Austrian SME specializing in composite mould tooling and lightweight component manufacturing for aerospace and automotive applications.
ALPEX is an Austrian SME specializing in advanced composite manufacturing, particularly carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) components and tooling for the automotive and aerospace industries. They develop manufacturing processes for lightweight structural parts — from carbon wheels for cars to hybrid seating and fuselage panels for aircraft. Their core contribution is translating composite material designs into production-ready manufacturing solutions, including mould tooling, resin transfer moulding (HP-RTM), and thermoplastic consolidation processes.
Central to COMBO3D (3D-printed composite moulds), EMOTION (thermoplastic fuselage moulds), ProTHiC (high-temperature composite process simulation), and MAYA (hybrid lining panel manufacturing).
CARIM focused on automated high-volume CFRP production for full carbon wheels; HAIRMATE on hybrid aircraft seating with composite materials.
Five Clean Sky 2 projects (HAIRMATE, ProTHiC, MAYA, COMBO3D, EMOTION) all target aircraft structural or interior components.
COMBO3D applied 3D printing to composite mould tools; MULTI-FUN explored multi-material additive manufacturing with nanoparticles.
CARIM targeted automated high-volume CFRP production with HP-RTM and preforming; EMOTION addressed autoclave and out-of-autoclave consolidation.
ALPEX started with automotive composite manufacturing — their earliest project (CARIM, 2016) focused on producing full carbon wheels via automated CFRP processes like HP-RTM and preforming. From 2018 onward, they pivoted heavily into aerospace through Clean Sky 2, working on aircraft seating, fuselage panels, and composite mould tooling. By 2020, their most recent project (MULTI-FUN) signals a move toward additive manufacturing and multi-material integration, suggesting they are expanding beyond traditional moulding into digital manufacturing techniques.
ALPEX is transitioning from traditional composite moulding toward additive manufacturing and multi-functional material systems, positioning them for next-generation lightweight manufacturing across transport sectors.
ALPEX operates exclusively as a participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, which is typical for a specialist SME contributing manufacturing expertise to larger consortia. With 32 unique partners across 11 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on repeat partnerships. Their strong presence in Clean Sky 2 (5 of 7 projects) suggests they are a trusted manufacturing partner within the European aerospace supply chain.
ALPEX has collaborated with 32 distinct partners across 11 countries, indicating a well-connected European network built primarily through the Clean Sky 2 joint undertaking. Their partnerships span the aerospace and advanced manufacturing ecosystem across Western and Central Europe.
ALPEX bridges the gap between composite material design and industrial-scale production — they are the partner you bring in when a lightweight concept needs to become a manufacturable product. Their combination of traditional composite moulding expertise (HP-RTM, thermoplastic consolidation) with emerging additive manufacturing capabilities is uncommon for an SME of their size. Having worked on both automotive wheels and aircraft fuselage panels, they can transfer manufacturing know-how across transport sectors in ways that larger, siloed companies often cannot.
