The Composite Engineering Challenge Finalists

The Composite Engineering Challenge invited innovators, entrepreneurs, startups, and scaleups to submit projects that make use of fiber-reinforced composites.

The challenge received submissions from over 20 countries. The jury has selected ten finalists and three special recommendation projects. 

The final ten are now being reviewed by the jury, and the overall winner will be announced on February 21, 2023. 

The Wevolver Community Vote is selected by the engineering community. The winner will receive an honorable mention at the awards ceremony and be brought to the attention of senior management of MCG and the Venture group of MCG. Further, the winner will be interviewed for an article published on Growth Garage and Wevolver.   

Read about the ten finalists and then head to the voting page to cast your choice. 

Vote now.

1. Autonomyo

Autonomy is a rehabilitation platform allowing users to train at home. It combines a physical support in the form of a lower limb exoskeleton and a body weight support, and it is connected to a digital platform to perform guided exercises in the form of entertaining games. Autonomyo merges an exoskeleton with tele-rehabilitation and exergaming. 

Autonomyo's exoskeleton. Image credit: Autonomyo

2. Helmet Retrofit

68% of concussions in hockey and snowboarding are from falls to the BACK of the head. Helmet Retrofit is a unique approach to this issue. It works by attaching a carbon fibre omega to the outside of the helmet. This has been shown to reduce impact  from falls from 384 Gs to 115 or less. 

Image credit: Helmet Retrofit

3. Reese Solutions

We are working on the bending of polymer tubes based on an automated CNC-machinery. These tubes can be made of any thermoplastic polymer and they can be reinforced with all kinds of fibers (short, long, continuous). A special interest is in endless fiber reinforced tubes for fluid flow applications where the tubes need high mechanical properties or structural applications.

Bended thermoplastic polymer tubes. Image credit: Reese Solutions

4. Herone

High performance composite products made from realigned recycled carbon fibers. The solution reinstates the direction-dependent properties of carbon fiber and enables the reuse of its performance for structural performance parts. The process involves aligning the carbon fibers in axial direction, consolidating the fleece, using textile braiding for customized orientation and press molding for manufacturing.

Image credit: Herone

5. Project Unlimited

Creates a lower leg prosthesis that allows children to do sports and activities they love. By using a modular design and monitoring needs, parts can be swapped for better performance and comfort. The solution uses advanced composite materials including fibers for durability and improved function. 

Lower leg prosthetic. Image credit: Project Unlimited

6. Swiss Rig

Uses a fiber reinforced polymer, to manufacture the Bresson. A sustainable and lightweight device that combines the advantages of pro gear and mobile gear for content creators everywhere. It offers pro audio, a custom mic, physical controls, a rechargeable power system and MagSafe magnet. 

Bresson, a sustainable and lightweight device for content creators. Image credit: Swiss Rig

7. CompPair

ComPair offers a new type of resin chemistry that enables composite materials to repair themselves. Its unique technology helps repair damaged composites in just 1 minute, using the same fibers (carbon, glass, natural) without adding new materials.

Image credit: CompPair

8. CarboScreen 

CarboScreen develops and produces a sensor-based monitoring system with AI-based software. It links sensor data to process know-how to optimize production and increase fiber quality. Doubling production speed and reducing downtime is possible, resulting in an increase of sales and enabling the use of CFs in mass markets.

Image credit: CarboScreen

9. Comet Skateboards

A sustainable and cost-competitive transit-oriented skateboard to reduce the economic burden of transportation. The skateboard is made of recycled carbon fiber and a sustainable resin system, reducing the demand for wood and plastic commonly used in deck manufacturing.

Skateboard made of recycled carbon fiber. Image credit: Comet Skateboards

10. Intermode 

A universal robotic hardware that can be easily customized based on the customer delivery requirement. The robots are designed to recapture some portion of their material value at end of life for reuse in future robots.

Image credit: Intermode

Honorable mentions

1. MCVE Technologies

MCVE Technologies is working to manufacture wiring integrated functionalities in hybrid GFRP- / CFRP-structures. 

2. FibreCoat

FibreCoat develops and markets high-performance fibre materials. The aluminum basalt fiber "AluCoat" is the first market-ready product. Unlike currently used conductive polymer yarns, AluCoat is thermally and electrically conductive as well as temperature resistant up to 600°C. Compared to pure aluminum fibers, AluCoat can be produced at one-tenth the cost. As a result, the material has the potential to become the much-needed, affordable shielding material for the electromagnetic shielding of electric cars and 5G devices of the future.

3. AS Research Center

AS Research Center developed and patented a pre-ceramic composite, reinforced with new or recycled carbon fibre that has a low thermal conductivity and resists flame up to 2500°C without emitting anything. They have developed an industrial cycle under hot press, lowering the cycle for a ceramic composite from tens of hours (autoclave + high temperature post cure) to minutes. The cost of the matrix is < 5€/kg. Making it a competitive material for mass production. Applications include battery cases, battery cells, hydrogen tanks protection from outside fire, interiors for aircrafts and rail, thermal protection for high performance engines, protection covers for oil and gas valves, aircraft nacelles, aircraft bleed air ducts, aircraft bulkheads and more. 

The winners of the Composite Engineering Challenge will be announced on Tuesday, 21 February. 

Vote for your favorite entry here. 

About Mitsubishi Chemical Group Advanced Materials Division and Business Incubator Growth Garage

MCG Advanced Materials Division is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance materials in the form of semi-finished products and finished parts. The company has locations in 20 countries and more than 2,800 employees. Its specialty engineering thermoplastics and composites are superior in performance to metals and other materials and are used in a wide range of applications, primarily in the capital goods industry. The company is continuously developing new areas of applications in close cooperation with industry leaders in a wide variety of customer markets. 

Growth Garage is the Business Incubator of the MCG Advanced Materials Division. Our mission is to support and grow new ideas using our technologies and advanced engineering materials to help tackle some of today's biggest engineering challenges. We are offering the opportunity for engineers and innovators to pitch us their ideas and receive manufacturing support and services.