Load test program
september 2024
The test program for load tests on sandwich
test specimens and CD welded joints has begun.
In a large-scale test programme, a total of 284 test specimens are subjected to monotonic loading
and fatigue strength tests of NECTO sandwich structures and welded samples.
The completion of the study marks the first step
in the design of wind turbine rotor blades.
Small NECTO
wind power blades
on test setup
august 2024
First two NECTO blades
are installed on test setup
for energy yield measurements.
Cooperation with GLAMAtronic
april 2024
We have found the perfect welding technology for our high-strength NECTO sandwich panels.
With capacitor discharge (CD) welding, GLAMAtronic has developed a variant of projection welding that is interesting in many respects. Basically, it is an easy-to-handle process with excellent reproducibility and precision.
By adapting the process parameters, components with high-strength materials or flexible material combinations can also be joined with CD spot welds.
Exactly what we need for our development of steel wind turbine rotor blades.
Advantages of the process:
• Low mains power consumption
• High profitability
• short cycle times
• high energy density
• shortest welding times
• excellent reproducibility
• high precision
License agreement NECTO for wind power applications
february 2024
“We are pleased about the continued cooperation with BEVENTUM”
“Beventum GmbH is a creative, courageous and committed team of people who want to take wind power in Germany to a whole new level.
The success that beventum strives for is the utilization of new innovative wind power technologies for the entire economy.
Beventum is building high-altitude wind turbines, because the higher the wind, the higher the yield. The vision is to integrate these high-altitude wind turbines, which are around twice the size of existing wind turbines, as a second level in existing wind farms.
Rotor blade
november 2023
The first rotor blades for small wind turbines have been completed.
A NECTO rotor blade consists of just three components: the outer skin, a NECTO sheet that is formed in both directions and the round spar at the blade root with the connecting thread. Everything is bonded together in a single process step. The rotor blade is 2/3 lighter than the comparable rotor blade made of continuous cast aluminium and is bonded in a single process step.
Successful large-scale forming test with the new punching tool
october 2023
With the new punching tool we are able to produce plane NECTO sheets from high-strength FORTA steels from OUTOKUMPU without distorsion.
With the new TRUMPF punching tool, we can now produce NECTO sheets from high-strength FORTA steels from OUTOKUMPU. Thanks to the variable tool inserts, they are flat and distortion-free.
In addition, so-called edge guides can be embossed in the same working stroke, which give the remaining sheet metal strips of the NECTO sheet additional stability.”
License agreement
NECTO facade elements
september 2023
“We are pleased about the cooperation with ALDOWA”
“ALDOWA is a highly specialized façade builder for metal and composite façade cladding.
They develop, manufacture and install façades with special lines, exceptional architecture and top-class façades. With NECTO, ALDOWA can also create light and multi-curved façade elements or PV- façades.”
New punching tool
august 2023
Together with the tool experts from TRUMPF, we have developed a new punching tool for TruPunch 5000 and TruMatic 7000 series.
It was manufactured today and successfully tested for the first time.
We were already able to produce NECTO sheets from high-strength FORTA steels from OUTOKUMPU with our old forming tool, but this resulted in extreme distortion, which made production more difficult. With the help of simulations, we were able to eliminate this effect and design a suitable tool.
We can use it to stamp structure heights from 0 to 17 mm.”
Light Con Hannover
june 2023
“Visit us at our booth or listen to our presentation
“NECTO - An innovative metal sandwich - Flat and curved lightweight panels with many advantages
Download:
20221230 MATRIX-Module GmbH LightCon 2023 _en.pdf
Self-supporting
lightweight PV modules
april 2023
MATRIX technology can also be used to produce glass-free lightweight PV modules.
The solar laminate consists of two plastic layers, which can also be reinforced with glass fibre or backed with a sheet metal layer.
The modules are self-supporting
and well ventilated due to the open MATRIX structure
→ The cells stay cool!
The module cabling can also be integrated
into the sheet metal matrix.
Forming simulations
march 2023
Crack-free forming process
By simulating the stress distribution during the forming process and adapting the NECTO structure, it was possible to successively optimise the cut design.
The tendency for cracks at the end of the cuts is thus prevented for most materials, even at high forming ratios.
Wind power project
October 2022
We are taking the first steps towards wind power. No more glass and carbon fibers in Wind power stations!.
Under the leadership of BEVENTUM GmbH, together with
-
the Institute of Aircraft Construction (IFB) in Stuttgart,
-
the Laboratory for Steel and Light Metal Construction in Kissingen,
-
the simulation experts from K&H GmbH (Gaggenau) and CAIQ (Munich)
-
and the advice from Prof. K. Rother (Institute for Material and Building Research, Univ. Applied Sciences, Munich)
we will determine the possible applications of NECTO technology in components for wind turbines. Test specimens and rotor blades for small wind turbines are being built. NECTO structures are simulated, analyzed and optimized, and a feasibility study is prepared.
.
We are excited to see what comes out!
Simulation of the load tests
july 2022
The simulation models successfully reproduce the results from the load tests!
In parallel to the simulation and optimization of the forming processes, models were created for the load tests on test specimens. These models could now be compared with the results from the tensile, compression and 4-point bending tests. Among other aspects, it was also necessary to assess the spot-welded joints and incorporate them precisely into the simulation model.
Caravan component
march 2022
First large component with NECTO structures
The NECTO panel made of aircraft aluminium
(EN AW 2024 T3) for a caravan prototype measures just under 6m2
PV in Motion 2021
December 2021
Participants at the PV in Motion Conference.
We proposed our PORSCH 911 hood as a support structure for embedded solar cells.
In particular, their cooling and the very torsion-resistant design are outstanding compared to all competitors.
Exhibitor
@ Automobil Industrie Leichbaugipfel
november 2021
We are exhibitor and participation in the Automobil Industrie Leichbaugipfel in Würzburg.“
There we exhibit our PORSCH 911 hood in hybrid design.
It consists of a curved NECTO structure bonded behind a CFRP outer skin. The hood is 60% lighter than the original hood and extremely torsion-resistant.
Finalist @ Enlighten Award
august 2021
We took part in the Altair Enlighten Award 2021 in the Future of Lightweighting category and received the “FINALIST AWARD".
The application was made with our innovative sandwich panels that use NECTO structures
(a further development of MATRIX structures).
Instead of a solar laminate, these NECTO sheets are bonded with a top layer of metal or (fiber composite) plastics.
This allows metal sandwich panels with curved surfaces to be produced.
R&D Project
Photovoltaic thermal collectors
june 2021
The further development of the MATRIX module with additional thermal utilization of the module waste heat achieves over 70% efficiency.
In the innovation project (funded by the NRW Ministry of Economic Affairs) performance tests were carried out on a newly designed MATRIX PV module with additional waste heat extraction (PV/air) in the accredited TestLab Solar Thermal Systems of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems.
Over 50% of the irradiated energy is converted into heat and at the same time over 20% is converted into electricity by the solar cells.
A positive side effect:
The cooler module increases the electrical efficiency by an additional 4.6% (rel) compared to a module without cooling.
First Solar Plant
september 2020
One of the largest solar park operators in Europe has retrofitted part of its PV park with MATRIX frames.
Instead of gluing the MATRIX frames to PV laminates without standard frames, standard modules with frames were used here and the MATRIX sheet was additionally attached.
The process is intended as a retrofit and will make the solar cells less susceptible to storms and keep them cool. Hundreds of modules were installed in this way.
NECTO structures
up to 25 mm hight
may 2021
With the new adjustable moulding tool, NECTO structures up to 40 mm x 40 mm wide and 25 mm high can be produced.
“With the new tool insert for Boschert automatic punching presses, NECTO structures can be stamped into metal sheets (up to a size of 2 m x 10 m). The NECTO structures can have sizes from 16 mm x 16 mm to 40 mm x 40 mm and can be punched up to 25 mm high.
The new punching tool, which works with a XY table, has the advantage of being able to place the structures in any position very flexibly, compared with the simultaneous punching and forming of a whole series of MATRIX or NECTO structures using a servo press.
First place startup compition
@ Salon des Créateurs
december 2019
Our industrial design is also convincing.
The MATRIX frame not only has many technological advantages, it can also be applied to almost all solar cells and module concepts.
Depending on the dimensions of the MATRIX sheet, particularly light or particularly stable modules can be built, or modules that have a 40 % lower CO2 footprint.
Increased Energy Yield
august 2018
First MATRIX modules on a solar tracker
In a cooperation with the Westphalian University of Applied Sciences in Gelsenkirchen, MATRIX modules demonstrated an increase in energy yield for modules with MATRIX frames compared to PV modules with standard frames.
With irradiation of 700 W/m2 and light wind, the module temperature with MATRIX frames was 2 degrees (steel MATRIX) or 3 degrees (aluminum MATRIX) lower than the reference with standard frames.
First place startup compition
@ Fraunhofer Tandem Camp
july 2018
Our innovative PV module concept wins both rounds of the start-up competition "Fraunhofer Tandem Camp", organised by Fraunhofer Ventures.
In cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, small PV modules with MATRIX frames were built and the electrical output was measured under different wind and irradiation conditions.
Because our MATRIX frame acts as a heat sink and colder solar cells deliver more electrical output, MATRIX modules have an advantage. We achieve up to 1.5% more yield compared to the reference, even without any optimisations!
Exhibitor
@ LightCon Hannover
june 2022
Visite us at our booth. We present a variety of NECTO lightweight products and their Unique Selling Points.
NECTO elements
with insulating effect
april 2022
Only 1 % of the sandwich core of NECTO panels
consists of sheet metal, the rest is stationary air.
A NECTO construction therefore conducts heat poorly from one surface to the other.
If the NECTO openings are sealed with a thin insulating panel, even slightly better insulation
values can be achieved
than with classic caravan structures.
First place startup compition
@ start2grow
june 2019
PV modules with MATRIX frames also impressed the jury at the start2grow competition organized by the Dortmund Business Development Agency.
In addition to our production concept and the scientific results achieved so far, the high number of Unique Selling Points (USPs)
was decisive for the excellent ranking.