Hennecke adds 3 component composites machine to tech centre

St Augustin, Germany — Hennecke has installed a Streamline three-component metering machine at its tech centre here, to help customers develop fibre composite components in a wide range of matrix systems, the company said.

The three component machine, is able to process "all current matrix systems of fibre composite components. These include polyurethane, epoxy or reactive polyamides six raw material systems," the company said.

This is the "first time" that all reactive matrix materials which are currently commercially available can be used to produce fibre composite components on a metering machine, said Jurgen Wirth, manager application and development technology.

"The major benefit is that a variety of matrix systems which are incompatible with each other can now be processed in very quick succession," he said. This is because he explained, "the integration of three individual metering lines minimises complex rinsing and cleaning processes."

The machine is designed to handle systems based around reinforcements including glass-, carbon-, aramid-, metal- and natural fibres. "This opens numerous possibilities for the products developed a composite fibre composite's in T-RTM," Wirth said. In addition, Hennecke has an Engel injection moulding machine on the site too.