According to Swiss headquartered high-tech industrial group Oerlikon, if the Eiffel tower had been built 124 years later, it would surely have played a significant part in its construction - because what was riveted, screwed or welded together using iron and steel components back then, would today be primarily made of composites – and Oerlikon Textile, Vacuum & Coating today supplies a wide range of technology and components for their production. These technologies and components will be the Oerlikon focus at the JEC between 12 and 14 March 2013 in Paris.

Carbon fibre winder

Carbon fibres are used in applications where low weight and extreme stability are now prerequisites. Carbon fibre-reinforced plastics are used, to name but a few areas, in the aeronautics and aerospace industry, wind power plants, automotive industry, safety technology and in high-quality sports equipment such as racing bicycles, tennis racquets, skis and boats.

Oerlikon Barmag has developed a winder especially for the production of carbon fibres called Win-Trax. The two-yarn winding head is said to combine the economic production of top quality carbon fibres with simultaneously perfect package building and identical running lengths. In addition, the new WinTrax- A 2cop produces packages with a diameter of up to 310 mm. The resulting higher package weights reduce tooling times and therefore significantly reduce outlay during composite production.

Oerlikon says that due to the identical running lengths of all packages, waste is reduced to near zero. The production of composites frequently requires filaments or tapes with particular properties, such as high tensile strength, low elongation or a high modulus of elasticity and accordingly, extrusion systems for producing these high-quality tapes, monofilaments and multi-filaments are another information highlight of Oerlikon Barmag at the JEC.

GM Control

Exhibits will also include the newly developed GM Control metering unit from Oerlikon Barmag, which says it is responding to the demands of numerous users for an easy to use plug-and-play version of its proven GM metering pump series. The unit can be controlled directly and can also be retrofitted to existing process control systems.

Whether for casting PUR parts, lamination of composite parts, metering additives in an ongoing extrusion process, application of cold adhesives or for flexible use in production systems with changing requirements - the compact and mobile GM Control unit is designed to support all of these tasks with the usual high metering accuracy and with even more ease of use.

The core of the GM Control metering unit - the GM pump - is available for numerous conveying capacities, which means that an appropriate metering unit can be provided for various throughput volumes.

Delicate handling of glass filaments

Two further brands in the Oerlikon Textile business unit are also presenting their latest products for the glass sector - Oerlikon Saurer and Oerlikon Textile Components.

At the Oerlikon joint booth, visitors can learn all about the Volkmann GT (GlassTwister), the company’s ring twister used for the production of glass filament yarns. Oerlikon Sauer says it offers its customers the complete spectrum of innovative solutions and services in the glass sector with its Volkmann product line.

The GlassTwister is modular in design and the main components are the creel baskets and ring twisting spindles. Both components are equipped with single motor drives and pneumatic brakes and are supplemented by the central ring rail drive with servo motor.

The complete synchronization of all components and the programmable ring rail guide is said to enable optimal package build and thereby perfect processing of the twist packages in the subsequent processing steps. The ergonomic design aims to enable the operating personnel to carefully feed the machine at a comfortable working height, which ensures careful handling of the spinning cakes and thereby the quality of the feed material.

The Volkmann GlassTwister is able to twist plied yarn structures, e.g. 3-ply yarns and hybrid yarns, when equipped with a package creel and godet supply units in place of the creel baskets. Production of single or multi-ply yarns from raw materials in the count range between 10 and 5000 tex is possible and flexible application areas: e.g. PA, PES, CV, Aramid, PVA, Dyneema, PE/PP as multiple or monofilaments, are accommodated.

Oerlikon Textile Components can look back at over 40 years of experience in the production of components specially developed for the glass fibre industry. At the JEC, the business unit will also be presenting innovative aprons from the Accotex series which are used in glass fibre processing. The glass fibre apron Accotex 964 FG3 was specially developed for super-fine filaments such as BC (4 μm), C (4.5 μm) or D (5 μm).

Vacuum pumps for composites

In addition to the innovative Oerlikon Textile exhibits, the Oerlikon Group is also presenting new coating solutions from Oerlikon Balzers at its booth, as well as aspects of the vacuum technology supplied by Oerlikon Leybold.

Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum provides pumps and systems for various applications. The company says its Sogevac, Trivac and SP pump series have proven themselves over the years in degassing, lamination and resin transfer moulding applications and based on their experience in these difficult processes, Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum can offer optimised vacuum pumps, ranging from 10 to 300 m3/h, and complete systems.

The wide motor range enables worldwide deployment of these pumps and oil-lubricated pumps (Sogevac or Trivac) or dry-running pumps (SP) can be used according to customer requirements. Thanks to specially selected oils, the Trivac and Sogevac series are said enable long working intervals without maintenance and with adapted optimal performance features. “Major manufacturers of wind generator rotor blades, shipyards, aircraft builders and component manufacturers in America, Europe and Asia trust in technology made by Oerlikon Leybold Vacuum,” the company states.

Oerlikon Balzers

Oerlikon Balzers is the world’s leading supplier of surface technologies, which aim to significantly improve the performance and durability of precision components as well as tools for the metal and plastics processing industries.

“These coatings, marketed under the Balinit brand name, are extremely thin and exceptionally hard. They significantly reduce friction and wear. Balinit Diamond Plus is the solution for aluminium alloys and composite materials. An especially smooth, nanocrystalline structure facilitates chip flow and prevents the formation of built-up edges. Cutting forces are significantly reduced. Thanks to the excellent surface quality of the work pieces, no reworking is necessary,” Oerlikon Balzers says.

Oerlikon is a leading high-tech industrial group, specialising in machinery and plant manufacture. The company provides innovative industrial solutions and advanced technologies for textile manufacturing, drives, vacuum and solar technology, thin-film coating and advanced nanotechnology.

Originally established in Switzerland and with a tradition stretching back more than 100 years, Oerlikon is now a global player employing more than 17,000 people at over 150 locations in 38 countries and generated turnover of CHF 4.2 billion in 2011.

www.oerlikon.com