High Volume Automotive Composite Manufacturing
Automotive Composites Research Centre (ACRC)
Working with industry to develop high-volume composite manufacturing processes for automotive applications
The ACRC research group collaborates with industry to develop high-volume composite manufacturing processes for automotive components.
As partners of the Composites Manufacturing Hub and the High-Value Manufacturing Catapult, we engage in multi-partner projects with companies like Ford, Jaguar Land Rover, and Aston Martin. Our dedicated facility transitions new technologies from the lab to high-volume production readiness for both thermoset and thermoplastic composite components.
We provide design-for-manufacture support, leveraging our team's expertise in composite materials and manufacturing. Using advanced characterisation techniques and state-of-the-art production facilities, we analyse novel materials and collaborate with partners to find optimised materials tailored to industry requirements.
To see the available equipment list at the ACRC, please see ACRC ListLink opens in a new window
Focus areas
As we cater for various processes and products, our facilities are flexible to adapt to different project needs.
Automation
Recognising the key to high-volume automotive composite manufacture is automation, we're equipped with an automated cutting table, robotic pick and place for automated lay-up and automated systems for press-loading of materials.
SMC compounding
Our Schmidt & Heinzmann SMC Production Line gives us a unique, independent and small batch capability dedicated to Innovative R&D. Fully equipped with in-process areal weight measurement and heated line, we can compound carbon and glass fibres with a range of resins in a variety of formats.
Electric Vehicles
Some of our previous research has focused on how people use and interact with Electric Vehicles (EVs), focusing on how driver behaviour can influence range of an EV and subsequent range anxiety, to parking behaviours to support Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging, and the design of EV charging points.
Complex preforming
With a dedicated 150-tonne preforming cell with a high level of automation and advanced material handling, the focus is on complex preforming of dry fabrics, dry NCF and pre-impregnated thermoset or thermoplastic composite materials.
Automated Composites Manufacturing
Our Automated Composites Manufacturing line can produce composite components in a single forming-moulding stage using open-edge moulding processes using diaphragm membranes or gripper systems.
Materials characterisation
We offer both mechanical and analytical materials characterisation using state-of-the-art facilities. This characterisation capability is critical in the optimisation of manufacturing processes and is also used to provide high-quality input data for predictive CAE activities and subsequent validation of models.
High-pressure resin transfer moulding (HP-RTM)
Our Hennecke Streamline system is suitable for HP-RTM with seamless integration with the Engel v-Duo press.
Process monitoring
Our equipment and moulds are equipped with instrumentation to optimise process parameters for reduced cycle time and cost. All key equipment is monitored to provide energy consumption data for cost modelling studies & LCA.
Simulation
We are developing reliable process simulation capability for the key manufacturing processes: SMC compression moulding, complex preforming and resin transfer moulding.
Success stories
Success stories
Research that generates impact
Explore the solutions that we create and the impact that we generate in response to societal, industrial and environmental challenges.