Braiding is currently the most efficient and variable preforming process for hollow fibre-reinforced profiles. It allows almost any reinforcement fibres – including carbon fibres, glass fibres or impregnated tapes – to be layered onto contour-specific braiding mandrels at very high speed and infiltrated with the matrix material with minimal waste (similar to the RTM process). Fibre orientation along the component axis is highly variable and can therefore be adapted to the specific loading direction of the target component. The braiding process facilitates the cost-efficient production of extremely lightweight hollow structures.

Our service portfolio

• Production-oriented concept analysis
• Development of load application systems tailored to specific fibre composites
• Production-oriented FE simulation, including the unit cell simulation of braided laminates for the purpose of material-mechanical structural assessment
• Guidance on the design of braiding processes for series production
• Design and implementation of braiding patterns ensuring optimum component strength
• Manufacturing of complex structural components
• Manufacturing of thick-walled components
• Development of component-specific braiding mandrel concepts
• Integration of sensors, strain gauges and other functional elements
• Small-series production
• Technology transfer / industrialization

Our facilities (used as part of our cooperation with the Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology (ILK) of TU Dresden)

• Vacuum pumps
• Pressurized curing vessels
• Cutting table for the preparation of reinforcement textiles and vacuum materials