French startup Fairmat closed a $35 million Sequence A funding spherical (€34 million) final month. It desires to show carbon fiber composite that’s now not in use into a brand new materials that can be utilized in new merchandise.
Temasek and CNP (Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille) are main the spherical with Pictet Group, Singular, The Friedkin Group Worldwide and others additionally collaborating. Total, the corporate has raised $45.5 million (€44 million) since its inception.
The concept behind Fairmat is sort of easy. Some high-tech supplies like carbon fiber composites have nice properties. These supplies are gentle, versatile and resistant. That’s why yow will discover carbon fiber composites in wind generators or aircrafts.
When these industrial initiatives attain the end-of-life standing, Fairmat is available in and picks up these parts with carbon fiber composites. The startup then creates a brand new sort of materials that isn’t as refined as carbon fiber composites, however that may be fairly helpful.
You gained’t discover Fairmat materials in wind generators, however chances are you’ll purchase objects that you just use in your on a regular basis life which might be made with this new sort of materials. This materials is known as Fairmat Quest and it may very well be 10 instances inexpensive than new composites and twice as gentle as aluminum.
And the corporate has made some nice progress since my first article on Fairmat. It has signed partnerships with 15 industrial corporations to gather their carbon fiber waste, together with Hexcel, Tarmac Aerosave, Siemens Gamesa, Dassault Aviation and MerConcept. It’s a extremely concentrated market as these 15 corporations characterize greater than 35% of carbon fiber composite waste in Europe.
On the opposite finish of the market, some manufacturing compannies are already engaged on prototypes with Fairmat’s new materials. Whereas the startup can’t disclose the names behind its 30 contracts, you’ll quickly discover sporting items, audio merchandise and furnishings made with Fairmat Quest.
With right this moment’s funding spherical, the corporate plans to progressively enhance the processing capability of its automated sorting plant. Ultimately, 100 robots will deal with as much as 3,500 metric tons of scrap per yr.
In 2023, Fairmat additionally plans to develop to the U.S. There are presently 80 individuals working for the corporate. By 2025, Fairmat hopes that it’ll work with 400 individuals.
Repurposed supplies have a a lot decrease carbon footprint than virgin materials, and that’s the principle cause why Fairmat will simply discover prospects within the coming years. As quickly as carbon accounting guidelines turn into widespread, producers can be new supplies like Fairmat Quest to decrease the general influence of their manufacturing.
