MAG Cincinnati said the units features new head technology, which reportedly allows the industry’s highest kg/hr lay-up productivity due to independent control over feed, clamp, cut, and startup for up to 32 individual tows or slit tape.
Airbus and European partners had previously purchased 14 MAG Cincinnati composite systems, including four Viper FPS and 10 automated tape layers (ATL), to produce parts for A320, A330, A340, A380 and A400M aircraft. The Charger ATLs undertake automated lay-up of graphite/epoxy tape material. The fifth-generation head is said to outstrip industry benchmarks in productivity. Separate ATL models are available for automated lay-up of contoured (up to 25°deg) and flat shapes, as well as long, narrow, structural parts.
