KraussMaffei Debuts Integrated Composite and AM Manufacturing Lines
KraussMaffei will present end-to-end manufacturing lines that combine composite technologies and additive manufacturing at JEC WORLD in Paris, from March 10 to 12, 2026. The company will exhibit integrated systems covering reaction engineering, additive manufacturing, and injection molding, all developed in-house to support lightweight automotive and surface applications. The showcase will feature sandwich underbody protection, an LED-illuminated vehicle front panel, and 3D-printed high-temperature parts and blanks fabricated from high-performance plastics such as PEEK, PESU, and PEI. This initiative reflects a strategic shift toward unified, modular production solutions. [February 10, Parsdorf]
Background
Integrated manufacturing of composite and additive components addresses increasing demand in the automotive sector for lighter, multi-functional parts. KraussMaffei previously demonstrated discrete technologies at trade fairs, including battery housings produced via high-pressure resin transfer molding (RTM) and components manufactured additively with printCore extruders. At JEC 2025, the program included ColorForm self-healing surfaces and high-pressure RTM battery encapsulation, highlighting previous modular capabilities. The new approach builds on this foundation by situating complementary processes within full production lines.
Details
At Hall 6, Booth D51, KraussMaffei will present multiple technologies, including Long Fiber Injection (LFI) panels wrapped in glass fiber to create lightweight, torsion-resistant sandwich structures. The display will also cover RTM, FiberForm, natural fiber polypropylene (NFPP), pultrusion, and ColorForm systems offering self-healing polyurethane coatings. 3D-printed parts in PEEK, PESU, and PEI will be produced using the proprietary printCore extruder, which processes materials up to 400 °C and delivers throughput ranging from several hundred grams to 70 kg per hour. These extruders support the modular powerPrint Plus and powerPrint Flex systems-the latter allows hybrid additive and mechanical post-processing within a single cell. KraussMaffei notes that in-house development enables complete production solutions, supporting early-stage validation and scalable series manufacturing.
Outlook
KraussMaffei's integrated systems have the potential to change composite fabrication in automotive supply chains by shortening development cycles and enabling rapid geometry iteration. This could enhance standardization and accelerate deployment of lightweight parts in series production. Over time, the combination of additive and composite modules may influence OEM sourcing strategies and encourage closer convergence between additive prototyping and high-volume manufacturing.
