Web Industries Launches Composites Automation Development Center

Web Industries, a global leader in custom manufacturing and development services for flexible materials, has opened a new Composites Automation Development Center in the Atlanta, GA area. The 10,000 sq. ft. development environment will help Web Industries customers from around the world test new and emerging carbon fiber composite materials for qualification and use in the automated fiber placement manufacturing process.

At the center, engineers will be able to work with Web Industries to complete performance, process-ability, durability and fit-for-use assessments on pre-preg carbon fiber composite precision tapes.

"We are seeing an increasing acceptance and use of these next-generation composite materials in aerospace, industrial, automotive and wind energy applications. The Web Industries Development Center for Composites Automation is the first testing and development facility fully dedicated to helping raw material suppliers, fabricators and prime aircraft manufacturers leverage these new materials in automated manufacturing," says Donald Romine, President & CEO of Web Industries. "We are proud to offer this valuable resource to the entire composites industry."

Expanding the Center of Excellence

The Composites Automation Development Center is located within Web Industries' Composites Manufacturing Center of Excellence. The new purpose-built environment is ISO 9001:2008, AS9100, and ISO 14001-certified. Services and capabilities in the new Development Center include: slitting and winding, slit-width verification testing, materials analysis, environmental testing, web path testing, fit-for-use analysis, packaging optimization, quality and inspection, and aerospace grade freezer storage and environmental controls.

In addition to investing in processing technology and laboratory facilities, Web Industries has also ensured that visitors to the center will have a first-class working environment with all of the amenities needed to be comfortable and productive for extended periods of time. This includes engineering offices, visitor conference rooms, visitor office space and wireless access.

The Composites Automation Development Center builds upon Web Industries' two decades of experience in producing precision composite slit tapes for the world's most stringent aerospace programs.

"This center represents years of innovation, knowledge, and investment in this market. And, with the most advanced systems and technology in the world for processing and creating precision slit tape with composite materials, Web is uniquely positioned to help market leaders gather important information about next-generation composite materials being developed for future programs," says Romine.