FibreMax scores investment for unique synthetic ropes

FibreMax specialises in synthetic cables made using what the company describes as a unique production process. According to the manufacturer its cables are lighter, stronger, more durable and more sustainable than traditional steel ones. The business was set up five years ago by Rinze van der Schuit, whose 'endless winding' technology was brought with him having been originally used by a company he founded making cables for the sail industry. A robot winds super fibres, such as Twaron and Dyneema, hundreds of times, maintaining a constant and equal tension with almost absolute accuracy until the desired break strength is reached.

The cables, which can be anything up to 5,000m, are 80 to 90% lighter and 10% thinner than steel cables with the same break strength. The lack of friction between the fibres within the sealed cable means that the cable requires no maintenance and lasts much longer.

Van der Schuit, the company's director and major shareholder, said: "Even if another party were to infringe our patents, it would take them at least five years to build a machine and acquire the necessary experience. That gives us the time to establish a global position in all of the areas of application in which our cables can be used."

NPM Capital was equally optimistic about the deal, its chief executive Jan Willem Baud, said: "FibreMax has a unique product that will change the cable industry. We are happy to provide the growth capital required to enable the company to achieve its potential for as long as this expansion phase lasts, no matter how far it reaches."