Steelhead Composites, Denver, purchased and installed a heavy duty CNC neck forming machine manufactured by MJC Engineering and Technology. The machine is specially designed for manufacturing of high pressure cylinders allowing the fabrication of aluminum cylinders up to 42 cm (16.7 in) in diameter and up to 3 m (10 ft) in length. The acquisition coincides with a recent announcement of a $500,000 grant from the state of Colorado as part of their Early Stage Advanced Industries Program to promote growth and sustainability across various industries.
The neck forming machine, a key component the manufacturing of Type 3 composite pressure vessels, shapes a seamless aluminum tube to form a bottle with a domed end and port openings. The bottle is then wrapped with carbon fiber composite using state-of-the-art filament winding capabilities. After the composite material is cured, it is subjected to rigorous in-house testing. Composite overwrapped pressure vessels are provided to customers demanding a high pressure, light weight gas storage solution such as high pressure compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders and hydrogen cylinders. The machine is also used to manufacture novel lightweight hydraulic accumulators.
“This acquisition helps prove that manufacturing is happening in the U.S., and we are proud to have these metal forming capabilities alongside a top-notch design, engineering and manufacturing team. By implementing this unique manufacturing technology to produce tight tolerance pressure vessels here in Colorado we are improving the local supply chain and ecosystem for alternative fuels technologies,” explained Andrew Coors, founder and CEO of Steelhead Composites.
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Steelhead Composites
