The performance of a motorcycle depends largely on the agility of the vehicle. That is mainly determined by the suspension fork. With the development of the conventional fork technology, the maneuverability is only slightly improved. The start-up CeraCarbon developed a revolutionary front fork at the campus that ensures that motorcycle agility makes a giant leap. Even a motorcycle legend like Valentino Rossi can benefit from that.
“Although carbon is lighter and stronger than steel, it’s not durable,” says Roeland Coumans, director of CeraCarbon. “To make the carbon fibers wear-resistant, we apply a thin ceramic layer according to our patent. This results in a front fork that is strong and much lighter than a conventional fork made from steel and aluminum. And the lighter the front fork, the more agile the motorcycle. ”
In addition to Brightlands Innovation Factory, CeraCarbon collaborates with DSM in Geleen and Eurocarbon in Sittard. The product is entirely made in Limburg. Roeland: “I think it’s nice to see how, as a regional partner, you can achieve a result in a relatively short period of time that makes a global impression.”
Roeland realizes that the use of CeraCarbon in forks for motorsport is a niche market. “But it is a market that gives us the first turnover, global exposure, and it demonstrates the quality of our material. It actually is a marketing tool. Once the name CeraCarbon has been established, it is easier to find industrial applications for the material. For example, in the car and aircraft industries and in production machines.”
“CeraCarbon started at the campus in 2015, an ideal place for a start-up”, says Roeland. “Especially because you are part of a broad network. Because as a start-up in materials technology it is harder to speed up business than in the digital world. It is also difficult for the industry to expect a new material to meet the same specifications as a material they have often been working with for decades, even if these are not relevant. Then it is important that you can fall back on the knowledge in your network. Our network relations think along and help to keep the momentum as much as possible.”
More information: www.limburger.nl/brightlands
