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BMW Receives Award for Car Parts Made from Flax Fiber
MUNICH—The BMW Group has been awarded the JEC Composites Innovation Award for its use of natural composites made from flax fiber in the design of series-production vehicles.
The award, presented at the JEC World Premiere in Paris, recognizes innovations in the development of sustainable materials for the automotive industry and recognizes BMW Group’s successful integration as the most comprehensive application within the industry to date.
The innovative use of fiber composites is the result of years of research and development work and intensive cooperation with partners Bcomp Ltd., Cobra Advanced Composites Co. Ltd. and PPG Wörwag Coatings GmbH & Co.
Together, the consortium ensured the natural fiber composites developed would meet the complex requirements for series production required across the structure of the vehicle, including the high quality needed for the roof panel.
Dr. Herbert Negele, Head of Materials Development and Lightweight Construction, notes: "At BMW Group, we are committed to thinking and acting responsibly. This premise requires the continuous development of our materials towards sustainability, while continuing to meet the high demands of functionality, lightweight construction and design.”
The use of natural fibers helps to reduce the CO₂e footprint of future vehicle models and has an impact on lightweight construction goals. Material tests show that exterior and interior components can be manufactured from these natural fibers. According to BMW, replacing carbon roof panels with flax fiber panels can achieve a reduction in CO₂e emissions of around 40% during production, plus end-of-life considerations.
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