3D-LightTrans (2011 - 2015)
Large scale manufacturing technology for high-performance lightweight 3D multifunctional composites
Project goals for the manufacturing of integral large scale 3D textile reinforced plastic composites:
- provide groundbreaking, highly flexible, efficient and adaptable low-cost technologies
- include innovative approaches for the individual processes
- integration in complete manufacturing chains à shift from cost intensive, small series niche markets, to broadly extended mass product applications.
To fulfill these goals, the 3D-LightTrans manufacturing chains will be based on multimaterial semifinished fabrics, processed to deep draped prefixed multilayered and multifunctional 3D-textile preforms, which will be processed into composites by a thermoforming process.
By integrating these new, innovative process steps with full automation in -nowadays mostly manually performed- complex handling operations, it will be possible to obtain a fully automated and highly adaptable manufacturing chain to achieve integral large scale 3D composites.
3D-LightTrans will open the way to a totally new concept for the design, manufacturing and application of composites for low-cost mass products in a wide range of sectors.
The consortium brings together multidisciplinary research teams from:
- European leading companies, including industrial stakeholders from machine tools and machine automation,
- several OEM active in the field of processing of flexible materials and composite manufacturing, as well as from the application sector,
- research centra in the area of materials, production research and technical textiles in particular.
Funded by: FP7 NMP Large Collaborative Project
Project duration : 01/02/2011 - 31/01/2015
Contact: Prof. Dr. Paul Kiekens, Ir. Els Van der Burght