realized,” Hans Lochner, team leader material and application at KTM Technologies, explains.
The brake disc protection’s sustainable material pairing enables around 70% CO2 saved compared to the series model. KTM Technologies says the technology platform is a component of the group’s sustainability process to evaluate potentials and enable sustainable product developments.
“We are delighted that our work has been awarded an important prize and congratulate the other winners. The field of nominees was a strong one with well-known companies such as BMW, Lucid and Magna,” Czarnecki adds. “We have successfully brought the technology into series production and are now ready to support our partners and other industries in implementing their products. The award is both recognition and incentive to continue working on sustainable product solutions.”
Related Content
-
Bcomp, Siux bring natural fiber composites to padel tennis
Flax fibers enter the court through Siux’s GEA padel racquets, delivering high-performance, well-balance sports equipment to a rapidly growing sports market.
-
Evolving natural fiber technology to meet industry sustainability needs
From flax fiber composite boats to RV exterior panels to a circularity model with partnerships in various end markets, Greenboats strives toward its biomaterials and sustainable composites vision in an ever-changing market.
-
Bcomp natural fiber composites to be used in future BMW Group production cars
Bcomp partners with BMW Group to integrate high-performance natural fiber materials into series production models, reducing CO2 emissions for exterior and interior car parts.
