TECHNOLOGY

www.reinforcedplastics.com 13REINFORCEDplastics NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013

Scot & Fyfe adds new multiaxial

reinforcement fabrics

Reis Robotics delivers

preform system

Momentive collaborates on

automotive composites

REIS ROBOTICS has delivered a

preform system to the ZLP

Center for Lightweight Produc-

tion Technology, Germany, as

part of a project to automate

the manufacture of carbon fi bre

reinforced plastic (CFRP)

components.

The ZLP in Stade performs

research for the aerospace,

automotive, and wind energy

industries. One of its projects

(EVo - RTM-Processing for Net

Shaped Parts in High Quantities)

involves the development of

a fully automated resin transfer

moulding (RTM) process for

the production of CFRP

The preform system from Reis Robotics.

components in high volumes.

The EVo-process chain consists of

sub-systems: ply preparation;

preforming area; preform fi ne

trimming; RTM press; curing

oven; and master control system.

The Reis system automates

several process steps and by

means of robots, connects the

preform process to the

preceding materials supply stage

and the following RTM process.

Reis Robotics, headquartered in

Obernburg, Germany, specialises

in turnkey automation systems.

Reis Robotics;

www.reisrobotics.de

A NEW COLLABORATIVE research

agreement between Momentive

Specialty Chemicals Inc and the

Fraunhofer Project Center for

Composites Research at Western

University, London, Ontario, will

focus on mass production

technologies for composites for

the automotive market.

Momentive, headquartered in

Columbus, Ohio, USA, is a

supplier of thermoset resins for

the composites industry. The

Fraunhofer Project Center (FPC)

is a not-for-profi t partnership

between Western University and

the Fraunhofer Society, and is

Europe’s largest R&D organisation

for composite materials and their

associated manufacturing

technologies. The FPC at Western

University is expected to make

London, Ontario, a leading site for

the development of lightweight

composites for transportation,

building materials and renewable

energy applications.

“This partnership makes new

processes such as HP-RTM or

D-SMC lines much more

accessible to the North

American automotive industry as

both the state-of-the-art systems

and equipment will be available,”

says Rich Myers, chief tech-

nology offi cer, Momentive

Specialty Chemicals. “The

company will also use the

Fraunhofer Project Center’s

facility and equipment for its

own independent research and

product development with

customers.”

Momentive Specialty Chemicals;

www.momentive.com

Fraunhofer; www.fraunhofer.de

SCOTT & FYFE has launched a

new range of multiaxial

reinforcement fabrics. The

company adds that the new

range of textiles is an enhance-

ment to its existing product

range, which will now include a

wide variety of multiaxial fabrics,

such as unidirectional, biaxial,

triaxial and quadraxial fabrics

produced from a range of

technical fi bres including E-glass,

S-glass and aramid.

Scott & Fyfe, headquartered in

Scotland, says that it will

continue to optimise the design

of its products to tackle specifi c

challenges such as drape, resin

fl ow, air entrapment and surface

fi nish to provide the closed

moulding industry with higher

performance products that

process effi ciently.

Paul McMullan, business manager

for Scott & Fyfe Composites said:

“The introduction of this product

range is in response to growing

customer demand for us to

supply these products in

combination with a strong desire

to grow our presence in key

market segments such as marine,

wind energy and automotive.”

“Stitch-bonded fabrics are a core

competence of Scott & Fyfe,

having sold more than 1 billion

m2 in the last 15 years.”

Scott & Fyfe; www.scott-fyfe.com

RP0613_Technology News 13 01-11-2013 09:22:13