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Veelo Technologies (Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.) announced on Feb. 23 that its patented heating blankets, the VeeloHEAT Caul, can be applied to composite aircraft rotor blades. Tailored for use in composite debulking and bonding applications, the system enables in-situ hot debulk, eliminating the need to transport long and bulky rotor blades to an oven. This in turn improves build and repair rates while also reducing scrap.

According to the company VeeloHEAT Caul is designed for flexibility and pliability, enabling a highly drapable solution that provides uniform heating coverage across the large and geometrically complex surface areas found on rotor blades. The heating blankets are also said to easily accommodate custom shapes and large tools with minimal or few bridging issues. They are durable and damage resistant and are offered in an optional FKM-based heater system for high performance and material compatibility.

“Our VeeloHEAT solution is currently used by the aerospace composites industry to bond and repair multi-million-dollar composite aerostructures,” says Mr. Joe Sprengard, Jr, president and CEO at Veelo. “We are helping them accelerate adhesive cure, perform faster composite repairs and improve the debulk processes. For rotor blades specifically, the net-shape draping that occurs with our blankets can help a manufacturer or repair facility realize substantial savings and improvement in build and repair rates. We provide an effective alternative to taking these blades to the oven.”