Category: Blog

COMPOSITE MATERIALS REVOLUTION: CARBON FIBER ITEMS YOU’D NEVER THOUGHT OF!

13 Marzo 2018

Carbon fiber items no longer concern only the most technical sectors, but more and more frequently we find them also in “everyday” products. In fact, thanks to their exceptional features, composite materials are well suited to be used in the most different industrial sectors.

When we talk about carbon fiber, planes are the first thing we think about.

In fact this material is widely used in the aerospace industry thanks to its high resistance opposed to low weight, which give exceptional mechanical performance. However, its use does not stop at high-tech sectors, such as aeronautics or automotive. In recent years, carbon fiber items are increasing their popularity in everyday life.

For fans of technology and innovation, having at home carbon fiber objects is a must. Not only for the technical benefits, but above all for the exclusive aesthetic value.

The unique carbon look finish will be difficult to replicate with other materials; adding to this the almost indestructibility of the object, then it is easy to understand the appeal that such pieces can have towards a demanding consumer.

Which are the possible application fields of carbon fiber? Basically all!

Carbon fiber is suitable to realize every kind of objects, from sport equipment to bags; from table stuff to bathroom accessories.

One of the weird thing , for example, is the carbon fiber helmet “STORMTROOPER“, produced as a exclusive gadget for fans of Star Wars, in occasion of VIIth episode.

Total black lovers – even in the toilette – can’t do without a beautiful bathtub or WC made out of carbon fiber.

Even at the table carbon fiber is appropriate to amaze friends for dinner. Whether they are sushi chopsticks, coasters, or ceramic-carbon craft containers, the surprise effect is guaranteed.

 

 

Sport sector, as well, has been touched by this revolution. Carbon fiber is used in the most technical sports equipment to increase performance.

One example is horse riding saddles. The most innovative producers are progressively replacing the traditional wooden saddle tree ( the inner rigid part) with a carbon one, gaining lots of benefits in terms of resistance, elasticity and moldability.

 

 

 

 

 

And to never give up the exclusivity of carbon fiber, why not take it with you even while traveling?

Polycarbonate and ABS are no longer enough. The suitcases of the future will be made out of carbon fiber . Ultra lightweight but very resistant to shocks and stresses, very common especially when traveling by plane.

 

And still , eyeglasses, business cards, money clips, bags, walking sticks, watches. The list could run endlessly, demonstrating how this incredible material fits perfectly with every use.

EPI team is riding this trend, aware of evolution of technologies and materials, but at the same time with strong technical skills and a long experience in innovative production plants. Our company produces carbon fiber items and composite materials components.

From horse-riding saddles to luggage, passing trough furniture-design sector, our technical office studies and tests constantly new solutions for different sectors, customizing them on clients’ needs.

www.epigroup.eu

spoga horse fair

Spoga Horse Fair – Cologne 4-6 feb 2018

5 Febbraio 2018

Spoga Horse is one of the largest fairs dedicated to the equestrian world. Twice a year, Spoga Horse brings together global supply and demand for equestrian sports in Cologne to present major innovations and define industry trends.

Epi – Carbon Fiber Manufacturing team will  be  at this edition to present the innovations inherent to the carbon fiber saddle trees  and sports equipment.

Spoga horse -CARBON FIBER SADDLE TREES

Carbon fiber suitcases

CARBON FIBER SUITCASES : TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY!

5 Febbraio 2018

Carbon fiber suitcases represent the latest innovation in the world of travel items!

In luggage field, experimenting with new materials is always a hot topic. For this reason several high-end brands are moving towards this exceptional composite.

Because of the restrictions imposed by airlines, a light (cabin) baggage is a big advantage for the traveler. Moreover, considering the stresses and the shocks that they suffer in the hold of a plane, the resistance is a fundamental characteristic,too.

How to combine these needs into one product? The answer is in the carbon fiber.

Carbon fiber is a composite material, which means that it is made up of two elements (carbon + resin) that together form a new material with much better performance.

It is in fact used in the highly technological and excellent industrial sectors (aerospace, nautical, automotive, sports, medical, etc).

Why then choose carbon fiber suitcases? The reasons are easy to understand.

RESISTANCE

The carbon fiber gives high strength to the object, superior compared to steel. Compared to those made of plastic, the carbon fiber suitcases will be more resistant and durable over time, as well as non-deformable, thus ensuring greater protection of the contents.

LIGHTNESS

Carbon fiber has an incredible weight-resistance ratio, like no other material. Each carbon fiber object maintains a remarkably low weight but at the same time is extremely strong.

In terms of weight, airlines impose hard restrictions, so having a light suitcase is a big benefit; it means traveling more comfortably, and gaining weight for personal effects.

With the carbon fiber suitcases this is possible.

QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP

The processing of carbon fiber is articulated and requires high skills and advanced machinery, moreover it is a “craft” process in which manual mastery is at the base.

The carbon fiber cases combine the most advanced technologies with the craftsmanship quality. The result will be a personalized and exclusive product, intended for a demanding and attentive consumer.

 

EPI, aware of this revolution, has experimented with the use of carbon fiber in the world of travel items.

Our company produces carbon fiber suitcases for personal and professional use, customizable in shape and size.

Our luggages are designed and produced in Italy, processed with aeronautical production methods.

The EPI team is available to its customers for the development of innovative and high quality products, starting from the design and protipation phase, based on specific structural and stylistic requirements.

For more information visit our website www.epigroup.eu or www.ilatro.com or write to info@epigroup.eu.

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

HAPPY NEW YEAR

4 Gennaio 2018

EPI‘s team wishes you Happy New Year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2018 will be full of news and events.

Keep on follow us through our social networks ( Facebook – Twitter – Linkedin ) to find out the innovations about carbon fiber and composite materials world.

 

 

Ultraceramica

CARBON FIBER AND CERAMICS : INNOVATION AND TRADITION MEETS AT THE TABLE!

14 Dicembre 2017

Carbon fiber and ceramic, two apparently very distant materials, but united by craftsmanship and manual dexterity, meet each other, giving life to unique objects.

This is how “JIID” and “JIED”  TOTEM FOR THE TABLE were born.

The project, presented at ULTRACERAMICA People and objects of the future – in the framework of ARKEDA (Exhibition of architecture, construction, design and furniture) held  in Naples, from 1 to 3 December 2017 – shows the collaboration between two Apulian companies, belonging to totally different sectors but both with a strong handicraft feature, from an idea of the architects Michele Sallustio and Arianna Vivenzio.

OBJECTS

“JIID” and “JIED” in the Apulian slang mean Him and Her. They are furnishing accessories for the table, anthropomorphic objects with the function of containing, supporting and enhancing food. Four ceramic shapes, processed and glazed by hand, intersect with carbon elements.

Carbon fiber and ceramic embrace each other giving the two creations resistance and poetics!

ULTRACERAMICA – People and objects of the future!

Ultraceramica project was born from an initiative of ADI ( Association for industrial design) Campania delegation, in collaboration with the delegations of Puglia-Basilicata and Sicily.

According to the original vision of ADI, design represents a  system that connects production with users, integrating research, innovation and technique, to give functionality, social value and cultural meaning to the goods distributed on the market.

The Collection includes the prototyping of furnishing accessories, mainly intended for the table, furniture and the person, characterized by the dominant use of ceramics in its various forms and technologies.

THE PLAYERS

GiùInLab is a self-production laboratory of ceramics, architecture and design born in Monopoli in 2012 from a project by Anna Dibello and Giambattista Giannoccaro, specialized in the creation of objects that interpret landscapes, traditions, shapes and colors of the Apulian territory.

Epi is  company based in Brindisi, born in the field of metal carpentry and industrial plants, and subsequently specialized in the processing of composite materials and carbon fiber, designing and manufacturing components and objects for various sectors, characterized by high mechanical performance,  resistance and extreme lightness.

From an idea of the architects Michele Sallustio and Arianna Vivenzio, carbon fiber and ceramics meet and blend together , giving life to hybrid creations that combine new technologies and tradition, strength and refinement.

 

carbon fiber furniture

CARBON FIBER FURNITURE : TECHNOLOGY MEETS DESIGN!

14 Dicembre 2017

Furniture-design is a sector that constantly evolving and always open to experimentation of new materials. One of the latest trend is the creation of carbon fiber furniture, an innovative material which well suits as aesthetic and structural component in high-end design items.

This material, still unknown to the genral pubblic, until few years ago was applied almost exclusively in high-tech sectors, like the aerospace and automotive, expanding afterwards to the construction.

Less frequet, but more and more widespread, is its use in furniture and design.

At salone del mobile 2015 in Milan, carbon fiber furniture was one of the major innovations introduced and an increasing number of international designers are approching this material, as well as the leader companies employ it to innovate existing products or to launch new forniture solutions.

Carbon fiber is an higly performing material, with mechanical properties even higher than steel, which permit to obtain very resistant structures, able to support extreme stresses.

This combines with its great lightness and ductility, that allow to realize forms never experienced, with a unic visual effect.

Even us of EPI are testing the design and creation of carbon fiber furniture.

Our technical office is able to offer customer consultancy starting from analyzing the existing problems in a product and then studying new and sustainable ad hoc solutions.

Carbon fiber furniture, and more generally the uso of  composite materials in design , brings a lot of benefits:

  • high customization
  • elegant and original finishes
  • maximum lightness
  • high resistance to stresses, chemical and atmospheric agents

This features are well suited to the construction of tables, chairs, lighting object, outdoor furniture, and everything in which innovation, technology and creativity are key elements to realize unic items.

For more information about our carbon fiber furniture components and composite materials manufacturing please  write us or visit our web site:

info@epigroup.eu –

www.epigroup.eu/EN

 

 

 

trade fairs. spoha horse. carbon fiber saddle tree

CARBON FIBER SADDLE TREES: TECHNOLOGY APPLIED TO HORSE-RIDING

30 Novembre 2017

Carbon fiber saddle trees represent the last frontier of innovation in the field of equestrian sports, as an essential part of a high quality saddle.

Thanks to its special features, carbon fiber can be used in severl sectors. Always more frequently we find it in sports equipment, where the lowest weight allows to increase athletes’ performance, while ensuring anyway the maximum resistance of the object.

This revolution is involving also the riding industry and in particoular the building of “tree”, that is the inner frame of the saddles.

The use of carbon fiber for the construction of the tree, a main importance element for the quality of a saddle, allows a lot of benefits.

  • Greater lightness, compared to traditional wooden and metal tree, conseguently the saddle itself will be lighter.
  • Precision, beacause of carbon fiber saddle trees are made with a mold.
  • Minimal amout of space, which in turn allows a seat closer to the horse, then a better perfomance.
  • Elasticity of the material.
  • Maximum resistance and long-life time.

EPI have started prototyping of saddle trees in 2015, after many years of studies and reasechs about composite materials and carbon fiber processing methods.

Our carbon fiber saddle trees are made out  using autoclave process, which guarantees the highest mechanical performance.

The result is a tree far lighter than the wooden one, with a weightloss of over 60%, but with a definitely higher resistance to drops and stresses.

This means:

  • COMFORT FOR THE HORSEMAN, who will be able to have a more natural sitting, following the horse’s movement with greater harmony;
  • WELLNESS FOR THE HORSE because carbon fiber tree follows perfectly its shape
  • ADVANTAGES FOR SADDLER who can easily insert nails, screws and studs for assembling the saddle, without modifyng his consolidate production process.

We design and manufacture our carbon fiber saddle trees in a totally customized way to meet the needs and demands of our customers. Our production process is studied indeed in order to simplify the work of the saddle maker, which will not have to change is method.

We strongly believe in costant research & development as key component for the growth of a company; this is why we keep on studing and experimenting more and more powerfull solutions, thank also to the collaboration and precious advices of expert saddle manufacurers.

Our aim is to mix carbon fiber technology and innovation with the craftsmanship and traditions of high-end saddlery. Always 100% made in italy!

DOWNLOAD  CARBON FIBER SADDLE TREES CATALOGUE

composite materials - autoclave

AUTOCLAVE PROCESSING: OUR TECHNOLOGY

30 Novembre 2017

There are several methods for processing composite materials and carbon fiber. One of the best is the autoclave process, that guarantees the highest qualitative and mechanical standards. This kind of technology is in fact used in aerospace sector.

In order to obtain the best possible performance and to manufacture excellent products, the pre-preg polymerization must be done in autoclave. For composite components, no other industrial process can provide the same quality assured by the autoclave care cycle.

With this in mind and taking advantage of the thirty-years experience of EPI’s team in the big sector of industrial plants, we have built ourselves the autoclave we needed to start composite materials manufacturing.

We have studied machines that incorporate safety, reliability, precision and repeatability of the cycles, in collaboration with the Apulian Aeronautical District companies.

Just this sector, so deeply rooted in our territory, kicked off our process of innovation and diversification, leading us to study the universe of composite materials and their infinite applications.

 

In addition to the aeronautical one, autoclaves are used in several industrial sectors: from food to the rubber plants, from  wood to glass industries.

EPI designs and builds industrial autoclaves for all these sectors with a focus on carbon fiber processing, that is the top of the pyramid of possible applications. The uniformity of the temperature inside the autoclave together with the correct pressure and vacuum control applied to the bag guarantee an excellent final result.

In partnership with CETMA (European Research Center for Technologies Design and Materials) of Brindisi, we deeepened and tested processing methods of carbon fiber, developing high skills for designing and manufacturing components and goods on customers’ specific requests.

All production stages are carried out inside our labs, by our technicians and engeneers, highly qualified and strongly passionate of composite materials, therefore offering a 100% made in Italy product.

Epi carbon fiber suitcases

CARBON FIBER: THE MATERIAL OF THE FUTURE!

30 Novembre 2017

Today, the use of carbon fiber is becoming more and more widespread for the production of components and items. If first it was applied just in the high-tech industrial sectors (like the aerospace one), during recent years this material is becoming more popular also for the production of “common object”, because it can combine high mechanical performance with aestethic features.

But, what carbon fiber exactly is?

Carbon fiber belongs to composite material family, that are precisely made up of two or more elements, with different physical properties.

The combination of two or more materials allows to exploit the characteristics of the single component, removing the critical features typical of it.

Carbon fiber is composed of carbon “filaments” (fibers) and a “matrix”, generally resin, that holds the fibers in place.

The term “carbon fiber “, as commonly used, thus refers to the the composite originated precisely from the combination of fibers and resin.Developed at the end of 50’s in USA, carbon fiber is used in industrial sectors that require hight mechanical standards, thank to its lightness and resistance.

Indeed, objects made of carbon fiber, compared to those made of traditional materials, such as steel and aluminium, are stronger and more resistant, but at the same time they have a much lower weight.

The main goal is to lighten the finished product by improving, at same time, its mechanical properties.

This lightness translates into a general saving which, dependig on the case, can be evaluated in terms of effort or energy.

This is the reason why composite materials are today used to replace metals in many fields, from aeroplane to tennis racket; from luxury car to furniture and design.

This new generation of materials permits to produce items with unimaginable features or just to give new life to an obsolete product.

www.epigroup.eu /EN

 

Industrial carpentry - Carbon fiber and composite materials

COMPOSITE MATERIALS AND CARBON FIBER : WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

30 Novembre 2017

EPI  has developed over the years advanced skills in the processing of COMPOSITE MATERIALS.

Our company, founded in 1997 and led by Cosimo Epifani, started its activity in consulting and construction of industrial plants and in the field of metallic carpentry. Afterwards, the skills gained over the years and the proximity to research centers on COMPOSITE MATERIALS and the aeronautics district have pushed us to invest in research and development on these innovative materials, first of all CARBON FIBER.

Today, EPI is divided into two business branches:

  • Technical services and industrial carpentry
  • Carbon fiber and composite materials

The TECHNICAL SERVICES and INDUSTRIAL CARPENTRY DIVISION, is able to support the customer ,starting from the process of estimating, offering constructive solutions aimed both at reducing the cost of providing the product, both to make easier the phase of assembly .

A few years ago, EPI started its journey with COMPOSITE MATERIALS by studying its possible applications and production processes, in collaboration with CETMA (European Research Center for Technologies Design and Materials) in Brindisi

In 2015, we have created the Carbon Fiber Manufacturing division, realizing a dedicated laboratory for the production of prototypes and components for the different industrial sectors.

Our manufacturing processes, particularly innovative and efficient, are the result of continuous cooperation with CETMA (European center of Design and Materials Technologies Research) of Brindisi.

To make our carbon fiber products we use the autoclaves built by ourselves developed thank to the experience that EPI gained in the industrial plants fields.

OUR STRENGHTS

OWN PROPERTY TECHNOLOGY

INTERNAL PRODUCTION

HIGHLY QUALIFIED WORKERS

CAREFULLY SELECTED SUPPLIERS

ITALIAN PRIME MATERIALS

QUALITY 100% MADE IN ITALY

We study and realize with partner companies all the possible applications of CARBON FIBER and COMPOSITE MATERIALS in industrial components.

Below some examples of our projects:

  • Sports equipment ( horse riding saddle trees, motorcycle components, kytesurf borards)
  • Furniture and design (sound-absorbing panels,Media room equipment, Components for sofas, Components for lamps)
  • Travel and suitcase items (carry on luggages, professional briefcase, flight case for transport of technical equipment)
  • Case for vintage radio

In any case, in the last few years carbon fiber has been used in more sectors, such as the nautical industry, construction of medical prothesis for the arts, construction of drones, building, renewable energy and much more!

Our technical office, thanks to its great expertise and strong passion for composite materials, is able to study customized solutions in order to create components for a wide range of industrial sectors.

Our MISSION is testing application of COMPOSITE MATERIALS on commonly used products and provide TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED solutions to our customers to exploit their competitive advantage.

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