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Kockums Composite Know-how

The history of shipbuilding at the Kockums Karlskrona site (former Karlskronavarvet) dates back more than 300 years and during such a long period of time many things have changed. Very significantly, this applies to the materials used for building ships. Already from the beginning fibres and resin were used in their natural form as oak wood, via steel and further to modern high performance composites of today.

Beginning with small sailing yachts in 1963, Kockums took the first steps into the field of modern composites, and five years later the sandwich technique was introduced. Over the past 45 years more than 50 different composite projects have been undertaken, from small housings for sub-sea sensor applications and medium sized locomotive fronts to large structures such as Naval Corvettes, and approximately 500 composite products have been delivered. Together with the recent development of Naval Corvettes in Carbon Fibre Reinforced Plastic Sandwich for the Royal Swedish Navy, this has established Kockums firmly at the leading edge of composite know-how.

Kockums composite know-how is covering a wide field. What is unique is the in-house competence covering the complete chain starting with concept studies and ending up in final inspection and health monitoring of in-house manufactured structures. Following competences is covered:

• Conceptual design. Conceptual and feasibility studies for novel composite designs.
• Structural analysis. Material properties, Design loads, Structural analysis, Structural arrangements, Health monitoring.
• Design work. 3D Modelling capabilities, Lamination plans.
• Material testing. Performing of material characterization, compatibility tests, destructive and non-destructive testing.
• Manufacturing. More than 45 years experience in hand lay-up and 13 years experience using infusion for one-of and female moulding. Experience with polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy and phenol resins.
• Quality Assurance. Destructive and Non-destructive testing using state of the art technologies as Laser shearography, X-ray, Void content analysis, automated coin tapping.
• R&D. Continuous R&D within the areas mentioned above. Participating in National and European Research programmes.
• Composite training. Theoretical and practical training of designers, supervisors, manufacturing personnel, quality inspectors and end users.

Page updated Wednesday, September 08, 2010.