Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) and its Advanced Technologies Lab for Aerospace Systems (ATLAS) will showcase its latest developments in automated and advanced composite manufacturing at the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX), taking place Sept. 21–24 in Atlanta, Georgia. NIAR will exhibit alongside strategic partners Fiber Dynamics and FILL USA in booth W36.

“Our partnership with Fiber Dynamics and FILL represents a true end-to-end vision for advanced composites manufacturing,” said Waruna Seneviratne, director of NIAR ATLAS. “Fiber Dynamics brings more than 30 years of expertise in innovative tooling and integrated composite structures, while FILL contributes world-class automation systems that we’ve already advanced together inside ATLAS. By combining NIAR’s research capabilities with their manufacturing technologies, we’re helping reshape and reshore the aerospace composites industrial base – delivering automated, scalable and high-rate production solutions that strengthen the nation’s supply chain.”

During the CAMX conference program, Seneviratne will moderate a panel on How to Quickly Industrialize New Composite Raw Materials on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 9:30 a.m. The session will highlight how artificial intelligence and machine learning are enabling accelerated discovery of new material forms, chemistries and production processes. It will explore emerging composite opportunities across aerospace, automotive, wind energy, construction and other sectors, and discuss how OEMs and government agencies can better collaborate with material suppliers to streamline qualification through expanded use of shared databases, government-sponsored research and advanced simulation tools.

NIAR has also submitted three major projects for CAMX Awards and American Composites Manufacturers Association Awards for Composites Excellence (ACE).

• CAMX Unsurpassed Innovation Award | AToM: In Space Toolless Manufacturing for Next Generation Composite Structures Automated Toolless Manufacturing (AToM) uses coordinated robotic motion and laser-based in situ consolidation to build large, continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastic structures directly in orbit—without molds, ovens or autoclaves. Designed for NASA, the DoD and commercial space markets, AToM’s fully recyclable, near net shape process eliminates launch vehicle size restrictions while enabling lighter, more efficient space platforms.
• CAMX Combined Strength Award | Overmolded Thermoplastic Rib for Sustainable eVTOL High-Rate Production This automated hybrid process thermoforms continuous fiber Victrex LM-PAEK laminates and overmolds them with chopped fiber PEEK, producing a recyclable, high-performance rib for fatigue-critical eVTOL structures. The monolithic, near net shape component achieves a 1:1 buy-to-fly ratio and replaces an 80-hour machining workflow with a fully automated two-minute cycle.
• ACE Material and Process Innovation Award | Fully-Automated High-Rate Manufacturing of Thermoplastic Wing Rib Using a similar thermoplastic hybrid approach, this project delivers a sustainable, injection-welded wing rib produced in two minutes rather than traditional 80–100-hour metal machining processes. The system minimizes waste, supports circular manufacturing and provides high strength-to-weight efficiency for advanced air mobility applications.

Finalists and award winners for the CAMX Awards will be announced Sept. 22 at 8:30 a.m., and ACE Awards will be announced the same day at 2:00 p.m.

Three Wichita State University graduate students working in NIAR’s Digital Twin Lab have also submitted technical papers showcasing emerging research in thermoplastic composites. Koray Buyukyildiz submitted work on jet fuel exposure effects on PP/E-glass thermoplastic honeycomb sandwich composites for aircraft radome structures; Irem Gungor, submitted research on angle-tuned re-entrant auxetic PA12 honeycombs, including SLS fabrication, numerical modeling and drop-weight impact responses and Sertac Ozdil submitted a paper evaluating laminated and honeycomb E-glass/polypropylene thermoplastic composites conditioned under low-temperature environments for radome applications.

Established in 2019, NIAR ATLAS is a multidisciplinary research and development center focused on accelerating the aerospace industry’s transition to the Factory of the Future. With large-scale automated fiber placement, thermoplastic processing, fiber patch placement, over-molding and advanced inspection and simulation tools, ATLAS provides an industry-aligned environment for developing, demonstrating and validating emerging manufacturing technologies. The lab bridges the gap between research and full-scale production while supporting applied learning for Wichita State students and professionals.

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About NIAR

The National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University provides research, testing, certification and training services support the aviation, defense and advanced manufacturing industries. NIAR’s mission is to strengthen university research capabilities; provide applied learning opportunities for students; and support the aviation and manufacturing industries – while driving innovation and prosperity for the community, region and state. Established in 1985, NIAR’s yearly R&D expenditures exceed $400 million, with more than 2,000 personnel and 2 million square feet of laboratory and office space in six locations across Wichita, Kan., and one in Huntsville, Ala. National Institute for Aviation Research