Lightweight Automotive Fibre-Steered Structures (LeAFS)

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LeAFS focuses on the development and commercialisation of an automated manufacturing process, aiming at introducing the light-weighting benefits of composites in the automotive sector, in a cost-efficient way.During LeAFS, iCOMAT will use its novel manufacturing technology known as Rapid Tow Shearing, to enable the manufacture of composite structures that require fibre steering. These are often highly curved and will be manufactured by pressing a hybrid preform of 2D fibre-steered tapes and random-fibre sheet-moulding-compound (SMC).Phase\_2 will deliver a pilot production line (raw material to final part), focusing on R&D to solve existing challenges and develop process elements enabling even greater quality/cost improvements.LeAFS can deliver the new state-of-the-art in automated manufacturing capability for lightweight vehicles and green mobility. LeAFS creates an immediate business opportunity, exploitable at the end of the project, which extends to the UK and European markets.