Starting the collaboration with two new international sales partners, Cevotec takes next steps to establish its Fiber Patch Placement (FPP) technology in the Chinese market. Hesse, André & Co. GmbH & Co. KG (HACO) focuses on aerospace customers and is based in the Beijing area. ChunHua Automotive Technology Co., Ltd, based in Shanghai, promotes FPP technology to their customer base in the smart & e-transport industry. Both companies have a successful track record of bringing European high-tech machinery and automation to the Chinese manufacturing industry.

“We are excited to announce these partnerships for the Chinese market today, where we see a large potential for FPP in the future”, states Thorsten Groene, CEO and Co-Founder of Cevotec. “China is already today a global manufacturing powerhouse and will continue to gradually upgrade its industrial base. In particular automation technology can accelerate the growth of the local composite industry as it safeguards repeatable quality also at large volumes.”

Nicolas Menge, CEO of HACO, adds: “Chinese aircraft manufacturers are relying on European technology to produce aerospace-grade lightweight structures. In order to meet quality and ESG targets, manufacturing efficiency through automation will become an even more important topic in the foreseeable future. FPP will make a significant contribution to advancing and automating the production of aerospace parts.” Furthermore, David Li, CTMO of ChunHua, underlines the second important application area of FPP: “Hydrogen is a big topic in China. Electrification of vehicles is already well advanced, and the upcoming national regulation for Type 4 composite tanks will pave the way for economic fuel-cell vehicles. Cevotec’s industrial solution to reinforce H2 tank dome areas will be of great importance to Chinese manufacturers in order to successfully compete also in international markets”.

Both sales representatives bring an established customer base, relevant experience and deep market know-how to the partnership. HACO distributes tooling machinery, service and spare-parts to customers in the aerospace and aero-engine industry and is also representing Cevotec’s partner GFM in China. With a history going back to 1777, HACO operates offices in Beijing, China, Seoul, Korea and further locations. Its main business is the marketing and sales of tooling machines for the aviation industry in China and packing machines for the pharmaceutical industry in Korea.

Founded in 2003, ChunHua has evolved from an automotive model building company to a full-service technology company that provides engineering services along the entire design, development and prototyping process. More than 100 employees also offer technical consulting and market high-tech foreign machinery to their customer base in automotive, aerospace and general industry. “With HACO and ChunHua, we’re working now with two best-in-class partners in China that serve complementary markets and regions”, confirms Thorsten Groene. “Both companies combine the necessary expertise, experience and market knowledge to successfully bring FPP to the forefront of the Chinese composite industry. We are looking forward to a successful partnership!” 

About Cevotec:

Munich-based automation specialist Cevotec offers one of the world’s most advanced production systems for complex fiber composites. At the intersection of composites, mechanical engineering and software, Cevotec develops production systems and software based on Fiber Patch Placement (FPP) technology: SAMBA and ARTIST STUDIO. The production systems enable the automated lay-up of carbon fiber, glass fibers, adhesive films and other technical fibers on complex 3D geometries. Manufacturers use FPP technology to produce e.g. multi-material aerostructures, composite pressure vessel reinforcements, and other high-performance components in a quality-controlled, fully automated process, which enables them to realize cost & cycle time savings of 20%-60% when switching from conventional processes to Fiber Patch Placement.

About HACO:

Hesse, André & Co. is one of the oldest trading houses in Hamburg and has its own subsidiaries in Beijing, China, as well as Seoul, Korea and partners in the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Emirates. The local staff is the link between diverse cultures in these countries. The main business of Hesse, André & Co. is the distribution of machine tools for the aircraft industry in China and packaging machines for the pharmaceutical industry in Korea. Customers benefit from highly qualified local technicians who accompany the projects from the very beginning. Technical consulting, handling of tenders, installation of the machines as well as training and after-sales service are part of the portfolio. Likewise, the entire export handling from documentation to receipt of payment is taken care of.

About ChunHua:

As a full-service technology provider along the entire vehicle design, development and prototyping process chain in conventional and smart & e-transport industry, ChunHua offer design, development, prototyping and manufacturing service of clay & solid models, concept & show cars, design & verification models, small batch prototypes as well as technical support & after service; also resin, aluminum, glass & carbon composite mould and tooling for the aviation industry. Thanks to high precision and craftsman quality on every tiny details, customers from automotive and aviation sectors benefit with ChunHua from more than 20-year experience of innovation and development.