Perhaps you’re interested in the benefits Quickstep advanced composite materials can provide for your business, but you’re not yet sure how to integrate the technology. Chances are, we have a ready made business solution ideal for your needs.
Our Contract Development Solution is a low cost way to learn what Quickstep can do for your designs. We work with you to design the parts; we build the tooling, make prototypes and assist in your evaluation.
If you prefer to explore Quickstep in your own labs, our Pilot Plant Solution may be appropriate. Here we supply a QS5 “pilot plant” machine and annual licence designed to assist R&D efforts and early stage exploration of the process prior to a production commitment.
Our Production Solution is for those businesses ready to make a production commitment. We’ll supply one or more QS20 machines and a per part royalty agreement for serial production environments.
Quickstep Technologies is also able to provide a range of custom solutions, including part and process development under contract, and the supply of custom machines.
Talk to us about your business needs. Our experienced team is only too happy to help.
CONTRACT DEVELOPMENT
We undertake funded development projects to develop specific concepts manufactured using the Quickstep processes, or assist with panel or sample manufacture for database development. This includes full project management, from tooling design and fabrication to part manufacture. We can do this at our Centres of Excellence in Australia, the UK, Germany or The United States
For example, if you are interested in the benefits Quickstep offers, but would like to evaluate prototype parts before committing to production, this is an economical way to accomplish that objective. We'll define the process parameters that provide the best components and as part of the contract can prepare a proposal for production equipment and startup in your facility or at the facility of one of your suppliers.
If you've ordered a Quickstep machine, we'll help you get a head start by performing basic process development on our equipment in Australia, Europe or the United States. Send us your composite materials and tooling (if unique), and we'll work through the first stages of process optimization to get the best properties and structural performance. Your engineers are welcome to participate.
PILOT PLANT SOLUTION
Interested in the Quickstep concept, but need to proceed through product and process development in your own labs before committing to production? If so, then our QS5 pilot plant might be the solution. We supply a QS5 machine with the capacity to cure parts up to five square metres in surface area, plus:
- A curing chamber for your exploration in one of several sizes
- On-site installation and training
- Technical support through the licence period
All you have to furnish is the electrical hookup and a cooling circuit (either a refrigeration unit or cooling water). The whole unit, complete with heat transfer fluid, control computer and curing chamber, fits into a 20-foot shipping container and can typically be installed in one day or less. When empty, the QS5 weighs about 4 tonnes and we have designed it to be moved with a fork truck.
The cost, inclusive of installation and three years of licence fees, is less than the purchase cost of a small autoclave (to which you have to add foundations, riggers, and other costs).
This offer is only available to manufacturing R&D departments of major composites producers, as well as universities and independent research organizations. The QS5 machine is supplied with the intention that upon completion of development trials opportunity is created to establish a commercial joint venture.
PRODUCTION SOLUTION
When you’re ready to take advantage of all that Quickstep offers and build production parts, it’s time to move up to a larger machine, capable of multiple tool sets and rapid cycling. Here we offer our QS20 system, which can cure up to 20 square metres of parts in a single cycle. For even larger installations a custom solution can be designed and installed.
As part of the purchase cost, Quickstep will assist with equipment installation and train your personnel to operate and maintain it. During the licence period, we provide regular upgrades to the software and provide ongoing technical support. In return, the parts producer makes a “per part” payment for use of the machine, usually significantly less than the savings achieved from reduced energy, capital and tooling costs. The net effect? You come out well ahead of the game and so does your OEM customer.
The end result is a low capital cost, turn-key solution that provides manufacturers with a substantial competitive advantage, as outlined in the following table:
| Conventional capital purchase | Quickstep partnership arrangement | |
| Plant and equipment | High capital cost | Generally much lower equipment cost than autoclave |
| Installation Cost | Typically 30 to 100% of autoclave cost. | No special foundations, installation often less than 10% of equipment cost |
| License fee | No. | Yes, paid as a per part royalty. |
| Technical Assistance | Possible, fee paid. | Yes, provided as part of licence fee |
| Supply, installation and commissioning | At user cost. | Yes, provided as part of license fee |
| Maintenance | Equipment covered initially, then additional cost | Can be included as part of licence fee |
| Shipping, handling of equipment | Varied based on equipment size and design by supplier | Designed on a platform in modules that can be easily moved by forklift. Slides into a 40ft shipping container. |
| Technology upgrades | Generally available at additional cost | Yes, provided under the license fee |
| Floor Space | Large footprint | Minimal space required and easily moved |
| Moulding size of product | Limited by volume capacity of autoclave | Few size restrictions, just add tools |