Following the joint development between TenCate Advanced Composites and the Adler Group with regard to the Alfa Romeo 4C chassis, an exclusive supply agreement has been reached for the use of carbon fibre composite prepreg material.
This advanced material is being used for the production of the entire monocoque. The central passenger cell reduces vehicle weight and creates a highly rigid and safe basic structure.
© Alfa Romeo
This agreement encapsulates the relationship which began at the inception of this automotive project and sees the E700 series carbon fibre prepreg from the TenCate Advanced Composites manufacturing facility in Langley Mill (Nottingham), UK being used by the Adler Group in Ottaviano (Naples), Italy.
Mr. Frank Meurs, group director of TenCate Advanced Composites EMEA, states:
"This innovative project with the Adler Group is a major breakthrough for TenCate, as it is the first OEM project of this size in the automotive industry and is seen as a high profile application".
Mr. Paolo Scudieri, President of the Adler Group, comments:
"We are proud of this partnership with TenCate and are sure that this agreement will lead to important technological developments as well as efficiencies in logistics, both of which will make the product even more competitive".
Optimised logistics
The support provided by TenCate to Adler has continued beyond the development phase of the project, with sales of Alfa Romeo forecast to reach up to three thousand cars per year. The two parties have agreed that an investment will be made to enable local production of the composite material, in order to optimise the logistic process and comply with "just in time" requirements needed for this important Alfa Romeo automotive programme. In addition, TenCate and Adler will work jointly on innovations for new automotive-related projects.
TenCate Advanced Composites
TenCate Advanced Composites is a leader in the development and production of thermoplastic and thermoset prepreg composites. Its product portfolio is incorporated in automotive products, aerospace applications, medical equipment and numerous other industrial applications. TenCate Advanced Composites has production facilities and operations in Europe and North America and distributors in Asia.
About TenCate
Royal Ten Cate (TenCate) is a multinational company that combines textile technology with chemical processes and material technology in the development and production of functional materials with distinctive characteristics. TenCate products are sold throughout the world.
Systems and materials from TenCate come under four areas of application: safety and protection; space and aerospace; infrastructure and the environment; sport and recreation. TenCate occupies leading positions in protective fabrics, composites for space and aerospace, antiballistics, geosynthetics and synthetic turf. TenCate is listed on NYSE Euronext (AMX).
About Adler Group
Adler Group develops and produces solutions for the transport industry, making a substantial contribution in terms of innovation through continuous research and product development of more and more high performance. Adler has a particular specialization in the automotive sector, working together with important partners in the automotive world, and also has a solid experience in the field of trains and naval and for which the company has managed major projects for the creation of interiors with sound-absorbing panels.