Fiberforge Explained

Fiberforge was a privately held company, started in 1998. The company uses a proprietary process for making thermoplastic advanced composites^{[1] [2]} to make things more lightweight. Particular interest has been placed on decreasing weight of everyday means of transportation like cars and aircraft^[3] for better fuel efficiency and hence Environmental sustainability.^[4] Amory Lovins was its chairman emeritus.^[5]

Fiberforge ceased operations in June 2013 due to financial problems and attempted to liquidate its assets for the benefit of creditors ^[6] It was later acquired by Dieffenbacher.^[7]

History

• 1994: Rocky Mountain Institute founded the Hypercar^[8] Center to help prove its technical feasibility and commercial reality.^[9]
• 1998: Rocky Mountain Institute took this process a step further by launching a for-profit venture, Hypercar Inc.
• 2004: Hypercar Inc. changed its name^[10] to Fiberforge to better reflect the company's new goal of lowering the cost of high-volume advanced-composite structures/^[11]
• 2010: Office is established in Zug Switzerland.
• 2012: At the height of production, output with approximately 70 employees.
• 2013: Ceases operations due to financial problems.^[6] Acquired by Dieffenbacher.

See also

• Amory Lovins
• Hypercar
• Rocky Mountain Institute

External links

• Web site: Fiberforge product from Dieffenbacher . Dieffenbacher . 2020-10-25.
• Web site: Fiberforge: Lightweighting Your World With Thermoplastic Advanced Composite Parts . Fiberforge.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20170123094616/http://www.fiberforge.com/ . 2017-01-23.
• Web site: Hypercar . Hypercar.com . Rocky Mountain Institute . https://web.archive.org/web/20080405011246/http://www.hypercar.com/ . 2008-04-05.
• Web site: RMI move - Hypercar . Rocky Mountain Institute . https://web.archive.org/web/20120105031112/http://move.rmi.org/markets-in-motion/case-studies/automotive/hypercar.html . 2012-01-05 . After a century of engineering, cars are embarrassingly inefficient..

Notes and References

1. Film stacking impregnation model for a novel net shape thermoplastic composite preforming process . 10.1016/j.compscitech.2008.01.019 . Composites Science and Technology . June 2008 . 68 . 7 . 1822–1830 . Jespersen . S. T. . Wakeman . M. D. . Michaud . V. . Cramer . D. . Månson . J. -A. E. .
2. High Performance composites article, "http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/tailored-carbon-fiber-blanks-set-to-move-into-steel-stamping-arena", 1/1-2006
3. Netcomposites article, "https://netcomposites.com/news/2009/september/11/fiberforge-to-produce-bombardier-window-bezel/", 7/1-2010
4. Hybrid Cars now, "http://www.hydrogencarsnow.com/hydrogen-powered-cars.htm", 7/1-2010
5. Web site: The authors. Natural Capitalism. Rocky Mountain Institute. 27 October 2017.
6. Web site: Glenwood Springs-based Fiberforge hits 'end of the runway' PostIndependent.com . www.postindependent.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130618072509/http://www.postindependent.com/news/6967761-113/fiberforge-company-fox-glenwood . 2013-06-18.
7. Web site: Dieffenbacher Acquires Fiberforge Tape Layup Technology. dieffenbacher.de. 27 October 2017.
8. Science Channel's Eco-tech series, "http://green.autoblog.com/2007/09/04/video-rmis-hypercar-a-100-mpg-suv-featuring-amory-lovins/", 9/4-2007
9. Discovery channel video, "http://vodpod.com/watch/1336898-addicted-to-oil-fiberforge ", 7/1-2010
10. RMI article, "http://move.rmi.org/markets-in-motion/case-studies/automotive/fiberforge-.html", 7/1-2010
11. The Aspen Times, "http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20041117/NEWS/111170004", 7/1-2010