Fostering innovation and excellence across the composite materials industry
Applus+ Laboratories partners with composite producers and manufacturing companies in the aerospace, automotive, wind power, and railway industries. Over the last 15 years, we have developed a portfolio of advanced testing and engineering solutions with the objective of fostering innovation and excellence in the composite materials industry.
State-of-the-art Facilities and Expert Support for Product Development
Materials testing
We provide a wide range of materials testing services, from R&D to Quality Assurance, and we specialise in high-complexity testing methods. We carry out global and challenging projects thanks to our ISO/IEC 17025 and Nadcap fully-accredited network of materials laboratories located in Europe (Spain, Germany and France), the USA, and China.
Structural testing
From coupons to full-scale, we conduct structural validation plans for composite components and subcomponents. We boast unique large and versatile facilities, where our composite materials experts perform uniaxial (up to 15 MN) and multi-axial static and fatigue tests.
Environmental testing
From climatic to fire testing services, we test composite components under normal and extreme environmental conditions to ensure reliability across their whole life cycle.
CAE services
Our ‘TestPaks’ solution integrates material testing and parameter conversion services to deliver accurate material cards compatible with more than 30 CAE simulation programs. To streamline your projects, our expert CAE engineering team can carry out the complete simulation work package.
Engineering
Thanks to our deep knowledge of testing, we develop custom test benches and test rigs to validate complex applications. Our engineering team provides turnkey projects, ranging from design and manufacturing to integration and commissioning.
Prototyping
We provide prototyping services for composite parts, both in / out of autoclave.
Development of Innovative Manufacturing Processes
A+ Glide Forming
Applus+ Laboratories has developed a proprietary carbon-fibre stringer-forming technology. This new process allows manufacturing of complex contoured stringers without wrinkles in an automated, repeatable, and reliable way. This versatile, high-productivity, and low-investment solution overcomes the major drawbacks of existing forming technologies.
Schedule a meeting with the development team and find out how this innovative technology can boost your projects
Advanced Services and Equipment to foster Quality in Production
Incoming material inspection and process control testing
We provide extensive services to control the quality of materials and processes thanks to our advanced testing and manufacturing capabilities. From incoming raw material inspections to process control testing or first-part qualification, our laboratories partner with composite component manufacturers to ensure high quality production standards.
2019 ‘Merit’ Rating by Airbus & Nadcap: Our materials laboratory in Illescas (Madrid area) achieved the ‘Merit’ rating from Airbus and Nadcap. Both excellence awards acknowledged the laboratory for its competence, technical expertise, process quality and customer service.
Bespoke automated NDT equipment for in-production inspection.
Our robotic and gantry-based equipment inspects complex contour parts with high-rate productivity and reliability. We provide turnkey projects, from design to manufacturing and commissioning, tailored to our customers’ needs.