Rockwell Automation
The use of carbon fibre materials is expected to soar in the next four years and manufacturers are looking to improve their production. Julia Pierce reports.
Carbon fibre composite materials, used in everything from tennis rackets to entire jet airliners, have an impressive strength to weight ratio and are becoming increasingly popular. Carbon fibre is seen as one of the engineering materials of the future, with use expected to increase by 37 per cent over the next four years.
The benefits of the material are huge. The Boeing Dreamliner, claimed to be the world's most environmentally friendly airliner, consists of 50 per cent carbon fibre composites with only 20 per cent aluminium. This allows it to cut its carbon dioxide output by a fifth compared with its competitors while allowing higher cabin humidity, which improves passenger comfort and reduces the effects of jet lag.
Although carbon fibre is already a success in its present form, attempts are being made to improve manufacturing both the material and parts made from it, to increase its range of applications.
produces electric handling solutions for carbon fibre production and has been carrying out pioneering work with the Textile Composites Group at
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