NCC announces new overbraiding conference

The one-day event, NCC Discover: The Future of Overbraiding, will be held at the NCC in Bristol on Thursday 7th May 2020, and will explore advancements in composites overbraiding technology, with the ambition to open new opportunities for collaborative R&D projects.

As part of the NCC’s iCAP digital technology programme, the NCC has invested in the latest overbraiding capabilities, offering industry access to Europe’s largest two ring braider. It can intertwine triaxial structures with up to 288 individual bias strands of carbon fibre with up to 144 axial strands in one automated process to create complex, hollow geometric shapes up to 10m long and 750mm in diameter. The technology is already used in the composites industry to manufacture parts such as advanced aircraft propellers, vessels, crash structures and lightweight automotive parts.

The NCC is opening its doors to encourage academics and engineers from all industries to come and find out more about this technology, its benefits, challenges and applications. The conference will include technology demonstrations, technical presentations and workshops sessions to foster knowledge sharing and identify potential opportunities for R&D collaboration.

Enrique Garcia, chief technology officer at the NCC, said: "After the success of our Composites Overmoulding event last November, we are looking forward to hosting NCC Discover: The Future of Overbraiding to showcase the potential of this innovative technology.

"Composite overbraiding is an automated flexible and repeatable process delivering one of the highest material deposition rates in the composites industry. In addition to companies being able to use our unique two-ring braider, our engineers are developing the digital design and simulation tools to help companies define the optimum layup and processes for permeability and structural performance to ensure quality.

“Through NCC Discover: The Future of Overbraiding, we want to share this technology, tools and knowledge with industry to open up overbraiding capabilities to a broad range of industries looking to overcome challenges in the manufacture of complex, 3D structures."

Stephan Voskamp, CEO and owner of Eurocarbon, specialists in overbraiding technology and machine manufacturer, is a keynote speaker for the event and will present on how to develop overbraiding.

The NCC is also opening up presentation opportunities for individuals or organisations with a composites overbraiding innovation or assistive technology they would like to present to the community. Abstract entries of up to 500 words specific to overbraiding technology should be submitted for review to NCCdiscover@nccuk.com with the subject line ‘Abstract: The Future of Overbraiding”. The deadline for entries is 12:00 noon (GMT), on Friday 20th March 2020.

www.nccuk.com