Cavity Pressure Sensor for RTM Makes Composite Production More Transparent

Kistler presents its new cavity pressure sensor for the production of advanced lightweight construction components. The production of these composite components is a special challenge for process monitoring and quality assurance systems. With its new sensor for Resin Transfer Molding (RTM), Kistler provides the key to process optimization and monitoring during processing of crosslinking molding compounds for lightweight plastic constructions for automotive and aerospace engineering.

Sensor Type 6161AA… measures cavity pressure levels of up to 200 bar. It is suitable for industrial application, particularly for monitoring, open and closed-loop control of RTM processes, high pressure RTM (HP-RTM) and SMC processes (Sheet Molding Compound) with pressure levels of up to 150 bar. The sensor offers a range of function such as the detection of filling errors or controlling cascade filling via several gates. In addition to pressure measuring, the sensor can also be used for measuring the vacuum of the evacuated cavity. In short, the sensor is able to record all relevant process data.

About the Kistler Group
The Swiss-based Kistler Group is a leading global supplier of dynamic measurement technology for pressure, power, torque and acceleration. Kistler's technology is used to analyze physical processes, control industrial processes and optimize product quality.

Kistler has a full range of sensors, electronics and systems for engine development, vehicle technology, assembly technology, plastic and metal processing as well as for biomechanics.

The Group maintains its global presence through 25 sales and manufacturing companies, with tech centers on all continents and 30 agencies, enabling the Group to maintain local contact with customers and offer individualized application support.

The Kistler Group employs 1 200 people and generated revenues of CHF 235 million in 2011.