Home / News / SABIC, Airborne to work on digitised composites process

SABIC, Airborne to work on digitised composites process

08 May '17
2 min read
Courtesy: Airborne
Courtesy: Airborne

SABIC, via its corporate venturing arm, has invested growth capital in composites specialist Airborne International ("Airborne") in The Hague. SABIC's composite thermoplastic solutions coupled with Airborne's know-how offers the unique opportunity to realise the mass production of lighter and stronger applications in a more cost effective way.
 
With the new investment, Airborne will implement the digital infrastructure that will serve as a backbone for thermoplastic composite automation technologies. Airborne is a technology leader in the design, production and industrialisation of advanced composite products for aerospace and marine sectors. It is on a growth path to become the leading platform in composite automated manufacturing technologies. 
 
SABIC has taken a majority position in 2015 in unique technology for the production of high performance unidirectional UDMAX tapes resulting in the formation of FRT. SABIC's investment in Airborne will help enable SABIC to develop the next step in the value chain with realisation of automated manufacturing for composites applications, with enhanced yields, cycle times and system cost. This is considered as a critical step towards broader use of continuous fibre reinforced composites in the market.
 
The partnership will contribute to Airborne's full automation and digitisation of composite manufacturing of goods that require less weight and higher strength from an array of industries. 
 
In many markets like aerospace, automotive, oil and gas, consumer electronics and sporting goods, lightweight and durability are key industry drivers. Continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastic composite materials offer the potential to address these needs. Digital infrastructure for thermoplastic composite automation technologies
 
"This investment and collaboration with Airborne will enable SABIC to take the next step in the commercialisation of thermoplastic composites and help our customers to develop unique lightweight applications," said Ernesto Occhiello, executive vice president specialties strategic business unit at SABIC.
 
"A radical increase of the level of automation and digitalisation as well as the availability of information throughout the supply chain will be a crucial success factor in the composites industry. Combined with the integration of information from material to product, this is the core of Airborne's strategy. Joining forces with SABIC is an important step towards our new strategy becoming a frontrunner in automation and digitisation of composite manufacturing. Attracting a preferred advanced chemicals supplier to invest in Airborne is a great confirmation of our strategy," said Arno van Mourik, founder and CEO of Airborne International. (SV)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

Leave your Comments

Courtesy: Twitchell
Twitchell Technical Products acquires Quantum Group
Rieter awards ring & rotor yarn license to Turkish firm
Rieter awards ring & rotor yarn license to Turkish firm

Follow us