Composites & Filament winding
High-strength, low-weight items can be produced economically using composite techniques. By researching geometry and lay-up feasibilities, Stork Fokker develops new applications that can replace existing production methods. Stork Fokker uses a variety of processing methods for its innovative designed and manufactured lightweight composite structures.
Thermoplastic processes: co-consolidation, press-forming, folding and welding.
Thermoset processes: advanced state of the art manufacturing methods, including filament winding.
The main focus of the composites group is on aerospace applications like control surfaces, tails, doors and fairings for several aircraft manufacturers. An example of a successful produced structure is the Airbus A340/A380 fixed wing leading edge, made of fibre reinforced thermoplastic. In the area of filament winding, Stork Fokker has the knowledge and experience to use many materials (glass; silica and carbon fiber/epoxy and phenolic resins) and winding methods (wet filament and pre-preg winding/oven and autoclave curing/vacuum-bagging and rotational curing), and uses the process for PAC-3, Mk 48 Dualpack and Javelin FTT missile launch tubes.
