Exel Composites in Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg

Q: What kind of materials, fibers and resins do you use?

A: Composites, also known as reinforced plastics, can be made from different fiber and resin combinations. We manufacture both glass fiber composites and carbon fiber composites as well as hybrids where different fibers can be combined in the same profile to achieve different mechanical properties. It is also possible to use natural fibers such as hemp and flax. The interest for natural fiber composites is increasing as OEMs look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint.

Q: What kind of manufacturing processes does Exel Composites use?

A: Exel Composites specializes in continuous manufacturing technologies including pultrusion, pull-winding and continuous lamination. Pull-wound and pultruded composites come with many benefits. As the processes are continuous they provide many benefits including repeatable quality and volume output.

Q: What is pultrusion?

A: One of the most efficient methods for manufacturing continuous fiber composites is pultrusion. The pultrusion process is a continuous manufacturing technology for composites resulting in a steady output of a composite profile which is cut to length at the end of the process. It is called pultrusion because the profile being produced is actually pulled through the process.

Q: How does pultrusion compare to prepreg?

A: Pultrusion and prepreg are both methods used in composite material manufacturing, each with its own distinct advantages and applications. Prepreg involves pre-impregnating fibers with resin whereas pultrusion is a continuous manufacturing process where fibers are pulled through a resin bath and then cured in a heated die, producing profiles with constant cross-sections efficiently and cost-effectively. While prepreg is favored for complex shapes and applications requiring tailored material properties, pultrusion excels in high-volume production of standardize profiles. 

Q: What is pull-winding?

A: Pull-winding combines the two techniques of pultrusion and continuous filament winding resulting in a profile with excellent hoop strength, longitudinal strength and modulus, with smooth surface finish. Pull-winding is very similar to pultrusion, with the main difference of adding cross-wound reinforcements. This allows layup configurations with both unidirectional and cross-wound (off-axis) fiber alignments. 

Q: What kind of industries do you serve?

A: We produce composite solutions for various industries including for example composite panels for transportation, structural profiles and composite sheets for building and infrastructure and composite tubes for various industries like cleaning and maintenance, defense, medical applications and sporting equipment.

Q: Do you make thermoplastic composites?

A: Exel manufacturers bespoke thermoplastic composites based on customer needs. Get in touch with us for more details.

Q: Do you make biocomposites using natural fibers?

A: Exel is currently working with customers and suppliers to develop new solutions for bio composites, testing for example natural fibers in composites manufacturing. Get in touch with our team to learn more.