Fibre processing company Cygnet Texkimp has supplied a 30-position pilot line PAN precursor creel to the $100m Australian Future Fibre Research and Innovation Centre (AFFRIC) at Deakin University in Victoria, Australia.

Texkimp’s creel forms part of the centre’s Carbon Nexus facility which is the world’s first dedicated carbon fibre research plant capable of producing industrial-scale quantities of aerospace quality carbon fibre as well as enabling research into carbon fibre production and applications.

The creel was delivered as part of collaboration with US-based Despatch Industries. It features a mechanical compensator tension control and will be used to unwind and guide packages of PAN fibre into a carbon fibre production line supplied by Despatch Industries.

The aim of Deakin University’s facility, which is part-funded by the Australian Government and the Victorian State Government, is to attract the best experienced and early-career scientists from around the world to develop research into end-user applications for the carbon fibre industry, as well as working with carbon fibre manufacturers to advance production techniques and reduce costs through commercial trials.

“Deakin University’s Carbon Nexus facility has exciting implications for the future of carbon fibre production, not only in Australia but throughout the world, and we are delighted to be part of it,” says Chris Furphy, International Sales Manager at Cygnet Texkimp.

Steve Atkiss, General Manager at Carbon Nexus, says: “We have been impressed by the performance and quality of the equipment supplied by Cygnet Texkimp, and with the level of cooperation and support we have received.”

The creel was designed and tested at Texkimp’s UK headquarters in Northwich, Cheshire, before being shipped to Australia for installation and commissioning.