Reference Projects
Reference Projects
Discover the exciting innovations that helped us reinvent how cork engages the world ABOUT USThe greatest tribute regarding the adaptability of Cork Composites to any project is probably the amount of different projects we get involved in. We are always being asked to bring something new from the drawing board and into reality.
The following case studies are a glimpse of how our materials and applications are being used in innovative ways.
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Inspiro, the state-of-the-art Siemens metro
Warsaw
Inspiro, the surface metro by Siemens, launched in Poland in 2012, was designed to be the most modern, efficient, and sustainable in its class.
It is one of the lightest metros in the world as a result of the installation of the innovative AluCORK cork flooring by Amorim Cork Composites, which contributes to weight savings of around 30% when compared to traditional models.
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Quiet Motion by Erwan & Ronan Bouroullec for BMWi
Milan
Exhibited on a tour arranged by BMWi in several world capitals, it used cork supplied by Amorim Cork Composites as well as a series of strips of blue fabrics.
Quiet Moon represents the dynamic allegory of contemplation and sustainable mobility.
It substantiates the silent use of energy as an analogy to the electric propulsion that makes vehicles more environmentally friendly and will be increasingly integrated in the new generation of vehicles from BMWi.
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Serpentine Gallery Pavilion
London
The most visited of all summer pavilions of the famous London art gallery. The project by architects Herzog & de Meuron and visual artist Ai Weiwei, the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion 2012 found its transversal element in cork. Over 80 m3 of cork were used in the circular complex multi-level structure. The Serpentine Pavilion 2012 is currently part of the private collection of collectors Usha and Lakshmi N. Mittal.
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Vega, the european rocket
French Guiana
The European Space Agency's (ESA) most recent rocket was launched into space in 2012, equipped with technical products manufactured by Amorim Cork Composites. To prevent the rocket from overheating, cork was placed in the nose cone and other areas sensitive to temperature.
As a result of the natural thermal and vibration insulation characteristics and fire-resistance, TPS (Thermal Protection Systems) cork composites play an important role in the launch of rockets and spacecraft. -
Materia - Cork by Amorim
Milan
This collection, launched by Amorim and directed by ExperimentaDesign, was developed with the aim to raise the profile of cork and conquer new territories and audiences.
It is made up of exclusive designer objects, made for everyday use, which take advantage of the unique properties of cork as a result of the most advanced production technologies.The creativity is from ten renowned national and international designers and studios: Big-Game (CH), Daniel Caramelo (PT), Fernando Brízio (PT), Filipe Alarcão (PT), Inga Sempé (FR), James Irvine (EN), Keiji Takeuchi (JP), Marco Sousa Santos (PT), Miguel Vieira Baptista (PT), Nendo (JP), Pedrita (PT) and Raw Edges (IL/UK).
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EcoTrain: light, fast, eco-efficient
Portugal
As an eco-efficient solution, lightweight and comfortable, cork is a fundamental element for increasing thermal and acoustic comfort, reducing weight and optimizing energy consumption. The solutions of Amorim Cork Composites are applied on the flooring, partitions, and side panels of the EcoTrain, contributing to the compliance of the state-of-the-art trains with the new European legal framework for the rail industry.
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Life, "Crystal Cabin Awards"
Hamburg
Winner of the international “Crystal Cabin Awards 2012” in the “Visionary Concepts” category, the LIFE project focuses on the executive aviation of the future. Combining design, engineering, state-of-the-art technology and solutions with natural and sustainable materials, such as leather and cork, gives rise to an innovative, comfortable and sophisticated aircraft cabin.
The thermal and acoustic comfort is provided by Amorim Cork Composites's Corecork sandwich panels, covered in natural leather and Corkleather. Cork was fitted to the ceiling, side panels, and seats, together with advanced composite materials. In addition to Amorim, the consortium also includes Almadesign, INEGI, and SETSA, among other entities, and Embraer as a consultant. -
McNamara’s Cork Surf Board
Nazare, Portugal
Amorim Cork Composites developed cork surfboards for the Hawaiian surfer Garrett McNamara.
This project was launched in 2013 with a view to designing high efficiency surfboards making use of Portuguese raw materials and technology. In partnership with Mercedes-Benz and Amorim, the project was started in the last quarter of 2014.Cork surfboards with Amorim Cork Composites Corecork technology, relatively thin, strong face sheets bonded to thicker, lightweight core materials.
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NELO Kayaks
High Performance Cork at the Olympic Games
Amorim Cork Composites (ACC) associated with the Portuguese company M.A.R. Kayaks, known internationally for its NELO Kayaks (prominent leaders obtaining medals in world championships), through the incorporation of cork in the production of kayaks and other types of nautical vessels.
Cork not only favours the technical performance of the kayak (through the excellent dampening, low absorption of resin and good resistance to fresh and salt water) but is also a sustainable and natural material, presenting an ideal replacement for technical fabrics and synthetic foams.
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Peugeot 208 Natural Concept
Brazil
Peugeot Brazil has introduced the 208 Natural Concept at the Sao Paulo International Motor Show. The solid cooperation between the PSA Style Centre and EMBRAER paved the way for the arrival of other partners and suppliers involved in this project.
The 208 Natural is an eco-friendly model that features a number of components from sustainable sources, namely Amorim Cork Composites, partner supplier of Cork roof lining and part of the instruments panel (Wallcork), the boot carpet made from recycled tire sheeting (Sportsfloor) and personalized carpets made from a material blending rubber and cork.
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AluCORK® and the new generation of Alfa Pendular at CP
Portugal
The entire fleet of CP's Alfa Pendular trains was remodeled, integrating solutions in cork developed by Amorim Cork Composites (ACC) specifically for the railway industry.
The project presented by EMEF – Railway Equipment Maintenance Company is largely focused on increasing the comfort and security of passengers and decreasing energy consumption through better acoustic isolation and reducing the weight of the cars by incorporating floors made of Amorim Cork Composites’s AluCORK®. -
Creative cork tiles featured at the Knoll showroom
USA
The Norwegian designer Lars Beller Fjetland conceived the Oporto and Lisbon cork tiles giving rise to Spinneybeck's Beller Collection by Knoll.
Spinneybeck chose Amorim Cork Composites to bring to reality these decorative modules with thermal and acoustic isolation performance.
The collection was distinguished with the #MetropolisLikes prize at NeoCon 2016, the largest interior design fair in North America. -
FieldTurf
USA
FieldTurf, the specialist in developing artificial turf solutions and the pioneer in the research of latest generation products for sport surfaces integrated cork in two of their most recent systems, Coolplay and Purefill, already applied on some of the largest stadiums in the world.
Searching for high performance and comfort, materials such as sand, cork and recycled rubber (SBR) are conjugated, resulting in a product of assumed thermal and acoustic comfort, with high durability and effective in impact absorption. -
METAMORPHOSIS
Portugal
METAMORPHOSIS project, is the result of a research and development project on the potential of cork. Pritzker Prize winners, Álvaro Siza, Eduardo Souto de Moura and Herzog & de Meuron were invited to participate in the project, along with celebrated architects Alejandro Aravena, Amanda Levete, João Luís Carrilho da Graça and Manuel Aires Mateus as well as three top product designers, James Irvine, Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa.
Commissioned by Experimentadesign, Metamorphosis was one of the central exhibitions of the Experimentadesign's EXD'13 Biennale - "No Borders"