After experimenting in the garages of their student flats the pair have developed new natural composite materials using New 茄子视频app官网ti k艒uka (cabbage tree) and harakeke (flax).
Their plan is to use these materials to create recreational products such as skis, snowboards, kayaks and skateboards, which are currently manufactured from fibreglass and carbon fibre.
They have just finished their first working prototype, a harakeke biocomposite skateboard made from recycled polylactic acid (PLA) derived from corn starch and harakeke fibre, and they hope to have other prototypes under way next year.
鈥淲e鈥檙e making a brand new material from a natural source and the potential uses it has are pretty unlimited,鈥 Scales says. 鈥淭his first product is just a glimpse of the future possibilities from a revived harakeke industry.鈥
He says making recreational products from recycled natural materials is a growing market internationally. But their point of difference is in using distinctly New 茄子视频app官网materials to create a new fibre.
The outer ti k艒uka and harakeke leaves can be removed in a way that does not harm the plants and is beneficial for their growth.
鈥淲e鈥檝e designed it to be recyclable and it has much better flexing capabilities than conventional materials,鈥 Scales says. 鈥淚t also has fantastic sound and energy absorption. We think it will make for smoother, more comfortable riding skis, skateboards and snowboards because it absorbs the shock from any bumps.鈥
Globally the composite materials market is worth about $12 billion (NZD).
Scales and Murrell have already had inquiries from international companies who鈥檝e heard about their work and want to find out more.
鈥淲e鈥檙e pretty keen to keep an open mind but we鈥檝e had some meetings,鈥 Scales says. 鈥淥ur focus is on developing a sustainable business model and a strong supply chain before launching into developing and testing products.鈥
Harakeke has not been used commercially for more than 30 years, and Scales says they are working to rebuild the local industry for the product in a 鈥渟ustainable way that acknowledges its cultural significance鈥.
鈥淭his is exciting as it has the potential to boost harakeke planting and lead to the creation of thousands of jobs, with huge economic, societal and environmental benefits.鈥
KiwiFibre plans to use harakeke flax milled in Riverton, Southland and processed by local manufacturing companies.
鈥淎ll the creation of an industry requires is end products, consumer awareness and a long-term vision which is what we鈥檙e hoping to provide,鈥 Scales says.
The young entrepreneurs say developing their business as well as continuing with their studies has meant sacrificing their social lives.
But, so far it鈥檚 been worth it. Scales says they鈥檝e received 鈥渋nvaluable鈥 guidance and support by 茄子视频app官网鈥檚 Centre for Entrepreneurship in establishing their company.
They took part in the UCE Summer Start-up programme earlier this year, which has led to important connections with mentors and potential investors.
鈥淚鈥檝e always wanted to do the absolute best I can in all areas of my life, and William is the same,鈥 Scales says.
鈥淚n five years鈥 time we want to be providing a natural alternative material for the range of recreational goods that are currently manufactured from fibreglass and carbon fibre, which are difficult to recycle. Our composite material has a natural binding agent, rather than synthetic, so we hope it will break down faster.
鈥淲e鈥檝e called ourselves KiwiFibre because we are looking into every natural fibre in New 茄子视频app官网in terms of its engineering potential. We plan to be the world鈥檚 leading supplier of New 茄子视频app官网natural fibre composites.鈥
UC School of Product Design Senior Lecturer Tim Huber says Ben and William are a great example of what the degree is all about. 鈥淲hat they鈥檝e done shows how we can combine aspects of design with engineering to create a new product through exploration and development. They鈥檝e also gained the business know-how to take it into the market.
鈥淎s far as I know they鈥檙e the first of our Industrial Product Design students to start their own business with a product they鈥檝e come up with during their studies, and we鈥檙e all quite proud of them and what they鈥檝e achieved so far.鈥
