Page 46 - Plastics news December 2023

BUSINESS NEWS

Japan’s Hitachi Energy is also joining Collab Composite with the aim of
connecting international industry with innovative startups in the field of fiber
composites.
tachi Energy's business
"When Collab Composite was estab-
lished, we saw the potential to get in-
volved early in the project. Sustainable
composites are crucial for our manu-
facturing, including transformers. We
are actively seeking collaborations
that can contribute to our product
development," said Tobias Hansson,
country manager at Hitachi Energy.
Piteå municipality, through Piteå Sci-
ence Park, has been involved in the
Collab Composite initiative. Municipal
Councilor Patric Lundström sees the
ollab Composite, a collabora- such as aviation, looks forward to col- collaboration with Hitachi Energy and
Ction between Arctic Business laborating with innovative companies Saab as a natural next step in making
and Piteå Science Park, was launched in the composite field. "Several of our Piteå the leading hub in Sweden for
in Sweden in April 2023 with the aim products, such as [the] Gripen [fighter the development of composite mate-
of connecting international industry jet], use fiber composites as an impor- rials.
with innovative startups in the field tant and often necessary part of the "There are currently world-leading
of fiber composites. The collabora- construction. This demonstrates the producers and research in fiber com-
tion is starting to bear fruit with the potential of fiber composites, and we posites in Piteå. We have worked hard
announcement that two leading com- are very proud to be early partners in to make Piteå an attractive place for
panies have joined as partners in the Collab Composite in Piteå. We look companies and startups in the com-
project. forward to contributing to new in- posite industry, including access to
The first industrial partners for Col- novations and applications for fiber sustainable energy, investment in ex-
lab Composite are Saab and Hitachi composites both in our products and pertise, and competitive land prices.
Energy. Both are currently develop- in society," said Per-Olof Marklund, The collaboration with Hitachi Energy
ing products using composites and head of technology and innovation at and Saab is evidence that this effort
see the potential in accessing exper- Saab's aeronautics business area. has yielded results," said Lundström
tise and innovation through Collab Hitachi Energy, present in Piteå since (S).
Composite. “The collaboration with 2018, uses composite materials for Work is currently underway to attract
both companies is a milestone in at- developing products such as power composite companies and startups
tracting expertise, businesses, and transformers and high-voltage, direct- from across Europe to bring them to
investments to Piteå [municipality],” current (HVDC) equipment due to Piteå and present their solutions to
said Jens Lundström, CEO of Arctic their excellent insulating properties. the companies. The goal is to create
Business. In addition to time and business net- new development projects in collabo-
Saab has long history developing com- works, Hitachi will also participate in ration with Saab, Hitachi Energy, and
posites steering groups and provide know- other partners at Piteå Science Park
Saab, which has long been develop- how and research expertise for the in 2024.
ing composite products for industries companies.
Sustainable composites crucial to Hi-

46 PLASTICS NEWSASTICS NEWS December 2023
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