Prepreg autoclave curing in a 3 × 8 m autoclave.
The process that gives a composite part the highest quality: resin-preimpregnated fabrics, laid up in a clean room, vacuum-compacted and cured under pressure and heat. Our 3 × 8 m autoclave is being commissioned: we activate it when a project requires it. In the meantime, we cure prepregs out of autoclave (OOA) in a 4 × 2 × 1.8 m oven at up to 200 °C.
When the part cannot fail.
Autoclave curing achieves the highest fiber volume and the lowest porosity of any laminating process. It is the benchmark in aerospace, motorsport and any structural part where every gram and every tenth of a millimeter counts.
Autoclave pressure compacts the plies against the mold: the part comes out with an excellent surface finish and mechanical properties that repeat from one unit to the next.
- Structural and semi-structural parts
- Class A visible carbon fiber finish
- Panels, fairings, profiles and long parts
- Short and medium runs with consistent quality
Laid up in a climate-controlled clean room.
We cut and lay up prepregs in a 60 m² (207 m³) clean room with climate and dust control. Prepreg rolls are kept in a chest freezer until use to respect their out-life.
Our CMMs are in the same room, so the mold and the part are measured at the same temperature at which they are made.
From the mold to the measured part.
We machine the mold on our 5-axis machining centers (up to 8 × 3 × 2 m), measure it, lay up, cure in the oven or, when the project requires it, in the autoclave, trim by robot or CNC and measure the part again with FARO before delivery.
If you already have a mold, we lay up on yours. And if you only need the mold or the cure, that works too: each service can be ordered separately.
Curing capacity.
| Autoclave | Ø 3 m × 8 m usable length · being commissioned, activated per project |
| Maximum cure temperature | 200 °C (oven) |
| Curing oven | 4 × 2 × 1.8 m, up to 200 °C |
| Clean room | 60 m² · 207 m³, climate-controlled |
| Prepreg storage | Chest freezer |
| Molds | Machined in-house: tooling board, aluminum, cast iron, fiberglass or carbon fiber |
| Dimensional inspection | FARO arm, laser tracker and CMMs |
Out-of-autoclave (OOA) prepreg
Prepreg quality with more economical molds and cycles, oven-cured.
TechnologiesResin infusion
Large parts with a good fiber-to-resin ratio, without prepreg.
TechnologiesRTM
Closed mold, two finished faces and repeatability in production.
TechnologiesMolds and tooling
Molds and patterns up to 8 × 3 × 2 m, measured before delivery.
Technical articlesAutoclave capabilities and limits
What fits in a 3 × 8 m autoclave, when it pays off and what limits it.
Send us your drawing or 3D model, and we’ll bring it to life.
We study your project with the same care you put into designing it, then send you a clear proposal covering process, lead time and price. Only have the physical part? We’ll scan it and take it from there.
What customers ask us most.
Is your autoclave operational?
It is being commissioned. We activate it when a project requires it, with a short lead time. In the meantime, we cure prepregs out of autoclave (OOA) in our 4 × 2 × 1.8 m oven at up to 200 °C. Tell us about your project and we will give you specific lead times.
What is the largest part you can cure in the autoclave?
The autoclave is 3 m in diameter with 8 m of usable length. The actual part size also depends on the mold and the tooling that supports it; send us the drawing or STEP file and we will confirm whether it fits.
What is the difference between autoclave and out-of-autoclave (OOA) prepreg?
The autoclave adds pressure on top of vacuum, giving lower porosity and higher fiber volume. OOA cures under vacuum only, in an oven, which makes molds and cycles cheaper; it is a good alternative when the part does not need maximum performance.
Do you make the mold for autoclave curing?
Yes. We machine and measure it in our plant. The mold material is chosen according to the cure temperature, the number of parts and the accuracy required: tooling board, aluminum, cast iron or composite.
Can you autoclave-cure parts we have laid up ourselves?
Ask us about each case. We need to know the material, the cure cycle and the mold to guarantee the result.
What materials do you lay up for autoclave curing?
Prepregs in carbon fiber, fiberglass, kevlar and other composite materials, according to the project specification.