Transport

On rails, on land and on water ...

SMT products are designed, manufactured and possibly assembled in accordance to your requirements. The transport sector is an ideal area of ​​application for our fiber composite plastics.

Rail vehicles

Commercial vehicles

Boat & shipbuilding

... with clever solutions

Advantageous properties of our composites for the transport sector include:

  • Fire protection
  • lightweight
  • design freedom
  • robustness

Rail vehicles

Fire protection

The fire safety guidelines for rail vehicles have become more stringent with the European standard EN 45545-2: 2016, which is mandatory for all vehicles since 2018 and can only be met with selected materials and processing technologies. Our composites demonstrably fulfill all requirements for rail vehicle construction:

  • EN 45545-2: 2016
  • depending on the application (i.e. addition of paint, decor or coverings) HL1 / HL2 / HL3


A special feature of our fiber composite solutions is to combine fire protection and lightweight construction. This enables us to produce composites for many applications including:

  • cover elements
  • structural components
  • supporting components

Design freedom

Our fiber reinforced plastics can vary in shape and material of construction. The shape-related construction methods include here among other the integral, modular and differential construction. Material-related construction methods are covered by the classic laminate construction over the sandwich up to the material hybrid construction. The resulting freedom of design is additionally extended with the possibilities offered by the production processes offered (vacuum infusion, RTM light, 3D vacuum hot presses). SMT offers the production of complex structures in the size dimensions of <1 - 15 meters. Importantly, the use of flexible second mold halves also allows us to produce undercut composites of outstanding quality.

  • Shape-related construction (integral, modular, differential)
  • Material-related construction (laminate, sandwich, hybrid)
  • small to large-scale complex structures

We are therefore in a position to realise fast and cost-transparent implementation of new forms and solutions for you.

 

Lightweight

Lightweight construction in rail vehicles is a key issue, not only because the permissible axle load sets a clear limit. Those who operate light vehicles in their basic configuration can either transport more passengers or offer the individual passenger more comfort (entertainment, air conditioning, etc.). In addition to the technical aspect, mass reduction is an efficient way to save energy.

  • Increase in additional load (passengers or passenger comfort)
  • Cost savings through reduction of drive energy


We realise the requirement of weight reduction by clever construction and material lightweight construction concepts and thus achieve a significant weight saving with the same flexural stiffness compared to conventionally used materials such as wood or metals.

  • Construction and material lightweight construction


Utility vehicles

Design freedom and accuracy of fit

Fiber composite structures are predestined for creative freedom, especially in SMT. This is illustrated by the fact that we have virtually no restrictions on the material used (matrix, fiber, coatings, inserts) while offering a wide range of manufacturing technologies (vacuum infusion, RTM light, 3D vacuum hot presses).

In particular, the RTM-light process allows us to produce exact two-sided component contours. This requirement is necessary, for example, especially for components in the vicinity of the engine compartment.

  • exact two-sided contour of the component
  • Ideal as a spare part with improved properties

For an uncomplicated and quick adaptation to the design of your current solutions, from prototypes to series production, we are the right partner.

Fire protection

We are experts in the manufacture and processing of fire-protected fiber composite materials. We achieve the fire resistance through various strategies, which form part of our know-how. These include u.a. the addition of flame retardants, the integration of non-flammable separation layers or the use of special non-combustible matrix systems and fiber types. The composites produced by us can be used for applications in extreme situations with direct fire contact.

  • Addition of flame-retardant substances
  • Function integration through separating layers
  • non-combustible matrix systems

A widespread use is to find at, for instance, vehicles of the fire-brigades.

Robustness

High-quality (i.e. fiber volume content of > 55%) composites have advantageous properties in the impact scenario due to their high elastic deformation limit. SMT sandwich solutions can be designed to be able to absorb energy in a crash. This makes it possible to produce robust assemblies which are very well suited as protection for use in hailstones, collisions with branches or falling rocks.

  • SMT fiber-reinforced plastic composites with a high elastic deformation limit reduce plastic deformation
  • SMT sandwich composites absorb energy in the event of a crash
  • Ideal as a protective cover

Boat and shipbuilding

Fire protection

The requirements of fire protection, in addition to rail vehicle construction (see below), are also particularly demanding in shipbuilding. We therefore use non-flammable, self-extinguishing systems for our composites which are halogen-free, non-toxic and also have a low smoke gas density and low heat release. As a result, we have been proven to fulfill the following tests for the shipping sector:

  • IMO RES. A 653 (16) FTP Code MSC 61 (67), Annex 1 Part 2 and Part 5 passed

The special feature of our fiber composite materials is the possibility of combining fire protection and lightweight construction, which enables us to produce composites for all applications, including:

  • cover elements
  • structural components
  • supporting components


Lightweight

Lightweight construction in the ship and boat building has two goals; On the one hand it is possible by reducing mass to save a considerable amount of drive energy (fuel or electricity). On the other hand, the draft of the ship or boat is reduced. This allows a) the construction of larger units and b) more freedom of movement in shallow waters.

  • Construction of larger ships (e.g. in height)
  • Gain in freedom of movement in shallow water by reducing the depth of immersion

We realise the requirement of weight reduction by clever construction and material lightweight construction concepts and thus achieve a significant weight saving with the same flexural stiffness compared to conventionally used materials such as wood or metals.

  • Construction and material lightweight construction


Design freedom

Fiber composite structures are predestined for creative freedom, especially in SMT. This is illustrated by the fact that we have virtually no restrictions on the material used (matrix, fiber, coatings, inserts) while offering a wide range of manufacturing technologies (vacuum infusion, RTM light, 3D vacuum hot presses). The result is incomparably high design freedom compared to conventional materials such as wood and metal. Another advantage of using composites is the high cost-effectiveness in small quantities because we can adjust the tool-making according to the requirements (shape & quantities).

  • We process a large part of the available material spectrum
  • with a variety of production technologies for high quality standards
  • with a high profitability