CA Automotive UK
14-06-2005, 02:35 PM
As you will see on anoter thread I posted earlier ( "help us to help you please "), the subject of our carbon parts seeming relatively expensive has undestandably been brought up .
We will , as posted , be looking into our pricing on this very shortly , but meanwhile I would like to make the following comments :
- a lot of the carbon items you see from inexpensive suppliers and ebay are what is called WET LAY carbon ...this is the lowest grade of carbon production ; if not done 100% it will lead to defects like delamination and discolouring , it also has a somewhat "flat look " . We do sell a very small quantity of such products , but they are marked as such . These items are often machine mader en masse .
- other than the few above mentioned wet lay items , all our products are of a MUCH higher standard because :
1. all made from VACUUM FORMED PRE PREG ( AUTOCLAVED ) carbon fibre , the highest and strongest grade there is (as used by Boeing , Maclaren , space shuttle etc ;) Even our carbon laminated parts are mostly vaccum formed pre preg over the core part ( eg e46 centre console )
2. as the gel resin is impregnated throughout the carbon ( not just applied over top surface ) the carbon has a much deeper and 3D look than wet lay or machine made items .
3. most items are INDIVIDUALLY HAND MADE TO ORDER , I.E. A CUSTOM SERVICE
4. we apply carbon to as much surface as possible ...as example see image of e46 armrest , see how the carbon goes all the way around ? Some manufacturers only laminate visible parts
4. We can also offer a vacuum molding service where we can replicate almost any part in 100% carbon , at extra cost , where we do not already offer thi sanyway
5. Many of our seemingly expensive parts are 100% pre preg already , whereas many "competitors " similar products are a laminate over GRP core .
Below i have attached some pics of some items I just received today , hopefully you can see what I am talking about .
as always memeber comments are welcome ......
We will , as posted , be looking into our pricing on this very shortly , but meanwhile I would like to make the following comments :
- a lot of the carbon items you see from inexpensive suppliers and ebay are what is called WET LAY carbon ...this is the lowest grade of carbon production ; if not done 100% it will lead to defects like delamination and discolouring , it also has a somewhat "flat look " . We do sell a very small quantity of such products , but they are marked as such . These items are often machine mader en masse .
- other than the few above mentioned wet lay items , all our products are of a MUCH higher standard because :
1. all made from VACUUM FORMED PRE PREG ( AUTOCLAVED ) carbon fibre , the highest and strongest grade there is (as used by Boeing , Maclaren , space shuttle etc ;) Even our carbon laminated parts are mostly vaccum formed pre preg over the core part ( eg e46 centre console )
2. as the gel resin is impregnated throughout the carbon ( not just applied over top surface ) the carbon has a much deeper and 3D look than wet lay or machine made items .
3. most items are INDIVIDUALLY HAND MADE TO ORDER , I.E. A CUSTOM SERVICE
4. we apply carbon to as much surface as possible ...as example see image of e46 armrest , see how the carbon goes all the way around ? Some manufacturers only laminate visible parts
4. We can also offer a vacuum molding service where we can replicate almost any part in 100% carbon , at extra cost , where we do not already offer thi sanyway
5. Many of our seemingly expensive parts are 100% pre preg already , whereas many "competitors " similar products are a laminate over GRP core .
Below i have attached some pics of some items I just received today , hopefully you can see what I am talking about .
as always memeber comments are welcome ......