CompositesWorld
Issue link: https://cw.epubxp.com/i/866813
SEPTEMBER 2017 62 CompositesWorld This high-volume CFRP structures pioneer makes industrialization and multi- material assembly look easy. ยป Long before "snap-cure" resins and high- pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) became composites industry trends, BENTELER SGL (Ried im Innkreis, Austria) was forging a path away from hand-laid prepreg toward more automated processing of composite components for production automobiles. Since its beginnings, in fact, RTM has been firmly embedded in the company's DNA. BENTELER SGL is located alongside aerocomposites powerhouse FACC (see Learn More, p. 69). Both evolved from ski manufacturer Fischer GmbH, which launched its RTM-based Vacuum Ski technology in 1985. Fischer Composite Technology (FCT) was spun off in 2001 and began production of RTM "hang-on" parts for Porsche (Stuttgart, Germany) the following year. FCT was acquired in 2009 by the BENTELER SGL joint venture, established in 2008 between BENTELER Automotive (Paderborn, Germany) and SGL Group (Wiesbaden, Germany). Beyond its history of innovative composites production, BENTELER SGL is itself a unique composite of automotive and carbon fiber exper- tise. BENTELER Automotive develops and produces components and modules for chassis, body and engine/exhaust systems as well as systems solutions for newer technologies, such as electric vehicles. SGL, one of the world's leading industrial-grade carbon fiber manufac- turers, created with BMW AG (Munich, Germany) the supply chain that now supports the latter's volume production of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) vehicle structures (see Learn More). True to the definition of a composite, however, both companies have retained their distinctive Plant Tour: BENTELER SGL, Ort im Innkreis, Austria By Ginger Gardiner / Senior Editor Vast resources, volume production BENTELER SGL's 10,000m 2 production facility in Ort im Innkreis is devoted to high-volume production of composite parts and multi- material assemblies using intelligent automation. Source (all images) | BENTELER SGL