Wedoany.com Report on Feb 26th, James Cropper Advanced Materials has launched the VECTIS Aligned Fiber Technology platform, dedicated to solving a long-standing challenge in the composite materials industry: achieving a high level of fiber alignment in discontinuous nonwoven materials at an industrial scale.
While the alignment of short or recycled fibers has been proven at laboratory and pilot stages, commercial production often faces limitations in width, grammage, and output. The VECTIS platform leverages existing nonwoven manufacturing facilities to advance the scaled production of aligned nonwoven materials.
Based on VECTIS technology, James Cropper produces UNIMAT aligned nonwoven fiber mats, suitable for downstream composite manufacturing and compatible with resin systems. UNIMAT provides directional mechanical properties while maintaining formability and process compatibility. Supplied in a non-impregnated form, it is compatible with processes such as prepreg layup, compression molding, stamping, RTM, and autoclave.
The VECTIS platform operates on James Cropper's industrial nonwoven equipment, supporting widths up to 1200 mm and areal densities in the range of 20–200 g/m². UNIMAT achieves approximately 95% alignment. It can be manufactured using recycled carbon fiber, industrial waste, virgin carbon fiber, glass fiber, and hybrid fibers. It offers excellent drape for complex geometries and supports higher fiber volume fractions.
Tom Sharrock, Sales Director at James Cropper, stated: "The alignment of discontinuous fibers has been demonstrated many times on a small scale, but industrialization has been the missing piece. VECTIS changes this by enabling the manufacture of aligned nonwovens at an industrial scale, providing tangible support for commercial composite projects. UNIMAT showcases what this capability can deliver."
Dr. Mandy Clement, Innovation Director at James Cropper, said: "This technology has been in development for over a decade. By combining deep expertise in fiber behavior with proven nonwoven manufacturing knowledge, we have created a platform that opens up new possibilities for aligned composites across multiple sectors."
Supported by the VECTIS technology platform, UNIMAT has been applied in fields such as aerospace interiors, advanced air mobility, automotive, and sporting goods, meeting manufacturers' demands for lightweight, high-performance, and circular materials.
