Fokker and the National Aerospace Laboratory (NLR) has opened a manufacturing plant for composite aircraft components in Marknesse, the Netherlands,.
The plant will produce composite landing gear components, while also developing new manufacturing techniques for high-performance composites. Other high-tech companies that develop composites can also use the facility for testing their materials and automating production processes.
The new ‘automated composite manufacturing pilot plant’ is widely regarded as a key step in developing expert knowledge of composites in the Netherlands.
The pilot plant will start with the further robotification of the production of composite landing gear components. In a wider context, the plant will focus on producing composites reinforced with industrial resins, for which the plant is outfitted with ultra-modern equipment, including one of the largest robotic composite fiber-braiding machines in Europe.
