Swiss sustainable lightweighting company Bcomp is now supplying its high-performance natural fiber technologies to HWA AG, development partner of Mercedes-AMG, for the new front bumpers on Mercedes-AMG GT4 race cars.

Set to be phased in over the coming weeks, Bcomp’s bodywork solutions will provide a sustainable alternative to the GT4’s existing carbon fiber panels, offering equivalent mechanical performance in stiffness and weight and improving safety.

Mercedes-AMG GT4 race cars are now equipped with natural fiber composite bumpers.

The new bumper uses Bcomp’s innovative ampliTex and powerRibs technologies, which harness the natural advantages of flax fiber. The powerRibs reinforcement grid uses the high specific bending stiffness of flax to build up height efficiently, boosting the flexural stiffness of thin-walled shell elements.

The new bumpers are also safer in the event of a crash or collision and decrease the risk of punctures. Unlike the sharp fracturing and splintering of carbon fiber, ampliTex technical fabrics are far more ductile in an impact, whereas the powerRibs confine the damage zone, minimizing debris and the risks to drivers, marshals, and spectators.

A full sustainability analysis concluded that the new bumper offered a total material emission reduction of 90% when compared to the carbon fiber part as well as an 85% reduction of CO2 emissions from cradle-to-gate, considering all production steps from raw material to final part.

Bcomp is supplying its high-performance natural fiber technologies to HWA AG.

Since the new bumper is full natural fiber, it can also be used for thermal energy recovery, turning approximately 80% of the energy stored in the part into renewable energy, resulting in a process without hazardous carbon waste or parts that need to go into landfill.

Reverse engineered from HWA’s original, the natural fiber bumper’s design has been collaboratively optimized over the past 12 months. To ensure that the bumper met all racing regulations and requirements, the HWA team performed extensive mechanical testing and validation.

The new natural fiber composite bumpers offer equivalent mechanical performance in stiffness and weight, and improve safety.

On the HWA testbench, the stiffness of the complete frontend of the Mercedes-AMG GT4 was measured, simulating the aerodynamic drag and front diffusor downforce.

The tests were conducted with a carbon fiber bumper as benchmark and afterwards with the new natural fiber bumper, validating that the newly designed part performs on the same high-performance level.

Furthermore, part of the project was to validate the HWA in-house paint processes with ampliTex and powerRibs, optimizing the A-surface quality of the part up to a level that meets the quality standards of HWA and Mercedes-AMG motorsport. Production of the old carbon fiber bumpers has now ceased.

Swiss sustainable lightweighting company Bcomp is now supplying its high-performance natural fiber technologies to HWA AG, development partner of Mercedes-AMG, for the new front bumpers on Mercedes-AMG GT4 race cars.

Set to be phased in over the coming weeks, Bcomp’s bodywork solutions will provide a sustainable alternative to the GT4’s existing carbon fiber panels, offering equivalent mechanical performance in stiffness and weight and improving safety.

Mercedes-AMG GT4 race cars are now equipped with natural fiber composite bumpers.

The new bumper uses Bcomp’s innovative ampliTex and powerRibs technologies, which harness the natural advantages of flax fiber. The powerRibs reinforcement grid uses the high specific bending stiffness of flax to build up height efficiently, boosting the flexural stiffness of thin-walled shell elements.

The new bumpers are also safer in the event of a crash or collision and decrease the risk of punctures. Unlike the sharp fracturing and splintering of carbon fiber, ampliTex technical fabrics are far more ductile in an impact, whereas the powerRibs confine the damage zone, minimizing debris and the risks to drivers, marshals, and spectators.

A full sustainability analysis concluded that the new bumper offered a total material emission reduction of 90% when compared to the carbon fiber part as well as an 85% reduction of CO2 emissions from cradle-to-gate, considering all production steps from raw material to final part.

Bcomp is supplying its high-performance natural fiber technologies to HWA AG.

Since the new bumper is full natural fiber, it can also be used for thermal energy recovery, turning approximately 80% of the energy stored in the part into renewable energy, resulting in a process without hazardous carbon waste or parts that need to go into landfill.

Reverse engineered from HWA’s original, the natural fiber bumper’s design has been collaboratively optimized over the past 12 months. To ensure that the bumper met all racing regulations and requirements, the HWA team performed extensive mechanical testing and validation.

The new natural fiber composite bumpers offer equivalent mechanical performance in stiffness and weight, and improve safety.

On the HWA testbench, the stiffness of the complete frontend of the Mercedes-AMG GT4 was measured, simulating the aerodynamic drag and front diffusor downforce.

The tests were conducted with a carbon fiber bumper as benchmark and afterwards with the new natural fiber bumper, validating that the newly designed part performs on the same high-performance level.

Furthermore, part of the project was to validate the HWA in-house paint processes with ampliTex and powerRibs, optimizing the A-surface quality of the part up to a level that meets the quality standards of HWA and Mercedes-AMG motorsport. Production of the old carbon fiber bumpers has now ceased.