EXPO-NET® Danmark A/S (Hall 3a U140) is exhibiting at Advanced Engineering 2025 to promote its range of extruded thermoplastic resin flow meshes, which improve infusion moulding productivity and the quality of large FRP components. A new high productivity ‘hybrid’ flow mesh product is being showcased for the first time at the show.
Greenflow HM-P16, which is 100% recyclable, has been developed with a leading release film producer partner. The new hybrid flow mesh product combines EXPO-NET’s proven, precision extruded green polypropylene (PP) resin flow mesh with a perforated PP release film, coextruded in a standard pink colour; the film has a perforation hole diameter of approx. 0.5 mm, with holes spaced approx. 3.5mm apart. The benefit to large infused part producers of using Greenflow HM-P16 is that the release film is bonded to the underside of the green resin flow mesh, so both the release film and the flow mesh are dry laid at the same time in the mould.
The new hybrid flow mesh was developed by EXPO-NET in response to OEM customers in the wind energy and marine sectors, who are constantly looking for ways to improve vacuum infusion productivity of the very large FR composite parts they produce without compromising quality. Development trials successfully demonstrated that using Greenflow HM-P16 significantly reduces the pre infusion mould layup time; depending on the size and complexity of a component, several hours can be saved, improving productivity and reducing overall production costs, while still providing the quality benefits provided by resin flow meshes.
The perforated release film used for Greenflow HM products can be made from either PP or HDPE; depending on the specific infusion application and individual customer needs, the preferred release film type is bonded to either a standard or custom-made EXPO-NET flow mesh grade. Technical information about the resin flow meshes produced by EXPO-NET, which includes comparative infusion time and resin flow data between different grades, is available in its published ‘Vacuum Infusion Resin Flow Mesh Technical Processing Guide’; the processing guide helps manufacturers to better understand the rheological impact of a specific flow mesh in different sections of a mould and select the best flow mesh grades for the laminate design and shape of the FRP part being infused.
EXPO-NET’s design engineering, flow mesh production, and infusion technical expertise has been successfully used by leading wind blade producers for many years. The company has gained a global reputation as an innovative, highly technical, problem-solving partner, with in-house expertise able to and evaluate the best type and design of flow mesh grade needed in a specific area of a mould to improve resin flow speed, eliminate air voids, and avoid premature resin hardening in the final infused part. To achieve these benefits, up to four different resin flow mesh grades are typically specified for larger, more complex composite parts. These added value benefits are globally recognised by a wide variety of leading manufacturers using resin infusion technologies in markets such as wind energy, marine and transportation.
EXPO-NET provides flexible, responsive, reliable customer service. The business is committed to an ongoing programme to improve sustainability and achieving net zero.