Germany-based Karl Mayer Textilmaschinenfabrik GmbH's carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics (CFP) Centre of Excellence — a department dedicated to the development of composite solutions — now includes a laboratory dedicated to the production and testing of fiber-reinforced structural components. The center was established to develop easily adaptable composite solutions for machine components, and staff engineered plug-and-play parts for a one-stop solution. Currently, Karl Mayer uses CFP components on its high-speed tricot machines and is working on fitting CFP components on its raschel machines.

The company is offering its CFP production and testing services to external companies. The laboratory features a heated press for manufacturing prototypes measuring 500 by 800 millimeters (mm); a 1,000 mm-by-1,500-mm oven for creating larger prototypes, preforming equipment; liquid impregnating equipment; a tensile and compression chamber for testing strength and rigidity; and a climate chamber for testing humidity and temperature effects on a sample. Trained staff — including specialists in structural mechanics, component design, tool development, prototype construction, testing and mass production — are available to assist customers.

September 13, 2011