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Oerlikon visualizes Eiffel tower made from composites

27 Feb '13

6 min read

If the Eiffel tower had been built 124 years later, Oerlikon would have assuredly played a significant part in its construction. Because what was riveted, screwed or welded together using iron and steel components back then would be primarily made of composites – and the Oerlikon Textile, Vacuum and Coating segments supply a wide range of technology and components for their production. These are the focus of the Oerlikon show appearance at the JEC between 12 and 14 March 2013 in Paris (booth number S 75).

Carbon fibres are used in applications where low weight and extreme stability are prerequisites. Carbon fibre-reinforced plastics are used, to name a few areas, in the aeronautics and aerospace industry, wind power plants, automotive industry, safety technology and in high-quality sports equipment such as racing bicycles, tennis racquets, skis and boats.

Oerlikon Barmag has developed a winder especially for the production of carbon fibres called Win- Trax. The two-yarn winding head combines the economic production of top quality carbon fibres with simultaneously perfect package building and identical running lengths. In addition, the new WinTrax- A 2cop produces packages with a diameter of up to 310 mm. The resulting higher package weights reduce tooling times and therefore significantly reduce outlay during composite production. Due to the identical running lengths of all packages, waste is reduced to nearly zero percent.

The production of composites frequently requires filaments or tapes with particular properties, such as high tensile strength, low elongation or a high modulus of elasticity. The extrusion systems for producing these high-quality tapes, monofilaments and multi-filaments are another information highlight of Oerlikon Barmag at the JEC.

The exhibits also include the independent metering unit GM Control, newly developed by Oerlikon Barmag. Oerlikon Barmag is responding here to the demands of numerous users for an easy to use plug-and-play version of its proven GM metering pump series. The unit can be controlled directly and can also be retrofitted to existing process control systems.

Whether for casting PUR parts, lamination of composite parts, metering additives in an ongoing extrusion process, application of cold adhesives or for flexible use in production systems with changing requirements - the compact and mobile GM Control unit can support all these tasks with the usual high metering accuracy and with even more ease of use.

The core of the GM Control metering unit - the GM pump - is available for numerous conveying capacities. This means that an appropriate metering unit can be provided for various throughput volumes.

Delicate handling of glass filaments thanks to modern technology
Two further brands in the Oerlikon Textile segment are also presenting their latest products in the glass sector: Oerlikon Saurer and Oerlikon Textile Components. At the Oerlikon joint booth, visitors can learn all about the Volkmann GT (GlassTwister), the trend-setting ring twister used for the production of glass filament yarns. Oerlikon Sauer offers its customers the complete spectrum of innovative solutions and services in the glass sector with its product line Volkmann.

The GlassTwister is modular in design and the main components are the creel baskets and ring twisting spindles. Both components are equipped with single motor drives and pneumatic brakes. They are supplemented by the central ring rail drive with servo motor. The complete synchronization of all components and the programmable ring rail guide enables an optimal package build and thereby a perfect processing of the twist packages in the subsequent processing steps. The ergonomic design enables the operating personnel to carefully feed the machine at a comfortable working height, which ensures a careful handling of the spinning cakes and thereby the quality of the feed material.

The Volkmann GlassTwister is able to twist plied yarn structures, e.g. 3-ply yarns and hybrid yarns, when being equipped with a package creel and godet supply units in place of the creel baskets. Production of single or multi-ply yarns from raw materials in the count range between 10 and 5000 tex. Flexible application areas: e.g. PA, PES, CV, Aramid, PVA, Dyneema, PE/PP as multiple or monofilaments.