Pultrusion

The pultrusion process was developed more than 60 years ago as one of the first continuous manufacturing processes for endless-fibre-reinforced plastics. In this process, continuous fibres are soaked with a matrix system and pulled through a heated die. The material is formed and cured to a finished profile within this die. The profile is then gripped by an extraction system and continuously transported.

The first products were of relatively simple geometries and their characteristics impressed users in various industries. Because the process is highly economical, it became established primarily in mass markets. With the achievement of more-complex profile geometries and increasing production speeds, the pultrusion market has experienced steady growth in recent decades.

Thanks to continued development, the pultrusion process can now be used to create constantly curved profiles, for example. At the same time, material-system developments are being pursued that are expected to result in further increases in production speeds.