Frequently asked questions

Haufler Composites supplies high-quality raw materials for the manufacture of composite components, covering the complete process chain. We supply textile semi-finished products such as fabrics and non-crimp fabrics, epoxy resins, prepreg, mould making materials and process materials such as release agents or vacuum film. We also manufacture CFRP semi-finished products and CFRP components.

Haufler Composites was founded in 1997, so we have almost 30 years of experience in the composites market.

Haufler Composites is based in Blaubeuren, between Stuttgart and Ulm. This is where we produce our CFRP semi-finished products and CFRP components – made in Germany.

Our CFRP components are mainly used in mechanical engineering. Wherever precision is required at high dynamics, they play to their strengths. In medical technology, our CF/PEEK materials offer radiolucency. We supply fabrics, resins and process materials to the composites industry, among others.

Yes, we work regularly with development departments, universities and research institutes. We also support Formula Student teams with the best possible terms.

Yes, our quality management system is certified to ISO 9001.

Yes, at www.compositeshop.de we run an online shop with a comprehensive selection of our standard range.

Yes, we permanently keep our standard composite and process materials in stock, so they can be delivered at short notice. Custom-made products and finished components usually involve some lead time.

Our range covers considerably more composite materials than are listed here. Please enquire about products that are not shown, or about larger quantities.

Yes, we supply customers in Germany, Europe and worldwide.

CFRP semi-finished products are made of carbon fibre reinforced plastic. The carbon fibre achieves many times the strength and stiffness of unreinforced plastics.

For many applications, carbon fibre fabrics are pressed with epoxy resins. High-quality thermoplastics up to PEEK also play a role.

Yes, our CFRP semi-finished products provide solutions tailored to your application. Fibre orientation, lay-up, thickness and dimensions can all be adapted to the requirements of your project.

We mainly produce carbon fibre reinforced semi-finished products, usually from HT carbon fibre. For applications that require greater stiffness we also use UHM fibres, which offer a considerably higher modulus of elasticity.

Yes, carbon fibre plates can be milled. Because the material is highly abrasive, very wear-resistant tools (solid carbide, PCD) are required. Milling also generates dust, so suitable protective measures such as an appropriate extraction system have to be provided. Where only simple contours need to be cut out, water jet cutting can be an option as well. We specialise in machining CFRP and supply finish-machined CFRP components alongside our CFRP semi-finished products.

Carbon is suited wherever high stiffness, low weight, high load capacity, low thermal expansion or radiolucency are required - for example in mechanical engineering, automation technology, aerospace, medical technology or motorsport.

Depending on the application, we offer our CFRP semi-finished products with ground surfaces for technical applications, or with matt or glossy surfaces for visible applications.

CFRP has a density of around 1.5 g/cm³ and therefore weighs only slightly more than half as much as aluminium.

CFRP is the abbreviation for carbon fibre reinforced plastic.

Yes, we produce carbon/PEEK plates that are used in medical technology. They are tested for biocompatibility and can be supplied with the corresponding certificate. Our CF/epoxy plates are also used in X-ray tables.

Depending on the version, our standard semi-finished products usually offer a temperature resistance in the range of 120°C – 140°C. Where required, higher temperature resistance is possible with suitable matrix systems. Our Xellentic^® CF PEEK semi-finished products can also be used at temperatures of up to around 250°C, depending on the load case.

Xellentic^® stands for a range of fibre reinforced semi-finished products for demanding applications. They combine carbon fibre fabrics or non-crimp fabrics with epoxy resins or high-performance thermoplastics.

Our thermoplastic organo sheets consist mainly of high-temperature thermoplastics such as PEEK and have a high fibre content. Forming therefore requires high temperatures and a mould consisting of punch and die. We do not offer sheets that can be formed freely at lower temperatures.

For permanent outdoor use, a coat of UV-resistant clear lacquer is recommended to protect the resin matrix and counteract yellowing.

We can produce our CFRP plates in thicknesses from 0.25 mm to approx. 100 mm, and beyond that in individual cases.

Yes, alongside CFRP semi-finished products we also manufacture CFRP components. Our focus is on technical parts used in mechanical engineering, for example carrier bodies for fast-rotating CFRP grinding wheels, or CFRP carriers for highly dynamic machine parts such as gantry axes.

Yes, depending on the application, threads can be cut directly into the material or realised with threaded inserts.

Yes, we specialise in the precise CNC machining of CFRP components. Our parts are mainly used in mechanical engineering, where the high stiffness and low thermal expansion of CFRP offer great potential for precision parts. This includes reamed holes and holding close centre distances.

Yes, we are happy to get involved while a CFRP component is still being designed. The advantage is that manufacturability and a composite-appropriate design are taken into account from the outset.

Yes, using modern fibre composite materials often makes it possible to reduce weight or to improve a component functionally.

CFRP linear axes offer a very high specific stiffness. Their considerably lower weight compared with parts made of steel, aluminium or granite allows the dynamics of a machine to be increased substantially. This is particularly interesting where high precision is required alongside high dynamics.

Fibre composites inherently offer good internal damping. In addition, directional material stiffness in CFRP components can be made very high - for example by using UHM carbon fibres - so that a high natural frequency is achieved.

Yes, depending on the design, composite components can be suitable for applications with high cleanliness and precision requirements. Our CF/PEEK materials are usually particularly well suited to this.

Yes, we also supply aerospace-qualified carbon fibre fabrics with an inspection certificate to EN 10204-3.1.

We also stock carbon fibre fabrics in industrial quality - for applications that place no special demands on appearance and do not require aerospace qualification.

Yes, alongside fabrics for industrial applications we also offer carbon fibre fabrics for visual applications. These are characterised, for example, by a more closed, opaque surface.

Yes, we also stock carbon fabrics that are powdered on one side with an epoxy binder or laminated with a copolyamide fleece. Fabrics finished in this way can be cut or punched without fraying and can be pressed into multi-layer preforms when heated.

Our common prepreg systems can usually be stored at room temperature for several weeks to months. This does not apply to systems with very short cycle times or to tooling prepregs, which should always be stored frozen where possible.

Yes, we also offer prepreg systems that can be processed out of autoclave. Note, however, that autoclave processing is always the more reliable process where the laminate must be free of voids or pinholes.

Our common prepreg systems are robust enough to be shipped without refrigerated transport. This also makes it possible to ship individual or cut-to-size rolls.

Given a suitable order quantity, we can also impregnate fabrics or non-crimp fabrics that are not part of our standard range.