FibreLINE: Revolutionizing Composite Manufacturing with Cutting-Edge Automation

FibreLINE is an advanced automation system that streamlines the entire performing process for composite manufacturing, improving efficiency and precision. It cuts, sorts, sequences, and places large plys of carbon fibre onto moulds with minimal material damage. Available in different configurations, FibreLINE integrates FibreFORM—an award-winning pick-and-place tool that accurately shapes and deposits material onto complex 3D surfaces, achieving deposition rates of up to 200 kg per hour—and FibreROLL, which can handle dry fibre plys up to 20m long, reaching rates of over 350 kg per hour in trials.

To ensure defect-free material placement, FibreLINE is equipped with FibreEYE (inspection system), FibreKIT (sorting and sequencing), and FibreTACK (ply securing). By optimizing material handling, it significantly reduces the number of pieces required for aircraft wing covers from 100,000 to potentially just 100, cutting manufacturing time and factory footprint while enhancing sustainability.

Currently installed at the National Composites Centre (UK) to improve aircraft wing production speeds by 10x, another configuration is set to be deployed at AMRC (University of Sheffield) as part of a Boeing-led project. FibreLINE is also integrating the world’s largest industrial robots (FANUC M-2000iA Series) to handle heavy aerospace parts with extreme precision. Additionally, Zünd’s latest aerospace-specific cutter will work in conjunction with FibreLINE to further enhance cutting and deposition accuracy.

FibreLINE represents a major leap in aerospace composites manufacturing, offering faster, more sustainable, and highly automated production solutions.

Source: JEC