Quickstep Holdings Limited the manufacturer of high-grade carbon-fibre composite components announce that its resin spray transfer (RST) technology has passed one of the industry’s toughest environmental test regimes for carbon-fibre composite body panels.

Results of these tests, by a prestige European car-maker, have confirmed the RST technology’ s ability to meet rigorous painted panel benchmarks and enable outstanding finishes. This pre-qualifies RST Technology for consideration in the marque’s commercial supply tenders

Carbon-fibre composite technology is increasingly a feature of highly distinctive, contemporary luxury vehicles. However, achieving top-quality paint finish and keeping that quality over time is much harder using carbon fibre than metal.

Passing the stringent painting and surface ageing tests of a European luxury carmaker is a feat that very few other composite technologies have achieved and, importantly, Quickstep’sRST process can be delivered at considerably lower expense.

Quickstep’s Managing Director Philippe Odouard said that this was another positive step toward securing commercial entry into the automotive market. “Luxury cars demand absolutely flawless paint and bodywork, and these tests by a luxury car maker demonstrate that Quickstep’s resin spray transfer technology can support such results.

During tests the carpanels, manufactured using Quickstep’s RST, were subjected to hot and cold ageing cycles for weeks and subjected to high humidity and high temperature environments.

We are delighted that the RST technology has passed what is considered to be one of the auto motive industry’s most exacting ‘quality of finish ’tests.

“We believe that our RST technology can revolutionize car manufacturing across the globe, as i t meets the industry’s three key manufacturing objectives - producing strong yet light vehicle parts with fast processing, at low-cost and with a high quality finish. “The technology is drawing increasing interest, and we are progressing negotiations and providing quotes for several leading European carmakers.”

The RST technology utilizes an innovative ‘robotised’ process that fully automates production of lightweight carbon fibre composite car panels so they can be made in minutes and at very low cost compared to other, more capital-intensive methods. Quickstep I working with a number of carmakers, particularly in Europe, to qualify and develop the RST process for each marque’s specific requirements.

One example is AudiAG which, teamed with Quickstep in a consortium funded by the German government, is developing cost-effective solutions for high-volume automotive composite parts production using the RST technology, and component trials are now underway.