To fully exploit the potential of fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (FRTC) and to achieve a broad industrial application, automated manufacturing systems are crucial. Investigations at Fraunhofer IPT have proven that the use of laser system technology in processing FRTC allows to achieve high throughput, quality, flexibility, reproducibility and out-of-autoclave processing simultaneously. As 90% of the FRP in Europe1 are glass fiber-reinforced a high impact can be achieved by introducing laser-assisted processing with all its benefits to glass fiber-reinforced thermoplastics (GFRTC). Fraunhofer IPT has developed the diode laser-assisted tape placement (laying and winding) to process carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRTC) for years. However, this technology cannot be transferred unchanged to process milky transparent GFRTC prepregs (preimpregnated fibers). Due to the short wavelength (approx. 980 nm) and therefore high transmission less than 20% of the diode laser energy is absorbed as heat into non-colored GFRTC prepregs. Hence, the use of a different wave length, e.g. CO2-laser (10.6 m) with more than 90% laser absorption, is required to allow the full potential of laser-assisted processing of GFRTC. Also the absorption of CO2-laser radiation at the surface compared to volume absorption of diode laser radiation is beneficial for the interlaminar joining of GFRTC. Fraunhofer IPT is currently developing and investigating the CO2-laser-assisted tape placement including new system, beam guiding, process and monitoring technology to enable a resource and energy efficient mass production of GFRP composites, e.g. pipes, tanks, masts. The successful processing of non-colored glass fiber-reinforced Polypropylene (PP) and Polyphenylene Sulfide (PPS) has already been proven

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In der Herstellung von Leichtbaukomponenten aus faserverstärkten Kunststoffen treten Handhabungsvorgänge mit empfindlichen, luftdurchlässigen, biegeschlaffen Materialien auf. Um diese Vorgänge in der Produktion etwa in RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding)-Prozessketten zu automatisieren, hat das Fraunhofer IPT einen Greifer für die Handhabung textiler Materialien entwickelt. Dieser Greifer basiert auf der elektrostatischen Adhäsion und ermöglicht automatisiertes Handhaben und Drapieren textiler Hochleistungsmaterialien.   Handling operations with sensitive non-rigid, air-permeable materials are often found in the production of lightweight products made out of fiber-reinforced plastics. In order to further automate the production of light-weight components, for instance in RTM-process-chains, Fraunhofer IPT developed a gripping system especially suitable for sensitive textile materials. This gripper is based on the electro-adhesive effect and enables for the automated handling and draping of textile materials.