What is a composite press system?

A composite press system is a specialized press solution for processing fiber-reinforced materials. It combines pressure, temperature, and tool technology to manufacture components made of thermoplastics, thermosets, or hybrid materials with precise dimensions and reproducible quality.

Which processes are used in composite press systems?

Typical processes include compression molding (e.g. SMC), thermoforming, consolidation of organosheets, sandwich panel production, and hybrid forming and joining processes. The choice depends on the material system and the desired component.

What does out-of-autoclave mean in membrane press technology?

Out-of-autoclave means that the consolidation and forming of thermoplastic fiber-reinforced materials take place without an autoclave. Membrane presses for composites replace this process step with controlled, uniform pressure distribution via a stabilized membrane at process temperatures of up to 400 °C.

What advantages do multi-daylight presses offer for sandwich panels?

Multi-daylight presses enable the simultaneous production of several sandwich panels with homogeneous consolidation across all levels. They support synchronous handling, document each batch, and increase productivity for large-format, panel-shaped components.

What types of composite press systems are there?

The most important types of composite press systems include SMC press systems, compression presses for composites, multi-daylight presses for sandwich panels, and multi-purpose press systems for flexible applications in development and production.

What is the difference between electric and hydraulic press systems?

Electric press systems for composite materials use servo-driven actuators for precise, energy-efficient movements. Hydraulic press systems for composite materials operate with fluid pressure and provide high pressing forces, including for large-format or highly loaded components.

Composite presses for reinforced materials

Composite press systems for fiber-reinforced materials

SIEMPELKAMP develops and implements composite presses as complete production systems for processing fiber-reinforced materials. Our portfolio ranges from thermoset SMC (sheet molding compound) and thermoplastic forming and consolidation processes through to sandwich panel applications and technology-open special solutions. Our presses for composite materials are scalable from laboratory operation to series production and are supported over the entire life cycle – from initial planning to digital process optimization in operation.

Overview of composite presses

Our press technologies for fiber-reinforced materials are designed to meet the requirements of a wide range of materials, processes, and component geometries. They help companies achieve defined component properties, short cycle times, and reproducible quality in automated line environments.

Siempelkamp SMC Sheet Molding Compund Presse

SMC (sheet molding compound)

SMC presses are designed for high production volumes and short cycle times. They combine precise process control with integrated media supply and enable efficient series production of fiber-reinforced components.

Siempelkamp Membranpresse für Thermoplastische Faserverbundstoffe

Membrane press technology (thermoplastics up to 400 °C)

Membrane press technology is designed for processing thermoplastic fiber-reinforced materials at process temperatures of up to 400 °C. As a PCM press (prepreg compression molding), it enables precise forming and consolidation of continuous-fiber-reinforced thermoplastics, even for complex component geometries.

Multi-daylight presses (sandwich panels)

Multi-daylight presses enable the simultaneous processing of several panels in one press cycle, thereby increasing the throughput per unit area with a compact footprint. As part of an individual composites plant, the press systems can be precisely matched to the material, component geometry, and production requirements.

Siempelkamp Composite Multi-Purpose Pressensystem

Multi-purpose press systems (special solutions)

Multi-purpose press systems are individually designed for material combinations and production scenarios that cannot be assigned to a standardized process. These multifunction presses are suitable, among other things, for development plants, small series, and processes with combined process requirements.

Industry solutions for composite press systems

Composite press systems from SIEMPELKAMP are used in a wide range of industrial applications. Our solutions are designed to reflect the specific requirements of different industries.

Automotive and electromobility

Composite press systems are designed for series production of structural components, body components, and battery housings made of fiber-reinforced materials.

Aerospace

Our press systems for SMC support the processing of continuous-fiber-reinforced high-performance thermoplastics and thermoset systems for safety-relevant structural components.

Rail vehicles

Press systems from SIEMPELKAMP support the production of lightweight components and sandwich components for interior and structural applications in rail vehicle construction.

Energy and industry

For technical molded parts, insulating composite components, and applications in power generation, configurable press systems with a wide process window are available.

Construction and sandwich panel industry

Multi-daylight presses and surface press systems enable cost-effective production of sandwich panels and composite panels in high volumes.

Research and development

Scalable press systems for laboratory and pilot plant operations enable the development and validation of new materials, processes, and component concepts under realistic conditions.

Process control for reproducible quality in series production of composite materials

The quality of a composite component depends largely on how precisely and reproducibly the press process is controlled. Depending on the process, different levers are in focus. From the outset, SIEMPELKAMP considers quality requirements, process windows, and the degree of automation together in order to ensure a robust plant design.

Uniform pressure distribution (e.g. membrane technology) to support repeatability

Homogeneous consolidation across multiple levels (multi-daylight presses) for panel-shaped products

Precise process control and line integration (SMC) for series production

Batch-by-batch documentation (multi-daylight presses) for traceable production

The SIEMPELKAMP full service for composite plants

SIEMPELKAMP supports composite production lines over the entire life cycle, from engineering through installation and commissioning to modernization and digital process optimization.

Designing your press system for composite materials in 3 steps

The selection of the right composite press system depends on a number of technical and production-related parameters. For an initial technology discussion, we focus on three topic areas to quickly structure your requirements:

Process and material

Thermoplastic or thermoset, semi-finished product form, fiber type, temperature range.

Component and tool

Geometry, dimensions, tolerances, surface requirements, tool concept.

Production and environment

Quantity per cycle, automation, peripherals, layout and foundation conditions.

Here you will find the right services

Customer service

Keep composite plants ready for production: remote diagnostics, on-site service, and structured maintenance support precise parallelism control and stable press processes.

Spare parts service

Secure composite press systems with correctly identified original parts, digital spare parts information, and plannable supply for precise high-performance material processes.

Retrofit and modernization

Modernize composite presses in a modular and efficient way – from drive technology and control system to cylinder guidance, energy consumption, and plannable production start.

Consulting and audit

Use audits for composite press systems to transparently evaluate component geometry, process requirements, energy efficiency, and maintenance potential.

Let’s talk about your requirements!

From the initial idea to implementation, our specialist departments advise you on individual plants, components, and services.

Compositepress systems

Composite press systems for fiber-reinforced materials

Overview of composite presses

SMC (sheet molding compound)

Membrane press technology (thermoplastics up to 400 °C)

Multi-daylight presses (sandwich panels)

Multi-purpose press systems (special solutions)

Industry solutions for composite press systems

Automotive and electromobility

Aerospace

Rail vehicles

Energy and industry

Construction and sandwich panel industry

Research and development

Process control for reproducible quality in series production of composite materials

Uniform pressure distribution (e.g. membrane technology) to support repeatability

Homogeneous consolidation across multiple levels (multi-daylight presses) for panel-shaped products

Precise process control and line integration (SMC) for series production

Batch-by-batch documentation (multi-daylight presses) for traceable production

The SIEMPELKAMP full service for composite plants

Designing your press system for composite materials in 3 steps

Process and material

Component and tool

Production and environment

Here you will find the right services

Customer service

Spare parts service

Retrofit and modernization

Consulting and audit

Let’s talk about your requirements!

FAQs on composite presses

Overview of composite presses

SMC (sheet molding compound)

Membrane press technology (thermoplastics up to 400 °C)

Multi-daylight presses (sandwich panels)

Multi-purpose press systems (special solutions)

Industry solutions for composite press systems

Automotive and electromobility

Aerospace

Rail vehicles

Energy and industry

Construction and sandwich panel industry

Research and development

Process control for reproducible quality in series production of composite materials

Uniform pressure distribution (e.g. membrane technology) to support repeatability

Homogeneous consolidation across multiple levels (multi-daylight presses) for panel-shaped products

Precise process control and line integration (SMC) for series production

Batch-by-batch documentation (multi-daylight presses) for traceable production

Designing your press system for composite materials in 3 steps

Process and material

Component and tool

Production and environment

Here you will find the right services

Customer service

Spare parts service

Retrofit and modernization

Consulting and audit

FAQs on composite presses