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NCC organising conference on overbraiding technology

26 Feb '20

2 min read

Pic: National Composites Centre

Composites experts and leading manufacturers will gather in Bristol on May 7 for the second conference being organised by the NCC (National Composites Centre) in its Discover series. The conference will discuss latest developments in composites overbraiding technology with a goal to open new opportunities for collaborative R and D projects.

The one-day event, NCC Discover: The Future of Overbraiding, will include technology demonstrations, technical presentations and workshops sessions to foster knowledge sharing and identify potential opportunities for R and D collaboration. Stephan Voskamp, CEO and owner of Eurocarbon, specialists in overbraiding technology and machine manufacturer, is a keynote speaker for the event and will present on how to develop overbraiding.

As part of the NCC’s iCAP digital technology programme, the NCC has invested in the latest overbraiding capabilities, offering industry access to Europe’s largest two ring braider. It can intertwine triaxial structures with up to 288 individual bias strands of carbon fibre with up to 144 axial strands in one automated process to create complex, hollow geometric shapes up to 10m long and 750mm in diameter. The technology is already used in composite industry to manufacture parts such as advanced aircraft propellers, vessels, crash structures and lightweight automotive parts.

Through the conference, the NCC is opening its doors to encourage academics and engineers from all industries to come and find out more about this technology, its benefits, challenges and applications.

Enrique Garcia, chief technology officer at the NCC, said: "After the success of our Composites Overmoulding event last November, we are looking forward to hosting NCC Discover: The Future of Overbraiding to showcase the potential of this innovative technology.”

"Composite overbraiding is an automated flexible and repeatable process delivering one of the highest material deposition rates in the composites industry. In addition to companies being able to use our unique two-ring braider, our engineers are developing the digital design and simulation tools to help companies define the optimum layup and processes for permeability and structural performance to ensure quality,” Garcia said.

“Through NCC Discover: The Future of Overbraiding, we want to share this technology, tools and knowledge with industry to open up overbraiding capabilities to a broad range of industries looking to overcome challenges in the manufacture of complex, 3D structures," Garcia added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SV)