Cygnet Texkimp, a UK-based fibre handling and composites technology specialist, has developed a very heavy-duty (VHD) creel solution capable of handling 500 kg packages of fiber, as part of an industry collaboration to increase efficiency in carbon fiber manufacturing.
The large-scale creel will be used to unwind bobbins of PAN precursor fiber into carbon fiber production lines. Its development marks a significant advance for the carbon fiber manufacturing industry, which has so far relied on fiber packages weighing no more than 350 kg. The new technology is expected to reduce operational downtime and increase efficiency by cutting the frequency of package changeovers and allowing longer continuous run cycles between package changes.
Cygnet Texkimp says it is a market leader in the manufacture and supply of VHD creels to the carbon fiber industry, with over 70 VHD creels in operation globally, processing more than 24,000 bobbins of fiber.
“A 500 kg bobbin offers an immediate win over a 350 kg bobbin in terms of line efficiency by extending the length of continuous operation that can be achieved,” said Peter Stevenson, director of projects at Cygnet Texkimp. “The creel also supports the work of manufacturers to process higher tow count fibers, such as 24 k or 48 k tows, and achieve faster line speeds by increasing the size and weight of the PAN precursor bobbin.
“We’ve developed this new capability as part of our ongoing consultation with the industry and driven by sustained growth in carbon fiber production capacity globally. In particular, the technology addresses the needs of a growing number of high-volume industrial applications around the world, many of which are designed to establish new sovereign capability.”
The solution uses an operator-managed lifter loader system to unload the packages of PAN fiber from the winding system and load them onto the creel, with the option of a bespoke handling solution incorporating a higher degree of automation. Like all Cygnet Texkimp VHD creels, it is equipped with an electronic tension control system that uses a closed-loop dancer arm mechanism to maintain near-constant fiber tension while unwinding packages of fiber into the process.
