For several years, Broetje-Automation has been working with Spirit AeroSystems to further automate the preforming of large composite structural parts for aircraft in a stable, continuous process. Reproducible high quality of long and complex profiles, such as stringers for future aircraft, can be achieved very quickly and cost-effectively. Lay-up rates of 100 kg/h are just the beginning. The preforming of large structural parts made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP/composites) in aircraft manufacturing is often still a manual process: at best semi-automated, thus very time-consuming and cost-intensive. In some cases, individual layers are prepared on cutting tables, cleared onto separate tables, then superimposed in negative forms and thermally fixed to stabilize the preform prior to consumption.