IPCO and NFW have agreed to enter into a partnership agreement in which IPCO will invest in NFW to support and accelerate the scale-up of Mirum production as a sustainable leather alternative for the future.

IPCO innovates, manufactures and installs equipment and steel belts that enable high-volume industrial processing and is becoming a preferred business partner to companies seeking to scale up the production of new materials which accelerate the green transformation.

“We were looking for a technology enabling large-scale production to meet the demand we see in the market. Having evaluated different options we see IPCO and their double-belt press solution being the optimal way forward," says NFW CEO Luke Haverhals.

IPCO’s double-belt press leverages its technology platform, applying heat and pressure to produce composite materials. After several months of engineering and testing, IPCO’s double-belt press went live at NFW facility in late May 2023 and has now started to produce 1.6 meter-wide rolls of Mirum.

“By investing in NFW’s future, we're showing IPCO's strong commitment to NFW's scale-up and future success, and we can secure long-term opportunities in a growing and sustainable field. We see tremendous growth potential in segments and application areas linked to the green transformation," explains IPCO’s CEO Robert Hermans.

NFW will use the investment to further expand production capacity, while also exploring new sustainable applications and materials.

“The strategic partnership between IPCO and NFW is a good example of how a traditional industrial company with deep, long-standing technology and processing expertise can enable large-scale production of materials driving the green transition. This partnership is fully in line with the greater purpose of IPCO’s owners, FAM (a holding company owned by Wallenberg Investment AB), which has a passion for long-term development, innovation and social responsibility driving the transition into solutions sustainable for the future," Hermans adds.