April 2005: “If the material FITS…..”

The new sandwich material launched by FITS Technology has generated a lot of excitement and interest at the JEC Composites show in Paris. FITS, or Foamed In-situ Thermoformable Sandwich panels, are based upon PEI (Polyetherimid) thermoplastic foam with fibre reinforced PEI thermoplastic facings.

In a unique manufacturing process, FITS technology produces an an-isotropic foam core and the bonding to the fibre reinforced facings, all in just one step. Because of this, FITS has a unique combination of high stiffness and strength, enhanced damage tolerance, very low flammability and the panels are thermoformable.

Due to this thermo-formability a revolutionary part manufacturing technology, like folding , edge finishing, welding of inserts, and so on, will change the part manufacturing of sandwich parts from days in to minutes.
FITS Technology has spent 6 years developing the FITS concepts, which are now protected by 5 patents and patent applications. The company has used the JEC Composites show both to introduce the materials benefits to a general wider audience and to seek potential industrial partners to move the product forward from prototype to large scale production.

The response to the product at the JEC from both end-users and potential partners was overwhelming and a number of additional potential end uses were added to the existing list. Although the product finds a natural application in aircraft interiors, much enthusiasm was also generated for other transport applications as well as for the uses of PEI in situ foam in all kind of industries.

For further information please contact info@fits-technology.com