With a camperized bee from Italy to the North Cape, through 9 countries: the extraordinary solidarity undertaking of Francesco Furlani

An extraordinary adventure that began in Legnago, in the province of Verona, led the twenty-eight-year-old Francesco Furlani from Verona across Europe to the extreme north of the continent through nine European countries. The YouTuber and content creator tackled an itinerary of over 4,500 km aboard a 1967 Ape Piaggio 703 TM, traveling at an average speed of 40-45 kilometers per hour for 54 days.

The historic vehicle carries with it a profound emotional value: the vehicle was lent by the Carlini brothers who responded to the young man’s appeal by offering the Ape used in the past by their father to sell fruit in the Scaliger area, transforming a symbol of family work into the engine of a charitable initiative: raising funds for the Tra Terra e Cielo Foundation.

UL-LFAM technology and proprietary CoreLight3D® material

However, tackling the long crossing would not have been possible without unprecedented technological innovation. The vehicle was in fact equipped with an ultra-light 3D printed living cell created by the NUGAE technological team. The structure, manufactured with the proprietary CoreLight3D® material based on recycled polypropylene and the UL-LFAM process, tipped the scales at just 70 kilograms, ensuring a mass saving of 130 kilograms compared to equivalent traditional structures made of fiberglass, which normally exceed 200 kilos. This drastic reduction allowed the integration of bed, kitchen, outdoor shower, batteries, tanks and food supplies, perfectly fitting within the very strict load limits of the iconic tricycle.

UL-LFAM technology and proprietary CoreLight3D® material

The key to this engineering breakthrough lies in the CoreLight3D® material, a thermoplastic foam created by the Italian startup NUGAE from recycled polypropylene. The component has a density of 300 kg/m³ which, thanks to thin walls and hollow geometries, allows the final product to reach an apparent density of only 100 kg/m³.

The company, founded by Francesco Belvisi in 2012 and active between Sicily and Lombardy, has developed the entire UL-LFAM (Ultra-Light Large Format Additive Manufacturing) production ecosystem. This process integrates a patented extruder, six-axis industrial robots, NU-Slice software and glass or carbon fiber reinforcing skins arranged in a sandwich configuration, allowing the structure to be printed on a NU-Print Large machine operated by a client enterprise.

The field test between extreme conditions and new industrial applications

The long journey towards the Arctic latitudes subjected the living cell to an extreme road test: up to 12 hours of driving a day, pouring rain, gusts of wind at 90 km/h, continuous vibrations and temperature changes that went from 30°C at departure to 2°C at arrival. Before conquering light mobility, NUGAE technology was tested in the nautical sector with a 37 kilo component for a 13 meter catamaran presented at JEC World 2026, as well as in Naples for the sets of the Garibaldi Urban Orchestra. The development model is based on the print-on-place logic, which eliminates the need to transport bulky elements by making only the digital file, the raw material and the skills necessary to manufacture the structure travel close to the place of use.

The return to Verona and the fundraising for solidarity

The adventure officially ended on the morning of 6 September 2026 at 11.40 am with the triumphal entry into Piazza Bra in Verona. Francesco Furlani reached the finish line accompanied by his friend Pietro, who shared the journey on his Vespa, finding the city public and the councilor for Productive Activities Alessia Rotta to welcome them.

The expedition achieved its main aim by raising 4,500 euros for the Tra Terra e Cielo Foundation, the organization born from the commitment of Elise Amighini and Jacopo Reale to offer psychological support to parents facing the loss of a child.