JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #102 - January/February 2016 - 36

process

Fit for large series

Automotive supplier Fritzmeier relies on HP-RTM technology from
KraussMaffei to manufacture carbon fibre-reinforced components.
More than 65 HP-RTM machines from KraussMaffei are already on
the market around the world.

By
Petra rehMet
Press officer
KraussMaffei

roducing CFRP components in
large-scale series is now standard
thanks to the market launch of
electric cars such as the BMW i3 as well
as many other factors. The HP-RTM
process (high-pressure resin transfer
moulding) from KraussMaffei supports processors on their path towards
increased automation and short cycle
times. The automotive supplier Fritzmeier also places its trust in KraussMaffei.

Tailored customer solution
At its Bruckmühl site in Bavaria,
Fritzmeier Composite GmbH & Co. KG
develops and produces a wide variety of
top-class components for the automotive
industry based on fibre-reinforced composites. The list of well-known references
includes large automakers such as BMW
(particularly the BMW i3 as well as
Mini), Mercedes Benz and Rolls Royce.
In 2014, the company invested in another HP-RTM machine from KraussMaffei
and produced, among other creations,
carbon fibre-reinforced components for
the bodywork of the BMW i3. Very short
cycle times were a requirement for the
design of the new HP-RTM machine,
and KraussMaffei produced a system solution perfectly designed for Fritzmeier's
requirements.

The result is a customized HP RimStar
Compact designed as a 4-strand machine
with four mixing heads. Two presses
can be operated at a single time using
this machine. By using switchover units,
two presses with dual cavities can be
operated simultaneously using a single
4-component machine. This avoids the
need to invest in an additional metering
system.

Highly reactive epoxy systems
An additional challenge was the matrix
material in use, which is a highly reactive
and particularly corrosive epoxy system.
The special distinguishing characteristics
start at the selection of the axial piston
pumps, which move the material to the

mixing and metering systems. Fritzmeier
benefited from KraussMaffei's in-house
pump manufacturing expertise in this
area. By manufacturing its own pumps,
KraussMaffei was able to adapt them directly to the customer's requirements so
that the machine can operate with a higher level of efficiency. As the only provider
on the market, KraussMaffei has been
producing the pumps in-house since
2010, allowing for a quick, individualized
response to the needs of a customer.
The RimStar series of mixing and metering systems are also optimally designed
for processing of fast-reacting epoxy
systems. The specific defining features
are the flexibility and high product quality with low scrap rates. High-pressure

Close collaboration: (from left) Wolfgang Rößler (KraussMaffei Sales), Florian Kirschner (CFRP Production
Area Management at Fritzmeier) and Stephan Fraunhofer (Development Management at Fritzmeier) with a
BMW i3 cowl

36 jec composites magazine / No102 January - February 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #102 - January/February 2016