Presses

Tender description

As part of the growth and expansion plans for the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), the Lightweight Manufacturing Centre (LMC) is a capability area that the AFRC is developing at pace to support Scottish manufacturers in becoming beneficiaries of the lightweighting technology whilst supporting the use of the technology for product, process and factory development. The extent of the AFRC aspiration doesn’t stop at the doors of the AFRC facility, coupled with the intention of an AFRC LMC facility, it is the intention to establish an industry gateway for Scotland to support lightweight manufacturing across the Scottish region. This intention means that the AFRC requires a centre with state-of-the-art composites manufacturing equipment to enable the launch of the first lightweight manufacturing centre for Scotland in the New Year. The University requires a Supplier to configure, manufacture, install and commission a Resin Transfer Mould (RTM) press. This press will require high precision temperature and pressure control for accuracy, resolution and repeatability in order to provide a highly instrumented system for operational control of inputs and outputs. The system will be installed at AFRC, Westway Park, Porterfield Road, Renfrew. The press will be housed in a purpose built area which will be built as part of this project. This document outlines the specification for the RTM press facility. The press will support the development of a wide range of improved, high integrity composite components for challenging applications. It will address the requirement for a pilot scale facility to establish the processing parameters required for the production of advanced composite materials. The AFRC requires the RTM press to investigate various aspects of composite components for structural capability. The system shall: — be based upon an electrical heating system with an upper and lower bolster; be capable of temperatures up to 200 ºC, — be accompanied with rails (a “tool tractor”) for automatic movement of tool in and out of the press; apply clamping pressure to the tool; have heating platens to achieve the correct injection temperature and cure temperature (capable of continuous, split-ramping and hold cycling), — be integrated with a vacuum system to remove volatiles from the mould cavity, — be integrated with a resin injection system, — easily controllable with respect to data transfer (and recipe upload), and — feature an actuation system to extract the tool from the press. Please refer to Appendix M Guidance Notes for the ESPD in the General Attachments area of PCS-T for full details on the minimum technical and financial criteria for participating in this contract. Tenderers should note the crtieria for Part 4C.1.2 Services of the ESPD, contained in the Qualification envelope of PCS-T, and detailed below: Bidders will be required to provide 2 examples that demonstrate that they have the relevant experience to deliver the services / supplies as described in Part II.2.4 of this OJEU Contract Notice.