Reducing the environmental impact of a foil starts at the design stage.
At Avel Robotics, the AFP process (Automated Fiber Placement) allows fiber to be deposited exactly where it is needed, with a precision that traditional processes cannot achieve. Result: a significantly reduced material waste rate regardless of foil geometry, combined with production without a draping mold!
We also pay close attention to material selection. Avel works with towpregs, pre-impregnated fibers that, unlike the composite materials most commonly used in offshore racing and aeronautics, contain no separator films. The outcome? Less production waste, and a cleaner process.
And the cherry on top: the carbon used by Avel is produced in France!
The environmental impact of Avel’s production equipment and processes has been measured and published* in 2024. New measurements are currently underway as part of the Foil Infinity** project, subsidized by the Région Bretagne, following optimization of robot productivity and autoclave cycles.
It is the combination of these choices of process, materials, sourcing, and optimization that allows Avel to reduce the environmental impact of its parts by more than 30% compared to conventional processes, making Avel the ideal partner for teams looking to stay one step ahead in eco-performance.
Our business is as much about producing high-performance composite parts as it is about helping our clients produce more responsibly.
* https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00889/100053/110684.pdf
Baley Christophe, Davies Peter, Troalen Wilfried, Chamley Alexandre, Dinham-Price Imogen, Marchandise Adrien, Keryvin Vincent
** UBSIDE, MerConcept, Région Bretagne
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