Advancing aerospace manufacturing: FPP demonstrator at the Paris Air Show 

At the 55th International Paris Air Show, Cevotec presented a key milestone in automated composite manufacturing: the horizontal tail plane (HTP) fairing demonstrator. This part exemplifies how Fiber Patch Placement (FPP) can contribute to improving performance, process efficiency, and automation in aerospace manufacturing. 

FPP in aerospace: Demonstrator overview 

The demonstrator showcased a fully automated lay-up process for an aerospace component with complex geometry. It was developed to demonstrate that retrofitting lay-up automation on legacy parts is not only possible, but also significantly reduces production time, which is key to enable the targeted rate increases for single aisle aircraft. 

Key outcomes from the demonstrator include: 

• 7x faster production time, reducing both labor and total processing time 
• Fully automated lay-up using Cevotec’s SAMBA StepL FPP system 
• Elimination of intermediate debulking steps in the lay-up process 
• 25% increase in structural stiffness compared to a conventional lay-up of the same geometry 

These results reflect how FPP enables a more efficient and performance-optimized production process. 

Enabling efficiency and design flexibility 

FPP technology allows manufacturers to tailor fiber orientation and laminate build-up with high precision. This approach is particularly advantageous for aerostructures where material efficiency, stiffness-to-weight ratio, and process repeatability are critical. The HTP demonstrator at the Paris Air Show underscores several benefits:

• Faster lay-up rate compared to manual lay-up, with less human
  labor involved
• Fewer process steps in comparison to traditional composite lay-up 
• Improved part quality through the precision and repeatability of
  automation
• Increased design flexibility for complex curved surfaces and integrated
  features 

By significantly reducing manual operations while improving part performance and production rates, FPP supports the aerospace industry’s broader goals of digitalization and cost-effective series production for higher volumes.

Collaboration at the Paris Air Show 

Cevotec presented the demonstrator at the booth of Fuji Industries Co. Limited, highlighting the collaborative effort between partners committed to advancing composite automation. The presentation attracted strong interest from aerospace OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers evaluating next-generation solutions for component production.

This successful demonstration reinforces the potential of Fiber Patch Placement as a production-ready solution for aerospace applications. It supports the drive toward more automated, efficient, and scalable manufacturing technologies across the sector.

Cevotec will continue to engage with aerospace partners to further develop and industrialize FPP-based applications for future aircraft programs.