Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Composites Research at the University of Western Ontario (FIP-Composites@Western)

The FIP-Composites@Western

The FIP-Composites@Western is part of the FIP cooperation program of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, which promotes the industrial transfer and commercialization of scientific research results. By synergizing the competencies of Western University and Fraunhofer ICT, we create direct benefits for our project partners and customers and drive applied and demand-oriented research and development in close cooperation with North American industry.

Focus

The focus of FIP-Composites@Western is on lightweight construction technologies and application-oriented composite production for the mobility sector. With state-of-the-art processing equipment on an industrial scale for thermoplastic and thermoset material systems, we can meet the requirements of the North American market in the field of fiber composite-based lightweight construction applications.

Production processes

At FIP-Composites@Western, the following production processes are available to our project partners and customers on an industrial scale:

• High-precision hydraulic press with 25,000 kN press force
• Rapid infusion system for High-Pressure-RTM (HP-RTM) or wet compression molding process
• Sheet molding compound (SMC)
• Infrared oven for preheating e.g., organo sheets
• LFT-D process for processing long fiber-reinforced thermoplastics
• Thermoplastic injection molding process with 16,000 kN clamping force
• Thermoset injection molding process with 5,500 kN clamping force
• Pultrusion