BMW M GmbH, the performance car subsidiary of BMW Group, has collaborated with Bcomp, a developer of natural fibre composites for the mobility and mass-transportation sectors, to create the Visionary Materials Seat, a sustainable seat design manufactured with Bcomp’s ampliTex bio-based materials. The design has won the Sustainable Process category of the 2024 Altair Enlighten Awards, which recognises developments sustainable production and lifecycle in the automotive sector.
The design team rethought the use of component materials and manufacturing methods to develop a lighter weight, circular product that meets the demands of large-scale vehicle production. The seatback features a fully bio-based, high-performance natural fibre layup made with ampliTex-PP composite. By combining the structural and aesthetic properties of the material in a single manufacturing step, production is more efficient and uses less material.
The team had a focus on designing for circularity, meaning that in addition to using natural and recycled materials, the recyclability of the BMW M Visionary Materials Seat was considered right from the start of its development. For example, less complex assemblies have been used, as well as monomaterials that can be separated by type, helping enable the recyclability of the seat at the end of its life.
Bcomp says that flax fibre composites are CO2e-neutral from cradle to grave, and can reduce manufacturing-related emissions of high-performance composite parts by up to 85% compared to carbon fibre, depending on the application. The company also claims that, compared to current large-scale automotive plastic parts, its materials can reduce component weight by up to 50%, thanks to their low density and high stiffness.
Falco Hollmann, innovation manager for lightweight construction & sustainability at BMW M GmbH, explained,“We are already using existing technologies and materials to provide an outlook on the possibilities for reducing emissions and conserving resources in the future. This is not just about the substitution of materials, but above all about the topic of design for circularity.”
The seat was designed and engineered by BMW M GmbH and Bcomp, along with BMW Designworks (a studio which also works in the aircraft interiors sector), Automotive Management Consulting GmbH, Gradel Lightweight Sàrl, and Lasso Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH. BMW M GmbH and Bcomp have previously worked on innovations in projects for high-end road cars and series application for race cars, such as interior and bodywork components for the BMW M4 GT4, bodywork for the BMW M4 DTM, and cooling shafts for the BMW iFE.20 in Formula E.
“Realising your vision requires strong partnerships and we all need visionaries to achieve our common sustainability goals,” said Johann Wacht, key account manager for automotive & motorsports at Bcomp. “Through our long-standing collaboration with BMW M GmbH, the BMW M Visionary Materials Seat project clearly shows that the decisive milestone towards holistic sustainability is the combination of bio-based materials and recyclables. With our ampliTex high-performance natural fibre material, we deliver a sustainable lightweight solution that combines the highest design standards and recyclability on a large-scale automotive level.”
