The acquisition gives Biwi access to additive composite manufacturing technology, nearly 40 industrial machines and 22 patent families, supporting its plan to scale production and establish a technology centre in Glovelier.
Swiss technical materials manufacturer Biwi SA is expanding its advanced materials business after acquiring the assets of 9T Labs AG, a Zurich-based start-up known for its work in additive manufacturing for carbon composites.
The transaction brings 9T Labs’ technology, equipment and intellectual property into Biwi’s operations. For the Glovelier-headquartered company, the acquisition is not simply an addition to its manufacturing portfolio. It is part of a broader effort to move from processing technical materials to developing and industrialising advanced composite technologies.
9T Labs entered liquidation at the end of 2025, despite having raised more than CHF 20 million. The company had developed a manufacturing process for producing lightweight carbon composite components with high mechanical strength. Biwi now plans to provide the industrial base needed to take that technology beyond demonstration projects and into larger production runs.
BIWI: From promising technology to industrial production
At the centre of the acquisition is Additive Fusion Technology, or AFT.
The process is designed to control the orientation of continuous carbon fibres within a component. According to the information released by the companies, the technology can produce parts containing up to 60 per cent continuously oriented carbon fibres.
Pascal Bourquard Jr., chief executive officer of Biwi, described 9T Labs’ technology as being ahead of the market rather than lacking technical value. He said the missing element was an industrial structure capable of turning the technology into a repeatable and commercially viable production process.
Bourquard also said the process could be used to manufacture components that are twice as strong as titanium while weighing up to 70 per cent less. These performance figures are claims made by Biwi’s management and will ultimately depend on the design, material configuration and intended application of each component.
The next stage will focus on achieving consistent manufacturing results at scale. Biwi intends to place the technology within a new independent entity and work towards the repeatability required for larger production programmes.
Technology renamed Neocarb
Biwi has renamed the acquired technology Neocarb.
The company says the platform will combine precise fibre placement with digitally controlled manufacturing. Its stated advantages include reduced material waste, digital traceability, lower component weight and improved mechanical performance.
The acquisition also includes nearly 40 industrial machines and a portfolio of 22 patent families. Biwi believes these assets will strengthen its position in European composite manufacturing and support its transition into a more integrated technology business.
Rather than limiting Neocarb to a single industry, the company is targeting sectors where lightweight construction, accuracy and material performance carry significant value. These include aerospace, mobility, medical applications and watchmaking.
The range of sectors reflects the wider opportunity Biwi sees for high-precision composite components. Aerospace and mobility manufacturers continue to examine weight reduction as part of performance and efficiency improvements, while medical and watchmaking applications often require smaller components with tight production tolerances.
Biwi has not disclosed specific customer contracts, production volumes or revenue targets linked to Neocarb.
Glovelier centre could open in 2027
The acquisition is also connected to Biwi’s plan for a new technology centre in Glovelier, in Switzerland’s canton of Jura.
The proposed facility would be located opposite the company’s existing site. Biwi expects to invest several million Swiss francs in the project, with a possible opening in 2027.
The centre is expected to cover more than carbon composites. Biwi plans to create a broader environment for additive manufacturing, new material development, automation and other advanced industrial processes.
Olivier Comond, Biwi’s head of research and development, said the facility is intended to bring together research, prototyping and industrialisation. The company also wants the centre to host partnerships involving industrial businesses, academic institutions and public organisations.
This approach could help Biwi shorten the path between developing a material or process and proving that it can be manufactured reliably. It may also give potential partners access to equipment, technical expertise and industrial testing within the same location.
A wider ambition for Switzerland’s Jura region
Biwi’s plans extend beyond its own production capabilities.
The company wants the Glovelier centre to strengthen the Jura region’s position in advanced manufacturing and support the creation of highly qualified jobs. Bourquard said his longer-term objective is to establish the canton as a recognised technology hub over the next five to ten years.
He has also set an ambitious direction for the company, stating that Biwi aims to become the world’s most advanced composite manufacturer. That goal will depend on how successfully the business integrates the acquired technology, proves manufacturing repeatability and converts technical capability into sustained commercial demand.
For now, the acquisition gives Biwi a larger technology base, a substantial intellectual property portfolio and a clear industrialisation project.
The more important test comes next: turning a promising composite manufacturing process into dependable production for industries where performance, quality and consistency cannot be compromised.
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