Fibrlec by Conor Dardis

FibrLec power within the weave

About FibrLec FibrLec was established in 2013 in UK to further develop and commercialise flexible smart materials based science and technology applications in energy regeneration and renewable energy. Such developments have spun out of recent scientific breakthroughs and pioneering research in hybrid energy conversion systems driven by Piezoelectric and Photovoltaic materials and arranged in fibre, film and 3-D structures. FibrLec has obtained world exclusive licences of all related international patents.

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The generic technology has reached exploitable commercial standing with huge potential applications horizon in many diverse fields, from energy parks, marine vessels, automotive parts, aerospace, military, construction and city-regeneration, wearable textiles, sports and outdoor lifestyle, biomedical devices and so on. These material systems exhibit flexibility, durability and recyclability characteristics and at a very low production cost.

FibrLec, headquarters in North West of UK is now establishing several manufacturing plants globally while further investing in international R&D collaborations that will ensure that the technology remains continuously competitive and at the forefront of innovation. Already the next generation of piezoelectric and organic photovoltaic fibres are being researched, through both designer materials modelling and experimentation, targeting improved energy conversion properties and enhanced power outputs.

Working in partnership The Institute for Renewable Energy and Environmental Technologies (IREET) and Institute for Materials Research and Innovation (IMRI), both at the University of Bolton, are regarded as world-leading centres of smart materials research. Together they have invented a piezoelectric photovoltaic fibre which is capable of converting energy from sunlight, wind and rain. This new FibrLec material, which is in the form of an extruded polymer, is being taken to market by FibrLec Ltd, a company whose driving force includes two University of Bolton graduates.

Awards and distinctions The hybrid technology was pioneered by world renowned scientists and their multidiscipline research group. The highly acclaimed technology has won numerous scientific awards and accolades by top international academic journals and global media. EUROPEAN & AMERICAN EDUCATION

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FibrLec applications Tyre applications FibrLec material can be layered within the Tyre wall as part of the tyre infrastructure. 4 tyres layered with FibrLec material will produce enough energy to recover battery charge. This will create better MPG and power output charge.

The intelligent tyre FibrLec material is also sensory in its attribute and allows data to be transferred to the driver stating wear in areas of the tyre rather than just deflation sensors.

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Synthetic trees Synthetic trees will allow the capture of all three natural resources, wind, Rain and sun. These trees can be placed in areas where solar panels are unacceptable. Cosmetic benefits to already natural landscapes will be enhanced whilst capturing natural energy

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FibrLec material in sails FibrLec material can be used to enhance the power of already natural resources. The flexible FibrLec material can be woven into any size or shape. This allows the fibre to be used in already existing materials. The FibrLec material as an example can be placed into the sails of yachts which will harvest the wind rain and sun to be transferred into the yachts required power sources allowing the removal of heavy conventional batteries.

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Integration The material can be used to integrate with already woven material. This along with its ability to be structured into any shape and with its flexible attributes allows the material to be packed away and stored when not in use. Therefore it can be integrated with materials such as tents and sails allowing the user to gain power source in any condition. P O W E R W I T H I N T H E W E AV E | 0 7

Fibrlec medical applications The Fibrlec material can be used in several medical applications. The material has significant attributes such as reflection of radar and harmful rays. This allows the material to be placed over patients apart from the required designated area stopping any harmful rays contacting healthy parts of the skin. Material used to cover healthy areas of the body not subject to treatments.

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Fibrlec material used in pacemaker equipment. Fibrlec material placed into the exiting pacemaker will allow the patient to charge constantly with life time expectancy. This will mean that patients do not require any further surgery for battery replacement.

The sensory function of the material and its benefit of being woven and formatted into any shape can mean that the material can be woven into a shirt that allows medical staff to monitor the babyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart beat at all times without ever losing the heart beat and the mothers simultaneously.

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FibrLec Wearable chargeables The material can be used in clothing and shoes. These wearable chargeables can be used to recharge phone batteries and other electrical equipment. A jogger using the material in shoes can recharge an iPhone within 60 paces.

The material can be lined within the already woven structure of any clothing to allow wearable chargeables.

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FibrLec composite railway sleepers

The Fibrlec material can be placed into the composite railway sleepers. The introduction of the fibrlec material into the railway sleepers can recover vast amounts of energy. The kinetic energy is recovered from the train.

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FibrLec carpet applications

The fibrlec material can be placed into any carpet which will allow energy to be captured by foot fall. The fibrlec material as an example at a material can be used to harvest energy by commuters simply walking upon it. 12 | FIBRLEC

FibrLec building facades The FibrLec material can be deposited onto the facades of any building allowing the structure to harvest natural resources such as the wind, rain and sun to create usable electrical energy transferred to the building electrical infrastructure.

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FibrLec military Applications The material has significant attributes that allow the smart material to be used in other applications outside the capture of energy. Once the material is placed onto an object or over an area, this detracts radar which makes the material radar passive. (Stealth)

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FibrLec vision ‘In the next three years we will move from the position of being a new entrant to the market to being one of the global leaders in extruded polymers for energy harvesting and its commercial application.

‘Our vision is to be a market leader in delivering sustainable energy solutions. Thereby we will transform the energy business beyond recognition through harnessing the creativity, knowledge and innovation of one of the world's leading material science institutes. Above all we will create value from technical excellence.’ Daniel Keating Managing Director FibrLec

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‘Our clients will include the solar panel industry, whose businesses will be transformed by our product. We can see potential in the domestic and commercial markets – everywhere from soft fabrics which bring down energy bills to the motor industry in creating greener cars.’ Dr Anthony Keating DEng MBA HND Eng MIDGTE Technical Director

‘It is so gratifying seeing the technology moving from concept a few years ago to prototype and from laboratory to local industry. Both piezoelectric and photovoltaic technologies are embedded into the fibre structure. The intellectual property generated has been patented internationally and has won a number of international awards.’ ‘FibrLec is an amazing product that will be a game changer in the renewable energy sector. The fact that it has been developed in my home town by my own University increases the appeal to me personally. The current applications of FibrLec are astonishing and there are more and more applications becoming apparent every day.’

Professor Elias Siores BSc, MSc, Dip.Ed., MBA, PhD, Ceng Director of Research and Innovation

Jamie MacGregor MBA BSc Director

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Corporate social responsibility Scholarships Proceeds from the commercialization will support scholarships and bursaries for students in need of financial support to study in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) at the University.

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Stronger together FibrLec is principal sponsor of Bolton Wanderers Football Club. The University already has a close working relationship with Bolton Wanderers in the field of sport and exercise science and sports rehabilitation for elite athletes. This latest commercial venture builds further on this strategic partnership. As a consequence of this development the new 2013-14 BWFC strip carries the FibrLec logo. BWFC is proud to work with University of Bolton graduates on a renewable and sustainable energy project which benefits the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s carbon footprint and moreover will benefit the next generation of students through scholarships.

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Working Together To find out more about FibrLec and how we can work together FibrLec Ltd The I Zone University of Bolton University Way BL3 5AB