DIXIT Elium® is in the running with What are the challenges relatingto this innovation? NORTHERN LIGHT F.B. & A.P. – Clearly persuading our clients that our models deliver the same performance as the traditional models they know made from thermosettable resins. This means resistance, rigidity, etc. This is a huge challenge as we are Using natural fibers and environmentally sustainable the first to offer it on the market. That’s why we want to test resins such as Elium, Fabio Bignolini and Andrea® out one of our models in racing. If the trials are conclusive, Paduano, founders of Italian start-up Northern professional skippers will validate and give credibility to our Light, hope to revolutionize the sailing sector choice of options and materials, primarily Elium.® with technological innovations allowing raw materials to be reused and waste to be reduced. What does Northern Light offer? Their dream is to solve one of the sector’s biggest F.B. & A.P. – Two boats are soon to come out of our problems: composite boats abandoned when they workshops: Ecoprimus, a small dinghy for children, and reach the end of their life, stuck in shipyards, Ecoracer 769, our 9-meter sport yacht that will compete in ports or in the countryside. regattas. The Ecoprimus will be on the water in May; the first prototypes are already out. We’re all young but we have big ambitions. We plan to build other eco-designed models, such as a 10-meter yacht and a small foiler. Our sights are set on the mass yachting market. “We are offering something new, basing the design of our boats on recyclability.” Fabio Bignolini and Andrea Paduano Northern Light and Arkema: a sustainable partnership? F.B. & A.P. – Yes, because of the importance of Elium® resin for our boats, but that’s not all. Arkema is also helping us to design Elium resin hull production molds, still with the® same idea, and we are planning a partnership to develop Which parts of your boats are made using new recyclable materials. Arkema is a source of inspiration Elium resin?® as the company designed the very first prototype using Fabio Bignolini & Andrea Paduano – The hull, Elium resin, the Arkema 3 Mini 6.50, a demonstration® deck and the structures are made from natural fibers, model built four years ago with skipper Lalou Roucayrol’s recycled carbon and Elium Resin.® This helps to make Lalou Multi shipyard. our boats 90% recyclable. Currently, the traditional yacht and racing fleet is made from a non-recyclable mix of *Foiler: monohull boat that uses the dynamic support of several foils (submerged wings glass fiber and thermoset table resins. or level, streamlined and submerged airfoils) as a replacement for or in addition to the Archimedean mode of the hull or hulls. Is recyclability your main advantage? F.B. & A.P. – Absolutely! We are both young; we cre- FABIO BIGNOLINI Head of operations at Northern ated our start-up Northern Light just over a year ago, and Light, co-founder of the sailing team, winning yachtsman in we are sensitive to the advantage of recyclability. Elium® the European and Italian ORC (Offshore Racing Congress) resin, which has been an integral part of the entrepreneurial championships. project since it was created, is the solution. Eco-design requires recyclability, sustainable materials and reduced ANDREA PADUANO Technical director of Northern Light energy consumption at the production stage. and yachtsman. 36