:AMSilk
{{Short description|German material science company}}
{{about||the recombinant spider silk-like protein extracted from the milk of transgenic goats|BioSteel (fiber)}}
AMSilk is an industrial supplier of synthetic silk biopolymers.{{Cite web|url=http://cosmetics.specialchem.com/news/product-news/amsilk-develops-spidersilk-a-biocompatible-material-for-use-in-cosmetic-formulations|title=AMSilk Develops Spidersilk, a Biocompatible Material for Use in Cosmetic Formulations|website=cosmetics.specialchem.com|access-date=2016-05-24}} The polymers are biocompatible and breathable.{{Cite web|url=http://www.innovationintextiles.com/amsilk-and-fraunhofer-partner-in-new-spin-process-for-spider-silk/|title=AMSilk and Fraunhofer partner in new spin process for spider silk|website=www.innovationintextiles.com|access-date=2016-05-24}} The company was founded in 2008 and has its headquarters at Campus Neuried in Munich.{{cite web |title=AMSilk Moves to New Site, Will Produce "Game Changing" Vegan Silk at Industrial Scale |url=https://vegconomist.com/materials/amsilk-new-site/ |website=Vegconomist |date=20 October 2022 |access-date=2024-03-22}} AMSilk is an industrial biotechnology company with a proprietary production process for their silk materials.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2013/09/synthetic-spider-silk/|title=Synthetic spider silk capsules assemble themselves (Wired UK)|magazine=Wired UK|access-date=2016-06-07 |last1=Drake |first1=Nadia }}
AMSilk produces a lightweight material trademarked as Biosteel,{{cite web|title=Biosteel Fiber|website=biosteel-fiber.com|url=http://www.biosteel-fiber.com/home/|accessdate=March 14, 2019}} created from recombinant spider silk, which was used by Adidas to create a biodegradable running shoe.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-biodegradable-shoes-silk-2017-3|title=Adidas is launching biodegradable shoes that can be dissolved in 36 hours|work=Business Insider|access-date=2018-07-16}} Jens Klein, former CEO of AMSilk, said during an interview that the biodegradable material can help reduce the amount of waste that has to be burned or pollutes the environment.{{Cite news|url=https://labiotech.eu/amsilk-adidas-biodegradable-shoes/|title=Meet AMSilk, the German Biotech Behind Adidas' Biodegradable Shoes|date=2018-06-04|work=Labiotech.eu|access-date=2018-07-16|language=en-US}}
AMSilk is also developing breast implants made of biodegradable spider silk in collaboration with the German company Polytech.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amsilk.com/Contents/user_upload/20180227_POLYTECH_and_AMSilk_Announce_Clinical_Study.pdf|title=POLYTECH and AMSilk Announce Start of Joint International Clinical Study for Silk-Coated Medical Implants|date=February 2018|access-date=2018-07-16|archive-date=2018-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716140520/https://www.amsilk.com/Contents/user_upload/20180227_POLYTECH_and_AMSilk_Announce_Clinical_Study.pdf|url-status=dead}}
History
AMSilk was founded in 2008 by Lin Römer and Professor Thomas Scheibel in Planegg, Germany, with the aim of becoming the world's first industrial supplier{{cite web |title=Food tech: satisfying investors' appetite for growth? |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7a9e64ca-7658-4aca-8f76-10f4bc4cd806 |website=Financial Times |access-date=2024-03-21}} of synthetic silk biopolymers.{{cite web |title=AMSilk, world's first industrial supplier of environmentally friendly silk biopolymers |url=https://www.yarnsandfibers.com/interview/amsilk-worlds-first-industrial-supplier-of-environmentally-friendly-silk-biopolymers/ |website=Yarnsandfibres.com |access-date=2024-03-21}}
In 2011, the company partnered with the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) to develop a new spin process for the AMSilk spider silk proteins.{{cite web |title=AMSilk And Fraunhofer Institute For Applied Polymer Research Join In The Development Of New Spin Process For Spider Silk |url=https://www.textileworld.com/textile-world/nonwovens-technical-textiles/2011/09/amsilk-and-fraunhofer-institute-for-applied-polymer-research-join-in-the-development-of-new-spin-process-for-spider-silk/ |website=Textile World |date=13 September 2011 |access-date=2024-03-21}}
In 2015, AMSilk began producing Biosteel® Fibre made from 100% silk proteins based on natural spider silk.{{cite web |title=Nature has all the answers |url=https://www.textiletechnology.net/fibers/interview/interview-with-ulrich-scherbel-amsilk-nature-has-all-the-answers-32173 |website=Textile Technology |access-date=2024-03-21}} Then, in November 2016, the company used its Biosteel® Fibre to collaborate with Adidas{{cite news |title=Adidas's high-tech factory brings production back to Germany |url=https://www.economist.com/business/2017/01/14/adidass-high-tech-factory-brings-production-back-to-germany |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=2024-03-21}} to create the ‘Futurecraft Biofabric’ shoe prototype.{{cite web |last1=Burns |first1=Mark |title=Adidas unveils world's first performance shoe made exclusively from biosteel fiber |url=https://www.si.com/media/2016/11/18/adidas-biosteel-fiber-shoe |website=SI |date=18 November 2016 |access-date=2024-03-21}} The Biosteel® Yarn fibre-based shoe is 100% biodegradable and is designed to replicate spider silk.{{cite web |last1=Rodríguez Fernández |first1=Clara |title=These Spider Silk Sneakers from Adidas Are Biodegradable |url=https://www.labiotech.eu/trends-news/adidas-amsilk-biodegradable-sneakers/ |website=Labiotech |date=18 November 2016 |access-date=2024-03-21}}
In April 2017, AMSilk announced its partnership with Gruschwitz Textilwerke.{{cite web |title=AMSilk and Gruschwitz to develop products using Biosteel fibre |url=https://www.innovationintextiles.com/amsilk-and-gruschwitz-to-develop-products-using-biosteel-fibre/ |website=Innovation in Textiles |access-date=2024-03-21}}
In 2019, Swiss cosmetics manufacturer Givaudan acquired the cosmetics arm of AMSilk to expand the use of spider silk technology in cosmetic products.{{cite web |last1=Rodríguez Fernández |first1=Clara |title=Cosmetics Giant Acquires German Biotech's Spider Silk Cosmetics Arm |url=https://www.labiotech.eu/trends-news/givaudan-amsilk-spider-silk-cosmetics/ |website=Labiotech |date=30 April 2019 |access-date=2024-03-21}}
In May 2021, the company secured a EUR 29 Million Series C fundraising.{{cite web |title=Food tech: satisfying investors' appetite for growth? |url=https://www.ft.com/content/7a9e64ca-7658-4aca-8f76-10f4bc4cd806 |website=Financial Times |access-date=2024-03-21}} In April 2023 AMSilk raised an additional €25 million to accelerate industrial scale-up and expand commercial operations.{{cite web |title=Extension of Series C financing |url=https://www.textiletechnology.net/fibers/news/amsilk-extension-of-series-c-financing-33816 |website=Textile Technology |access-date=2024-03-21}}
In February 2023, Evonik Industries signed a contract with AMSilk to supply industrial quantities of protein products made from the fermentation of renewable raw materials.{{cite web |last1=Scott |first1=Alex |title=Evonik to make spider silk for AMSilk |url=https://cen.acs.org/business/biobased-chemicals/Evonik-make-spider-silk-AMSilk/101/i7? |website=Chemical and Engineering News |access-date=2024-03-21}}
In 2023, AMSilk partnered with Brain Biotech, a company that develops and manufactures bio-based products for industry, to develop bio-based protein fibres for the textile industry.{{cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Simon |title=Biotech pioneers to partner on protein fibres |url=https://www.ecotextile.com/2023020830349/materials-production-news/biotech-pioneers-to-partner-on-protein-fibres.html |website=Ecotextile News |date=8 February 2023 |access-date=2024-03-21}}
Founding and Development
AMSilk has developed a range of silk biopolymers designed for application in various medical devices, focusing on enhancing the bio-compatibility of medical implants.{{cite web |title=Spider insider: Optimise interactions between the body and implants |url=https://www.medicalplasticsnews.com/medical-plastics-industry-insights/medical-plastics-materials-insights/spider-insider-how-to-optimise-interactions-between-the-body/ |website=Medical Plastics News |date=15 September 2022 |access-date=2024-03-22}}
In 2017, AMSilk was named one of the 50 most innovative companies in the world by the German edition of MIT Technology Review.{{cite web |title=Award for the 50 most innovative companies in the world |url=https://www.heise.de/hintergrund/Auszeichnung-fuer-die-50-weltweit-innovativsten-Unternehmen-3829094.html |website=Heise Online |date=12 September 2017 |access-date=2024-03-22}}
In 2018, AMSilk signed a deal with Airbus to develop a spider silk-based material for lightweight, high-performance planes.{{cite web |title=Synthetic spider silk: positive spin |url=https://www.ft.com/content/17bf7c4c-86bb-43c4-b10b-66e119d9dad8 |website=Financial Times |access-date=2024-03-22}} The collaboration aimed to launch the first prototype composite material in 2019.{{cite web |last1=Feldman |first1=Amy |title=Spider Silk In Airplanes? Germany's AMSilk Inks Deal With Airbus To Develop A New High-Performance Material |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyfeldman/2018/09/08/spider-silk-in-airplanes-germanys-amsilk-inks-deal-with-airbus-to-develop-a-new-high-performance-material/?sh=3f6b90703520 |work=Forbes |access-date=2024-03-22}}
Within the same year, the company partnered with Polytech Health & Aesthetics, the leading manufacturer of silicone implants, to begin a clinical trial of silk-coated implants on a handful of patients in Austria.{{cite web |title=AMSilk GmbH: POLYTECH and AMSilk Announce Start of Joint International Clinical Study for Silk-Coated Medical Implants |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/amsilk-gmbh-polytech-amsilk-announce-184500572.html |website=Yahoo Finance |date=27 February 2018 |access-date=2024-03-22}}
Headquarters
AMSilk is currently located at Campus Neuried in Munich, Germany, after relocating in October 2022.{{cite web |title=AMSilk Moves to New Site, Will Produce "Game Changing" Vegan Silk at Industrial Scale |url=https://vegconomist.com/materials/amsilk-new-site/ |website=Vegconomist |date=20 October 2022 |access-date=2024-03-22}}
Products and services
AMSilk partnered with Swiss watchmaker Omega SA in 2019 to make the Nato watch strap, which blends polyamide and Biosteel.{{cite web |last1=Rodríguez Fernández |first1=Clara |title=Watch Strap Made of Recombinant Spider Silk Launches in Europe |url=https://www.labiotech.eu/more-news/amsilk-spider-silk-watch-strap/ |website=Labiotech |date=31 January 2019 |access-date=2024-03-19}}
In January 2022, Mercedes-Benz partnered with AMSilk to develop sustainable door pulls using Biosteel fibre on its VISION EQXX{{cite web |title=Digital World Premiere of the VISION EQXX - the most efficient Mercedes-Benz ever |url=https://media.mercedes-benz.com/vision_eqxx |website=Mercedes-Benz Media |access-date=2024-03-19}} concept electric car.{{cite web |title=Mercedes-Benz Opts for AMSilk Vegan Materials in New Concept Car |url=https://vegconomist.com/fashion-design-and-beauty/mercedes-benz-opts-for-amsilk-vegan-materials-in-new-concept-car/ |website=Vegconomist |access-date=2024-03-19}}
Since announcing its partnership with Airbus in 2018,{{cite web |last1=Feldman |first1=Amy |title=Spider Silk In Airplanes? Germany's AMSilk Inks Deal With Airbus To Develop A New High-Performance Material |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/amyfeldman/2018/09/08/spider-silk-in-airplanes-germanys-amsilk-inks-deal-with-airbus-to-develop-a-new-high-performance-material/?sh=3f6b90703520 |work=Forbes |access-date=2024-03-22}} AMSilk has worked on developing silk-reinforced polymers as a substitute for Carbon-fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRPs).{{cite news |title=Aircraft construction is being transformed |url=https://www.economist.com/technology-quarterly/2019/05/30/aircraft-construction-is-being-transformed |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=2024-03-19}}
Environmental impact
AMSilk has worked with fashion brands to create sustainable alternatives using Biosteel® Fiber, a biosynthetic silk made by adding silk genes into bacteria through biofermentation. This material has been used in collaboration with Omega and Adidas for a watch strap and the "Futurecraft" shoe.{{cite web |last1=Grobosch |first1=Lara |title=Biocouture: This is the most sustainable way to produce materials |url=https://www.vogue.de/mode/artikel/biocouture-materialien-nachhaltig-hergestellt-bakterien |website=Vogue Germany |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=2024-03-20}} AMSilk's Biosteel® Fiber, used in these collaborations is notable for its biodegradability, breaking down in seawater and on land within a few months.{{cite web |last1=Pells |first1=Rachael |title=Fibres of the future – How is science combating fashion's sustainability problem? |url=https://www.upm.com/articles/beyond-fossils/23/fibres-of-the-future-how-is-science-combating-fashions-sustainability-problem/ |website=UPM.com |access-date=2024-03-20}}
Utilizing a bio-fabrication process that reprograms microorganisms based on spider DNA, the company produces this silk-like material at scale using bacteria and natural fermentation.{{cite web |last1=Grobosch |first1=Lara |title=Biocouture: This is the most sustainable way to produce materials |url=https://www.vogue.de/mode/artikel/biocouture-materialien-nachhaltig-hergestellt-bakterien |website=Vogue Germany |date=8 November 2022 |access-date=2024-03-20}}
In November 2022, AMSilk participated as one of 100 renowned companies in the VISION 2045 Summit held alongside the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).{{cite web |last1=Pinnock |first1=Olivia |title=Fashion Attendees At Cop27 Say Meaningful Targets And Greenwashing Are Key Concerns |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliviapinnock/2022/11/09/fashion-attendees-at-cop27-say-meaningful-targets-and-greenwashing-are-key-concerns/?sh=51845eaa5c2c |work=Forbes |access-date=2024-03-20}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.amsilk.com AMSilk Homepage]