NTPT, a prepreg specialist which makes thin ply materials, is expanding its offering of conventional weight prepreg following the installation of new equipment at its facility in Poland.
The new machine dedicated to high volume prepreg production has been installed in NTPT’s new 2000 m2 plant in Zory, Poland, allowing the company to increase production for higher volume marine and industrial sectors, as well as applications such as Formula 1 and UAVs.
Whilst production has already commenced in Poland, NTPT's R&D center will remain at the company's headquarters in Switzerland. During the second quarter of 2016, NTPT will relocate its headquarters and R&D activities to a new site in Renens, Lausanne, which offers improved amenities, and will continue to expand its R&D, sales and production teams during the year.
‘While NTPT is known for its expertise in thin ply prepreg materials, we understand that customers typically want to marry the performance and chemistry of thin ply with more conventional prepregs,’ said James Austin, NTPT's CEO. ‘With our expanded production facilities and additional equipment in Poland we are in a position to build our conventional prepreg range and provide these products to the market at very competitive prices.’
Opening ceremony
NTPT's automated tape laying (ATL) equipment, used to produce custom multiaxial preforms from prepreg tapes, has also been relocated to Zory.
All machines are in full operation, supplying NTPT's complete portfolio of prepreg products that include thin ply unidirectional (UD) prepreg of 15-100 g/m2 made from carbon, glass, quartz, aramid and other fibers and conventional UD prepreg of 100-600 g/m2, 200 g/m2 and 300 g/m2 woven fabric (0/90) prepreg, and 300 g/m2 and 400 g/m2 biaxials (+/-45), based on carbon, glass, aramid and other fiber.
The relocation of the company's Polish production plant to Zory commenced in March and is on schedule to complete in June, when a formal opening ceremony will be held.
This story uses material from NTPT, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.