AIM Composites today announces the installation and commissioning of the most state-of-the-art and technologically advanced panel press in the industry.

The Eight-Daylight Platen Press represents an investment by AIM Composites of over three-quarters of a million pounds. The new press is capable of manufacturing the largest composite panels in the market place.

Steve Barbour, Managing Director of AIM Composites, says: “The new press denotes significant developments for AIM and the industry alike. This is the first press of its kind that has been supplied outside of the US and its capabilities are unparalleled. Demand for composite panels is increasing and we will be running the press on a two-shift basis. This means that we can now manufacture more than 12,000 panels per annum.”

The panels produced by AIM Composites are used in Aerospace, Marine and Rail applications, where strength to weight ratio are paramount. The press can produce boards using a variety of skin and core materials and AIM Composites is actively developing new panel combinations to meet cost, weight and aesthetic requirements.

Remarkably, the new equipment is replacing a 57-year old, steam-driven press. Steve Barbour explains: “While the previous press was still reliable and produced good quality panels, the new press has much greater efficiency and capacity. With its new computer controlled technology, it allows us to manufacture far greater numbers of panels to the extremely high standard required by our Aerospace and Industrial customers.”

Steve Barbour concludes: “We have become quite attached to the new press. Technically it is a Multi Daylight Platen Press but, I understand it is affectionately known as The Beast!”