FibreCoat’s Journey: Innovation and International Expansion

After years of intensive research on polymer coatings, supply chain difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the start-up to test a new material: aluminum. Fibers coated with this material proved to be both high-performing and cost-effective. With support from the NRW.Europa team, FibreCoat secured a financing partner and continues exploring international markets—most recently through a market expansion program in Japan funded by the Enterprise Europe Network.

In various industries, metal-coated fibers—known as metal yarns—serve a range of specialized functions. They are used in the automotive and textile sectors as conductive or shielding materials. However, price pressure limits their accessibility for mass markets. “The higher the volume in these markets, the greater the price pressure. As a result, the best technical solution is often not implemented in mass markets,” says CEO and co-founder Robert Brüll.

FibreCoat’s answer to this challenge—developed over years of scientific research at RWTH Aachen University—is basalt fibers coated with aluminum. Using its patented AluCoat® coating technology, the start-up produces metal yarns with the same properties as conventional products. However, due to significantly lower costs, the founders and their team can now reach customer groups that previously could not afford high-performance materials. FibreCoat’s products are already used in mobility applications, particularly in electromobility, where they provide reliable electronic shielding. In the textile industry, the fibers enable the integration of sensors into fabrics. These flexible and durable materials can also be incorporated into heating systems to enhance heating efficiency in a sustainable way. Furthermore, the security and aerospace industries are key future sectors for FibreCoat, as both require high-performance materials with specialized properties.
 

Enterprise Europe Network: A Doorway to Growth

For several years, the NRW.Europa team at NRW.BANK has been a key resource for the young company. By summer 2021, FibreCoat had already secured investors and experienced strong growth backed by private equity. As an additional financial pillar, the founders explored the possibility of bank financing. Lacking experience in securing external capital, co-founder Richard Haas reached out to the NRW.Europa team at NRW.BANK, who helped the company prepare for financing discussions with commercial banks. Thanks to this guidance, FibreCoat successfully navigated negotiations with a business bank and secured a funding loan. NRW.Europa has also supported the company with additional projects.

“During our interactions with NRW.BANK, we became aware of the extensive support offered by the EEN. When we considered market expansion in Japan in early 2024, we immediately had access to knowledgeable partners,” says Richard Haas. The NRW.Europa team identified the "Get Ready for Japan" program run by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation. This training program, designed for small and medium-sized enterprises, helps businesses develop an understanding of the Japanese market and establish initial connections on-site.

“An excellent opportunity that provided us with valuable market insights,” Haas reflects. “The NRW.Europa team has consistently supported us in expanding our international network—a collaboration we highly recommend!”

Contact to NRW.Europa

NRW.BANK / Enterprise Europe Network for
North Rhine-Westphalia NRW.Europa
Justus Schünemann
Phone: ++39 211 91741 7230
Email: justus.schuenemann@nrwbank.de

Contact to the company FibreCoat GmbH

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