Swedish tape weaving technology leader, Oxeon AB, is investing € 3 million to expand its patented ±45° spread tow weaving capacity, a version of the company’s TeXtreme fabrics. The company reports that additional capacity will be in place by the beginning of 2018.
Known for its ability to reduce weight, increase stiffness and strength, improve impact protection as well as improve dampening performance in thin plies, TeXtreme spread tow fabrics extend these benefits, found in its 0°/90° fabrics, to its ±45°continuous length fabrics which are available in widths up to 60”/1.5m.
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Henrik Blycker, CEO of Oxeon commented, “We can clearly see a need for this product, especially in aerospace applications where the knock-down factor of mechanical properties has limited the usage of existing ± oriented textiles so this means that the parts are stronger while being much lighter.”
The expansion decision by Oxeon has come amid the increasing demand of the company’s spread tow fabrics especially in the technical textiles. Oxeon claims that non-existence of stitching or fixation yarn in the fabrics minimizes the risk of mechanical issues, such as micro cracks along with eliminating the difficulty in predicting mechanical performance due to the induced geometrical variation. Hence larger profile parts such as panels, wings or tubes that use TeXtreme have no knock-down factor so this means that the parts are stronger while being much lighter.
“With this additional investment in TeXtreme spread tow fabrics, we’re further enhancing our position as the advanced carbon reinforcement technology leader,” added Henrik.
