Sweden’s first test bed for sustainable composite production

Sweden’s first test bed for sustainable composite production – now available in Piteå

Sweden’s first test bed for sustainable composite production – now available in Piteå

The test bed complements and strengthens other sustainability-driven industrial investments in northern Sweden, both in battery manufacturing and sustainable steel, but also space and test operations. The facility gives companies and researchers completely new opportunities to test and demonstrate sustainable materials, technologies and manufacturing processes for the future.

The facility gives companies and researchers completely new opportunities to test and demonstrate sustainable materials, technologies and manufacturing processes for the future. The heart in the test bed consists of a servo-hydraulic press from the Swedish manufacturer AP&T. The 160-tonne press is developed specifically for high-volume production of fiber composites, has a pressing capacity of 1200 tonnes and is digitized to be able to follow tests and take part in results at a distance.

The interest in the new test bed is great both nationally and regionally and both from producing companies and subcontractors in, for example, the automotive industry.

Facts about the test bed

The test bed for sustainable composite production provides the opportunity to develop and verify production in an industrial and automated environment. It is valuable for the material conversion in general and not least for the automotive industry where an increased use of fiber composites can contribute to lighter and more energy-efficient cars with a reduced climate footprint. The test bed includes the entire chain, from raw materials to fiber winding, SMC / prepreg (investment in new equipment underway), pressing and forming, trimming and quality control. The test bed also provides valuable input and data for the simulation-driven design process, which is the key to implementing sustainable composites in the industry.

The total investment in the test bed is approximately SEK 40 million, of which SEK 20 million consists of the servo-hydraulic press where partners and co-financiers are SWE-CIC run by Piteå Science Park, Norrbotten Region, Piteå municipality, Luleå municipality, Sparbanken Nord, Längmanska Företagarfonden.