SAUBER 4.0 Wins JEC Innovation Award 2026

27. January 2026 | Blog

We are proud to announce that SAUBER 4.0, a project to which Teijin Carbon contributed by sharing expertise in developing and producing dry fiber materials, won the JEC Innovation Award in the "Aerospace – Process" category. The jury honored the project for its new generation of smart, sustainable, industrially scalable resin transfer molding (RTM) processes for aerospace applications. 

Established in 1998, the JEC Awards recognize, promote, and honor innovative composite solutions worldwide and provide an international platform with high visibility among a professional composites audience. The winners in the 11 categories were announced during the JEC World Premiere on Monday, January 12, in Paris, France. We’re proud to announce that two projects we contributed to won awards.

"SAUBER 4.0," won in the Aerospace – Process category. The jury recognized the project for its new generation of smart, sustainable, and industrially scalable resin transfer molding (RTM) processes for aerospace applications. The project fosters close collaborations between industry and research to combine technological excellence, digitalization, and sustainability. With SAUBER 4.0, a comprehensive manufacturing technology approach was developed to enable the production of complex, large-scale components, balancing ecological responsibility with economic efficiency. The core element is the combination of RTM technology with digitalization and innovative preforming and tooling technologies. Since 1994, Airbus Stade has used RTM to produce nearly 10,000 small carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) parts annually for A320 and A330 aircraft. With SAUBER 4.0, we are enabling the transition of RTM technology to the production of large, complex, high-volume structural components for next-generation single-aisle wings.

Some of the key technologies delivered include inductively heated Invar RTM tooling, TFP/DFP preform production using 3D-printed molds, and a knowledge model that links process data and energy consumption. These technologies have been validated through five fully reproducible wing tip demonstrators. Thus, SAUBER 4.0 offers several advantages: It creates RTM technology for large, complex, integral parts; saves energy compared to current aircraft production; enables fully digitalized, end-to-end, CFRP production; and successfully validates multiphysics simulation. This enables Airbus's next-generation single-aisle aircraft. As part of a strong industrial and research consortium, Teijin Carbon contributed to the project by sharing our expertise in developing and producing dry fiber materials. Thank you to our project partners.

In addition to the award for SAUBER 4.0, another project to which we contributed was also recognized: The LeiWaCo project won the JEC Award in the Pipes, Tanks and Hydrogen category. As the first composite liquid hydrogen (LH2) system, LeiWaCo is designed to eliminate cryogenic microcracking. It is based on a tailored thermoplastic matrix laminate, an optimized design, and advanced manufacturing processes that address the challenge of microcracking in carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) tanks at -253 °C. The composite system consists of a tough thermoplastic matrix with a higher cryogenic strain capacity and thinner materials that reduce internal stress. The optimized layups balance mechanical loads and thermal contraction, and the all-composite liner eliminates CTE mismatch. This significantly reduces weight and costs, allows for automated manufacturing, and enables green hydrogen mobility. The project has been validated by a functional subscale demonstrator.  

We’re excited to attend the JEC World 2026 with this recognition. From March 10-12, this leading global trade show will bring together the entire composites value chain in Paris to showcase composite materials, technologies, and applications. We will be there to discuss how advanced carbon fiber solutions are shaping the future of high-performance applications with partners, customers, and other industry experts. Visit us at Booth 6G24.

The preform casket