The Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology ICT (Fraunhofer ICT) in Pfinztal, Germany, in collaboration with ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company (EMPSC), has commissioned a new high-pressure resin transfer moulding (HP-RTM) dosing unit and mould setup to underpin trials of the Proxxima resin system in structural composite applications.

This advanced platform is designed for series-level production of fibre-reinforced vehicle components, targeting reduced cycle times, lightweighting and cost-efficiency compared with conventional materials such as aluminium. Industry partners are now invited to leverage the facility to prototype, validate and optimise production concepts built on Proxxima systems and HP-RTM processing.

Jasper Steffens, project manager at Fraunhofer ICT explains, The joint initiative aims to accelerate the development of high-performance, fiber-reinforced vehicle components manufactured via HP-RTM. Our objective is to produce load-bearing vehicle components that are more durable, lighter, and more cost-effective than conventional materials such as aluminum. A key focus of the collaboration is achieving short cycle times in series production, thereby demonstrating the efficiency and value of Proxxima systems-enabled composite components across all vehicle propulsion technologies.

The Technology is Now Ready for Industry Engagement

With the technology platform now ready for industry engagement, EMPSC and Fraunhofer ICT invite automotive manufacturers and suppliers of lightweight components to explore the capabilities of this Customer Collaboration Hub:

• Latest HP-RTM technology and state-of-the-art dosing system
• The Proxxima technology material development toolkit
• Advanced virtual methods for structural and manufacturing simulations

Industry stakeholders are encouraged to come and utilize the facility to explore, prototype, and learn with Proxxima systems, while benefiting from the world-leading expertise of the Fraunhofer ICT staff.