Tailor-made lightweight solutions - from concept to serial production
Fiber composite materials have long been established since in the cost-efficient manufacture of lightweight components in large numbers. The key to success is finding the best technical and economic solution from the countless possibilities using different materials and molding processes. With our in-depth material, process and application know-how, we provide our customers with optimum support, from consulting in all process steps through simulations to the production and testing of prototypes and small batches of all kinds.
State-of-the-art production routes for your component solution
With cutting-edge machinery on more than 2,000 m2, we have created the ideal prerequisites in the LAC at our site in Meitingen. Always open to new ideas, we work here with an nterdisciplinary team of experts consisting of calculation and process engineers, as well as production and automation specialists, on successful customer-specific lightweight onstruction solutions – for example for companies in the automotive and aerospace industries, the energy sector and other industrial applications.
Fiber Placement Center
SGL Carbon and the Fraunhofer IGCV founded a joint Fiber Placement Center (FPC) in 2018. The new development and production center, headquartered in the SGL site Meitingen, offers you the opportunity to develop various fiber placement manufacturing concepts and to demonstrate them in prototype production on an area of more than 500 square meters on various high-tech facilities.
With the LAC, we are positioning ourselves as a solutions provider in the market. We help our customers step by step to transfer fiber-reinforced plastics optimally into future series applications. The goal is mass production. The focus of our work is therefore on short cycle times, robust processes and continuous automation, as well as load-compliant fiber use with minimum material waste.
Dr. Christoph Ebel, Head of Product Management, BU Composite Solutions | Large Scale Solutions | Structural Components
Concept development
We develop different and cost-efficient fibercomposite solutions for your applications, based on
- our material expertise
- our process know-how
- your requirements
Product design
Our experienced design team creates detailed CAD models focusing on
- process and material specifications
- lay-up and laminate specifications
- tool construction
Process simulation
Depending on your composite manufacturing process, we determine the technological capabilites:
- Determination of material and process parameters
- Draping and filling simulations
- Impregnation and curing analyses
Structural analysis
We check and optimize your composite construction based on structural requirements focusing on
- rigidity and strength
- vibration and frequency analysis
- crash and fatigue behavior
- optimized use of material
Virtual prototyping
We optimize your manufacturing process by aiming for a first-time-right prototype which combines
- geometric specifications
- process parameters
- functional requirements
Prototyping
Your prototype is produced on equipment at the cuttingedge of technology, employing our entire product range on lab space of more than 2,000 m².
- Preforming and impregnation
- Prepreg processes
- Thermoplastic technologies
Product testing
We test finished components in our internal test lab, results feed back into the product development process. Our testing methods include
- material analysis at the coupon level
- non-destructive tests
- component testing
Factory simulation
During product development, we analyze and visualize the production process and facilitate large series planning of material flow with a focus on
- the scaling of manufacturing processes
- factory layout
- cycle times and capacity utilization
