June 30, 2026 12:07

Bucci Composites, an Italy-based company that designs and manufactures structural components and aesthetic parts in advanced composite materials, has signed a licensing agreement with Syensqo to use its Double Diaphragm Forming (DDF) technology in the production of composite components for the automotive industry.

Suitable for parts with complex three-dimensional geometries, the DDF process integrates dry fibre or prepreg preforming and compression moulding of thermosetting resins into a single automated step, using two flexible membranes, or diaphragms, that wrap around the sheet to be formed, reducing labour costs and processing times. The two diaphragms also eliminate the need for tool preparation and cool-down time between mouldings. The diaphragm itself can also act as a protective layer for subsequent painting and bonding operations.

“Licensing Syensqo’s DDF technology and working together on material qualification allows us to strengthen our capabilities and address OEMs’ increasing need for higher-volume production of structural parts, bodywork components, battery enclosures, and many other applications,” said Andrea Bedeschi, Managing Director at Bucci Composites.

Syensqo has scaled up the process on an automated pilot line installed at its Heanor site in the United Kingdom, achieving a cycle time of under five minutes. According to the Belgian chemical group, productivity can reach up to 50,000 parts per year from a single production line.

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