From Process Development to Production
Optimising Composite Component Manufacturing for Artemis Technologies
Background
Artemis Technologies is pioneering the next generation of high-performance electric hydrofoil vessels, where lightweight composite structures are fundamental to performance, efficiency and sustainability.
As part of the development of these vessels, Artemis Technologies partnered with Composite Integration to optimise the manufacture of critical composite components.
Over approximately three years, Composite Integration worked alongside the Artemis Technologies engineering team to develop and optimise the resin infusion process for their composite parts. Combining process expertise with a customised CIJECT® resin infusion system, the collaboration helped establish a repeatable manufacturing process capable of delivering prepreg-quality laminate performance while significantly reducing manufacturing time.
At a Glance
Challenge
Composite Integration’s involvement focused exclusively on the manufacture of composite components.
Component performance depends on achieving exceptional laminate quality, consistency and repeatability, leaving no room for compromise in manufacturing quality.
Artemis Technologies required a resin infusion process capable of producing thick carbon fibre epoxy laminates with quality comparable to prepreg manufacture, while significantly reducing manufacturing time and creating a process capable of supporting future production.
The objectives were to:
- Achieve prepreg-quality laminate performance through resin infusion.
- Optimise the infusion of thick carbon fibre epoxy laminates.
- Significantly reduce manufacturing lead times.
- Develop a repeatable, production-ready manufacturing process.
- Maintain complete confidence in the structural integrity of the finished component.
Why Composite Integration?
Recognising the technical challenges associated with manufacturing this critical component, Artemis Technologies partnered with Composite Integration for its expertise in resin infusion process development and industrialisation.
Over approximately three years, the teams worked collaboratively to understand the manufacturing process, optimise critical infusion parameters and develop a repeatable methodology capable of supporting the transition from R&D to production.
Rather than simply supplying equipment, Composite Integration worked as an engineering partner, helping refine the manufacturing process to deliver consistent, production-ready results.
Developing the Process
The project followed a structured development journey:
Through multiple phases of development and optimisation, the collaboration established a robust manufacturing process capable of delivering the quality and consistency demanded by this critical composite component.
Solution
Composite Integration supplied a customised CIJECT® 2 resin infusion system with integrated resin tanks, configured specifically to support the manufacture of the composite component.
The solution provided:
- Stable and repeatable resin delivery.
- Accurate process control throughout infusion.
- Improved manufacturing consistency.
- Reduced operator variability.
- A scalable platform capable of supporting production manufacture.
Combined with the process knowledge developed throughout the programme, the solution enabled Artemis Technologies to manufacture this demanding composite component with exceptional repeatability and confidence.
Technical Highlights
- Optimised infusion of thick carbon fibre epoxy laminates.
- Highly loaded structural composite application.
- Custom CIJECT® 2 tank configuration.
- Repeatable resin delivery and process control.
- Approximately three years of collaborative process development.
- Developed to support the transition from R&D to production.
Results
Manufacturing Results
- Successfully optimised the infusion of thick carbon fibre epoxy laminates.
- Achieved laminate quality comparable to prepreg manufacture.
- Established a repeatable manufacturing process for a composite component.
- Improved confidence in manufacturing consistency and repeatability.
Business Results
The most significant improvement was manufacturing efficiency.
The optimised process significantly reduced manufacturing time compared with the previous prepreg approach, while achieving the high laminate quality required for this demanding composite component.
By combining greater manufacturing efficiency with exceptional quality and process control, the new approach created a practical route towards repeatable production.
As advanced composite structures become increasingly important across the marine sector, manufacturers require processes that deliver both exceptional quality and production efficiency.
The collaboration with Artemis Technologies demonstrates how focused process development, engineering expertise and the right manufacturing technology can help transform challenging composite applications into repeatable manufacturing processes ready for production. The work also supports Artemis Technologies’ transition towards higher-volume production of zero-emission vessels.
