The SSUCHY Project, Bio Carbon and Sound Quality
What’s the SSUCHY Project?
For those who are interested in cutting edge materials development, you may be interested to know that after 4½ years, the SSUCHY Project has just closed. This was a €7.4m, pan-European R&D project with the mission to create next generation, sustainable and renewable biocomposites under the project title ‘Sustainable Structural & Multifunctional Biocomposites from Hybrid Natural Fibres & Bio-Based Polymers’ – SSUCHY.
During this time, many partners & contributors from a wide range of industries, universities and centres of excellence, collaborated and conducted research focussed on the development of composite constituents, based on a renewable resource (eg. biopolymers & plant fibre reinforcements) for the development of multifunctional recyclable and/or biodegradable bio-based composites.
What does this have to do with audio reproduction, you say?
One of the participating partners is Wilson Benesch, the high-end audio manufacturer from Sheffield UK. On the 9th February, Wilson Benesch’s Design Director Craig Milnes was one of 20 presenters who provided a report on the outcomes of SSUCHY. Craig’s presentation was entitled “Next Generation Advanced Composite Technologies – The Future is Bio Carbon”.
Wilson Benesch has always been at the forefront of using advanced materials in audio applications, being the first manufacturer in the world to use carbon fibre in a turntable and loudspeaker design. Today’s Wilson Benesch speaker models are unrivalled in their advanced use of carbon fibre monocoque cabinet designs. Given the company is an established pioneer of carbon fibre applications, it was fitting that it was chosen to be part of the SSUCHY Project.
Bio Carbon!
As a result of the investment made in this research, a new material ‘Bio Carbon’ has been created and will be adopted around the world in many industries. The fact that a material with such properties can be manufactured from a renewable resource base and can be recyclable and biodegradable is astonishing.
From an audio perspective, the data on the new Bio Carbon compound indicate that it has 3 times the damping ability of standard carbon fibre. 3 TIMES!!
As Bio Carbon monocoque designs are implemented into new loudspeaker designs, the ability of a speaker cabinet to mitigate resonances will be at an unprecedented level and the performance of Wilson Benesch speakers will redefine what is possible in high end audio.
So we, the music appreciating, high quality audio reproduction community get to benefit from the millions of dollars of research that initiatives such as the SSUCHY Project deliver. Upwards and onwards for loudspeaker design!
What’s next for Wilson Benesch?
Using expertise and insight gained through the project, all instances of current petroleum-based manufacturing materials and processes is being re-evaluated, with the view to replacing all petrochemicals from finite sources with sustainably sourced alternatives.
WB manufactures and assembles almost all product components in-house. Therefore, the company possesses diverse manufacturing technologies, including resin transfer moulding (RTM) and processing systems, CNC mills, a specialised lathe for the manufacture of proprietary componentry and tooling and 3D CAD/CAM design software.
This investment has enabled perpetual innovation and refinement of product designs for the high end audio market. A significant body of knowledge and expertise exists within the company, bolstered by an extensive network of multi-disciplinary collaborative links with academics, engineers and scientists at UK universities, the A.M.P. and private consultancies, all specialists within their respective fields.
This month, Wilson Benesch are launching their new Omnium Loudspeaker which will incorporate the new Bio Carbon monocoque design, instantly catapulting it to the forefront of loudspeaker cabinet design. Initial feedback from those that have had the opportunity to hear the Omnium say it delivers ‘ground-breaking’ sound quality. We are in for some good times!
THE FUTURE IS BIO CARBON
