Thermoplastic composites are prized for their light weight and exceptional strength. However, mainstream adoption has lagged due to shortcomings in existing production processes, which are slow, costly, and labour- and waste-intensive. To drive broader use of these advanced materials across multiple industries, SABIC has invested in the composites industry’s first automated, digital system for the large-scale manufacturing of laminates made with its continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite (CFRTC) tapes.
The new line, slated to go live in early 2019, will aim to offer customisation capabilities using sophisticated technologies and processes that can drive down cycle times and system costs.
“Rapid mass production of high-quality, fully customised thermoplastic composite parts at an affordable cost will soon be a reality,” said Gino Francato, global business leader, Composites, SABIC. “The upcoming launch of our Digital Composites Manufacturing line is a major step toward that goal.”
