Carbon Fiber Tubes and Pipes — Three Processes, One Supplier
Tube manufacturing is unusual in that no single process is best at everything. Filament winding is best when you need pressure or corrosion performance. Roll wrapping is best when you need a special section, a woven surface or a short run. Pultrusion is best when you need long, straight, constant-section tube in volume. We run all three on 10 dedicated lines, so the process is chosen to fit the part rather than the other way round.
Process Comparison
| Process | Inner Diameter (mm) | Wall (mm) | Length (m) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Filament winding | 50 – 1000 | 2 – 30 | 5 – 12 | Pressure, corrosion, tuned angles |
| Roll wrapping | 8 – 80 | 1 – 4 | 1.2 – 3.5 | Special sections, woven finish |
| Pultrusion | 30 – 500 | 3 – 8 | up to 20 | Continuous straight tube, volume |
How Each Process Works
Filament Winding
Fiber is impregnated and wound onto a mandrel at preset hoop and helical angles, then cured at 80–120°C. Because the wind angle is programmable, the tube can be optimized for burst pressure, axial compression or torsion — which is why this process dominates pressure vessels and corrosive service.
Roll Wrapping
Prepreg or woven carbon cloth is wrapped around a mandrel, taped and heat cured. It is the most flexible route: non-standard sections such as oval tube are possible, braided wraps give excellent torsional behaviour, and the woven outer layer looks good on visible parts.
Pultrusion
Fiber is pulled continuously through a heated die at 180–220°C and cut to length. Output is high, unit cost is low, and axial strength is outstanding, since the fibers stay straight along the tube axis.
Customization and Applications
Sections: round and square, with diameter, wall thickness and length to your drawing
UAV: arms, booms and camera mounts where stiffness and low mass matter
Industrial: hydraulic and pressure lines, corrosion-resistant piping, rollers
Sport and leisure: poles, paddles, bicycle and outdoor equipment
Photography and metrology: tripod legs, booms and measurement fixtures
Certifications & Quality Assurance
We are certified to ISO 9001 Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management, GJB 9001C Military Quality Management System, IATF 16949 Automotive Quality Management System, ISO 22163 Railway Quality Management System, Grade II Military Confidentiality Qualification, CNAS Accredited Laboratory, AS9100D Aerospace Quality Management System and more.
ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
ISO 45001 Occupational Health & Safety Management
IATF 16949 Automotive Quality Management System
ISO 9001 Quality Management System
GJB 9001C Military Quality Management System
Frequently Asked Questions
Which process gives the strongest tube?
It depends on the load. Pultrusion gives the highest axial strength because fibers stay straight. Filament winding can be angle-optimized for burst or torsion. Roll wrapping gives the best torsional behaviour with braided or woven layers.
Can I get a glossy or visible-weave finish?
Yes — roll wrapping with a woven outer layer, optionally with a clear gloss coating, produces the visible carbon finish used on sports, photography and consumer products.
What sizes are available?
Inner diameter from 8 mm to 1000 mm depending on process, with wall thickness from 1 mm to 30 mm and lengths up to 20 m for pultruded tube.
Do you supply custom sections?
Yes. Round and square are standard, and roll wrapping can produce non-standard profiles such as oval tube to your drawing.
