Modular production systems for composite materials

IPCO US (Totowa, N.J., U.S.) is a supplier of double belt presses and scattering systems for the production of composite materials. It offers solutions based on polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) belts, steel belts or a combination of both. The modular design of the company’s ThermoPress range of double belt systems, for example, enables all critical process parameters to be incorporated into a single continuous production process.

The ability to combine controlled polymerization, curing, tempering and cooling in one efficient system provides productivity and economy benefits. System versatility is another key benefit, with pressure options including linear, surface area, isochoric and isobaric modules, which enable the supply of customized solutions for all types of composite materials. The ThermoPress system includes a high degree of automation and the ability to design high-capacity production solutions for sheet, panel and roll-to-roll products.

IPCO’s systems are available for the production of a wide range of materials, from thermoplastics, thermosets, carbon fiber- and glass fiber-reinforced polymers (CFRP/)GFRP to natural fibers and bio-based materials. Typical application areas include automotive and transportation parts, aerospace, architectural cladding, building and construction materials, advanced composites, electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage.

Four types of ThermoPress system are available. ThermoPress TB is a low-pressure system based on PTFE belts and is used for the continuous consolidation and compacting of two or more materials. ThermoPress CB is a CombiPress solution combining PTFE belts with the high-pressure performance of steel belt modules. ThermoPress SB presses feature steel belts throughout to deliver high pressure and temperature. And ThermoPress HB is a hybrid design combining the Class A surface structure of a patented steel belt with the release properties and economy of a PTFE belt-based double belt press.

IPCO also designs and manufactures an extensive range of precision scattering systems for bulk materials. The company’s ScatterPro systems are available with a choice of oscillating and rotating brush-off technologies to handle powder, granules, fibers, chips, flakes and other flowable bulk products including recycled materials. ScatterPro systems can be operated as standalone units, or combined with ThermoPress systems in fully integrated, end-to-end production lines.

A full range of ThermoPress and ScatterPro technologies is available for process testing, product development and small-scale production at IPCO’s Productivity Center in Goeppingen, near Stuttgart, Germany.