A biocomposite is a composite material formed by a matrix (resin) and a reinforcement of natural fibers. These kind of materials often mimic the structure of the living materials involved in the process keeping the strengthening properties of the matrix that was used, but always providing biocompatibility. The matrix phase is formed by polymers derived from renewable and nonrenewable resources. The matrix is important to protect the fibers from environmental degradation and mechanical damage, to hold the fibers together and to transfer the loads on it. In addition, biofibers are the principal components of biocomposites, which are derived from biological origins, for example fibers from crops (cotton, flax or hemp), recycled wood, waste paper, crop processing byproducts or regenerated cellulose fiber (viscose/rayon). The interest in biocomposites is rapidly growing in terms of industrial applications (automobiles, railway coach, aerospace, military applications, construction, and packaging) and fundamental research, due to its great benefits (renewable, cheap, recyclable, and biodegradable). Biocomposites can be used alone, or as a complement to standard materials, such as carbon fiber. Advocates of biocomposites state that use of these materials improve health and safety in their production, are lighter in weight, have a visual appeal similar to that of wood, and are environmentally superior.
CNH Industrial Canada Ltd.
CNH Industrial Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of CNH Industrial NV, is a Canadian company that manufactures farm equipment.
Mechanical engineering
Manufacturing engineering
SPC Sunflower Plastic Compound GmbH
http://www.spc-biopolymere.de
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SPC Sunflower Plastic Compound GmbH is a German private company located in Garrel. The firm manufactures biological plastic products. Peter Wendeln is the current CEO of the firm.
Plastic compound
Chemical engineering
Korea Institute of Energy Research
Korea Institute of Energy Research is a government-funded research institute that develops energy technology.
Energy technology
Renewable energy
Ecovative Design LLC
http://www.ecovativedesign.com
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Eben Bayer and Gavin McIntyre are fascinated by mushrooms growing on wood chips and observing how the fungal mycelium strongly bonds the wood chips together. This inspired them to think of new ways of using mycelium as a resin. In a class at Rensselaer called Inventor's Studio, they applied this new process for binding together insulating particles, creating Greensulate. Rather than just decreasing the environmental impact of conventional polystyrene foams, this invention creates a whole new paradigm where composite materials are literally grown, harnessing the incredible efficiency of nature.
Shortly after founding the company, they won small grants from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the National Collegiate Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA). This funding was used to create initial samples of the material. This proof of concept enabled the company to win bigger grants from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to further develop the products. Since then, Ecovative has won many more awards and grants that have enabled the company to continue to grow and accelerate the production of these revolutionary eco-friendly materials.
At Ecovative, they are passionate about sustainability. That is why they are working with nature to replace unsustainable plastics and foams with natural composites. Using innovative new materials and radical new technologies, their products perform at least as well as current state-of-the-art synthetics, but at a lower cost to both you and the environment.
Materials science
Fungal mycelium
Ecovative Design
Packaging and labeling
Mycelium
Synthetic rubber
Proof of concept
Polystyrene
Composite material
Environmental protection
Pharma 73 develops functional excipients with applications in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. It was founded in 2011.
Pharma73 has developed a biopolymer production technology platform, using microbial fermentation, capable of producing biopolymers that can be tuned to have high functionality properties, ideal to be used as novel excipients for the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and food industries.
Medicine
Excipient
Pharmaceutical formulation
Fermentation
Cosmetic industry
Fibralign Corp.
http://www.fibralignbio.com
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Fibralign Corporation utilizes Nanoweave® a proprietary scaffolding technology to develop advanced biomedical devices.
Fibralign has launched its first product, the BioBridge® Collagen Matrix, and is now engaging in clinical studies to evaluate its use for treating and preventing secondary lymphedema, as well as advancing R&D development for new applications for treating ischemia and novel delivery devices for use with stem cells and gene therapy.
Medical equipment
Surgical mesh
Clinical trial
Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Secondary lymphedema
Ischemia
Scaffold
Stem cell
Gene
CelluComp Ltd.
http://www.cellucomp.com
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CelluComp Ltd. manufactures and markets sustainable products produced from the waste streams of the food industry. It provides multiple solutions for many industries such as paints and coatings, concrete, home and personal care, oil drilling and composites. The company was founded by Christian Kemp-Griffin, David Gwyddon Hepworth and Eric Arron Whale in 2004 and is headquartered in Scotland, the United Kingdom.
Nanocellulose
Nanocrystal
Sustainable resources
Nanomaterials
Sustainable products
Waste stream
Nanotechnology
Food industry
Coating
Nanofiber
Nanocomposite
The Governors of the University of Alberta
Smith + Nephew, Inc.
http://www.smith-nephew.com
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Smith & Nephew PLC designs, manufactures and markets orthopedic devices, sports medicine and ENT technologies, and wound-care solutions. Slightly more than 40% of the U.K.-based firm's revenue comes from orthopedic products, and another 30% is a sports medicine and ENT. The remaining 27% of revenue is from the advanced wound therapy segment. Roughly half of Smith & Nephew's total revenue comes from the United States, just over 30% is from other developed markets, and emerging markets account for the remainder.
OrganoClick AB
http://www.organoclick.com
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OrganoClick AB engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of cellulose-based materials based on fiber chemistry. Its products include water repellency for textiles and maintenance and cleaning products. It operates through the following business units: Functional Wood, Green Coatings and Maintenance Products, Biocomposites, Nonwoven and Technical Textile, and Other. The company was founded by Armando Córdova, Saeid Esmaeilzadeh, Jonas Hafrén, Mårten Hellberg, and Ashkan Pouya in 2006 and is headquartered in Täby, Sweden.
Industrial engineering
Chemical engineering
Fiber Chemistry
Biocomposite
Chemical composition
Textile
Nextgen Co. Ltd.
http://eng.hsci.ru/about/hsci-group-structure
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Cellutech AB develops and manufactures cellulose products based on wood. It offers cellulose spheres, magnetic cellulose, superhydrophobic surfaces and xyloglucan. The company was founded in November 2012 and is headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden.
Cellulose
Paper mill
Xyloglucan
Nanotechnology
Electrospinning
Superhydrophobic coating
Nanoshell
Nanocellulose
Physical vapor deposition
Titanium dioxide
Quantum dot
Chemical vapor deposition
Nanocomposite
Corrosion inhibitor
Carbon nanotube
Nanotube
Nanomaterials
Silicone
Coating
Jointherapeutics SRL
http://www.jointherapeutics.com
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JoinTherapeutics exploits polysaccharides' features in regenerative medicine. They adopted a business model based on a "virtual pharma company" approach, which relies on a network of expertise and excellence from the academic and industrial sectors whilst keeping its R&D program and intellectual property development at the heart of the firm.
W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
W. L. Gore & Associates has made its name by creating innovative, technology-driven solutions, from medical devices that treat aneurysms to high-performance GORE‑TEX® fabrics. A privately held company with annual sales of more than $3 billion, Gore is committed to perpetuating its 50-plus year tradition of product innovation.
Gore focuses its efforts in four main areas: electronics, fabrics, industrial and medical products. The company’s electronic products division develops and manufactures high-performance copper and optical signal transmission products. Gore’s fabrics provide protection from the elements and enable wearers to remain comfortable across a broad range of activities and conditions. The products made by Gore’s industrial division meet diverse contamination control and processing challenges throughout industry. Implants from the medical division provide creative healing solutions to complex medical problems.
Today, Gore employs more than 10,000 employees, called associates, with manufacturing facilities in the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan and China, and sales offices around the world.
Medical equipment
Embolic Protection Devices
Aneurysm
Fluoropolymer
Contamination control
Stent
Synthetic rubber
Product innovation
Coronary stent
Implant
Sealant
Medical product
Heart valve
Electronic component
Semiconductor
Dialysis
Electronics
Hemodialysis
Resopal GmbH, a subsidiary of Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, is a company headquartered in Gross-Umstadt, Germany, specializing in plastics materials and basic forms and shapes. The firm was founded in 1867 by August Hermann. Alan Timothy Pearson is currently the CEO of the company. Wilsonart International, Inc. acquired Resopal GmbH from Forbo Holding AG on February 01, 1998.
Plain Sight Innovations LLC
MiMedx Group, Inc. is a therapeutic biologics company, which engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of products, and tissue processing services. It serves the wound care, burn, surgical, orthopedic, spine, sports medicine, ophthalmic, and dental sectors of healthcare. Its biomaterial platform technologies include AmnioFix and EpiFix, a tissue allografts derived from amnion and chorion layers of human placental membrane, EpiCord and AmnioCord, a tissue allografts derived from umbilical cord tissue, and AmnioFill, a placental connective tissue matrix derived from the placental disc and other placental tissue. The company was founded on July 30, 1985 and is headquartered in Marietta, GA.
Medical equipment
Umbilical cord
Biopharmaceutical
Biocompatible material
Chronic wound
Connective tissue matrix
Collagen fiber
Terminal Sterilization
Musculoskeletal tissue
Suture (anatomy)
Negative-pressure wound therapy
Hernia repair
Bone tissue
Aseptic processing
Bone grafting
Wound healing
Breast reconstruction
Sports medicine
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