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Composites

Cobra collaborations at JEC Connect 2021

New developments in the watersports and automotive sectors showcased.

27th May 2021

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Thailand

Sports/​Outdoor, Transport/​Aerospace

Cobra International, the Thai-based manufacturer of advanced composite components will present the results of some of its recent collaborations at the upcoming JEC Connect 2021 online event (June 1-2).

New developments include the latest in electric surfboard technology and the latest collaboration with BMW seeing carbon fibre parts supplied as factory options on the S 1000 RR superbike.

Cobra recently announced its collaboration with Radinn to mass produce a new range of electric powered surfboards – some of the fastest jetboards on the market with market leading battery technology and high-performance water jets.

Using Radinn’s existing board technology, Cobra led the technical development of a new construction process using a lower density EPS foam core and moulded glass fibre skins, as well as providing a large-scale manufacturing platform. The new lighter weight construction provides weight savings of around 25% whilst maintaining the durability required by riders.

Cobra Advanced Composites (CAC), the company’s automotive division, supplies BMW with a nine-piece set of M Carbon parts, allowing owners to customise their S 1000 RR, lightweighting the bike even further and adding a clear carbon finishing touch.

Carbon trim for the S 1000 RR. © BMW

The M Carbon options include front fender, rear wheel cover, chain guard, upper side fairings, airbox cover, pinion cover and tank trims. The autoclave cured, epoxy carbon fibre prepreg parts, replace heavier injection moulded parts. The complete assemblies are produced inhouse at CAC in carbon prepreg mould tools made from CNC machined aluminium masters. This composite tooling approach ensures excellent dimensional stability for the complex geometry finished parts.

Also on display will be the new Mana OC-1 outrigger canoe from ARE Tahiti. The Mana features a closed deck on which the paddler sits on top of the hull and is available in two models – a hybrid version weighing 12kg and the PRO model, a weight optimized, ultra-light, full carbon version that weighs just 9kg.

A precise master model formed the basis of the mass production tooling and two sets of composite hull toolings were taken from this master plug, allowing a build rate of up to 50 OC-1 canoes per month.

The Cobra team will be available on the 1st and 2nd June for video calls throughout the duration of JEC Composites Connect 2021 to discuss all latest developments.

www.cobrainter.com

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