Composite Telescopic Mast

Self-extending carbon mast: 7 m reach, 17 kg tube set, chosen over an aluminium design about 65% heavier.

CompoTech designed and manufactures the Compolift carbon epoxy self-extending telescopic mast, now in service with the Czech Republic Border Police on mobile surveillance vehicles. Following a test mast, CompoTech is supplying masts for 11 regional mobile border surveillance units.

The mast extends to 7 m (23 ft) and provides a stable, rigid platform for 16 kg (35 lb) of visual, acoustic and radio equipment at the top. Its five interlocking round hollow sections weigh only 17 kg (38 lb); the design was chosen over an aluminium alternative that was about 65% heavier. CompoTech also developed the winch drive: a 24 V DC 750 W motor, gearbox and winch extend and retract the mast, with power and feed cables wound spirally around the outside. The complete mast and drive system weighs 64 kg (141 lb).

The sections are made from PAN carbon fibre and a two-part epoxy resin. CompoTech's automated, robot-assisted fibre placement lays continuous axial fibres along the full length, and the tubes are CNC finish-machined to tight dimensional and surface tolerances so the mast runs smoothly at speed.

Compared with conventionally filament-wound carbon tubes of the same dimensions, sections made this way have 10–15% higher axial stiffness and up to 50% greater bending strength.