Successful Australian manufacturer of advanced carbon fibre composites Quickstep Holdings has signed an agreement with ATR Group, a leading Italian company that designs, prototypes and manufactures structural parts and components in advanced composite materials.
Quickstep’s CEO and MD Mark Burgess said Europe is at the forefront of composite material and process technology and continued investment in that market means it will be a significant growth driver for Quickstep over the next five years.
“Our proprietary out-of-autoclave process technology Qure and the Quickstep Production System have been extremely well received by prospective automotive and aerospace customers as well as leading raw material suppliers”.
He added the Manufacturing Partnership Arrangement with ATR provides the company with a strong manufacturing partnership in the European market, with a highly-respected composites company.
“ATR has key strengths in design, development, tooling and advanced manufacturing across both the automotive and aerospace sectors. We both have big ambitions and high expectations for this agreement.”
The ATR Group, based in Colonnella Italy, manufactures and supplies advanced composite components for the automotive, aerospace and other industrial markets. ATR has developed technologies, skills and craftsmanship in the processing of composite materials through the use of traditional production methods as well as the development of innovative processes. ATR operates nine plants in Italy and has been manufacturing composite parts since 1982.
President and CEO of ATR Group Valter Proietti said ATR are really excited about the future benefits of cooperating with Quickstep on their Out of Autoclave patented technology Qure.
“The Qure technology in conjunction with Quickstep Production System (QPS) and ATR’s strong carbon fibre heritage and current capabilities will provide us with a strong competitive advantage, to expand our market and customers in Europe.”
The partnership will focus on developing sales and parts manufacturing opportunities with customers in both the automotive and aerospace sectors. Emphasis will be on the commercialisation of Quickstep’s out-of-autoclave process technology Qure and the QPS for the manufacturing of advanced composite components and assemblies in the European market.
Quickstep currently manufactures composite fibre components for aircraft such as the F-35 and the C-130J.