FAGOR ARRASATE’S COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF AN ULTRA-FAST CONSOLIDATOR MACHINE SYSTEM RECEIVES THE JEC INNOVATION AWARD

Fagor Arrasate's commitment to innovation has received recognition from the JEC, the leading international composites fair. A project led by AZL Aachen, the international benchmark research centre for lightweight materials, in which Fagor Arrasate contributes as an associated partner, won the JEC Innovation Awards in the Industry and Equipment category.

The project aimed at the manufacture of an ultra-fast for the mass production of individual customized preforms, based on a part flow approach in combination with the placement of unidirectional tapes by laser-assisted in situ consolidation.

This new ultra-fast consolidator machine offers both high flexibility and mass production. Fully-consolidated multi-layer laminates, with different fiber directions and minimized waste, can be produced in cycle times under 5. This is accomplished by a new piece-flow principle.

The production principle is based on moving carrier plates (for the transportation of the laminates), which are moved by a conveyor system and fed through several applicator stations. Each applicator station is equipped with innovative narrow applicator cassettes for laser-assisted tape placement with on-the-fly cut-and-add.

The collaborative project involved the participation of other international partners.

About JEC Innovation Awards

JEC Innovation Awards recognize the innovative contribution of the most relevant players in the composites industry. The JEC Innovation Awards reward composites champions, based on criteria such as partner involvement in the value chain, technicality or commercial applications of innovations.