KVE Composites installs first commercial Mobile Induction Welding Cell (MIWC) at Daher
Flexible welding cell developed for coupon welding to facilitate process qualification of KVE INDUCT welding technology for thermoplastic composites.
Photo Credit: KVE Composites Group, Daher
KVE Composites Group (The Hague, Netherlands) has installed the first commercial Mobile Induction Welding Cell (MIWC) at the Nantes, France facility of Tier 1 aerostructures supplier Daher (Orly, France). Daher has long been a specialist in thermoplastic composites (See “Inside a thermoplastic composites hotbed”) and continues its leadership in this technology. The flexible welding cell has been specifically developed for coupon welding, to facilitate process qualification of KVE INDUCT welding technology for thermoplastic composites.
The procurement of the MIWC shows Daher’s commitment to add the KVE INDUCT welding technology to its manufacturing capabilities. Together, the two companies — note that Daher acquired KVE Composites in 2019 — are working on various projects to produce a welded thermoplastic torsion box using UD tape-based laminates.
The KVE INDUCT welding process is patented by KVE Composites Group and is currently the only qualified and flying induction welding process for continuous carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites in the aerospace industry. KVE INDUCT is available to the market through licensing.
To learn more about induction welding, see the CW webinar: “Induction Welding for Dustless Assembly of Aircraft Within a Decade.”
Related Content
-
Plant tour: Airbus, Illescas, Spain
Airbus’ Illescas facility, featuring highly automated composites processes for the A350 lower wing cover and one-piece Section 19 fuselage barrels, works toward production ramp-ups and next-generation aircraft.
-
A new era for ceramic matrix composites
CMC is expanding, with new fiber production in Europe, faster processes and higher temperature materials enabling applications for industry, hypersonics and New Space.
-
Plant tour: Spirit AeroSystems, Belfast, Northern Ireland, U.K.
Purpose-built facility employs resin transfer infusion (RTI) and assembly technology to manufacture today’s composite A220 wings, and prepares for future new programs and production ramp-ups.