Composite surfacing veils improve finish, function
JEC World 2025: James Cropper streamlines composites production through the launch of Surfacetec, improving fabrication efficiencies, part functionality and targeting sustainability.
Surfacetec veil. Source (All Images) | James Cropper
James Cropper (Schenectady, N.Y., U.S.), a global advanced materials specialist, has launched Surfacetec, a veil solution that improves the performance, durability and sustainability of composite materials.
Surfacetec is reported to streamline composites manufacturing by enhancing surface quality, optimizing resin flow, imparting functionality and reducing process complexity. It is suited for industries that demand greater efficiency and cost savings including aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, industrial and medical.
Manufacturers often face challenges related to surface porosity, microcracking and time-intensive finishing processes, such as sanding and painting. According to James Cropper, Surfacetec eliminates these inefficiencies by delivering a resin-rich, high-quality surface finish that reduces the need for secondary processing, cutting down production time and costs.
Surfacetec also ensures optimal resin flow and wet-out to quickly and consistently infuse parts, increasing production throughput and achieving fewer wasted parts. The veil solution is also AS9100-accredited and compatible with all major composites manufacturing techniques, ensuring a seamless adoption into existing production lines.
Beyond efficiency, Surfacetec enhances composite functionality and performance by incorporating materials such as aramid veils for abrasion resistance and antistatic veils for electrostatic dissipation.
Emitec conductive veils.
Surfacetec also offers multiple sustainability benefits — in addition to enabling the production of lightweight final components to support increased fuel efficiency in applications such as aerospace and automotive, the range also incorporates nonwovens manufactured using reclaimed carbon fiber. These recycled carbon fiber surfacing veils enable manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact.
In addition to launching Surfacetec, JEC World 2025 is the first public showing for James Cropper since rebranding from Technical Fibre Products. Surfacetec is on display alongside James Cropper’s well-established Optiveil range, which includes ultra-lightweight glass, polyester and thermoplastic nonwovens optimized for use as carriers or supports for adhesive films and fragile materials.
Visit James Cropper at Booth N40 in Hall 5.
Related Content
-
Carbon fiber, bionic design achieve peak performance in race-ready production vehicle
Porsche worked with Action Composites to design and manufacture an innovative carbon fiber safety cage option to lightweight one of its series race vehicles, built in a one-shot compression molding process.
-
Revisiting the OceanGate Titan disaster
A year has passed since the tragic loss of the Titan submersible that claimed the lives of five people. What lessons have been learned from the disaster?
-
Infinite Composites: Type V tanks for space, hydrogen, automotive and more
After a decade of proving its linerless, weight-saving composite tanks with NASA and more than 30 aerospace companies, this CryoSphere pioneer is scaling for growth in commercial space and sustainable transportation on Earth.