Carbon fibre wheels are flowing through Carbon Revolution’s Mega-line in its Waurn Ponds factory.

The first phase of the Mega-line project – which started construction in December 2021 – is in the commissioning phase and is running trial wheels from layup, right through to demoulding.

Watch the demoulding process (sequence shortened in video) below.

The process

After the wheel undergoes high-pressure resin transfer moulding, the rim tool is separated from the newly moulded wheel (not shown here).

Specially designed Kuka robots pick up the moulded wheel in its tool and separate the wheel from the face tool and rim tool, ensuring human operators do not need to handle hot, heavy tooling.

These stainless-steel tools weigh up to 439kg (967 lbs) and are around 120°C when they are brought in for demoulding. After they are separated from the wheel, the tools are sent up an elevator and back to the face layup area, to prepare to make another wheel.

The moulded wheel moves through subsequent factory processes, including Diamond Weave™ application, machining, CT scan and painting.

The wheels

From early 2023, production wheels will begin rolling down the Mega-line for the Corvette Z06 and other programs. Carbon fibre wheels for the upcoming 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse will also be produced on the Mega-line at a later date.

As for the wheel in this video, stay tuned!

Founded in 2007, Carbon Revolution (ASX: CBR) is a global technology company and tier one OEM supplier, which has successfully innovated, commercialised and industrialised the supply of lightweight carbon fibre wheels to the global automotive industry. Headquartered in Australia, Carbon Revolution proudly produces at scale some of the most technically advanced, energy efficient and highest performing wheels on the planet. Carbon Revolution is recognised as the leader in the sector and supplies some of the most prestigious automotive brands in the world. The company designs and produces the world’s most complex carbon fibre products, has been granted over 80 patents and is continually innovating. The team are developing innovations in raw materials, advanced process automation, and digital technologies (utilising machine learning & artificial intelligence) to further enhance the sustainability, efficiency and dramatically increase scale of production. More information about the company and its products can be found at https://www.carbronrev.com