Company Category: Automated Fiber Placement

The Fives, Composites & Automated Solutions business line provides end-to-end composite manufacturing solutions from lamination to demolding and everything in between. As industry partners, we provide customizable lamination, forming, inspection, and curing solutions. Precision and performance are at the heart of everything we do, ensuring minimal waste and maximum quality. Above all, we specialize in developing highly automated end-to-end solutions that increase productivity across the complete line. This automation specialism has also led us to develop a range of unique and customized automation solutions. Working in fields as diverse as aerospace and biomedical engineering, we are problem solvers on the broadest possible scale. Comprised of renowned legacy names: Cincinnati, Forest-Liné, and Lund we’re responsible for the largest install base of tape layer and fiber placement machines in the world. Offering standard and highly customizable composite equipment and automated solutions according to customers’ needs. Featured Products: CINCINNATI ROBOTIC VIPER Presenting the next generation in automated fiber placement (AFP) machines. Cincinnati Viper Fiber Placement Systems represent the largest install base of fiber placement machines in the world. Get ready for the next-gen edition. – Machine configurations can accommodate many shape and size applications, including concave and convex – Designed for OEM /Tier 1 capabilities and quality standards – Targeted to automate hand layup parts – Dockable head for flexibility – Best-in-class in-process inspection capability – Interfaces w/ACES Composites Programming Package CINCINNATI SUPERCHARGER Presenting the future in automated tape lamination (ATL) machines. Fives is responsible for the largest install base of automated tape laminators in the world. Get ready for the future in the industry. The Cincinnati SuperCharger features: – Choice of vertical travel – X-axis rails in incremental sections for flexibility in part length – Up to 25-degree contours and up to 60 m/min (2,362 ipm) lay-up rate – Nine and ten axis machine – Machine height configured for specific applications – High-speed axis motion for high productivity – Choice of crossrail width FIVES IN-PROCESS INSPECTION (IPI) Presenting the next-generation integrated measurement technology for automated composite layup. An innovative quality monitoring solution, the Fives IPI features: – Custom design to seamlessly integrate into an AFP machine – Inventive Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) imaging technology creates 3D maps of composites surface – Real-time defect measurement – Real-time tow placement measurement and control – Measures close to compaction roller minimizing optical variation – Robust to a wide assortment of composite | Fives Composites & Automated Solutions – Supercharged Innovation for Next Generation Composites Manufacturing At Fives, our Composites & Automated Solutions business line delivers fully integrated, end to end composite manufacturing systems engineered to accelerate production, elevate quality, and unlock the full potential of advanced materials. Combining the heritage and proven expertise of Cincinnati, Forest Liné, and Lund, we are proud to support the world’s largest installed base of automated tape laying (ATL) and automated fiber placement (AFP) equipment. Across aerospace, defense, industrial, and emerging composite applications, our technologies set new benchmarks in precision, speed, productivity, and reliability. At SAMPE, we are showcasing a powerful lineup of solutions built to optimize every step of the composite production workflow—from lamination to forming, inspection, and curing. This year, we are placing a strong spotlight on our two flagship high performance tape laying systems: the Cincinnati SuperCharger ATL and the Lund SLALOM Hybrid ATL. Cincinnati SuperCharger – High Rate ATL, Reimagined The SuperCharger represents the next evolution in high rate ATL, delivering unprecedented speed, flexibility, and processing intelligence. Engineered for flat tape lamination on complex courses and low contour surfaces, it features on the fly cutting speeds over 1.5 m/s, ultra precise on head scrap management, and industry leading >99.9% CUT/ADD reliability. This system enables higher throughput with fewer interruptions, making it an ideal solution for operations seeking to dramatically boost productivity while maintaining exceptionally consistent layup quality. SuperCharger is built to help manufacturers scale efficiently—whether producing large structural components or accelerating prepreg part development. Lund SLALOM – Ultimate Customization Meets High Speed Precision As the most customizable multi lane tape laying system available, the Lund SLALOM delivers unmatched flexibility for any part, process, or cell design. Its high speed, contour capable multi lane layup technology enables manufacturers to reduce cycle times while enhancing placement accuracy. With automatic material exchange and rapid lane swaps, SLALOM supports continuous production and effortless adaptation across a wide variety of materials, widths, and geometries. Ideal for both high rate and highly variable production environments, SLALOM ensures smooth, efficient, and scalable composite layup. Secondary Solutions – Advanced Automation for Every Stage of Production Alongside our primary technologies, we are also featuring two complementary innovations that extend automation and quality control across the composite manufacturing workflow. Cincinnati Robotic Viper brings the performance and heritage of the world’s largest AFP install base into a flexible robotic format. It provides high reliability CUT/ADD mechanisms, accuracy at high laydown rates, and seamless compatibility with digital engineering environments—making it ideal for parts traditionally laid up by hand. COAST (Composite Optical Automated Surface Tracking) elevates inspection with integrated, real time, non contact quality assurance. Using advanced Optical Coherence Tomography, COAST generates 3D surface maps, measures tow placement during laydown, and minimizes optical variation—ensuring verification without slowing production. Built for Performance. Engineered for Integration. Ready for What’s Next. From customizable lamination cells to complete automated production lines, Fives delivers systems engineered for maximum throughput, minimal waste, and best in class quality.