NEWS Cradle to Cradle-approved ceiling panel

Optimisation is the key to a complete Cradle to Cradle approved ceiling solution
To meet customer demand and ensure that we meet the ever-increasing demands for more environmentally friendly building solutions, we at KE Fibertec are continuously working to optimise and further develop our products. Most recently, we have been working to update our FBS ceiling panel - our take on a ceiling diffuser for offices, schools and other comfort environments. Until now, we have had an external supplier weld rails together to form the frame that holds the entire panel in place. However, because we want to focus on the materials and processes used to manufacture our products, we began a project some time ago to further develop our ceiling panel.

Each year our weaving mill generates up to 4 tonnes of waste in the form of plastic cones, which our yarn is delivered on from the manufacturer. We used to send the empty cones to the waste disposal site, sorted as plastic waste. But now we have developed a solution where we use some of this plastic waste to make new frame corners for our FBS ceiling panels. The plastic waste is converted into granulate and sent to one of our subcontractors, who then reuses the material to make new corner profiles for our ceiling panels.

Instead of using welding technology and throwing our plastic pipes at the waste disposal site, we have found a way to fully recycle waste into a new product. By offering the new corner profile, we can also offer a higher degree of flexibility, as unlike a welded solution, the corner profile can be disassembled and assembled with frame rails according to customer needs.

The FBS ceiling panel consists of three individual components - top, bottom and frame. The top and bottom are made of textile material woven at our own weaving mill in Denmark. For some time, we have been able to supply the bottom of the panel in Cradle to Cradle approved textile material in our permeable quality GreenWeave. Now we can also offer the top part in MultiWeave, which is also a Cradle to Cradle approved material.

At the same time, we have replaced the original rubber bulb cord in the top section with bulb cord manufactured on our braiding machines at the weaving mill. Here we use residual yarns from production, which were previously handled as waste, to ‘knit’ bulb cords for the top part of the ceiling panel.

We are very pleased to offer a single solution for our FBS ceiling panel, which, after extensive optimisation, is approved according to the Cradle to Cradle standard. This means that our customers have a strong alternative to a ceiling panel in buildings that must comply with various certifications and focus on sustainability.

In addition to offering a ceiling panel that is Cradle to Cradle certified, we would also like to highlight some of the many other benefits of choosing the FBS ceiling panel. The solution is available in several standard sizes and is ideal for rooms with low headroom and in rooms with low ceilings. At the same time, it is fully integrated with the ceiling. The panel is very lightweight so there is no need for additional ceiling suspension and it can be positioned in the same way as a traditional ceiling panel. Because the solution is built as sub-components, it is easy to replace the individual parts. At the same time, you can easily remove the textile material, especially in the bottom part, if you need to wash it or if you want it in a different colour.