9T Labs, expert in digital, automated and cost-competitive serial production of continuous fibre components, will be showcasing at JEC World 2023, in Hall 5, Booth Q88, new applications produced by the company’s unique Additive Fusion Technology (AFT) Red Series platform.
These real-world applications include two different Oris SA luxury watches featuring carbon fibre composite cases, an aircraft overhead bin pin bracket, aircraft seats, and a pair of rear suspension rocker arms displayed on a performance motorcycle and a mountain bike from Thömus. Show attendees will have the opportunity to see 9T Labs’ state-of-the-art equipment in action at the booth during several live demonstrations that will take place regularly for the duration of the event.
At the show, 9T Labs will also highlight a new collaboration with the University of Padova, located in Padova, Italy. The university has extensive expertise in researching the fatigue behaviour of composite materials and predictive modelling capabilities that can help refine AFT process parameters and allow 9T Labs to further optimize its unique alternative to traditional additive manufacturing.
Additionally, 9T Labs will be featured alongside other stand-out companies and R&D centres in the event’s two JEC Innovation Planet showcase areas and in the Best Wishes video that will play repeatedly on screens located throughout the venue. The company was chosen for this honour because of its development of the ground-breaking aerospace overhead bin pin bracket and revolutionary motorbike rear suspension rocker arm. The suspension rocker arm will also be on display at Solvay’s booth, M55, in Hall 5.
“We are honoured to have been selected for JEC World 2023’s Innovation Planets and have our Red Series technology featured in the Best Wishes video airing throughout the event,” said Yannick Willemin, business development director, 9T Labs. “In addition to demonstrating at the show how our innovative solutions can make real and measurable impacts across many different industries, we also look forward to discussing the results of our latest important collaborations to further help the adoption of this new composites manufacturing technique.”
9T Labs’ Red Series AFT aims to help customers reach their sustainability goals by introducing a new design and manufacturing standard for strong, lightweight parts at a low cost with minimal waste. The unique, all-in-one manufacturing platform uses specialized software, hardware and sustainable processes to minimize waste and accelerate production compared to traditional composite manufacturing methods. Visitors can learn more about 9T Labs’ commitment to climate neutrality at the show where the company will publicly unveil its first Sustainability Report.
One concrete example of 9T Labs’ commitment to sustainability in action is the development of the upcycled pin bracket designed for use on commercial airplane overhead bins. Hundreds of these brackets exist on any given plane, therefore reducing the weight of these components will result in lighter planes, which then reduces the amount of fuel to fly. The efficient design and hybrid manufacturing of these high-performance parts, that use discontinuous fibre bulk moulding compound (BMC) platelets, continuous fibre preforms, and AFT cuts weight and cost by 50% compared to machined aluminium. Because thermoplastic-based composites can be easier to recycle than thermoset-based composites, this represents a more sustainable approach to composites manufacturing. In addition, these brackets have higher strength, lower variation and later onset of failure.
JEC World 2023 will run April 25-27, in Paris.
