I (that’s me on the left Frans Noordhuis) started experimenting with carbon in 2012. I made the first axle with a carbon tube from a friend. Wall thickness was about 1 mm and I was really surprised with the strength. In the end I wasn’t too happy with the looks of it and I decided to build another one. Main reason for me to start to building carbon axles was to reduce the weight of the buggy. I myself am around 60 kg and my buggy was the same weight. Lots of pilots use the same buggy and are twice my weight and being a light pilot, sometimes it’s a struggle to stay in the buggy. Soon I discover a few more advantages of the carbon axle. It gives a damping effect when you’re driving. Although the axle is lighter than steel, the buggy still has the same grip, apart from that, when you’re racing, the buggy corners and accelerates better and faster.
For fun I put an advert on a Dutch kite forum and for a few months I heard nothing. Then suddenly I got interest of the main buggy builders in Holland. I compliment them for sticking out there heads because at first everybody was pretty cynical in the buggy world towards carbon axles. So I made axles for XXtreme, GT-race, MG kites and some UK Buggy Builders. Some builders prefer to use their own inserts for others I deliver a complete axle.
The axles are custom made to the specific wishes of the customer. The length is up to the customer. Wall thickness is 3mm standard, but can be customised. Some axles have stainless steel sleeves, other have carbon sleeves. The standard size of the outer diameter is 44 mm, MG, asked for a 60 mm tube and Xxtreme a 50 mm diameter axle, showing I can cater for a wide range of requirements.
All axles are made with UD (uni directional) carbon in the essence with a 3K smooth and shiny finish on the surface, although other finishes are possible.
Frans