RB confirms the development of a fully recyclable wing mirror housing

The Visa Cash RB outfit has announced a signicifant achievement after having joined forced with Holy Technologies in a bid to to set a new standard for sustainable manufacturing in Formula One.

The Faenza-based outfit and Holy Technologies have successfully completed an 18-month joint research and development project to demonstrate the potential of Holy’s Infinite Fiber Placement (IFP) technology.

The project achieved remarkable results by manufacturing an existing component of the VCARB 01 race car with a 20% weight reduction while ensuring it is fully recyclable.

The collaboration has led to the development of a fully recyclable wing mirror housing, with the company stating that the component “not only meets the rigorous quality standards required for Formula 1, but also achieves a remarkable weight reduction compared to traditional manufacturing methods.”

Unlike conventional methods that rely on prepreg materials with pre-aligned fibres, Holy Technologies’ innovative approach utilizes a single, robotically placed carbon fibre strand, embedded into a recyclable Epoxy resin, enhancing both the structural integrity and recyclability of the component. The cutting-edge manufacturing process enables the separation of the epoxy from carbon fibre, allowing for the reuse of the same carbon fibre in the same high-performance application.

Speaking of the announcement, Bosse Rothe Frossard, who serves as the CEO of Holy Technologies & Moritz Reiners, commented: “Holy Technologies is taking a completely different approach to the manufacturing process that is normally used for carbon fibre components” says Paolo Marabini, Chief Designer at VCARB.

“It opens up the opportunity to reuse the same carbon fibre and therefore has the potential to significantly reduce the overall amount of material we use for our car components, while at the same time optimising the performance of those components.”

“Our work with the VCARB team shows that high-performance and sustainability can go hand in hand,” said Bosse Rothe Frossard, CEO of Holy Technologies. “Our IFP technology is unlocking a new category of high-performance components, helping customers realise the full potential of their designs while enabling both small and large series production with extreme efficiency.”

The technology was tested during a Grand Prix, where VCARB used a mirror housing manufactured by Holy Technologies to showcase that this technology can even be used in the harsh environment of a race weekend. The collaboration not only highlights the potential for sustainable manufacturing in motorsport but also sets a precedent for future applications across various industries.

The Faenza-based F1 team announced that it will continue to work with the Hamburn-based German company to explore further innovations in sustainable manufacturing, as “this project marks a significant step towards integrating design for recycling concepts into high-performance automotive applications.”

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