Fairmat x LaunchPad O&P and Billy Footwear
download press releaseFairmat, LaunchPad O&P and Billy Footwear partner to develop a recycled carbon composite footplate for orthotic care in the US
FAIRMAT, LaunchPad O & P and Billy Footwear have launched a joint development initiative aimed at designing and optimising a recycled carbon composite footplate for the orthotics sector. The project brings together three complementary areas of expertise, advanced composite recycling, clinical orthotic practice and adaptive footwear engineering, with the objective of improving patient mobility through material innovation.
The collaboration reflects a growing convergence between high-performance materials and healthcare applications, where mechanical precision and reliability are central to long-term patient comfort and performance.
An industrial collaboration serving clinical performance
The primary objective of this initiative is to normalise gait mechanics while embedding sustainability into medical device applications.
- FAIRMAT's Technology: Utilising recycled carbon composite from aerospace to deliver high-performance stiffness, durability while advancing sustainability within medical device applications.
- LaunchPad O&P Clinical Expertise: As a leader in the orthotic industry, LaunchPad identified the critical need for optimised footplate stiffness to address real-world patient demands and functional outcomes.
- Billy Footwear Integration: Known for adaptive and forward-thinking designs, Billy Footwear ensures the footplate is seamlessly integrated into the shoe, achieving the required stiffness without compromising fit, comfort, or accessibility.
Measurable benefits for practitioners and patients
This collaboration translates composite material innovation into tangible clinical benefit. The engineered carbon composite structure is designed to optimize energy transfer during movement, supporting improved propulsion and more efficient gait patterns in everyday use. Its controlled mechanical performance enables clinicians to fine-tune orthotic support with greater accuracy, contributing to consistent and reliable functional outcomes.
At the same time, the use of recycled composite materials and streamlined production processes supports improved cost efficiency, reinforcing the ambition to broaden access to advanced orthotic solutions.
Circular materials entering medical applications
Beyond its clinical contribution, the project underlines the growing role of circular materials within healthcare. By redirecting carbon composite waste into high-value mobility solutions, FAIRMAT and its partners demonstrate how advanced industrial materials can be reintroduced into meaningful medical applications.
This initiative bridges the gap between aerospace-grade composites and patient-focused care, illustrating the tangible benefits of material circularity in practice.
About FAIRMAT :
Founded in 2020 by Benjamin Saada, FAIRMAT addresses a major challenge: the explosion of waste and the growing scarcity of high-performance materials. Through a deep-tech approach, FAIRMAT not only recycles materials but fully closes the materials loop by disrupting industrial processes. Its FairFactories in France and the United States are smart, agile and automated plants integrating robotics, software, AI and machine learning for ultra-efficient and scalable production. With Infinity Recycling, a new patented technology, FAIRMAT goes even further by enabling near-infinite recycling through a patented cold-plasma process that recovers intact carbon fiber.
After a €8.6m seed round in 2021 and a €34m Series A in 2022, FAIRMAT raised €51.5m in April 2025, combining €26.5m in equity and €25m in venture debt from the European Investment Bank. The round was completed with the support of new investors Bpifrance (Large Venture fund), Slate VC and family office Cape Capital, alongside existing shareholders Singular, Temasek, CNP and Pictet Group. An additional €10m equity extension was completed in October 2025 with the European fund Infinity Recycling to support FAIRMAT's industrial acceleration. The company employs 100 people.
About LaunchPad O&P:
LaunchPad O&P is a Minneapolis-based innovator, specializing in low-profile orthotic components and solutions, founded by certified orthotist Scott Hinshon. In collaboration with partners like FAIRMAT and BILLY Footwear, LaunchPad brings advanced clinical expertise in pediatric care to deliver innovative, evidence-based solutions for mobility. Guided by its core philosophy—“It’s Not What It Is, It’s What It Does”—LaunchPad prioritizes comprehensive approaches that focus on real-world mobility, deformity mitigation, rehabilitative care and empowering patients to achieve greater independence and confidence through thoughtful, patient-centered orthotic care.
