#208 Inside Moi Composites at Formnext: Hybrid LFAM, Continuous Fiber 3D Printing & Startup Reality
25.02.2026 25 min Staffel 5 Episode 166
Zusammenfassung & Show Notes
Today I’m excited to release one of the most anticipated episodes of our
#Composites360onTour series—our full 23‑minute deep‑dive with moi composites, recorded live at Formnext - Where ideas take shape 2025 Frankfurt/Main (Germany)
This is not just another technology walkthrough.
This is the story of a young, ambitious European deep‑tech team bringing real industrial capability into the market: a 10‑ton Hybrid Fabrication Platform (HFP) built for short‑fiber thermoset deposition and integrated milling, and a Continuous Fiber Manufacturing (CFM) process that pushes composite performance far beyond conventional AM boundaries.
In this episode, you’ll meet
Gabriele Natale (CEO),
Tommaso Geri (CTO), and
Vittoria Geri (CFO),
whose perspectives—technical, strategic, and financial—paint an honest picture of what it takes to scale a composites startup in Europe today. From TRLs and full‑stack product strategy to the hidden operational traps that appear during growth, this conversation captures the real startup reality behind their fast‑moving technology.
On a personal note, I want to acknowledge something meaningful:
I had the honour of coaching Moi Composites in my capacity as an Innovation Coach appointed by the European Commission within Horizon Europe in the context of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) Accelarator programme. Coaching always happens in a protected and confidential environment, but seeing their work now take the stage publicly—here at Formnext and soon again at Belotti SpA’s Booth G61, Hall 6 at JEC World 2026—is a proud moment.
To the entire Moi team: I wish you continued growth, bold execution, and all the flourishing success you deserve. Europe needs companies like yours—visionary in engineering, courageous in entrepreneurship, and committed to building real industrial capability.
Now enjoy the full interview (in the cover video 1, in the body video 2) in total 23 minutes of technology, strategy, and pure engineering spirit.
YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/1F2BlXRd8HE
This is not just another technology walkthrough.
This is the story of a young, ambitious European deep‑tech team bringing real industrial capability into the market: a 10‑ton Hybrid Fabrication Platform (HFP) built for short‑fiber thermoset deposition and integrated milling, and a Continuous Fiber Manufacturing (CFM) process that pushes composite performance far beyond conventional AM boundaries.
In this episode, you’ll meet
Gabriele Natale (CEO),
Tommaso Geri (CTO), and
Vittoria Geri (CFO),
whose perspectives—technical, strategic, and financial—paint an honest picture of what it takes to scale a composites startup in Europe today. From TRLs and full‑stack product strategy to the hidden operational traps that appear during growth, this conversation captures the real startup reality behind their fast‑moving technology.
On a personal note, I want to acknowledge something meaningful:
I had the honour of coaching Moi Composites in my capacity as an Innovation Coach appointed by the European Commission within Horizon Europe in the context of the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) Accelarator programme. Coaching always happens in a protected and confidential environment, but seeing their work now take the stage publicly—here at Formnext and soon again at Belotti SpA’s Booth G61, Hall 6 at JEC World 2026—is a proud moment.
To the entire Moi team: I wish you continued growth, bold execution, and all the flourishing success you deserve. Europe needs companies like yours—visionary in engineering, courageous in entrepreneurship, and committed to building real industrial capability.
Now enjoy the full interview (in the cover video 1, in the body video 2) in total 23 minutes of technology, strategy, and pure engineering spirit.
YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/1F2BlXRd8HE
Transkript
So after the demonstration
now where we talked
So dear community.
Welcome to Formnext.
about the short fibers, Tommaso,
let's talk also long fibers
This is actually the last day,
the 21st of November
because most of the time
glass fibers are rovings
2026 here in Frankfurt/Main.
And I'm together now with Moi Composites.
or in carbon
we talk about tows 2k, 4k, 10-K.
Moi Composites is a company
out of Milano, Italy,
So what do you have for those people
that need something in the longitudinal,
and I have together
with me Gabriele Natale, who is the CEO,
and I will speak soon also with Tommaso,
who is the CTO,
in the strength and mechanical strength?
-In this case
and we will talk about the processes now.
But first of all,
when structural reinforcement is required,
we refer to continuous fiber manufacturing
thank you for being part of my show.
-Thank you, Ilkay.
which is Moi's technology
able to process continuous glass
It was a pleasure to meet you.
As Moi Composites
and carbon fiber systems.
In this case, we have prepreg systems
we develop technology
for additive manufacturing,
that have been designed
for digital fabrication,
large format additive manufacturing
for technical material.
both glass fiber systems and carbon fiber.
The glass fiber systems.
So composite material
based on thermosetting resin.
They work with a vinyl-esther
based matrix,
We started as a spin
off of University Politecnico di Milano.
while the carbon fiber
they involve the use of epoxy systems.
And this is our first commercial release
of the HFP machine.
So in this case, of course,
the mechanical performances
will be substantially different.
Our glass has a tensile strength break
So the hybrid fabrication platform.
-So we continue at the last day
of 600 Mega Pascal.
In the range about that.
At our carbon we're close by 1200
with 110 Giga Pascal modulus in tension.
of Formnext year in Frankfurt.
And together with me, Tommaso.
Tommaso is the, can we say CTO,
the chief technology
So basically the idea here is to optimize
fiber placement
officer of Moi Composites?
He will show us in a moment
and 3D print structural components.
We are showcasing our CFM
the demonstration.
They have a very huge machine here.
And Tommaso, I would like to ask you,
first of all,
continuous fiber manufacturing
and the factor here.
can you explain us the machine
that is in operation here?
This will be launched
in a closed beta program
starting next year in 2026
for selected dedicated partners
for this program.
-So I see community
a very funny part here.
I know this is serious business.
This is for the teeth.
Can you explain me?
So the machine that you see operating here
is called HFP,
Is this just a demonstrator to show
or is there
which stands
for Hybrid Fabrication Platform.
It is basically
a modular robotic environment
some real application behind this?
-Well, actually, this is the product
that is able to host
multi processes approaches
of another company
which is called Moi Dental.
within composite manufacturing.
So what you see now on video
Okay, so Moi Dental was started
as a separate business unit within Moi
is the manufacturing of an object
with short fiber manufacturing technology,
and now it has grown to become
a different company.
which is also a technology
that we're launching
And Moi Dental creates continuous glass
fiber reinforced structures
and showcasing at this year's Formnext.
It processes shortfiber
reinforced thermoset pastes
with up to 45% filler,
that support implant
supported prosthesis in the mouth.
which makes it ideal for tooling
and mold applications
So in this case, the idea is to go
and address the challenges of a market
and given its dimensional
and thermal stability.
that are used to zirconia and titanium,
which are basically used
So, Tommaso, let me ask you a question
regarding this huge machine.
I mean, this machine has a weight probably
of 1 or 2 tons. Right?
for structural reinforcement
in dental prosthesis.
And we're actually more closer to 10 tons.
-Oh, I'm sorry, ten tons.
We've adapted a continuous fiber
manufacturing technology
to a smaller scale,
and today 3,500 of these
So getting ten tons in.
We are at hole number 12.
have been already manufactured
and successfully implanted into patients.
First floor, 12.1, in Frankfurt Messe.
I'm sure you guys know that.
And the idea here is to provide a degree
of energy absorption
That nice place.
So how do you handle ten tons
during chewing so that the weakest link
would not be the patient's bone,
in an exhibition?
-With a very big elevator
to get it to the first floor. Basically.
-Is it easy?
as in the case of titanium and zirconia.
And this basically translates
Yes. It was quite easy, actually,
because the cell is built by itself
to a swift and better recovery
of the patient after the surgery.
to be very rapid to assemble.
So it's very modular.
And the implant operation.
-Is more comfortable
It was designed to be transported
to different kinds of locations
and more natural feeling.
-In a sense, we're closer
and different kinds of industrial.
-So it's mobile actually.
to the original elastic modulus
of the tissues
Actually it's on wheels.
-It's on wheels ok.
that we're going to substitute.
-So this is a separate business
Yes. So there's a different parts
of both the structural
within Moi.
-Exactly, exactly.
Thanks so much
Community. You have to know,
and the covering panels
that are assembled together.
I know Gabriele
from our innovation Coachings before
So it makes it easier
to be moved in smaller units.
and when he mentioned
that they will be displaying
Thank you so much for the information
on the machine now, Tommaso,
and showing at Formnext
the machine, I said, okay, let's go.
let's move to the other side
and talk about the part
Because watching things on PowerPoint
is one thing,
that is producing right now.
-Okay. What we're seeing here
is our sateen(?) end effector,
which is depositing our SG A1134 material
but seeing it in reality
is the other thing.
And I will show you
around their booth in a minute
within our newly launched robotic cell,
which is called HFP series.
and you will see how large this booth is.
So this is the first time
you are at form next.
And I will discuss form next also
It's called HFP because it stands
for Hybrid Fabrication Platform.
with your colleague Vittoria later on.
But let me ask you, as a startup
So basically we envision this
as a modular system
in which the robot
and the external position
and such a big booth
has that not been a challenge to you guys?
can lose the extruder and build,
for instance,
a milling unit that can be used
to finish the part to tolerance.
Yes, of course, it's a challenge.
But we had to manage, let's say,
So the idea here is to have a material
which is fast to process at a speed
all the logistic aspects
to bring such a huge machine
exceeding 300mm per second,
and also easy to be mailed(?)
on the first floor of the exhibition
was a little bit tricky with forklift
afterwards, because we embedded
a 45% of short glass fiber reinforcement
and let's say the elevator
to try to fit it, but in the end we get
in this thermoset matrix system.
So basically right now we're showcasing
it. So you can see the live printing
right now.
I see also very excellent parts here.
It's a fantastic show.
some non-planar printing application.
The print has already just started,
And you are showing really
the capabilities of Moi Composites.
So Gabriele, let's talk
about a little more about more composites.
but it's going to be growing.
And the external access position
is going to be tilting more
the higher the higher we go.
I love talking to you
because you are really a startup
or spin off of the
of the University of Milano.
And this material
is of one of our products.
We want to inspire
also other young companies
So we're also presenting here at Formnext
2025, together with the Strat o software,
in the technology, in the innovation.
So tell me regarding your technology
which you don't see,
but it's powering the the whole process
and innovation level,
which TRL do you have right now?
from slicing path planning
and also machine control,
for which we created a Strato for machine.
-Let me ask you.
So it depends on the application.
We have some moonshots
that are on TRL 6 or 7 other applications.
Which one we
So you said the table
is tilting right now.
What is the purpose of the tilting?
Why is it doing?
are presenting right now
are commercially available.
The purpose of the tilting is to be able
to orient the toolpath
So already being tested with pilots
and certified
along curved and more complex surfaces.
That would not be achievable
also the material certification
we pass through.
in planar 3D printing.
So in this way, I'm actually increasing
We have a lot of projects on the pipeline.
the building envelope and the reachability
of the robotic system,
avoiding collision with the actual object,
and basically improving
But then we decided to start
from the first one
the number of geometries that I'm able
to produce with this kind
and then proceed on the next year
to release new technology
of systems, we're showcasing
some geometries
and to present new innovation next year
and new material
that, for instance,
would not be manufactured
without the external position
and for instance, the big overhangs
for high performing production.
-Let's talk about also
or overhangs that go into negative angles
that wouldn't be unattainable
your business model, your concept.
Now you have the possibility, of course,
without the extra degrees
of freedom of the external positioning.
to supply the equipment,
but also you have the possibility
to supply only parts. For example,
if someone has already the robot,
Also, in terms of productivity,
I'm basically moving to configurations
you can service them with the head,
let's say the printing part.
in which the robot is able to be faster
in processing this material.
And you have also the materials,
and you have also the software part.
So this part will be something
like this on the bottom.
So just explain to our community
why do you decide
Exactly. Is it for flowers
or what is this?
for a complete solution for Moi?
-Basically we look
No, this is just a demonstrator.
-A demonstrator.
Okay. So this demonstrator
has a lot of curves,
at the composite production
for additive manufacturing
but it's still very strong. So tell me,
is there fiber involved in this now?
as an ecosystem.
So we engineer the hardware, inform a plug
There's short fiber involved.
-That means that your thermoset
and play robotic cell for clients
that want to just attach the electricity
has already the fibers being in the mix.
-Exactly.
and start to print.
Or if a client's already having our robot,
Like a BMC?
-Like a paste.
Like a paste, okay.
-Basically you would have
we can retrofit the machine
using our our toilet.
a highly viscous material
that is provided to the dosing unit
that you see here
via an hydraulic connection,
And of course,
installing the electronics and firmware
the black pipe that you see entering it
and is provided by an external reservoir
to be able to manage
the composite production
via additive manufacturing.
We decided to engineer hardware, software,
and material supply pump
that brings it to the tool head.
So the the glass
that is incorporated in the paste.
material because thanks to this,
we can have the full control
Do you have a specification on this glass?
Has it to be a certain diameter,
of the production
and we decided to engineer hardware,
software and material
because we want to have
a certain length,
or can you use any reinforcement?
the full production of the process,
and we want to be at the forefront
No. We've actually iterated
over different kinds of glass materials
of innovation in this kind of sector.
-For any startup
within to be used as filler
within our SG A1134 system.
out there that are starting up
do you think as a startup yourself,
And we basically got to a fraction
of milled fibers.
you have to have the idea
of a business model before you start up?
In this case, we are, of course
associating the quality of the prints
Or is that a process
that is maturing by time?
What would be your case at Moi,
and what would you recommend to others
that we manufacture with the length
and the length distribution
of our fiber reinforcement.
Okay. Thank you so much, Tommaso,
after you have gone through this process?
-We started by interviewing clients.
for introduction of this demo.
Thank you very much.
So basically we are obsessed
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So in order to choose
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to print your part.
So this kind of technology is suitable
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or even molds production or lamination.
Or for
example, mold for thermal forming process.
What is this installation here?
-This is an architectural part.
It's the Moai.
But it has nothing to do
with your company name?
No. Also, we printed our coffee table,
the one we were
seated before.
-Can you turn the face down
so we can see it from the bottom?
Show it in the camera.
And then you got
a nice shiny composite part.
Tell me about this one.
-Oh, this one we made the mold.
This is a bike shield for competition.
And we did it
both using carbon fiber
and bcomp material over there.
So this is a hemp fiber?
So
this
is now the second part.
And I would like to introduce you
to Vittoria. Vittoria
is in the finance function
of Moi Composites. So Vittoria, thanks
for being part of my show.
Finance on an exhibition? How come?
-Just because I'm really
into what me and the team are doing.
So really excited on the market leads
and, you know,
seeing how the market is reacting
and I want it to be, you know,
a really inside the trade show part
and the presenting part.
-In the genes of a CFO is, of course,
the controlling part
is that the controlling part?
Not control people,
but controlling the business.
Really taking a good look on
what's coming next
and planning
to do everything that we want to do.
Vittoria. So you have been heavily
involved, I understand,
in the Formnext preparation
and everything.
For our community.
Who doesn't know Formnext,
what can we relay to our community about?
-Formnext is one of the biggest additive
manufacturing trade shows.
We've decided to be presenting
our solution here at Formnext,
because it's a really good fit
for every sector that it's coming
to take a look at new solutions,
which, you know,
they always are very interesting
for common visitors
that are really into 3D printing,
as well as industries
that are looking around to see what's new.
So we've decided
to present our new solution
and our showcase our applications.
Here we've got the chance
to talk to a lot of different sectors,
from automotive to architecture
and design to aerospace, biomedical.
And we are really, really satisfied
with the list we've collected so far.
They're really good quality,
good quality leads.
We've had lots of different talks
and they were really, really insightful
on what's coming next
for everyone in the market.
-And that's actually a good start
and a good feeling, isn't it?
Because you are the first time
on an exhibition
with a big booth like this,
and getting such a response is fantastic.
-Yes, it's a more additive manufacturing
in general trade show.
So we've decided to unveil the technology.
It was the perfect time
and it was really a good fit for Formnext.
Allow me one more question.
Just a quick one,
because you are a CFO
in the finance of a startup.
I have a lot of startup community.
What would be your one tip for startups
in terms of finance?
I'm asking because I feel
sometimes finance
is not so taken seriously.
No, it is really serious.
It is when when you have to scale up,
even just a little bit
before the big scale.
Just make sure
you double check the numbers
because you may be under looking
some aspect on operational costs.
You have to really plan
short term mid-term.
In the long term you'll get there.
But you know
be really tight on the numbers,
so double check them every time.
Vittoria, thank you so much.
Also for the bonus tip.
Thank you and have a great rest
of the show.
Thank
you,
Ilkay.