Published 02/12/2026

KraussMaffei portfolio supports composites fabricators from development to series production

JEC World 2026: Equipment supplier displays long fiber injection + wet pressing, RTM, ColorForm, FiberForm, NFPP, pultrusion, 3D printing of high-performance plastics exhibit.

Edited by: Grace Stubbins

Senior Managing Editor, CompositesWorld and Products Finishing

Efficient component production across industries

In the construction sector, where steel is increasingly being replaced by corrosion-resistant materials, pultrusion, particularly used to develop concrete reinforcement, offers much potential. KraussMaffei presents pultruded profiles manufactured by subsidiary Pultrex, which are lightweight, durable and can withstand high loads.

A complex cladding component for commercial vehicles is also on display. The component was fabricated via the long fiber injection (LFI) process, which is suitable for large-area structural parts. For this purpose, cut glass fibers are coated with polyurethane (PUR) and pressed into the cavity to form the molded part. This technology combines cost efficiency for small production quantities with a wide range of surface design options such as deep-drawn films or imitation leather.

In an underbody protection system also on display, an LFI panel forms its core, which is then wrapped in glass fiber mats, coated with the matrix and pressed into shape. The resulting part is a lightweight, torsion-resistant, large-format sandwich component that complements the EV battery housing KraussMaffei highlighted in 2025.

According to the company, AM is ideal for developing such structures, which can achieve large-format, thin-walled components. Prototypes and functional models created in this way enable early design and process validation, reducing development times.

KraussMaffei’s technologies also demonstrate a redesign of EV air intake parts through the “Radiator Grill 2.0,” which features built-in radar and video technology. The surface of this part, which must be robust to withstand stone chips and daily wear and tear, is supported by the ColorForm process, in which the component is coated with a self-healing PUR layer after injection molding. KraussMaffei supplies the production cell for this from a single source.

Additive manufacturing versatility

PrintCore, the heart of the powerPrint Flex and powerPrint Plus additive manufacturing (AM) systems.

The KraussMaffei Additive Manufacturing division develops large-format 3D printing solutions that can also process high-performance plastics such as PEI, PESU and PPS.

Components manufactured with powerPrint Flex and powerPrint Plus systems are suitable for technical applications in aerospace, automotive, model and moldmaking, and energy technology industries, among others. At the heart of both systems is KraussMaffei’s printCore extruder that enables processing temperatures of up to 400°C and covers a very wide discharge range — from a few hundred g/hr to 70 kg/h. This achieves both filigree, thin-walled structures and large components in stable series and pre-series processes. The extruder and a selection of additively manufactured, large-format components are presented at the booth.

With its fixed, thermally insulated build chamber, powerPrint Plus offers precise extrusion control for reproducible component quality, high material efficiency and reliable processing of technical and highly filled thermoplastics.

PowerPrint Flex stands for maximum modularity. The system can be adapted to specific projects and, in addition to the additive process, can also integrate milling operations, additional axes or rotary tables. This makes it particularly suitable for complex applications, hybrid manufacturing strategies and individual component geometries where AM and mechanical postprocessing are combined in a single cell.

Visit KraussMaffei at Booth D51 in Hall 6.