2022-01-10
This is not the first time the Khokar family has traveled to space. Nandan Khokar, whose PhD research at Chalmers is the basis for several companies in the composites industry, has already seen his idea fly in space once before. The material TeXtreme, produced by the company Oxeon, has been implemented in the rotor blades of NASA's helicopter on Mars.
- It was an 11-year journey for Oxeon, from the initial talks with NASA to the material finally ending up in an application. So the space interest has always been there in the back of our minds and when we saw that specific space actors showed interest in the material we are developing at Fureho, we wanted to do it again," says Prarthanaa.
Prarthanaa started her career in the composites industry at Oxeon, which she joined after completing her studies in computer and information technology at Chalmers University of Technology. The plan was to stay only for a short time, but instead she got a taste of the excitement of the startup world. She also gained insight into what could be the next big thing in the industry, which set things in motion at the Khokar family home.
- I knew my dad had a couple of other ideas that he had discussed with us as a family, so I asked him if it wasn't time to test the limits and see if the market was ready.
Fureho's idea is a 3D material whose composition differs from traditional composite materials. The fibers run not only lengthwise and crosswise, but also across the material. This unique composition makes it strong enough to replace metal parts. The material is also lighter than metal, which is advantageous in several automotive industries, but perhaps most obviously in space, where every extra kilogram is associated with high costs.
In the spring of 2020, Fureho was accepted into the national space program ESA-BIC, which Innovatum Science Park runs together with three other incubators in Sweden. The biggest challenge, according to Prarthanaa, has been to get the industry to think beyond already proven materials and open up to something new - a transition that does not happen overnight.
- It's a real emotional rollercoaster, requiring patience and perseverance. Sometimes you want things to go faster. But it's still the challenge that drives me forward," she says.
Fureho's strategy is to involve customers early in the process. The collaboration is presented as a research and development effort with the aim of improving the material along the way according to customers' specific needs.
- The only way you can convince people is for them to try it and see for themselves whether it works or not," says Prarthanaa.
By the end of the ESA-BIC incubation period, Fureho hopes to show results from the space customers currently testing the 3D material. And more pilot projects are in the pipeline. Prarthanaa is convinced that it's only a matter of time before the material makes it into space. At the same time, the long timeframes in the space sector, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, which has led to several projects being canceled, show the importance of spreading the risks. Fureho is therefore focusing in parallel on projects in the motorsport and aerospace industries.
- From a business perspective, we need to keep one eye on space and one on Earth. Because it's a very long journey until we get to a point where we can make steady sales in space.
The space sector also stands out for its high standards of quality and safety. For Fureho, the rigorous testing for space use is a welcome challenge, with potentially huge rewards in the long run. The material has to withstand high external impact during launch, and environmental tests such as extreme temperature changes and radiation.
- By showing that we can meet these tough requirements, we know that we can meet other requirements in other industries," says Prarthanaa, highlighting ESA-BIC and Innovatum Science Park as a great help along the way.
Through the space incubator, Fureho will have access to technological expertise and networks in the space sector, as well as half a million SEK in development capital to help sponsor the long space journey.
- We already have knowledge of our material, but when it comes to what is required for the space industry, we rely on ESA-BIC. They also guide us to the companies we should focus on, because what we are developing is very specific," says Prarthanaa, describing how the contact has opened many doors and given credibility in the market.
However, the Khokars' interest in space goes beyond the purely commercial. For them, space is also about the challenge and excitement of standing on the edge of the unexplored. According to Prarthanaa, space helps to place ourselves in a larger context.
- When we see our planet from afar, we understand exactly how vulnerable we are and that we need to take more responsibility for our limited resources. So it's not only a business interest, but also a personal interest for us," says Prarthanaa, explaining that it also affects Fureho's ambitions on Earth.
- With a lighter material, planes and cars can use less fuel, saving the earth's resources.
| Fureho AB was founded in 2017 by Fredrik Winberg, Prarthanaa Khokar, and her father Nandan Khokar. Fureho has developed a new lightweight and durable composite material that replaces heavy metals. The material is three-dimensional and made of carbon, ceramic and glass. It has so far been tested in applications such as motorsport and aerospace. Now Fureho is aiming to make a difference to the space industry. www.fureho.com |
