Composites for industry & automation

For ABB, Connova Group has developed and manufactures aramide-fibre reinforced components for high voltage applications. This serial product is highly precise and fulfils tightest tolerances and highest surface requirements.

For LEICA, Connova Group has developed and manufactures a thermally stable, highly precise housing for a distance measurement device. The hand-hold unit is manufactured by prepreg technology. After curing, the parts are precisely assembled, and surface treated.

Connova Group has realized a statically as well as dynamically highly relevant machine component made of aluminium by a CFRP concept and could prove a clear improvement of the performance of a pick-an-place machine. An early feasibility study, the consulting of BESI’s designers and the in-house design and manufacture of the tools has led to the successful production of the CFRP seesaw – including the realization of a bonding accuracy lower than 0.015mm.

The achievements of Connova Group: engineering, simulation, laminate design and manufacturing of highly stiff end effectors for the automated glass production. Moreover, we could integrate electronics and vacuum connectors directly in the component itself.

For a robotic palletizing system, Connova Group has developed swing arms made of prepreg with high-modulus carbon fibre. The swing arm with a total length of 1.450mm has been manufactured in a 2-piece negative mould.

For a pick-and-place robot used in the packaging industry, Connova Group has developed and manufactured an arm by RTM technology using carbon fibres and a foam core.

Based on adhesive bonding technology, Connova Group has developed and manufactured robotic arms consisting of CFRP tubes and surface-treated aluminium milled parts for the automatization industry.

Connova Group has realized a load-carrying frame made of CFRP. The requirements were minimal thermal expansion, low weight, and very high stiffness. The maximum compression as well as tension force was 2.500 N.

For research purposes, Connova Group has developed and manufactured a conical, gas-tight, and X-ray-transparent pipe with very low leakage rate.

Further details to the product:

• Homogenous fibre structure
• Gas-tight adhesive bonding of interfaces
• Manufacturing by means of VARI (vacuum-assisted resin infusion)
• Bonding with high accuracy

Increase your system efficiency by 25% – no eddy currents, optimised fitting accuracy and scalable series production for maximum performance.

Carbon sleeves and drums optimised for higher speeds – increase performance and efficiency with our scalable production.

Maximise the structural integrity and efficiency of your applications with our CFK panels.

Thanks to the use of CFRP, it has become possible not to change the patient’s positioning in spinal surgery during the surgical process including the X-ray testing. Connova Group has provided following services to Schaerer Medical:

• Carrying out a feasibility study based on customer’s specification
• Analytical calculations of stiffness and strength
• Validation of the calculations by prototype testing
• Production of CFRP parts for patient beds in series moulds, including structural bonding

The patient bed developed for PSI is characterized by a high level of positioning accuracy, which is achieved by a high stiffness and precise CNC machining. In addition, the bed offers maximum X-ray transparency for proton radiation therapy. Thanks to high-quality CFRP processing and a light-weight sandwich construction, there are no disruptive artifacts anymore. This leads to a significant improvement in therapy.

For REGA, Connova Group has developed and manufactured light and X-ray-transparent shell elements characterized by high stiffness and strength. The patient bed is easy to clean. Further details are:

• Shell elements made of CFRP/AFRP prepreg (carbon and aramid fibres mixed)
• Precise CNC machining