by NICOLA CATENARO
We continue the series of interviews on the future of composites as innovative materials. We interviewed Claudia Persico, VP & Rotational Director at Persico Group, an Italian multinational that produces moulds, presses and automated systems for a variety of industries, including automotive, rotational, marine, aerospace, medical and other technologies.
Claudia, what do you think the future of composites will be, in continuous growth or with less interesting prospects in the future?
"Composites are the future! Focusing on a green perspective (natural and recyclable), we are constantly looking for new materials and we are networking with companies that supply. We can also search for something new, by exploiting the best characteristics of various materials, which enhance their individual peculiarities and advantageous features when put together".
What are currently the projects that, also from your direct experience, do you consider most interesting in the field of composites?
"Hydrogen will be the green solution to the fossil fuels lack and the need to help the planet. The entire transport world is investing in this new technology, and we are involved in the production chain of Type IV tanks for hydrogen in gaseous form. These tanks have a non-metallic inner lining (made of composite materials) and are wrapped in an outer shell (made of carbon fibre and other interwoven thermoplastic polymers).
In recent years, our Company has been exploiting rotational technology in the production of the inner liner of Type IV tank".
How does this technology work?
"Specifically, our SMART® rotational machine: on the one hand, thanks to its innovative direct tool heating, it allows managing materials that were previously unmanageable with the rotational process and it guarantees a high-quality product result (with thickness uniformity that limits the consumption of raw material); on the other hand, SMART® takes advantage the traditional rotational process which, unlike other competing technologies, allows the boss (the metal part of the liner) to be co-moulded in a single step. Choosing technological neutrality, Persico Group does not exclude any market choice. In this phase of change, we are also pursuing electric vehicle projects: we exploit composite materials to make battery covers and other components related to e-vehicles. Last but not least, aerospace must be mentioned: they are the pioneers in the world of composites, both from the point of view of material selection and process automation".
Lightness, resistance and... what is the third element that adds charm to composites?
"Attention to aesthetics! Composite materials have the advantage of being lightweight, thus increasing vehicle performance; at the same time, they are durable, guaranteeing more security for the vehicle. But they are attractive, too! Composite materials can also be used to make the exterior parts of luxury cars!".
Automotive, nautical, aerospace, transport. In which of these sectors will composites have a brighter future?
"The entire transport world will benefit from the qualities of composites.
It is undeniable, however, that in the first instance the economically stronger sectors will have a brighter future: in the automotive industry, the first investments are in sports, premium and high-performance vehicles; in the nautical sector, racing and luxury boats; aerospace, by its very nature, always requires the highest quality performance, which is reserved for special projects".
Looking at the supplier market, don't you consider it risky that the raw material in the composite field is in the hands of very few large groups?
"As mentioned, the world of composites is still a niche market. I believe this is the reason why the raw material is in the hands of very few suppliers. But history teaches us that as demand increases, so does the response. For this reason, I do not find the current scenario risky: soon new suppliers will come forward".
Biocomposites or composite recycling: where are you investing or would you invest in this historical moment?
"If I could, I would invest in both solutions, as they are two environmentally friendly hot topics: recycling would allow the reuse of the material at the end of its life, so therefore it would avoid (or minimize) waste. On the other hand, bio-composites would give the possibility to start from a raw material that is green and sustainable".
WHO IS
After her graduation in marketing and corporate communication in Milan and a job experience in the USA, in 1998 Claudia Persico joined the family company Persico, an Italian multinational leader in moulds, presses, plants and automated solutions for various high-tech sectors. Over the years, she has helped steer the Group's growth strategies towards a decisive leap in production towards technological neutrality, environmental sustainability and circular economy, investing in processes to reduce consumption and the use of renewable sources in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, nautical, urban mobility and biomedical engineering. Claudia is now a member of the Council of Mechatronics Groups of Confindustria Bergamo, the board of JEC Group and the board of Federmeccanica. Claudia Persico in 2022 won the GammaDonna Award for innovative entrepreneurship.
In the image: Claudia Persico (ph. PAOLO PETTIGIANI)
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28 March 2023
