The process is currently manual, with team members from Lineat Composites and researchers from the University of Bristol aligning the fibers by hand. In the next stage of the project, a machine will allow Lineat to commercialize the process and align up to eighty billion fibers daily.
Dee Caffari, chair of the World Sailing Trust, said, “Collaboration and alliance has been a key driver in this project. We know that sport generally has a very high use of carbon fibre, particularly within the high-end performance sport. However, the usage of carbon fibre in some other industries is even greater. This demonstration project has been a first step and we are now keen to join with other sports and other industries to develop the next stage of this process.”
