Fiberglass & Composite Manufacturing FAQs
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General Question
What is Advanced Fibermolding's experience in fiberglass manufacturing?
Advanced Fibermolding Inc. has been a family-owned business since 1992, specializing in fiberglass open layup and resin transfer molding (RTM). With over 30 years of experience, they have developed extensive expertise in composite manufacturing for various industries including agriculture ventilation, marine, construction, furniture, and electrical enclosures.
What is Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP)?
Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP) is a composite material consisting of a polymer matrix reinforced with glass fibers. This combination creates materials with high strength-to-weight ratios, excellent corrosion resistance, and long-term structural integrity, making them ideal for demanding environments where traditional materials would deteriorate.
What is Resin Transfer Molding (RTM)?
Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) is a sophisticated closed-mold process that produces intricate composite parts with exceptional structural integrity and minimal waste. It involves placing dry fiber preforms in a mold cavity, sealing the mold, and injecting resin under controlled conditions to fully impregnate the fiber network. This process creates parts with excellent dimensional accuracy and smooth finishes on both sides.
What industries does Advanced Fibermolding serve?
Advanced Fibermolding serves several key industries:
- Agriculture Ventilation – producing fan housings and enclosures
- Marine – manufacturing boat parts like ladder lids, anchor locker lids, and consoles
- Construction – creating structural components and architectural elements
- Furniture – producing weather-proof furniture
- Electrical Enclosures – fabricating protective housings for electronics and instrumentation
- Amusement Industry – custom fiberglass bodies for rides
Is Advanced Fibermolding environmentally responsible?
Yes, Advanced Fibermolding is fully permitted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR), ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and sustainable manufacturing practices.
Technical Capabilities
What composite manufacturing processes does Advanced Fibermolding offer?
Advanced Fibermolding specializes in two primary composite manufacturing methods:
- Open Layup – Traditional hand layup method for creating custom fiberglass parts
- Resin Transfer Molding (RTM) – Advanced closed-mold process for creating parts with smooth finishes on both sides
What materials does Advanced Fibermolding work with?
Advanced Fibermolding selects premium fibers and high-modulus resins engineered for toughness and stiffness. They customize the fiber and resin selection based on each project’s specific requirements for strength, durability, and environmental exposure. Their precision infusion and controlled curing cycles ensure a uniform microstructure and consistent mechanical properties across each part.
What is the difference between open layup and RTM?
Open layup is a traditional hand layup method where fiberglass reinforcement is manually placed in or on a mold and saturated with resin. This process typically produces parts with a smooth finish on one side. RTM is a closed-mold process where dry fiber is placed between two mold halves, which are then closed before resin is injected. RTM produces parts with smooth finishes on both sides and more consistent mechanical properties.
Can Advanced Fibermolding produce large fiberglass components?
Yes, Advanced Fibermolding has the capability to produce large fiberglass components. Their manufacturing scale allows them to produce more than 100 parts per day for their long-term customers in the agriculture industry, demonstrating their capacity for high-volume production of substantial components.
Does Advanced Fibermolding have automation capabilities?
Yes, Advanced Fibermolding incorporates automation into their manufacturing processes, enhancing efficiency and consistency in production. Their capabilities include CNC fabric cutting, automated production systems, and modern finishing processes that ensure high-quality results while optimizing production times.
Applications and Products
What types of products does Advanced Fibermolding typically produce?
Advanced Fibermolding produces a wide range of fiberglass products including:
- Agriculture ventilation enclosures and fan housings
- Marine components such as ladder lids, anchor locker lids, bow walk doors, and consoles
- Electrical and instrumentation enclosures
- Hoods and hatches
- Weatherproof furniture
- Custom fiberglass bodies for amusement rides
Can Advanced Fibermolding produce parts for marine applications?
Yes, Advanced Fibermolding specializes in marine applications, producing high-quality OEM marine parts that can withstand the corrosive saltwater environment. Their products include ladder lids, anchor locker lids, bow walk doors, close-off doors, and consoles. Their RTM process creates waterproof components with smooth surfaces on both sides, ideal for marine environments.
Does Advanced Fibermolding make enclosures for electrical components?
Yes, they produce enclosures specifically designed for electrical and instrumentation applications, providing critical protection for sensitive electronics in demanding environments. These enclosures are engineered to withstand various environmental challenges while maintaining their structural integrity.
Can Advanced Fibermolding produce weatherproof outdoor furniture?
Yes, they have expertise in creating fiberglass weather-proof furniture that can withstand outdoor conditions while maintaining its appearance and structural integrity. Fiberglass furniture offers advantages over traditional materials as it won’t rot, rust, or deteriorate due to sun exposure or moisture.
Design and Production
What prototyping capabilities does Advanced Fibermolding offer?
Advanced Fibermolding offers sophisticated prototyping services including:
- CAD Modeling & Finite Element Analysis (FEA)
- Rapid prototype creation using resin infusion and RTM-based sample runs
- Comprehensive mechanical, environmental, and fatigue testing
- Iterative design improvements based on testing and customer feedback
How does Advanced Fibermolding ensure quality?
Advanced Fibermolding employs a robust quality assurance process that includes:
- Material screening to confirm the integrity of all precursor fibers and resins
- In-process monitoring of resin flow, temperature, and fiber alignment
- Non-destructive testing (NDT) using ultrasonic, X-ray, and thermographic inspections
- Simulated aging, UV exposure, thermal cycling, and mechanical load testing
What is Advanced Fibermolding's production capacity?
Advanced Fibermolding has significant production capacity, capable of manufacturing more than 100 parts per day for their agriculture industry customers. Their facilities are designed for full-volume composite manufacturing with advanced automation, robotic trimming, and high-speed curing systems that allow them to produce thousands of parts with exceptional precision and consistency.
What is the typical lead time for fiberglass products?
Lead times vary depending on project complexity, design requirements, tooling needs, and production volume. Simple components with existing tooling can often be produced relatively quickly, while complex custom projects requiring new tooling development may take longer. Please contact Advanced Fibermolding directly to discuss your specific project timeline.
Additional Services
Does Advanced Fibermolding offer painting services?
Yes, Advanced Fibermolding has an in-house paint shop as part of their capabilities, allowing them to provide finished, painted composite parts according to customer specifications. This integrated service eliminates the need for secondary vendors and ensures color and finish quality meet expectations.
Can Advanced Fibermolding handle sub-assembly?
Yes, they offer complete sub-assembly solutions that integrate fiberglass composites with metals, plastics, and other materials to create fully assembled, high-performance systems. Their multi-material design expertise includes advanced adhesive bonding, mechanical fastening, and co-molding techniques to seamlessly merge diverse materials.
Does Advanced Fibermolding provide tooling services?
Yes, Advanced Fibermolding offers custom tooling solutions for high-volume composite manufacturing. Their tooling process includes design and analysis using advanced CAD/CAM software, CNC machining, and tooling with integrated temperature regulation systems. This comprehensive approach to tooling ensures consistent production quality across large batch runs.
Services We Don't Provide (But Can Help With)
Does Advanced Fibermolding offer injection molding services?
No, Advanced Fibermolding specializes in fiberglass and composite manufacturing rather than injection molding. However, Om Raj Tech (our representative) also represents Jimdi Plastics, which specializes in injection molding. We can direct you to the appropriate partner based on your project requirements.
Can Advanced Fibermolding produce thermoformed plastic parts?
No, Advanced Fibermolding focuses exclusively on fiberglass and composite manufacturing. However, Om Raj Tech also represents STM Plastics for thermoforming needs. We can connect you with the right specialist for your project, ensuring that all your manufacturing requirements are met effectively.
Does Advanced Fibermolding work with carbon fiber composites?
While Advanced Fibermolding primarily focuses on fiberglass reinforced composites, please contact us directly if you’re interested in carbon fiber applications to discuss possible solutions or alternatives.
Can Advanced Fibermolding produce metal components?
Advanced Fibermolding specializes in composite manufacturing, not metal fabrication. However, they do offer sub-assembly services that can integrate metal components with fiberglass parts. For projects requiring primarily metal components, we would recommend finding a specialized metal fabricator.
Contact and Next Steps
How do I request a quote from Advanced Fibermolding?
To request a quote for fiberglass or composite manufacturing services, please contact Sumeet Chhawri, Sales Representative at Om Raj Tech, at sumeet@omrajtech-com or 248-843-9478. Please provide as much detail as possible about your project, including dimensions, material requirements, quantities, and timeline expectations.
Where is Advanced Fibermolding located?
Advanced Fibermolding Inc. is located in Le Roy, Michigan. The facility is fully permitted by the Michigan DNR for composite manufacturing operations.
What information should I prepare before contacting Advanced Fibermolding for a project?
To help us provide the most accurate assessment of your project, please gather the following information:
- Drawings or CAD files of your part
- Performance requirements (structural, environmental, etc.)
- Estimated annual volumes
- Any specific requirements for finish, color, or appearance
- Timeline expectations
- Budget constraints
What are the pricing advantages of working with Advanced Fibermolding?
Advanced Fibermolding buys materials in bulk and passes the savings on to customers. This approach, combined with their efficient manufacturing processes and environmental compliance, provides competitive pricing for high-quality composite products. Additionally, their integrated capabilities (from design through production and finishing) eliminate the need for multiple vendors, streamlining your supply chain and potentially reducing overall costs.