Cevotec and Composite Automation announce partnership agreement

Cevotec (Munich, Germany) announced March 6 it has partnered with Composite Automation, LLC to introduce its innovative composite additive manufacturing technology to the North American market. The collaboration, announced at JEC World 2018 in Paris, expands the range of advanced process technologies for fiber composites available to North American manufacturers. “We are very happy to have John Melilli and his team at Composite Automation to introduce the benefits of patch technology to every composite manufacturer in North America. As a result of the positive feedback we received at CAMX 2017, we became convinced of the need to have a proactive presence in North America and Composite Automation is laser-focused on the markets we are pursuing,” says Thorsten Groene, managing director of Cevotec GmbH.

Nominated for the Innovation Award, Cevotec’s Fiber Patch Placement process drew strong attention at CAMX 2017, demonstrating the demand for automation solutions in the composites industry. “Increasing throughput, first pass quality, reducing waste and reducing reliance on touch labor are driving manufacturers to look for innovative automation solutions. Cevotec offers just that – flexible lay-up systems based on additive patch technology. Their Composites-4.0-approach with a powerful software suite focuses on especially complex parts. We are delighted to represent them in North America and believe that Cevotec’s technology will replace many hand lay-up applications,” says John Melilli, president of Composite Automation LLC.

Cevotec has recently announced major extensions to their SAMBA production cells. Since 2018, the automated lay-up systems also process thermoset prepreg tape, effectively replacing manual lay-up operations for complex parts. Standard AFP / ATL tape can also be fed into the SAMBA systems, offering an efficient outlet for residual tape material on bobbins from AFP / ATL processes. On the software side, the CAD-CAM platform ARTIST STUDIO for patch placement will be extended through a plug-in for commercial FEA software, enabling the efficient modelling and FE analysis of fiber patch laminates.

“From the design to the fabrication of the part, the complete process is managed by the Cevotec software and automation system. The full properties of the part are known before the part is manufactured. Reliable throughputs and material usage are empirically understood. This data is part of the justification for a machine acquisition,” adds John Melilli. “Fiber Patch Placement is a must-have technology for companies that want to be ahead of their competitors in the manufacture of composite parts.”

As part of the collaboration, Composite Automation now acts as the official representative for Cevotec in the US, Canada and Mexico, offering the entire product portfolio, including Cevotec’s “technology-as-a-service” offerings. With services ranging from laminate design and FE analyses to prototyping and manufacturing, manufacturers have multiple options to evaluate patch technology for their applications.