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AZL Aachen GmbH: Kick-off meeting for "Trends and Design Factors for Hydrogen Pressure Vessels" project (c) AZL Aachen GmbH
21.12.2023

AZL Aachen GmbH: Kick-off meeting for "Trends and Design Factors for Hydrogen Pressure Vessels" project

The kick-off meeting for the "Trends and Design Factors for Hydrogen Pressure Vessels" project, recently held at AZL Aachen GmbH, was a successful event, bringing together more than 37 experts in the field of composite technologies. This event laid a solid foundation for the Joint Partner Project, which currently comprises a consortium of 20 renowned companies from across the composite pressure vessel value chain: Ascend Performance Materials, C evotec GmbH, Chongqing Polycomp International Corp. (CPIC), Conbility GmbH, Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH, F.A. Kümpers GmbH & Co. KG, f loteks plastik sanayi ticaret a.s., Formosa Plastics Corporation, Heraeus Noblelight GmbH, Huntsman Advanced Materials, Kaneka Belgium NV, Laserline GmbH, Mitsui Chemicals Europe GmbH, Plastik Omnium, Rassini Europe GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Swancor Holding Co. Ltd. Ltd., TECNALIA, Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA, Tünkers do Brasil Ltda.

The project follows AZL´s well proven approach of a Joint Partner Project, aiming to provide technology and market insights as well as benchmarking of different material and production setups in combination with connecting experts along the value chain.

The kick-off meeting for the "Trends and Design Factors for Hydrogen Pressure Vessels" project, recently held at AZL Aachen GmbH, was a successful event, bringing together more than 37 experts in the field of composite technologies. This event laid a solid foundation for the Joint Partner Project, which currently comprises a consortium of 20 renowned companies from across the composite pressure vessel value chain: Ascend Performance Materials, C evotec GmbH, Chongqing Polycomp International Corp. (CPIC), Conbility GmbH, Elkamet Kunststofftechnik GmbH, F.A. Kümpers GmbH & Co. KG, f loteks plastik sanayi ticaret a.s., Formosa Plastics Corporation, Heraeus Noblelight GmbH, Huntsman Advanced Materials, Kaneka Belgium NV, Laserline GmbH, Mitsui Chemicals Europe GmbH, Plastik Omnium, Rassini Europe GmbH, Robert Bosch GmbH, Swancor Holding Co. Ltd. Ltd., TECNALIA, Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA, Tünkers do Brasil Ltda.

The project follows AZL´s well proven approach of a Joint Partner Project, aiming to provide technology and market insights as well as benchmarking of different material and production setups in combination with connecting experts along the value chain.

The kick-off meeting not only served as a platform to foster new contacts and get informed about the expertise and interests of the consortium members in the field of hydrogen pressure vessels, but also laid the groundwork for steering the focus of the upc oming project's ambitious phases. As a basis for the interactive discussion session, AZL outlined the background, motivation and detailed work plan. The central issues of the dialogue were the primary objectives, the most pressing challenges, the contribut ion to competitiveness, and
the priorities that would best meet the expectations of the project partners.

Discussions covered regulatory issues, the evolving value chain and the supply and properties of key materials such as carbon and glass fibres and resins. The consortium defined investigations into different manufacturing technologies, assessing their matu rity and potential benefits. Design layouts, including liners, boss designs and winding patterns, were thoroughly considered, taking into account their implications for mobile and stationary storage. The group is also interested in cost effective testing m ethods and certification processes, as well as the prospects for recycling into continuous fibres and the use of sustainable materials. Insight was requested into future demand for hydrogen tanks, OEM needs and strategies, and technological developments to produce more economical tanks.

The meeting highlighted the importance of CAE designs for fibre patterns, software suitability and the application dependent use of thermoset and thermoplastic designs.

The first report meeting will also set the stage of the next project phase, which will be the creation of reference designs by AZL's engineering team. These designs will cover a range of pressure vessel configurations using a variety of materials and production concepts. The aim is to develop models that not only re flect current technological capabilities, but also provide deep insight into the cost analysis of different production technologies, their CO2 footprint, recycling aspects and scalability.

AZL's project remains open to additional participants. Companies interested in joining this initiative are invited to contact Philipp Fröhlig.

Tape Placement Applikator “PrePro 3D” im Technikum von AIMEN in Spanien. (c) Conbility GmbH
Tape Placement Applikator “PrePro 3D” im Technikum von AIMEN in Spanien.
11.01.2019

Neuer Conbility-Kunde für Produktionssysteme in Spanien

  • Tape Placement-Applikator "PrePro 3D" erfolgreich installiert

Im Oktober 2018 lieferte Conbility den modularen Klebeband-Applikator "PrePro 3D" innerhalb einer Lieferzeit von 4 Monaten an das Technologiezentrum AIMEN in O Porriño, Spanien.

Das Alleinstellungsmerkmal des PrePro 3D-Systems ist sein multifunktionaler Einsatzbereich: Es ermöglicht die lasergestützte thermoplastische Bandplatzierung, die IR-gestützte duroplastische Prepregplatzierung und die Trockenfaserplatzierung: Drei Technologien in einem einzigen modularen System.

Der JEC-prämierte "PrePro 3D" Bandplatzierungs- und Wickelapplikator ist als modulares Werkzeug mit dezentraler Steuerung und HMI (inkl. Regelung der Energiezufuhr in die Verarbeitungszone) für die "Plug-in"-Implementierung in bestehende Robotersysteme oder Maschinensysteme über Standardschnittstellen zur Kommunikation mit der übergeordneten Steuerung erhältlich. Conbility liefert sowohl den einzelnen Applikator als auch schlüsselfertige Systeme einschließlich Roboter und Handhabungssysteme.

  • Tape Placement-Applikator "PrePro 3D" erfolgreich installiert

Im Oktober 2018 lieferte Conbility den modularen Klebeband-Applikator "PrePro 3D" innerhalb einer Lieferzeit von 4 Monaten an das Technologiezentrum AIMEN in O Porriño, Spanien.

Das Alleinstellungsmerkmal des PrePro 3D-Systems ist sein multifunktionaler Einsatzbereich: Es ermöglicht die lasergestützte thermoplastische Bandplatzierung, die IR-gestützte duroplastische Prepregplatzierung und die Trockenfaserplatzierung: Drei Technologien in einem einzigen modularen System.

Der JEC-prämierte "PrePro 3D" Bandplatzierungs- und Wickelapplikator ist als modulares Werkzeug mit dezentraler Steuerung und HMI (inkl. Regelung der Energiezufuhr in die Verarbeitungszone) für die "Plug-in"-Implementierung in bestehende Robotersysteme oder Maschinensysteme über Standardschnittstellen zur Kommunikation mit der übergeordneten Steuerung erhältlich. Conbility liefert sowohl den einzelnen Applikator als auch schlüsselfertige Systeme einschließlich Roboter und Handhabungssysteme.

Der PrePro 3D-Kopf basiert auf 25 Jahren Entwicklungsarbeit am Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionstechnologie (IPT) zur lasergestützten Bandverarbeitung mit In-situ-Konsolidierung.
Seit Januar 2018 ist Conbility Vertragspartner des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Produktionstechnologie, IPT, für die Vermarktung und Weiterentwicklung der Bandanlagen "PrePro 2D" und "PrePro 3D".

Flexible Preisgestaltung für Conbility´s Prozesskalkulationssoftware OPLYSIS
Die Prozesskostenrechnung für die intuitive Prozesskettenmodellierung und Kostenbewertung per Drag-and-Drop ist ab sofort in drei Preismodellen ab 95 € pro Monat und Anwender verfügbar. Derzeit hat Conbility mit der Entwicklung einer Echtzeit-Prozessmodellierung und -Überwachung begonnen, z.B. für den Plan-Ist-Kostenvergleich und die Gesamtproduktivitätsanalyse. Darüber hinaus unterstützen die Produktions- und Kostenexperten von Conbility vor Ort z.B. bei der Bewertung und Optimierung von Technologie und Produktionsstandorten, der Prozesskostenanalyse sowie bei der Datenerfassung und -auswertung.

More information:
Conbility GmbH
Source:

AZL Aachen GmbH

PrePro2D "PrePro 2D“ machine system for tape placement of tailored blanks and laminates with in-situ consolidation. (c) Fraunhofer IPT.
PrePro2D
16.02.2018

Commercialization of Fraunhofer´s tape-placement and tape winding systems

The two AZL Partners Conbility GmbH and Fraunhofer IPT, Aachen started their long-term cooperation for the further development and for the commercialization of Fraunhofer´s tape-placement and tape winding systems with in-situ-consolidation by the usage of laser or IR heat sources.

With this cooperation, the company Conbility GmbH makes 25 years of expertise in special machine development of tape placement systems of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT commercially available. Conbility offers two different tape processing systems available in different configurations.

The two AZL Partners Conbility GmbH and Fraunhofer IPT, Aachen started their long-term cooperation for the further development and for the commercialization of Fraunhofer´s tape-placement and tape winding systems with in-situ-consolidation by the usage of laser or IR heat sources.

With this cooperation, the company Conbility GmbH makes 25 years of expertise in special machine development of tape placement systems of the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT commercially available. Conbility offers two different tape processing systems available in different configurations.

The “PrePro 2D” machine system allows for the automated tailored tape placement of UD laminates and which can be used for subsequent thermoforming or as stiffening structures in injection molding processes. The machine comprises a rotating and translational table which is moved relatively to the applicator station. The table is scalable according to the requirements of customers. Standard table diameters are 1200 mm or 2000 mm. The applicator station can be equipped with a single or with multiple spool applicators. Because of the large process area, a 9 kW IR heater is used for the in-situ-consolidation process.  
Three in one: Three technologies included in one single modular system
Furthermore, the award-winning “PrePro 3D” tape placement and winding applicator is available as modular product with decentral control system (including closed-loop control of energy input into the processing zone) for the “plug-in” implementation in existing robot systems or machine systems by standard interfaces for the communication with the master control system. Conbility provides the single applicator as well as turn-key ready systems including the robot and handling systems.

Unique selling point of the PrePro 3D system is its multifunctional range of usage: it accomplishes laser-assisted thermoplastic tape placement, IR-assisted thermoset prepreg placement and dry fiber placement: Three technologies included in one single modular system.  

During the JEC World in Paris (March 6th – 8th 2018), Conbility GmbH will present its new “VCSEL Tape Placement and Winding Applicator” (Fig. 3), developed in cooperation with Fraunhofer IPT and Philips Photonics at the AZL Composites in Action area (Hall 5A, C55).

VCSEL Laser Systems as heat source for lower investment and process costs
This applicator uses an integrated VCSEL Laser System as heat source which has been developed by Philips Photonics. This tape placement and winding applicator can also be integrated as modular “plug-in” system into industrial jointed-arm and linear gantry robots in variable manufacturing cells. Using the new VCSEL Laser as heat source (VCSEL: Vertical-Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) leads to significant lower investment and process cost in comparison to other laser systems. Furthermore, the VCSEL laser system can accomplish controllable in-process adjustments of the laser-spot geometry as well as the intensity distribution within the spot size during the process (in-process control of laser-spot geometries and intensities) for the first time. The new system with 2 kW laser power and 10 separate emission zones which can be controlled separately will be shown at JEC World in Paris 2018 as new product of Conbility GmbH.