The jury of the Materialica Design + Technology Award has made its decision: The composite material GMC™ – Green Moulding Compound from Hikari is a finalist 2024 in the Material category.
Hikari, an innovative start-up company from Italy, has developed the Green Moulding Compound GMC® in collaboration with the Laboratory of Polymers and Composites at the University of Ferrara. This new material is similar to conventional Sheet Moulding Compounds (SMC) and Bulk Moulding Compounds (BMC), but replaces conventional components with environmentally friendly alternatives. Specifically, glass fibres are replaced by natural flax fibres and a polyester resin with a high natural content (around 50%) is used as the matrix. In addition, mineral fillers are replaced by waste from food processing, which significantly improves the environmental sustainability of the material, as shown by analyses of the carbon footprint. GMC® is used by Hikari for the Hedera vertical garden system, where a balance between environmental sustainability and mechanical properties is crucial. www.hikari.green
All finalists can be found at the eMove360° Exhibition at the Westin Grand from 15 to 17 October 2024. Book your ticket for the exhibition and the award ceremony on 15 October at 5 pm here.
The three-day eMove360° Future Mobility Conference 2024 will take place alongside the exhibition. A high-calibre networking meeting with the industry’s top decision-makers for electric and autonomous mobility. Experts from BMW, Bosch, DLRG, Eberspächer, Sixt, Vattenfall & Co. will speak about ground-breaking technologies and market trends. Book your conference pass here.