SAMPE Journal - November/December 2019 - 48

NEWS / INDUSTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS

AIRTECH ADVANCED MATERIALS GROUP
INVESTS IN A NEW TECHNOLOGY AND A
10' X 40' LSAM 3D PRINTING MACHINE
Airtech Advanced Materials Group, the world's largest manufacturer
of vacuum bagging and composite tooling materials, has invested in new
technology in the form of a Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM)
3D printing machine with integrated machining capability. The LSAM relies
on thermoplastic extrusion, a core competency of Airtech with nearly 50
years of experience to build on. The LSAM can take tooling from conception
to the shop floor significantly faster than conventional methods. Additive
manufacturing uses almost the exact amount of material required, resulting
in less touch labor and shorter lead times. Airtech believes that additive
manufacturing is a game changer that will change the tooling manufacturing
world, especially in the aerospace industry. Large-scale tooling in the form of
trim fixtures, holding fixtures, and layup molds can be designed, tooled, and
built faster without compromising on quality.
Airtech has invested in a 60,000 ft2 (5,574 m2) expansion at its Custom
Engineered Products division in Springfield, TN. "Airtech has been an extrusion
company for over 45 years and is ready to take the next step into extrusion
involving additive manufacturing, 3-D printing. This type of extrusion is
similar to what we are doing now with films but will be used to create new
tooling with internal heating (OOA) on a large scale, up to 40ft long. We are
developing new technologies to help our partners reduce cost and increase
productivity," said ent/CEO of Airtech Advanced Materials Group.

Toray Advanced Composites and
BASF signed a manufacturing and
supply agreement focused on the
production of continuous fiber reinforced
thermoplastic (CFRT) tapes for the
automotive and industrial markets. Toray
Advanced Composites will produce high
quality and affordable CFRT tapes using
Ultramid® engineering thermoplastics
developed and produced by BASF. The
fiber manufacturer will reinforce BASF's
Ultramid PA6 (Polyamide) resins with
either glass fiber or with carbon fiber.
The supply agreement enhances
manufacturing capacity providing
wider commercial availability of CFRT
materials, which will enable the adoption
of advanced materials for lightweight,
structural components in a wide range
of industrial markets. With these CFRT
materials, automotive manufacturers can
design and rapidly produce optimized
components at a lower cost, while
using the latest fabrication methods
such as automated stamp forming and
overmolding.
Toray Advanced Composites' CFRT
materials are compatible with a wide
range of BASF's Ultramid compounds,
enabling more efficient, multifunctional
parts to be produced in fewer steps
and with less labor compared to more
traditional methods. BASF's Ultramid
products include unique and innovative
materials for optimal structural
application development.
For more information visit: www.
TorayTAC.com

Please visit www.airtechonline.com

Touchstone Testing Laboratory has
an extensive range of NADCAP (Metallics & Non-Metallics) approved and
ISO 17025 accredited tests and tests to
a variety of industry standards including ASTM, SAE and ISO as well as to a
large number of Aerospace Prime and
Aeroengine manufacturer approvals.
Our Advanced Materials Testing
Capabilities Include Failure investigations, SEM, HCF, LCF, Fracture
Toughness K1C, R-Curve, High temp
Tensile, Cryogenic Testing, Hardness,
Compression, Shear, Torsion, Impact,

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SAMPE JOURNAL

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Drop Tower and Creep testing for the
wide range of metallics and non-metallics utilizing state of the art instruments.
Our dedicated team of Ph.D scientists, mechanical engineers, metallurgists
and chemists are working with world's
biggest and most innovative aerospace
OEM's and Tier1 suppliers from early
stage research and development to the
final production material testing and
certifications.
For more information, visit www.
touchstonetesting.com

N OV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9

w w w. s a m p e . o r g
http://www.TorayTAC.com http://www.TorayTAC.com http://www.airtechonline.com http://www.touchstonetesting.com http://www.touchstonetesting.com http://www.sampe.org
SAMPE Journal - November/December 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal - November/December 2019
