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EVo - Fully automated resin transfer moulding (RTM) processes for high volume parts

EVo Platform

Due to their cost effectiveness and good material properties, epoxy resins are used for most high performance composite parts. But those parts have not yet conquered the mass market, as no production technology appears capable in delivering high quantities of parts. This is mainly driven by a still high degree of manual labor in today’s production technology. To introduce composite components in high quantities to the market, process technology has to be created first. Short cycle times, automated handling, material development are in the focus of the current demand. Within the project’s approach the fundamental engineering is done for the development of a production facility with a productivity of 100,000 complex composite parts per annum. Therefore a multi-functional production chain is built, which has the potential to simulate practical application in the fields of automation by considering the full scale of a component. To achieve this goal in productivity resin transfer moulding technology offers the best outcomes in regards to automation and reliability. The ZLP in Stade seeks to demonstrate a complete process chain in RTM technology to provide a fundamental understanding of the design of industrial processes. To increase the degree of the technology’s maturity ZLP focuses on:

• The fully automated production chain for complex composite parts,
• The reduction of manufacturing costs through automation, and
• The reduction of process times.

Due to the demand of flexibility of the process chain the following different component classes are in the scope of research:

• 3D-scale components with complex partial structures, and
• Curved, profiled frames.

In both the aeronautic and automotive industries an application is provided.