Next generation & beyond
Process, structural parts and validation
From material architecture to engineered structures
Prepreg-Tow, QEE-TECH & M-TOW®
Continuous thermoplastic composite tow engineered for precision placement and high-performance integration.
High performance. High volume. Under a minute.
Future mobility and beyond mobility
Advanced manufacturing systems
From fiber to repeatable preform production.
Integrated equipment for Prepreg-Tow, QEE-TECH and M-TOW preforming, UD tape production, automated tape laying and manufacturing execution.
The QEE-TECH® cell
A robotic cell that brings creel, preforming, robot handling and molding into one controlled sequence — continuous fibre in, finished structural part out.
QEE-TECH® and Freestyle 3D Forming shape the reinforcement in three dimensions to create complex geometries, hardpoints and integrated features.
Cell layout
Creel and material handling, the preforming cell, robot transfer and the molding station, arranged as a single continuous line.
Three decades of cell development
The QEE-TECH® cell is the fifth generation of a robotic preforming architecture developed since 1995.
1995
First experimental set-up, from research focused on high-volume composites. EPFL, Switzerland.
2000–2005
Extensive industrial collaborations with EPFL, and a full-scale pilot plant at KB Sweden.
2011
Major investment in EELCEE AB: application and process engineering build-up, and the QEE-TECH® Cell built in Sweden.
2015
QEE-TECH® Cell by QEESTAR Ltd, a joint venture with Robostar in South Korea.
2018
Generation 5 QEE-TECH® Cell at Purdue University, IMI-CMSC/MD-LAB.
Why the cell matters
Molding with EELCEE technology, compared with CF/epoxy RTM on the same part.
| Per line | Molding — EELCEE | CF / epoxy RTM |
|---|---|---|
| Line-limiting cycle | 1 min 00 s | 8 min 40 s |
| Line-residence time | 3 min 00 s | 11 min 20 s |
| Handling operations | 2 | 12 |
| Scrap rate | 0.50 % | 30 % |
| Labour per line | 0.2 | 3.5 |
| Annual capacity per line | 250,000 | 30,000 |
| Design-freedom factor | 1 | 0.5 |
| Part cost factor | 1 | 2 |
| Recyclability factor | 1 | 0.1 |
- Complex shape design
- Tailored property distribution through virtual development using CAE
- Maintained surface quality
- Very short cycle time
- Excellent life-cycle performance
- Optimal material use
- Excellent load introduction
- Unique mechanical performance
- Controlled load distribution
- Adapted to conventional manufacturing equipment
- Low investment needs
Preforming machines
Three machine formats for tailored Prepreg-Tow, QEE-TECH® and M-TOW preform production.
Tape production & placement
The UD tape line feeds the weaving machine; the tape laying machine places tape ahead of press forming.
- Uni directional tape
- Fiber type: CF, GF, NF, basalt, aramid
- Resin type: PA, PP, PA6, ABS, PC, PEEK, etc.
Manufacturing execution
Production flow, cost and quality data connected across the line, from fiber to finished part.
Key specifications
- Tow size
- 3K – 24K
- Tape width
- 6 – 150 mm
- Tape thickness
- 0.05 – 0.5 mm
- Line speed
- Up to 60 m/min
- Placement accuracy
- ±0.5 mm
- System availability
- > 95 %
From structural intent to production intelligence
From engineering to a repeatable process
Talk to EELCEE
Engineering, applications, equipment & general inquiriesSwitzerland
EELCEECH-1070 Puidoux
Switzerland
info@eelcee.com Discuss your project
South Korea
EELCEE874-26, Sicheong-ro, Paltan-myeon
Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do 18529
South Korea
info@eelcee.com Discuss your equipment project