Sabic broadens composites portfolio with addition of Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics

Riyadh-headquartered petrochemical company Sabic has expanded its growing portfolio of material solutions with the recent investment in a majority stake in Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics, which is based in Lelystad, the Netherlands.

Sabic’s fibre reinforced thermoplastics (FRT) business specialises in the production of engineered thermoplastic, fibre-reinforced unidirectional (UD) tapes. The tapes can be used across a wide variety of industries, ranging from building and construction, to transportation and energy.

“This acquisition will enable Sabic to develop new thermoplastic products, processes and design solutions to help our customers take full advantage of the unique light weighting opportunities offered by composites,” said Ernesto Occhiello, EVP Specialties, Sabic.

“At Sabic we engage with our customers to develop advanced products that support their specific needs and help them realize their ambitions,” said Andrey Turchin, Head of the FRT business. “Our innovative UDMAX composite tapes complement SABIC’s existing range of thermoplastic solutions for customers striving to build smaller, lighter and stronger components that meet stringent industry standards,” he continued.

UDMAX tapes are made using a unique proprietary HPFIT technology, which quickly and precisely enables the spread and combination of thousands of glass or carbon fibres with a polymer matrix. As a result, the tapes have a high density of fibres, high quality fibre impregnation in the resin matrix, minimal void content and fewer broken fibres. They can be used to form composite materials that can in turn be used to manufacture components with superior performance to alternative materials, such as laminates and moulded parts.