103826BRISK Baltex hybRId System KnitterClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKThe most basic fabrication method for thermoset composites is hand layup, where dry fabric layers or “plies,” or prepreg plies are cut and laid in different orientations by hand onto a tool to form a laminate stack. In the case of pre-preg where the cloth is pre-infused with resin, the stack is vacuum bagged and fully cured in an autoclave under pressure. Alternatively, the laminate stack is wetted layer by layer with liquid resin – so called “wet layup”. The demand for faster output has driven industry to find alternatives to hand layup using automated fabrication processes and Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM) was developed where the dry laminate stack is placed in a closed mould and infused with liquid resin. The disadvantage of hand layup is that cutting of the cloth to produce the laminates can be wasteful and the composite properties are biaxial at best. Baltex has conceived of a novel machine that can produce thick 3D preforms with little or no waste and with fibre reinforcement in all directions offering multi-axial properties in the finished composite product. We have demonstrated the feasibility of the novel knitting machine; However, we need to build a concept machine to prove the idea and evaluate how to take this invention forward.