Composite Technology

Design, tooling, manufacture - under one roof

AG is an accredited supplier to local industries and works in compliance with ISO9001:2008. Our in-house skills in quality control and qualification enable turnkey production

Our expertise in composite materials includes:

Product Design

We design tooling and products in-house using CAD software.

 

Tooling, Patterns and Moulds

Tooling for composite manufacture is cheaper, lighter and stronger than that used for resin or plastic injection moulding.

Low cost of composite tooling makes multiple tooling for simultaneous production economically viable and repeatable.

Tooling designs which allow all-side tool faces – quality inside and outside.

 

Production Processes

  • Our 4 by 2 metre autoclave has a PLC with selectable heat distribution and PID temperature regulation.

  • Initial curing takes place on the tool.
  • RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding) and VART (Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer) require little skilled operation and provide consistent product quality
  • At AG, we manage multiple moulds for simultaneous production of different components.
  • Product cycle time for complex components can be as low as 20 minutes.
  • Aesthetic end products.
  • Composite parts have superior structural efficiency.

Supporting processes

  • Honeycomb/Pre-preg

  • Vacuum bag infusion
  • Hand lamination
  • Chpper-gunning
  • Post-curing
  • Trimming
  • Final assembly of parts.

Epsilon manufactures various products in this field, which include the following:

  • Crew Cab Extensions that are mounted on various truck chassis. These Crew Cabs are used extensively on fire truck conversions but are suitable for any heavy vehicle cabin conversions.  The main structure is made from composite materials. This cab extension has passed SABS Testing.

  • Water tanks for fire trucks. These are all made from composite materials.
  • Geo-survey boom extensions on fixed wing and rotary-winged aircraft for various companies operating all over the world.
  • Handrails: Handrails for various airlines are built using a phenolic prepreg (Pre impregnated with resin material). The resin system used meets FST (Fire Smoke and Toxicity) requirements specified.
  • Various High Temperature Tooling: Tooling is constructed using resin systems able to withstand in excess of 160 deg C. These tools are used in the manufacture of aircraft interior parts.
  • X-Ray transparent Carbon Fibre Parts – such as Surgery Tables and Operating blades – are manufactured.
  • Various types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
    Various smaller parts for the automotive industry, such as experimental engine covers, fuel tanks, body parts etc.
  • Various smaller parts for the automotive industry, such as experimental engine covers, fuel tanks, body parts etc.