First SAMBA system to Japan, pioneering the H2 tank production, and goodbye 2023!

Dear friends of Fiber Patch Placement,

As the year 2023 comes to a close, we’d like to send you a last round of exciting updates. I’m in particular proud to announce a first FPP system installation in Japan in 2024. The system is dedicated to the reinforcement of H2 composite tanks, reducing weight and manufacturing cost while simultaneously increasing storage volume. In case you are wondering whether this concept holds up in an industrial context, I encourage you to check out the results of our successful PV demo project: 15% less fibers, 17% better storage efficiency.

Underneath the cevoChristmas tree this year: A major ARTIST STUDIO upgrade enabling more efficient and versatile laminate design, and new footage from our lab: advanced Rolling Motion with post-placement push-in to increase compaction and reduce bridging effects.

Happy unboxing – enjoy your read!

---

Customers

FPP for H2 tank reinforcements: Fuji Industries brings Cevotec’s SAMBA Pro PV to Japan

We are proud to announce the introduction of the first FPP production system on the Japanese market. Fuji Industries has ordered our SAMBA Pro PV system. The first FPP system on Japanese soil will be primarily dedicated to advancing H2 tank production with dome reinforcements, thereby reducing the weight, cost and environmental footprint of composite tanks significantly.

---

Projects

Pioneering a novel approach for H₂ tank production

We have partnered with a tank manufacturer, winding equipment provider Roth Composite Machinery and the composite engineering service provider CIKONI to investigate and showcase the effect of dome reinforcements using FPP technology for composite tanks at the example of a 300 bar hydrogen tank. With a third and final iteration, the tank has achieved the required burst pressure while saving 15% carbon fiber material!

---

Technology

SAMBA pushes Rolling Motion

A key goal of the grant-supported project ACoSaLUS was to further optimize the Fiber Patch Placement process in order to implement an end-to-end automated lay-up process for composite sandwich parts. Dealing with the challenge of placing larger patches on a strongly curved legacy tooling, we advanced the Rolling Motion placement feature to consider multiple angels of compaction in one movement. In order to further increase adhesion and overcome bridging effects at the trimming edges of the tool, our robots and grippers can now also perform post-placement push-ins, emulating typical manual lay-up activities.

---

Technology

Major ARTIST STUDIO upgrades for efficient and versatile designs

In the latest version of our CAD-CAM software ARTIST STUDIO, 23.3.0, we released new features especially for the laminate design module PATCH ARTIST. Besides improved patch geometry refactoring and functions for faster laminate creation, our software engineers also included features to optimize patches along open curves.

---

Company

Cevotec joins AZL network

We have joined the AZL network in Aachen, an industry-leading collaboration platform dedicated to advancing lightweight production technologies through industry-academia partnerships. Our collaboration aims to further advance Fiber Patch Placement technology together with the network partners and general diverse resources at AZL’s disposal. Contributing our own expertise, we also look forward to discussions on the further evolution of advanced composite manufacturing.

---

Company

Thank you and goodbye 2023!

Marking the commencement of the Christmas season, we revisit the cherished moments and accomplishments that have shaped a remarkable year 2023: The completion of 2 important R&D projects, new commercial partnerships and busy events were some of them. We also would like to express our gratitude to all our customers, associates and project partners for your support and trust in our work at Cevotec! We extend our heartfelt wishes for a serene Advent season and joyous holidays!

---

Events

See you around

The fall started busy for us with a trip to the UK for the International Composites Summit in London and CAMX in Atlanta. Our CEO Thorsten Groene also participated in the Composites Meetings Nantes. Last week, we exhibited in parallel at the Aviation Forum in Hamburg and at the COPV World Conference in Belgium, which mark the last events for us in 2023. We already look forward to JEC World next year. You can find us at booth 5/M99 – will we see you in Paris?

---

Thank you for spending some time with us

We hope, you enjoyed reading our latest cevoNews. Have a wonderful Christmas, happy holidays and a good start into 2024!

You think that information about Fiber Patch Placement is also relevant for your colleagues and business partners? Here’s the link to our subscription page – or just forward the newsletter.