Winding is an automated process to make cilindrical products such as pipes, tanks, beams or flywheels. A winding machine wraps the fibre material around the mandrel or the substrate. We can use both thermoset and thermoplastic winding. For discrete winding we have a winding machine that can make parts of 6 meter length and 1.5 meter diameter.  

Thermoset

In wet winding, a dry fibre is fed throug a resin impregnation bath. After impregnation, the wet fibre bundle is wound on the rotating mandrel to form the product. After winding, the product is cured in an oven. This method is cost effective because the raw fibre and resin materials can be used.

We also have the capability of towpreg winding.  In this case, the fibre tow is already impregnated and a resin impregnation bath is not required. The advantage is that the winding speed can be increased, in most cases to the maximum of the winding machine, because the speed limiting factor of the impregnation step is removed. Depending on the product requirements and production volume, we choose the best solution to match performance with cost efficiency.

With regard to materials, we have experience both with epoxy and high-temperature cyanate-esters, and with carbon, aramid, glass and ceramic fibres.

Thermoplastic

For thermoplastic materials we can make parts with discrete or continuous winding.

For discrete winding we use the 6 x 1.5 m winding machine. During the winding, the tape is melt-fused to the substrate and no additional curing step is required.

For continuous winding we use the Continuous Winding technology that allows us to make very long pipes, up to several km's of length. Our business unit Airborne COmposite Tubulars operates a production line that currently has a maximum diameter of 3.5" OD, and that is being upgraded to 9.5" OD.