Two red-handled tools with metal spiked rollers, likely used for applying or spreading materials, on a white background.

Aluminium Finned Roller (cross grooves)

Aluminium deaeration roller with transverse grooves for compacting and deaerating glass fibre wet laminates.
The transverse profile helps work trapped air out of the laminate and supports even resin distribution – particularly with glass fibre mats, glass fabrics and glass non-crimp fabrics.

The R&G aluminium deaeration roller with transverse grooves is a robust laminating tool for processing glass fibre reinforcements in hand lay-up applications. The profiled aluminium roller presses the wetted reinforcement evenly against the mould surface and helps remove trapped air from the wet laminate.

The pronounced transverse grooves transfer pressure into the reinforcement across the full roller width. As the roller passes over the laminate, resin is redistributed within the fibre layers and trapped air can be worked towards the surface.

The roller is particularly suitable for glass fibre mats as well as medium to heavy glass fabrics and non-crimp fabrics. Its rigid aluminium construction allows effective pressure to be applied even with thicker laminate build-ups without deformation of the roller.

With a roller diameter of only 14 mm, the tool can be guided accurately and is suitable for both flat surfaces and components with larger radii. For tight internal radii, corners or narrow recesses, dedicated edge or radius rollers are more suitable.

Typical applications:

Deaerating glass fibre wet laminates
Compacting glass fibre mats
Processing glass fabrics and glass non-crimp fabrics
Pressing reinforcement evenly against the mould surface
Distributing laminating resin within the reinforcement layers
Hand laminating in mould and composite component production

Available sizes:

Working width: 70 mm / Ø 14 mm / overall length approx. 25 cm
Working width: 100 mm / Ø 14 mm / overall length approx. 26 cm

Roller material: Aluminium

Which width is best?
The 70 mm version is easier to control on smaller components and changing contours. The 100 mm version provides greater surface coverage on larger, predominantly flat areas and therefore allows faster deaeration.

Note on carbon fabrics:
Care should be taken when using profiled aluminium rollers on sensitive carbon fabrics. Excessive pressure can disturb the fibre orientation or distort the weave pattern. For high-quality visible carbon laminates, less aggressive roller profiles are often the better choice.

Practical tip: