Coexpair

Coexpair designs and builds composite manufacturing equipment, molds and software from Namur, Belgium. It focuses on RTM and SQRTM processes for aerospace.

RTM means resin transfer molding. SQRTM is an out-of-autoclave version of the process. Coexpair says it is fully focused on these methods for aerospace. It serves the aeronautics, space and defence markets. Its partner Radius Engineering supports customers in the USA. Radius has worked in this field since 1986, and Coexpair in Europe since 2006.

The company supports customers along a whole development program, from first concept to full-scale demonstration. It sets out four phases. The first is a feasibility study with materials, process, FEA and cost analysis. The second is risk reduction, with test coupons, sub-elements and full-scale mold design. The third is demonstration, with a full-scale mold, demonstrator part and test. The fourth is industrialisation, with production molds, presses, injectors, training and support. Its Application Development Centers act as innovation hubs, each with about 30 people and about 15 engineers.

Coexpair designs and machines RTM molds. It has designed and built more than 150 molds. It says full impregnation is reached with a single inlet and outlet. Its standard tolerance on part thickness is a minimum of plus or minus 0.15 mm. Its engineers also do finite element analysis on parts, tools and equipment to find issues early.

The equipment range covers workstations, injectors and custom-made machines. It also offers Dynamics equipment that works with thermosets and thermoplastics. Coexpair writes its own software. Floware controls its presses and injection systems. Maestro collects and uses production data, from AFP to RTM and SQRTM injection. Syncflow joins several injection machines into one synchronised system for large resin volumes.

The company says its processes are qualified on the EN 9100 standard. It also invests in research, development and innovation and posts job offers on LinkedIn.

Services

• SQRTM composite manufacturing machines
• RTM molds and tools
• Composite injectors
• Workstations
• Custom-made equipment
• Finite element analysis
• Development program support
• Floware control software
• Maestro production data software
• Syncflow injection software