#Composites

2020-12-03

DORNIER presents itself with holistic approaches to thermoplastic composites and three-dimensional preforms

DORNIER Composite Systems © 2020 LINDAUER Dornier

A modern composite lightweight design is not based on the material alone. It is rather an optimal synergy of material, process and application.

It is rather an optimal synergy of material, process and application. With its PROTOS® and TRITOS® production systems, Lindauer DORNIER is now presenting for the first time comprehensive solutions for the economic production of high-quality customized thermoplastic composite structures.

PROTOS® Line: With granulate and fiber to the semi-finished thermoplast product

Whether vehicles, airplanes, wind turbines or robots – fiber reinforced materials provide more economic efficiency, sustainability and weight reduction in areas such as e-mobility, energy and mechanical engineering. Semi-finished fiber-matrix products based on unidirectional fiber reinforcements (UD tapes) play an important role in this context. The outstanding features are, most of all, short cycle times, good recyclability and easy processing. In order to provide a solution for the low level of availability of suitable UD tapes and prepreg semi-finished products, Lindauer DORNIER has now developed the PROTOS Line (Polymer and Roving to Sheet). “The integral solution allows tailored manufacturing of high-performance intermediates, products easy to be further processed “, says Dr. Josef Klingele, Head of Composite Systems Product Line. First of all, the Tape Production Line PROTOS® TP produces either dry or fully impregnated tapes and afterwards processes them with the Tape Weaving Machine PROTOS® TW into high-performance semi-finished thermoplastics. DORNIER’s innovative production system is available for customer trials and sampling in the in-house technology centre.

P2 Mono Rapier Weaving Machine: Machine platform for special products

From fabric made of heavy tow to tape fabric made of thermoplastic tapes: Where many special solutions have been used so far, DORNIER is now launching a highly flexible machine platform with the P2 Mono. The new monorapier weaving machine is available in different versions, enabling customers to produce many special products on one platform. “In combination with the DORNIER Zero Twist Feeder, even two weft colours can be inserted at high speed and with a wide variety of patterns”, adds Dr. Josef Klingele.

P2 Roving Rapier Weaving Machine: The new standard

DORNIER has acquired the know-how for customized solutions for the composites industry over the course of more than 50 years in which the company’s roving weaving machines have set the international industry standard for the production of high-performance fabrics made of carbon, glass and aramid fibers. Their successor will now be presented in Paris: the P2 Roving. Thanks to its higher frame stiffness, improved filling insertion performance, the maintenance-free, patented DORNIER SynchroDrive® drive concept and an optimized positive center transfer, it is already considered as the most flexible rapier weaving machine in the world. According to Product Manager Michael Langer, its improved shed geometries ensure an absolutely symmetrical warp thread path, which means that carbon fabrics for high-end applications can now be produced even better and more reliably. Furthermore, innovative waste saving devices reduce weft waste and allow an efficient production with optimal use of material.

TRITOS® Line: Simple production of complex fiber structures

In high performance applications, 3D fabrics are superior to layered fiber composite structures due to their good damage tolerance and high dynamic load capacity. “The DORNIER TRITOS® Line (Textile Roving into Three-dimensionally Oriented Structure) combines this material superiority with highly productive, industrial production”, explains Klingele. With fabric thicknesses of up to 100 mm and the patented DORNIER Weft Saver (DWS), the preform production line TRITOS® PP is ideally suited for the use in areas with high cost pressure.

Fewer pores, greater impact tolerance: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2026 honours material research on fibre-reinforced composite components for aerospace industry

Microscopically small pores that form during manufacture, or barely visible impact damage, can severely impair the load-bearing capacity and service life of fibre-reinforced composite components. Two young researchers have presented groundbreaking work in this field and will both be awarded the 2026 Peter Dornier Foundation Prize: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Neitzel from the Technical University of Ilmenau for his doctoral thesis on pore minimisation in the RTM process, and Johanna Buschmann, M.Sc., for her master’s thesis, completed at the German Aerospace Centre, on the improved impact tolerance of 3D fabrics compared to 2D laminates.

From carbon to canvas: DORNIER presents flexible and reliable weaving technologies for 3D weaving and dynamic markets at Techtextil

At Techtextil from 21 to 24 April 2026 in Frankfurt am Main (Hall 12.0, Stand D95), Lindauer DORNIER will be showcasing reliable and flexible weaving technologies for ever-changing market requirements. The machine and plant manufacturer will present retrofits for existing machines, the new TRITOS® FLEX 3D weaving technology, intuitive automation concepts and software solutions for data-sovereign networking of the weaving machine fleet.

40 years of the Peter Dornier Foundation: Four decades of non-profit commitment to people, culture and the environment in Lindau, Germany and worldwide

The “Haus Brög zum Engel” hospice, the historic farm “Haug am Brückele” and numerous other projects: for over 40 years, the Peter Dornier Foundation has been supporting social and cultural life in Lindau and beyond. The company-related foundation can look back on more than 500 projects it has supported in Germany and worldwide. It was founded in 1985 by Peter Dornier, founder and long-time Managing Director of the international machine and plant manufacturer Lindauer DORNIER, whose profits go into the foundation at a rate of ten percent annually via a holding company. In the future, the foundation intends to expand its commitment in an even more targeted way.

JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 highlights Taiwan as a strategic hub for the global composites industry

The third edition of JEC Forum organized in Southeast Asia brought together 350+ participants from 22 countries for three active days of high-level Business Meetings, conferences, and networking, emphasizing Southeast Asia’s growing role in the global composites market. Held for the first time in Taipei from 23 to 24 June 2026, following the successful first editions in Bangkok, JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 confirmed its position as the region’s leading business platform dedicated to the composites industry.

MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

MEL Composites is supplying advanced composite materials and process consumables to ELA Aviation for the production of its next-generation gyroplanes. The collaboration underlines MEL Composites’ growing role in advanced aerospace mobility, providing lightweight materials designed to improve aircraft performance, manufacturing efficiency and structural reliability.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

EU ban on destroying unsold clothing and footwear now in force

The European Union's ban on the destruction of unsold clothing, clothing accessories and footwear has entered into force. Since July 19, 2026, large companies across the EU have been prohibited from destroying unsold textile products, while medium-sized companies will be required to comply with the same rules from 2030.

Eastman Naia™ brings its inside-out denim vision to Kingpins New York

Following its debut at Kingpins Amsterdam, Eastman Naia™ brings the next chapter of its denim story to Kingpins New York, taking place July 22–23. At Booth Green 7, Naia™ presents its denim proposition built around three complementary design directions: Performance Denim, Fashion Denim and Authentic Denim.