ÂÌñÏׯÞ

Published

CAMX 2022 exhibit preview: Autonational Composite Machinery

CAMX gives Autonational the opportunity to display its mobile filament winder, which can be used to produce very large-dimension composite products, and the company’s all-in-one machining center solutions.  

Share

The mobile filament winder. Photo Credit: Autonational Composite Machinery

Autonational Composite Machinery (Jlst, Netherlands) specializes in world-class engineering and innovative machinery for composites manufacturing. The company displays one of its latest technologies, the mobile winder, which enables users to manufacture composite components whenever, wherever they want, creating a solution for situations where transportation is problematic.

Although the mobile winder is designed to be assembled and disassembled multiple times, Autonational says there are no limitations when it comes to the size of the end product — very large dimensions are possible, such as CorPower Ocean’s (Stockholm, Sweden) energy-capturing buoys.

The mobile filament winding system is designed in such a way that when transportation is required, the mobile winder can be stored inside two containers that are part of the installation’s support structure. The lid can be closed on top of the container, after which it is ready for transport. The resulting system can easily be transported by boat or truck to wherever production needs to occur, according to the company. Once arrived, the winder can be set up in less than five days.

Winder machining station.

In addition to highlighting the mobile winder, CAMX also gives Autonational the opportunity to tell attendees about the company’s machine centers, all-in-one solutions that reportedly enable immediate postprocessing, ensuring manufacturing efficiency.

An Autonational machine center is said to be fully customizable to specific requirements and can do all the machine work needed to finish filament-wound products. It enables its users to cluster all process steps into one aligned action at one facility, Autonational claims, increasing production efficiency and output. With a multi-tool capable of milling and drilling, sanding and grinding, and lathing and cutting, the all-round CNC-controlled machine center is compatible with all filament winding machines. It can handle both cylindrical and odd-shaped products and is suitable for the finishing of large objects.

Related Content

  • Plant tour: Hexagon Purus, Kassel, Germany

    Fully automated, Industry 4.0 line for hydrogen pressure vessels advances efficiency and versatility in small footprint for next-gen, sustainable composites production.

  • Composites end markets: New space (2025)

    Composite materials — with their unmatched strength-to-weight ratio, durability in extreme environments and design versatility — are at the heart of innovations in satellites, propulsion systems and lunar exploration vehicles, propelling the space economy toward a $1.8 trillion future.

  • From the CW Archives: The tale of the thermoplastic cryotank

    In 2006, guest columnist Bob Hartunian related the story of his efforts two decades prior, while at McDonnell Douglas, to develop a thermoplastic composite crytank for hydrogen storage. He learned a lot of lessons.