FibreCoat, world leader in materials technology, secures close to €20m from NewSpace Capital and other investors in Series B raise
- FibreCoat, a world leader in materials technology, has raised close to €20 million in its Series B fundraise, co-led by NewSpace Capital and Goose Capital.
- FibreCoat’s lightweight, high-performance materials have widespread applications, including for protecting against radiation, heat and electromagnetic interference, making them invaluable for companies in the space and defense sectors, as well as other large industry sectors like automotive and construction.
- FibreCoat’s materials are cost-competitive – which enables their widespread applications – due to its highly efficient production technology; metal fibers used to be too expensive to use widely.
- The space sector, vital to the global economy, is projected to be worth $1.8 trillion by 2035.
- NewSpace Capital Managing Partner Bogdan Gogulan praised the energy and ambition of the team, saying they had shown adaptability and were helping to solve a ‘major problem’ facing the space industry.
4 December 2024 – FibreCoat, a world leader in materials technology, has raised close to €20 million from NewSpace Capital, Goose Capital, Nova Saint-Gobain, 212 NexT, Otto Krahn New Business, Convergent Ventures and TiE in its Series B raise.
The company, which was founded in Germany in 2020 but has been developing its technology since 2014, has invented a novel technology to coat metals and plastics onto fibers, thus combining the properties of the fibers and the coating material, during the fibre spinning process. Its products offer strength, conductivity, and recyclability at a fraction of the weight and cost of their competitor products. This is thanks to the team’s extensive expertise and strong research-and-development background at RWTH Aachen University, where the founding team worked at the Institute for Textile Technology.
FibreCoat’s materials, which are lightweight, cost-effective, high-performance and have widespread applications, have proven themselves in a number of industries, and are now well-positioned to meet surging demand in the space and defense sectors. Robust material is essential for the durability and reliability of military equipment in hostile environments.
Spacecraft, from launchers to satellites, must also withstand harsh conditions, including intense radiation, extreme temperatures, and electromagnetic interference (EMI). They must also be as lightweight as possible for reasons of efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
The World Economic Forum has predicted that the global space ecosystem will reach $1.8 trillion in value by 2035, in part due to growing demand for space-enabled services across the global economy. The EMI shielding market alone is expected to be worth $9.3 billion by 2030. The global defense market is anticipated to grow from $477 billion in 2020 to nearly $600 billion by 2027, with increased investments in advanced technologies such as electronic warfare systems and electromagnetic protection.
Through its strategic partnership with NewSpace Capital, which co-led the round with Goose Capital, FibreCoat will be able to further its reach in the booming commercial space ecosystem, meet demand for radiation-, heat- and EMI-resistant materials, and drive innovation in the sector.
FibreCoat has grown rapidly since its founding and sought the fundraise in order to scale more quickly. It is now positioned to become the world’s largest coated fiber manufacturer, expanding its production sites and developing new coatings for space and defense.
Dr. Robert Brüll, CEO at FibreCoat, thanked the company’s investors for their support.
‘We’re grateful to NewSpace Capital, Goose Capital and all our investors for backing us,’ he said.
‘We’re an ambitious team who are keen to innovate, increase production and satisfy demand for basic building blocks for defense, space, automotive and other crucial sectors. Affordable, high-performance materials are vital for electric vehicles, while in defense, there is real demand for yarns for sensors, circuits, shielding and chaff material.
‘Space is also a critically important sector, one that touches every area of the world economy. It’s growing rapidly, and both launchers and satellites increasingly need the coated fibers we develop to withstand harsh conditions and EMI.
‘NewSpace Capital will help with their extensive network and market knowledge, so we can bring our low-cost, high-performance materials to those who need them. It’s an exciting time for the company.’
Bogdan Gogulan, Managing Partner of NewSpace Capital, said:
‘We think long and hard about every investment we make.
‘The young, energetic and ambitious FibreCoat team impressed us. They’ve grown quickly as a company, have a strong R&D background, and have shown great adaptability as market needs have evolved.
‘We see this investment as an opportunity to grow a differentiated player within the space sector. FibreCoat is solving a major problem in the space industry, which is the exposure of spacecraft to radiation, heat, EMI and other conditions.
‘The company is also a great example of how the space and non-space supply chains are converging – a trend that has been clear to see over the last decade.
‘There are significant synergies between space, defense, automotive and other terrestrial markets in which FibreCoat operates. There are a number of industrial partners that came into this round with us, highlighting the spillover from space to non-space market segments and vice versa.
‘There are also very interesting synergies with some of the other companies in our portfolio.
‘We’re delighted that FibreCoat has chosen NewSpace Capital to co-lead this round.’
Andrew Nicholson, Managing Director at Goose Capital, said:
‘We are proud to co-lead FibreCoat’s Series B round alongside NewSpace Capital.
‘This investment builds on our support from the Series A round in 2021, reaffirming our belief in FibreCoat’s exceptional founding team and their transformative approach to coated fiber technology.
‘FibreCoat is uniquely positioned to drive innovation across industries with their lightweight, cost-effective coated fibers, and we are excited to be part of their journey as they scale to become the global leader in this space.’
FibreCoat now employs 42 members of staff and has three production sites.
Robert Brüll and Dr.-Ing. Andreas De Palmenaer concluded a pivotal meeting with Ayumu Mitera, CEO of Mitsufuji Corporation in Fukushima and Tokyo, where they signed a Memorandum of Understanding to collaborate in building local production of AluCoat spinning technology in Fukushima. This partnership contributes to the efforts in rebuilding the economy in the aera of Fukushima with the support of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and ATLA (the Acquisition, Technology & Logistics Agency Japan Ministry of Defense 防衛装備庁)
Mitsufuji is a cutting-edge Japanese company revolutionizing the textile industry by blending advanced technology with smart fabrics, specializing in wearable IoT, medical, and shielding solutions. Both companies have a strong footprint in defense sector.
This collaboration paves the way to strengthen the Japanese defense supply lines for radar countermeasure chaff and expansion for further production capacities for other applications. Furthermore, it will support the introduction of Mitsufuji’s innovative materials in Germany.
We’re excited to embark on this journey together, setting up full-scale production lines in 2025 with a targeted capacity of 12 tons per month—laying the foundation for a powerful collaboration in conductive materials.
At Fibrecoat, we are thrilled to announce the continuation of our dynamic partnership with Saint-Gobain, a global leader in the design, production, and distribution of materials and solutions. Formerly an investor, Saint-Gobain has now joined us as a commercial partner, marking a significant milestone in our journey towards revolutionizing the materials industry.
Our collaboration is built on a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence. As a pioneer in advanced materials, Saint-Gobain brings a wealth of experience and a robust global network to our partnership. This synergy enhances our ability to deliver cutting-edge, sustainable solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers.
Our transition from an investor relationship to a commercial partnership signifies a strategic move to drive growth and expand our market reach. With Saint-Gobain’s support, we are better equipped to penetrate new markets and deliver innovative solutions to a broader audience.
As we move forward, Fibrecoat and Saint-Gobain are united in our pursuit of success. We are confident that this partnership will yield groundbreaking advancements and set new standards in the materials industry. Together, we are not just imagining the future; we are creating it.
Stay tuned for more updates as we embark on this exciting new chapter , transforming the possibilities of fibre coating technology!
As our team continues to grow and our local production expands, we’re relocating to a new, larger space. After countless memories made and much achieved at Dennewartstraße, it was time for a change. This move marks a significant milestone in our journey towards making the future affordable.
As we bid farewell to our old address, we eagerly anticipate the huge opportunities and growth awaiting us in our new home. Join us as we transition to a space where innovation thrives and possibilities are limitless.Eager to experience our new headquarters? Get in contact with us, so we can schedule a meeting! Whether you’re a long-time supporter or a curious newcomer, we can’t wait to share our vision with you and explore what lies ahead. Here’s to new beginnings and exciting adventures ahead. See you at Lumileds!
FibreCoat GmbH
Philipsstr.8
52068 Aachen
Germany
Our aluminium-coated chopped strands are ready for shipment. Developed as a filler for electrical and thermal conductive engineering compounds.
Reach out to our team to learn more and order your samples to lead the way to the future of composites.
Spring 2022 brought two new awards back to our Headquarters in Aachen. It started of with the JEC startup booster award, the most anticipated award in the composite industry. "It was more than 10 years a dream of the founders to win this award" said Alexander Lüking one the founders while attending the trade show in Paris.
To kick-off the summer we won the innovation prize at TechTextil, the leading event in the textile world and the PlugandPLay expo prize. Winning these awards proves that we are on the right track to making high performance materials affordable.
This year, the JEC Composites Startup Booster competition will celebrate its 5th anniversary with a special event on-site and the launch of a brand new award dedicated to sustainability.
As a winner of the startup prize at the JEC DACH Forum FibreCoat automatically moved to top 20 finalist and will pitch their project in front of a global audience during the JEC in Paris.
