Racing Car Chassis Hardens in 17-Meter Autoclave

An unusual use of sedak’s autoclave: Instead of oversize glass laminates, now a racing car chassis hardened in the pressure chamber. sedak, thus, sponsors the up-and-coming racing team “Starkstrom Augsburg”. 2016 will be the fifth time, the crew takes part in the “Formula Student Germany” competition.

This year’s racing car has a 2.4m long, single-seated cockpit with a sandwich structure consisting of carbon/aluminum honeycombs/carbon. For the first time, the chassis hardened in the 17m long autoclave at sedak, the glass manufacturer in Gersthofen, Germany. That hardening process shortened the complex and time-consuming fabrication and reduced the drying time considerably. Additionally, the amount of needed adhesive could be decreased what saves weight and thus time on the racing track.

sedak did not only provide the technology but also supported the team with its know-how: “It is our aim to constantly optimize the technology of the racing car. We could also learn a lot from the employees’ lamination capabilities at sedak,” says Team Manager Alexander Schmidt. sedak’s CEO Bernhard Veh adds: “We are internationally active but regionally rooted. Therefore we are glad to support young engineers in Bavaria.”

Background: Formula Student

„Formula Student Germany“ (FSG) is a design competition for students. Since 2006 it has been held annually according to the „Formula SAE“ regulations by „Formula Student Germany e. V.“ under the patronage of the VDI, the Association of German Engineers. Once a year, 120 international teams come together for 5 days to let their self-designed bolides compete against each other in a Formula 1 atmosphere. Many experts from the automobile industry and the economic sector use the event as a recruiting platform. In 2015, the racing team from Augsburg came 10th in the overall ranking and received the Opel Style Award for the racing car’s design.

	Team work is the key to success: The students of the Formula Student Racing Team are supported by sedak providing its autoclave to harden the racing car chassis. FLTR: Paul Braun, Head of Lamination at sedak, Bernhard Spornraft and Alexander Schmidt from the Starkstrom team and sedak CEO Bernhard Veh.Photo: sedak GmbH & Co. KG   Bild downloaden (300dpi)
	The Chassis on its way into the autoclave for the hardening process. High pressure ensures the stability of the sandwich structure of carbon/ aluminum honeycombs/carbon.Photo: sedak GmbH & Co. KG   Bild downloaden (300dpi)

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sedak GmbH & Co. KG

Leading glass

sedak, the glass manufacturer in Gersthofen, Germany, was founded in 2007. With its 150 employees, the world’s leading glass fabricator produces insulating and safety glass in dimensions up to 3.2m x 15m: processed, tempered, laminated, printed, coated , and cold bent. The core capabilities are the lamination of glass, edging, and the company’s know-how of producing glass components with additional functional, and decorative elements. sedak’s production has been optimized for extraordinary glass sizes; the level of automation for such glass dimensions is unique. All finishing steps are handled in-house e.g. with the new, fully automated insulating glass line. As a full supplier for large-size glass units, sedak sees itself as a partner for architects, designers, and façade constructors. Outstanding references for example as the Apple Cube and the Lincoln Center Canopies in New York, the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, and the Tottenham Court Road Station in London.

Applications

• glass façades
• glass roofs
• glass stairs
• glass balustrades
• ship building
• safety glazing
• all-glass constructions
• interior design
• custum-made glass units

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