Accelerating The Use of Thermoplastics in Composites with VandeWiele
VandeWiele was a key technology partner in the €7.8 million 3D Lighttrans project that led to the introduction of complex and cost-effective new 3D textile reinforcements for thermoplastic composites.
The global market for thermoplastic composites is expected to grow to an estimated $16.4 billion by 2021 according to industry analyst Lucintel. This is in response to the growing demand for lightweight and environmentally-friendly materials, particularly from the aerospace and automotive industries.
European research projects such as 3D-Lighttrans, involving 18 partners from across Europe, are playing a crucial role in implementing this transformation by overcoming the processing difficulties and inherently high costs associated with the production of thermoplastic composites in the pa