Munich. Fibre-reinforced composites are among the materials of the future. The composites are in demand thanks to their slight weight and enormous durability not only in the aerospace industry. The automobile industry, mechanical and plant engineering, and wind energy technology have high expectations for this material. The turnover trend for lightweight construction parts is already pointing up sharply. With their automated manufacture, composite parts are finally going to soar to new heights. Consequently, AUTOMATICA 2012, which will take place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre from 22 to 25 May, has declared "Automated Composite Production" as one of its major topics. The International Trade Fair for Automation and Mechatronics is going to contribute with a great variety of events to master the challenge of automated production of lightweight construction parts made of fibre-reinforced materials.
 
Lightweight construction is a special trend that is present in many production areas and is recording enormous growth. According to the estimates of experts, the turnover volume of fibre-reinforced materials – including mainly carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) – will double to 14 billion euros by the year 2015. Biggest drawback: They still have to be produced manually for the most part. In aerospace industry and racing, where CFRP components are only required in small series, the expensive production mode only plays a subordinate role.
However, the case is different when composite parts are required in large series, for example, in automotive engineering. Lightweight construction parts are especially extremely significant for the electric vehicles of the future, but they will only be affordable if they can be produced and assembled in an automated mode. No wonder that great efforts have been undertaken over the past years to advance automated production and assembly of lightweight components.
 
Pioneering Spirit among Mechanical and Plant Engineers
Reliable processes with short cycle times and a high degree of reproducible precision are required for use in series production to produce large numbers of pieces inexpensively. The challenges of such automated composite component production are complex, because automation concerns the flexible weaving or machine knitting of moulded parts, cutting the fibre or composite plates, inserting, pressing and removing parts, composite technologies (laminating, injecting, straight vacuum forming and gluing) as well as handling between the processing centres and assembly of the components. In addition, industrial online quality assurance procedures are required.
Numerous mechanical and plant engineers are equipping themselves to take a place in this pivotal market of the future and are developing systems for automated production of composite components. The technological approaches come from different industries such as the textile machine industry and metal and plastic processing. However, complete concepts suitable for industrial use are still rare.
 
Special Exhibition "Automated Composite Production" Shows All Aspects
Those responsible at AUTOMATICA have decided to put the strengths of the whole automation trade fair at the service of automated composite production. The topic "Automated Production of Lightweight Components" is to be displayed with the know-how from the areas of assembly and handling technology, robotics, and machine vision.
Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director of AUTOMATICA, explained: "AUTOMATICA 2012 is presenting automation concepts for the complete process chain with the new special exhibition 'Automated Composite Production'. It provides platforms for experts to share ideas with one another as well as with decision-makers and those responsible for production in the user industries. Knowledge transfer between equipment suppliers, automation specialists and users is a central aspect for the fast market spread of composite components."
To demonstrate the current trends in automated composite production comprehensively, AUTOMATICA has put together a multipart package of measures. Exhibition Director Armin Wittmann is convinced that the new exhibition area will be a great attraction for exhibitors and visitors thanks to an attractive supporting program. "The highlights include, for example, the 'Automated Composite Production Innovation Area', where we show automated fibre-reinforced production solutions in live operation in collaboration with research institutes."
 
Trade Congress during the Trade Fair Provides Additional Inspiration
In addition to others, AUTOMATICA is receiving support from Professor Klaus Drechsler, Director of the Chair for Carbon Composites at the Technical University of Munich. "Current developments show that mature robotics, handling and assembly concepts from other industries can be transferred perfectly to meet the needs of the composite industry. Our industry receives important inspiration for new automation solutions at AUTOMATICA." The exchange of information between experts plays a major role in this. AUTOMATICA does justice to this with two formats: The trade congress SAMPE (Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering) will again take place during the trade fair under the direction Professor Drechsler on this topic.
In addition, AUTOMATICA is setting up a platform with the "Composite Technology Lounge" within the context of the special exhibition where experts and those interested can exchange ideas and obtain information about the latest trends and activities.

 

Armin Wittmann, Exhibition Director of AUTOMATICA	Professor Klaus Drechsler, Director of the Chair for Carbon Composites at the Technical University of Munich	Hall B1 "Carbon Composites" 2010
Trade congress SAMPE (Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering)

About AUTOMATICA
International Trade Fair for Automation and Mechatronics
AUTOMATICA is the first and only international trade fair, which covers all areas of robotics + automation every two years. It has taken place on the grounds of the New Munich Trade Fair Centre every two years since 2004. The aim of the fair is to present the entire value-added chain in robotics and automation. Messe München GmbH and VDMA Robotik + Automation, trade fair industry advisor, are behind the industry-driven concept of AUTOMATICA. Exhibitor and visitor statistics for AUTOMATICA are audited by an independent auditor for the order of the Gesellschaft zur Freiwilligen Kontrolle von Messe- und Ausstellungszahlen (Society for Voluntary Control of Fair and Exhibition Statistics) and internationally by UFI (Global Association of the Exhibition Industry).
 
About Messe München International (MMI)
Messe München International (MMI) is one of the world’s leading trade-fair organisations with approximately 40 trade fairs for investment goods, consumer goods and new technologies. More than 30,000 exhibitors from more than 100 countries and over two million visitors from more than 200 countries take part each year in the trade fairs in Munich. In addition, MMI organizes trade fairs in Asia, Russia, the Middle East and South America. With six foreign affiliated companies in Europe and Asia as well as 64 foreign representatives covering more than 90 trade fair-relevant countries, MMI has a global network. As a company active globally, Messe München International makes a substantial contribution to environmental protection and sustainability.
Additional information is available at www.messe-muenchen.de.
 
Contact person for the press:
AUTOMATICA
Claudia Huber – Press Officer of Messe München GmbH
Tel. (+49 89) 949 - 21471
Fax (+49 89) 949 – 97 21471
E-mail: claudia.huber@messe-muenchen.de

VDMA Robotik + Automation
Thilo Brodtmann, Managing Director, VDMA Robotics + Automation
Tel. (+49 69) 6603 - 1590
Fax (+49 69) 6603 - 2590
E-mail: thilo.brodtmann@vdma.org
www.vdma.org/r+a