Patching forward: First FPP system in Japan commissioned, comprehensive ARTIST STUDIO update, and new grippers for dome reinforcements

Dear friends of Fiber Patch Placement,

What a first quarter 2025 for our team at Cevotec! We installed and commissioned the first FPP system in Japan, which was inaugurated with a ceremony on March 17, 2025, at the National Composite Center in Nagoya. Just earlier that month, we spent 3 fantastic days at JEC World 2025, meeting many new and old faces, and contributing to the innovative spirit of the show with fresh new content: “Bridge the_gap” and “Store more H2” crystallize our messages to composite designers and manufacturers in aerospace and composite tanks. I invite you to discover the content behind these statements!

We have also packed some technology updates into this newsletter – check out the Artist Studio 2025 release and our new, dedicated gripper for dome reinforcements.

Enjoy your read!

Best regards,
Thorsten Groene, CEO and Co-founder

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Customer Projects

SAMBA Pro PV System successfully commissioned at National Composite Center in Nagoya, Japan

On March 17, Japan’s National Composites Center (NCC) in Nagoya commissioned the country’s first SAMBA Pro PV system—delivered in partnership with Fuji Industries. The installation marks a key milestone in Cevotec’s collaboration with NCC, Fuji, Fraunhofer IGCV, and the Innovation Center for Carbon Fiber (ICC), strengthening Japan’s capabilities in hydrogen tank development and automated composite manufacturing.

ARTIST STUDIO Software

Introducing ARTIST STUDIO 2025.0.7: Streamlined design and programming for Fiber Patch Placement 

With the first software release of 2025, Cevotec introduces ARTIST STUDIO version 2025.0.7—featuring enhancements that further improve the efficient design and offline robot programming of composite parts with Fiber Patch Placement (FPP) technology.

Want to stay informed about the latest ARTIST STUDIO developments? Subscribe to our dedicated Artist Studio Newsletter!

Gripper technology

Lay-up innovations for pressure vessel reinforcements with FPP

To support the growing demand for scalable hydrogen storage solutions, Cevotec developed a new gripper system for dome reinforcements of large composite overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs). Optimized for vessel diameters of 400–700 mm, the gripper enables efficient placement of patches even very close to the boss area—where structural performance really matters.

The result: increased storage volume at lower weight and reduced cost.

Company News

Welcome Sandra!

In January, Sandra Finn joined Cevotec as Senior Marketing Manager. With a strong background in B2B and SaaS marketing, she brings international experience from roles in the U.S. and Germany. Sandra now leads our strategy, campaigns, and events, strengthening Cevotec’s presence in the composites industry.

Events

Cevotec @ JEC 2025: New content and offerings

We had a fantastic time at JEC World 2025 in Paris, filled with inspiring discussions and meeting old and new faces. We introduced also new content for our customers in aerospace and composite tanks:

Store more H₂ –  Optimized dome reinforcements reduce thickness of tanks, enabling more storage volume while lowering weight and costs.SAMBA Pro PV FPP systems enable the cost-efficient industrial production of tank reinforcements and can be combined with any winding technology.

Bridge the_gap – Manufacturers of aerospace composites face automation challenges with existing technologies when it comes to smaller, complex geometries or multi-material sandwich structures. SAMBA Pro Multi FPP systems are able to bridge the automation gap between AFP and hand lay-up, enabling cost-efficient lay-up automation for both legacy and next generation designs. 

To support deeper learning, we’re also launching the FPP Spotlight Papers: a technical content campaign for engineers and decision-makers, featuring insights on economics, design optimization, laminate quality, industrial integration, and more.

For more information, please have a look at our event calendar – see you around!