ZeroWasteLIFE

The core of the problem to be addressed: processing wastes. The manufacture of composite material parts is deployed through several steps. For the high quality, space or automotive-transportation parts to be realized, the process involves the cutting of a pattern out of pre-pregs or tows of virgin fabric materials. The cutting is typically done in automated tables and operators are responsible for collecting the cuts and disposing on top of moulds, to prepare the bags and launch the curing process (to be performed in autoclave or under press). Still, the process for the manufacture of composite parts is heavily relying on trimmed and precision cut parts: in spite of heavy optimization, still an amount estimated between 30% and 50% is wasted along the process (the value of wasted material is estimated in the median 40% within this project).