Lamborghini has opened a state-of-the-art Advanced Composites Research Center (ACRC) in Sant'Agata Bolognese to design, produce, and research new automotive composite materials.
The 28,000-square-foot facility will undertake research on cutting-edge carbon fibre production and design processes. The 30 engineers and workers assigned to ACRC will also perform crash testing. They'll utilize the latest measuring devices, automated cutting and casting equipment, autoclaves, presses, and a Resin Transfer Moulding (RTM).
"The consistent development of carbon-fibre technology is a key element of our strategy," said Lamborghini CEO and President Stephan Winkelmann in a statement. "The most important parameter for super sports cars is, now as in the future, the weight-to-power ratio; therefore, as there is a limit to power increase due to emission regulations, we must work on weight reduction. Extensive use of carbon fibre, even at structural level, allows Lamborghini to be at the forefront of development techniques. The real difference is in the correct use of technologies and materials to satisfy technical and financial concerns. This is what the centre is all about."
Lamborghini has a long history in carbon fibre and other lightweight composites. It unveiled the first carbon fibre-based chassis prototype on the Countach in 1983 and has since employed the material in all of its vehicles.
The ACRC joins the Automobili Lamborghini Advanced Composite Structures Laboratory (ACSL) at the University of Washington. This American-based lab, run in cooperation with Boeing, specializes in crash testing and analysis.
Reproduced from www.netcomposites.com.
