Optimal directional nesting of planar profiles on fabric bands for composites manufacturing

•Nesting of 2D parts on technical woven fabric bands is solved by genetic algorithm.•The GA embeds a two-step (rough-place – fine move) Bottom-Left-Fill-Left heuristic.•Part rotation and mirroring are supported despite expanding the search space.•The heuristic employs 4equiv. (from rough to accurate) part representations.•Part shape representation ensures time, accuracy and profile distance flexibility.