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Plastics processor Ensinger (Nufringen, Germany) is investing in production capacity expansion for its Composites Division. The company, with the installation of a high-performance double belt press for thermoplastic composite materials production at its Rottenburg-Ergenzingen facility, is expected to begin operations soon.

The double belt press from Austrian plant manufacturer Berndorf Band Engineering (Berndorf) can be adapted to specific requirements at any time. A flexible combination of individual components — such as heating and cooling modules and press types — are possible. The modular construction permits the completion of complex work steps on a single production line.

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Ensinger will use the new facility to mass produce fiber-reinforced composites in a continuous production process, at temperatures of up to 400°C. By bringing the double belt press onstream, Ensinger is expanding its range of materials for demanding, high-temperature applications.

The company’s composites product portfolio includes — among other things — continuous fiber-reinforced semipregs and prepregs along with organosheets (i.e., multilayer, fully impregnated and consolidated fiber composites). The double belt press can be used to process unidirectional (UD) materials, UD cross-ply materials, laminates and sandwich components with a variety of core such as foam or honeycomb. Combinations of textile and polymer matrices, such as carbon, glass, aramid and natural fibers are also viable. Powder coating and film impregnation are available for impregnation purposes.

“By expanding the value added chain and our production capacities, we will be even better placed to meet the worldwide demand for thermoplastic composites,” says Daniel Grauer, who is responsible for international business development in Ensinger’s Composites Division. “This investment enables us to use grown opportunities in all segments and to strategically position ourselves in the global market for thermoplastics.”

Ensinger’s tailor-made composite solutions are well suited to automotive engineering applications and the aerospace industry. Its sustainable polymer solutions are particularly suitable for passenger aircraft, drones and UAVs.