Quickstep is an Australian Company and approved supplier for the international F‐35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program ‐ the largest military aerospace program in the world, valued at in excess of US$300 billion worldwide. To date more than 68 JSF aircraft have been delivered to the US Department of Defence, and this number is now expected to grow rapidly. The company has also been selected by Lockheed Martin as the sole supplier of composite wing flaps for the C‐130J “Hercules” military transport aircraft. Quickstep is currently partnering with some of the world’s largest aerospace/defence organisations, including the US Department of Defense, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Airbus and EADS.

Quickstep is also developing patented manufacturing technologies to produce high‐volume A‐grade finished composite components for automotives and specialist thick parts such as spars and wing skins for large defence and commercial aircraft. The company is currently working with the US Department of Defence to qualify its patented Quickstep Process and Resin Spray Technology (RST) for JSF, and is also conducting a major research and development program with car maker Audi aimed at delivering high‐quality finish, low cost, fast processing of carbon fibre composite, together with specialised resins, particularly adapted to the automotive industry.

Quickstep’s RST technology passes test from luxury car maker:

• Quickstep’s resin spray transfer (RST) technology meets ‘spectacular finish’ test;
• Quickstep RST passes European car marque’s rigorous environmental tests;
• Potential significant commercial market.

Quickstep Holdings Limited – manufacturer of high‐grade carbon fibre composite components, today announced that its resin spray transfer (RST) technology has passed one of the industry’s toughest environmental test regimes for carbon‐fibre composite body panels. Results of these tests, by a prestige European car maker, have confirmed the RST technology’s ability to meet rigorous painted panel benchmarks and enable outstanding finishes. This pre‐qualifies RST technology for consideration in the marque’s commercial supply tenders.

Carbon‐fibre composite technology is increasingly a feature of highly distinctive, contemporary luxury vehicles. However, achieving top‐quality paint finish and keeping that quality over time is much harder using carbon‐fibre than metal.

Passing the stringent painting and surface ageing tests of a European luxury car maker is a feat that very few other composite technologies have achieved and, importantly, Quickstep’s RST process can be delivered at considerably lower expense.

Quickstep’s Managing Director Philippe Odouard said that this was another positive step toward securing commercial entry into the automotive market.

“Luxury cars demand absolutely flawless paint and body work, and these tests by a luxury car maker demonstrate that Quickstep’s resin spray transfer technology can support such results. During tests the car panels, manufactured using Quickstep’s RST, were subjected to hot and cold ageing cycles for weeks and subjected to high humidity and high temperature environments. We are delighted that the RST technology has passed what is considered to be one of the automotive industry’s most exacting ‘quality of finish’ tests.

“We believe that our RST technology can revolutionise car manufacturing across the globe, as it meets the industry’s three key manufacturing objectives ‐ producing strong yet light vehicle parts with fast processing, at low cost and with a high quality finish.

“The technology is drawing increasing interest, and we are progressing negotiations and providing quotes for several leading European car makers.”

The RST technology utilises an innovative ‘robotised’ process that fully automates production of lightweight carbon fibre composite car panels so they can be made in minutes and at very low cost compared to other, more capital‐intensive methods.

Quickstep is working with a number of car makers, particularly in Europe, to qualify and develop the RST process for each marque’s specific requirements. One example is Audi AG which, teamed with Quickstep in a consortium funded by the German government, is developing cost‐effective solutions for high‐volume automotive composite parts production using the RST technology, and component trials are now underway.