Carrot and sticks
Scottish company Cellucomp has developed a new bio-composite which uses carrot fibre as the main reinforcement material
.
The company has launched the first product to be manufactured using Curran – a range of high performance fishing rods.
Material co-inventor Dr Eric Whale told Eureka: “Curran has unique properties especially in a fishing rod application. We are using a hollow core of carbon fibre for the fishing rod, and using the material in combination with it. It gives the rod excellent damping properties – with significantly quicker damping than carbon fibre.”
The material has a lower density than carbon fibre, and can also be moulded – although the technology is different to standard injection moulding, Whale says.
Cellucomp could also potentially supply components to other fishing rod manufacturers, he says, in addition to selling the fishing rods direct to consumers.
Curran is not on sale as a stand-alone material, but Whale says: “We are always interested in discussing how we can work with other people. There will come a time when we are selling the material.”
The company was launched in 2004 with funding from a Scottish Executive SMART Award, Scottish Enterprise Business Growth Fund, Halifax Bank of Scotland loan and founder equity.
