Automated winding machine supplier forges carbon fiber application growth

CompoTech (Sušice, Czech Republic) is a global supplier of carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy component designs and automated carbon fiber placement solutions. The company notes a track record for using its in-house expertise and automated manufacturing technologies to develop structural components with high performance, productivity and cost-saving benefits.

CompoTech showcases its proprietary carbon fiber placement, integrated loop and automated fiber winding and laying technologies. Key to these are “true zero degree” axial fiber placement capabilities, which provides additional benefits compared to traditional “near zero” winding, according to the company. CompoTech’s winding and placement technologies use a combination of polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and continuous ultra-high modulus pitch fibers. Using its in-house developed automated fiber laying (AFL) solution, fibers are precisely positioned to provide the light weight, high strength and stiffness needed in applications such as automated robot lines, materials handling and telescopic lifting systems, as well industrial machine gantry beams.

CompoTech says that its expertise in axial fiber placement and carbon fiber component design is enabling the company to continue forging a strong  position in growing new composite applications. A recent example of a carbon fiber/epoxy beam application developed by CompoTech, which showcases the use of its axial AFL and advanced winding technologies, is a carbon fiber gantry axis beam specified in Kongsberg Precision Cutting Systems’ (Miamisburg, Ohio, U.S.) new precision cutting machine.

Kongsberg recently launched the Kongsberg Ultimate machine for accurate, high-productivity cutting of corrugated board packaging and flat display sheet materials. The system includes CompoTech’s wide-format carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy traverse beam, which provides precision cutting accuracy of up to 2.5g acceleration. The new design also offers very low deflection, even under high acceleration, and the 50-kg downforce needed for optimal cutting of corrugated board. Kongsberg notes significant productivity gains thanks to the gantry beam’s light weight when compared to steel and its smaller profile when compared to an aluminum gantry. 

CompoTech is growing its automated advanced winding machine business, which supplies custom-made, “turnkey” automated fiber winding machines. A recent customer is Meopta - optika, s.r.o. (Přerov, Czech Republic), a Carlyle Group company and automated machine company that ordered an advanced winding machine from CompoTech to manufacture optical components developed by CompoTech, as well as axis beams for silicon chip optical measurement machines.

Attendees are able to find out more about CompoTech’s automated manufacturing offering and the ongoing R&D projects with universities OEMs and Tier 1 specialist producers looking to carbon fiber components for next-generation energy storage, aviation, HGV and mass transportation applications.

Visit CompoTech at Booth G85 in Hall 6.