Southern Spars' TPT technology

A brand-new thin ply technology (TPT) plotter is now operational at Southern Spars’ Auckland-based Custom Projects facility, adding another component in the company’s drive for higher performing, lighter and stiffer spars.

“The addition of the on-site TPT plotter provides yet another level of efficiency in our manufacturing process for the Customs Projects team,” said Southern Spars’ director Mark Hauser. “The demand for larger and more technically-advanced superyacht and grand prix race rigs continues. We’re at the forefront of industry developments with our TPT technology and it’s exciting to see the potential for efficiency and precision in our manufacturing process with the commissioning of this plotter.”

Southern Spar’s technology manager, Wayne Smith said, “With the automated TPT plotter Southern Spars’ designers have the capability to design products using whichever ply angles are optimal for the loading situation at every point on the spar or boom. The plotter then lays the carbon fibre laminate more accurately and efficiently than can be achieved by hand and it is also possible to individually position pieces, rather than being required to lay all adjacent plies parallel to one another.”

The performance potential of Southern Spars’ TPT process is said to already have been proven with TP52s, 18ft skiffs and RP42s.

For more information visit www.southernspars.com and www.thinplytechnology.com.