The FibreCoat and Lofith Composites teams. Source | FibreCoat GmbH
Coated fiber technology developer FibreCoat GmbH (Aachen, Germany) and Spanish advanced materials company Lofith Composites (Valencia) have announced a strategic partnership to develop next-gen thermoplastic composites (TPC) for space. The first orbital demonstration of the joint material is planned for 2026, when a satellite will carry test panels into orbit for 12 months.
The partnership joins FibreCoat’s expertise in aluminum fiber coatings with Lofith’s thermoplastic tape and composites manufacturing capabilities. Together, the companies will integrate FibreCoat’s coated fibers into Lofith’s recyclable, high-performance composites to produce lightweight structural materials designed to meet the extreme demands of space.
During the orbital demonstration, detectors attached to the test panels will track dangerous ionizing radiation with and without shielding, temperature changes and other environmental effects. These results will be key to seeing if the materials are “space-ready” and meet the need of space companies for resilient, lightweight, cost-efficient materials. The test is expected to take place between the Q1 and Q2 2026.
Lofith Composites, launched in 2024, has developed an impregnation process that delivers up to 50% weight reduction and 30% higher strength compared to aluminum, as well as full recyclability. The process also consumes less water than conventional methods.
FibreCoat — which recently secured €500,000 in funding after winning the Industry category in the DLR INNOspace Masters’ DLR Challenge, as well as being named the overall winner of INNOspace in Pioneering Technology — has developed novel way to coat metals and plastics onto fibers, thus combining the properties of the fibers and the coating material, during the fiber spinning process. Its products are reported to offer strength and conductivity at a fraction of the weight and cost of competitor products; its latest Bismuth-based coating brings added functionality.
“Our goal has always been to deliver the next generation of TPC: recyclable, strong and able to remain robust even in harsh environments,” says Amador García Sancho, CEO of Lofith Composites. “Partnering with FibreCoat enables us to combine our expertise and qualify a material that can be used for satellite panels and a wide range of other applications.”
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