Composites overboard!

​  An ambitious European project is being highlighted in the global composites sector with a promise to bring big results for the Nautic segment, focused specifically on large ships.

Composite materials help to improve the structural and weight efficiency, opening doors to new technologies and concepts [Image: LADE AS]

  Called “FIBRESHIP”, the project financed by the EU “Horizon 2020” program, aims to produce large hulls for commercial ships by using thermoset composites with fiberglass, reducing its weight to approximately 30% if compared to the traditional steel structures, bringing a bunch of benefits for the ship itself , like an estimated decrease in fuel consumption between 10% to 15%, a load capacity increase up to 12% and an increase of the recycling rate from the current 34% of steel structures to 75%.
  The “Horizon 2020” program was created by a partnership between the EU countries with the prime objective to secure Europe's global competitiveness, The “FIBRESHIP” project has the support of 18 entities from 11 countries, including universities, research institutes and companies in Europe.

For more info, access: ​https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/