Azdel is currently evaluating the potential advantages of the Cage System, an innovative, high-speed and cost-effective composite moulding technology for use with its own composite materials.

Developed by the French firm RocTool, the Cage System allows an instantaneous heating of the mould surface only, while the rest of the mould remains cold. The technique involves passing an electrical current over the surface of the mould by means of inductors that are placed around it to form a cage.

Developed by the French firm RocTool, the Cage System allows an instantaneous heating of the mould surface only, while the rest of the mould remains cold. The technique involves passing an electrical current over the surface of the mould by means of inductors that are placed around it to form a cage. The mould cavity surface is heated within seconds, and it is possible to use high temperatures - up to about 400 °C - and to precisely manage temperature thresholds, even using spot heating. This high level of localised control helps enable a considerable reduction in production cycle times and potentially therefore a reduction in the cost of manufacturing composite parts making it an excellent candidate for medium-run and mass production applications. Furthermore, RocTool claims that the Cage System process offers a truly generic solution that can be adapted to all types of composites, as the heating power is applied at the mould surface only. With the heating by Joule effect principally taking place within the material itself, the mould can be rapidly cooled using a simple system of circulating water.