Automated Fibre Placement (AFP) and filament winding are enabling major advances in composite manufacturing, from lightweight hydrogen storage systems to aerospace and satellite structures. However, these processes require absolute consistency, and that begins with the tape.
When it comes to prepreg unidirectional (UD) tapes, precision slitting and reliable spooling are essential. At Bindatex, we work with customers across advanced manufacturing sectors to slit and spool their free-issued composite materials into formats optimised for automation.
Why Prepreg UD Tapes Matter
AFP and filament winding require accurately dimensioned tapes that can lay down with consistency and accuracy, particularly over complex curved structures, lattice frameworks, and fuselage contours. Furthermore, the tapes must maintain:
- Consistent width and edge quality
- Clean fibre alignment
- Spool stability for controlled unwinding
Small issues in tape preparation can lead to wrinkles, bridging, poor consolidation, or even layup failure. The material may be world-class — but if it’s not slit and spooled correctly, process reliability suffers.
The Challenges of Slitting Composite Prepregs
Slitting thermoset and thermoplastic prepregs is far from straightforward. These are high-value materials — tacky, reinforced, and sensitive to environmental conditions. Cutting them cleanly, with minimal fibre disruption and accurate edge finish, requires specialist expertise.
At Bindatex, we use our PrecisionEdge™ technology to deliver:
- Tape widths down to 3mm
- Tight dimensional tolerances
- High edge quality with minimal fibre pull-out or distortion
We also fully understand the importance of controlled storage, handling, and traceability, particularly with thermoset prepregs. We maintain full traceability of outlife, and treat every batch with the care your material demands.
Why Spooling Makes a Difference
Tape presentation is a critical factor in automated processing. Running short-length tapes or dealing with poor spooling setups often results in downtime, tension issues, and inconsistent layups.
We produce traverse-wound bobbins tailored to your AFP or filament winding system, offering:
- Consistent tension and laydown performance
- Spool formats matched to your equipment
- Improved process stability and fewer stoppages
The result: better machine uptime, smoother fibre paths, and fewer disruptions during critical layup operations.
Applications We Support
Bindatex works with companies to push the boundaries of composite design and manufacturing. Projects we support include:
- Hydrogen storage tanks (Type 4 and Type 5)
- Filament-wound pressure vessels
- Advanced satellite structures including carbon fibre lattice central frameworks
- Carbon fibre rotor arms and structural ribs
- Thermoplastic UD tapes for aerospace automation trials
Whatever the application, our role is to support your process, not change your material.
Working With Your Materials
We don’t supply tape — we enhance it. That’s why we work exclusively with customer-supplied, free-issued prepreg materials, slitting and spooling them to suit your specific process and equipment.
Every job starts with a conversation: about your target tape width, spool type, end application, and how we can help reduce material handling issues while improving consistency.
A Collaborative Approach to Slitting
We don’t offer one-size-fits-all. We work alongside your engineers to ensure your tapes are slit and spooled in a way that works for your materials, your machines, and your application.
To find out more about our full range of capabilities, please get in touch