AB Karl Hedin Bio Innovation has joined Phase II of FibRe, the Vinnova Competence Centre for lignocellulose-based thermoformable materials. FibRe brings together Chalmers University of Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Chalmers Industriteknik and 21 industrial partners from across the fibre-based materials value chain.
FibRe’s long-term vision is to enable lignocellulose-based materials to replace fossil-derived thermoplastics. In Phase II, the centre is moving further towards practical implementation, combining fundamental research with demonstrator projects and targeting technology readiness levels of TRL 3–4. Research is focused on three main areas: modification, advanced characterisation and processing, complemented by demonstrators in extrusion/injection moulding and thermoforming.
For AB Karl Hedin Bio Innovation, participation in FibRe closely aligns with our ambition to create higher-value materials from sawmill side streams. Our biomass fractionation technology separates wood into its main components while enabling lignin properties to be tailored for specific applications. This provides opportunities to explore how lignin and other wood-derived fractions can contribute to new thermoprocessable and composite materials.
Participation in FibRe also creates a strong platform for collaboration between material developers, processing specialists, industrial end users and academic researchers. By connecting development of tailored bio-based feedstocks with downstream processing and demonstrator activities, promising material concepts can be evaluated under increasingly application-relevant conditions.
Phase II builds on the progress made during FibRe’s first five years, where plasticisation and chemical modification were used to improve the deformability of cellulose-rich fibres. The next stage will deepen the understanding of how lignocellulosic materials can be modified, processed and recycled, while placing greater emphasis on industrial relevance and scale-up.
We look forward to contributing our expertise in biomass fractionation and tailored lignin materials to FibRe and to working together with the centre’s academic and industrial partners to develop the next generation of sustainable materials
