Cygnet Texkimp unveils production-scale next-generation prepreg tape slitter
Cygnet Texkimp has introduced a next-generation, production-scale Prepreg Tape Slitting Machine at its Innovation Centre in Northwich, UK. The line is built for automated fibre placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) in aerospace and other high-performance sectors. Companies can run realistic trials using their own continuous thermoset, thermoplastic, or ceramic prepreg tapes—or materials made on Cygnet Texkimp’s in-house R&D prepreg machines. Rated speed tops out at 60 metres per minute, subject to the input material.
The company sold its original demonstrator slitter to a composite material manufacturer in East Asia after a series of trials using the customer’s prepreg for AFP aerospace applications. Before delivery, Cygnet Texkimp retrofitted in-process monitoring and data capture so the machine could track tape width, thickness, and consistency. That lets the customer create digital passports for the slit tapes and follow them through downstream steps.
What the machine enables on site
Prepreg tape slitting is often handled by materials producers developing tapes for high-rate composite manufacturing, including large parts, on AFP and ATL cells. Bringing the slitting step in-house gives manufacturers control over quality and pace, and it avoids shipping or extended storage. That’s especially useful for thermoset prepregs, which have limited shelf life and need specific storage conditions. The result is a tighter process with fewer handoffs and better economics.
Why downstream performance improves
As AFP and ATL lines rely more on automation, slit-tape quality becomes a key lever for both part performance and production reliability. Cygnet Texkimp’s machine is engineered to deliver highly accurate and uniform slit tapes across thermoset, thermoplastic, ceramic, and other materials, while keeping scrap and downtime low. Trials underscored why this precision matters: poor slitting can create “stringers”—fibres pulled from tape edges during processing—that trigger cell stoppages, wasted material, and delays. Feedback points to higher downstream uptime, reduced scrap, and run rates that beat advertised slitting services, which helps shorten payback on the equipment.
Winding tech from SAHM
The new slitter includes fibre and tape spooling banks from SAHM of Eschwege, Germany, and can process intermediate materials such as a polymer interleaf. SAHM’s 460XE compact, modular winders support various bobbin types and winding materials and allow quick product changes. Package formats include pineapple and cassette. Cygnet Texkimp and SAHM have collaborated for nearly five decades, dating back to Cygnet Texkimp’s role as SAHM’s UK agent and reseller.
How trials are run and why they matter
After the East Asia sale, Cygnet Texkimp rebuilt its slitter-spooler capability at the Innovation Centre to restart customer trials. The machines used for trials match those supplied in the field, which helps teams prove processes and check return on investment under realistic conditions. In the recent case, the same unit that ran the successful trials was purchased and then tailored with added monitoring to meet the customer’s specific data and tracking needs.
Graeme Jones, Wide Web Product Director at Cygnet Texkimp, explains the approach: the company restored its slitting capability at the Centre following a strong trial programme that led directly to a sale. Using the same designs as customer machines makes test programmes dependable, demonstrates process viability, and clarifies ROI. In this instance, the trialled machine met targets for speed and efficiency, and the parties agreed to a deal for that unit, further equipped to fit the customer’s brief. Partners are invited to engage early—test concepts, explore parameters, assess output quality, and validate performance with support from the in-house team.
