Thermoplastic Braided Composite Cantilevers for Sustainable Railway Electrification Infrastructure

This presentation showcases a prototype composite twin-track cantilever developed as a sustainable alternative to steel structures for railway electrification. Manufactured from non-conductive glass-fibre reinforced PA6, the nearly 8-metre-tall structure uses adaptable braided truss components consolidated through a highly scalable, semi-automated process. With less than 2% material waste, low energy consumption, and high production throughput, the system delivers clear environmental and economic benefits. The project demonstrates the feasibility of thermoplastic braided composites for high-volume, large-scale rail infrastructure applications.