World growth will slow in 2012, but the question is by how much – IHS Global Insight chief economist Nariman Behravesh releases his Top 10 Economic Predictions for 2012.
23 December 2011
A £25 million centre for innovation in composites design and manufacture officially opens in the UK in late November. CEO Peter Chivers gave Amanda Jacob a tour.
08 November 2011
The growing demand for everything green to promote sustainability is being felt increasingly in the building and construction industry. The internationally recognised LEED initiative of the US Green Building Council promotes alternative, energy-efficient materials, which is good for composites. So are the building codes and standards being written for FRP materials.
06 September 2011
The 540 ft long Knickerbocker Bridge now open in Boothbay, Maine, USA, is claimed to be the longest composite vehicular bridge in the world. It employs hybrid-composite beam (HCB) technology, which combines the strength and stiffness of conventional concrete and steel with the lightweight and corrosion advantages of fibre reinforced plastics (FRP).
26 July 2011
Reinforced Plastics takes a look at what's happening at this year's show, which is being held in Essen, Germany, on 14-16 September.
25 August 2010
Construction is one of the largest markets for composites globally. While growth has slowed in regions hit by a decline in residential housing construction, including Europe and North America, China and other parts of Asia are experiencing strong growth in this market. Richard Stewart reports on trends in composites in construction and innovative applications utilising FRP materials.
23 August 2010
New and innovative core materials are adding design freedom, cost efficiency and other desirable qualities to composite sandwich structures, along with high strength, stiffness and optimised weight. Richard Stewart reports on new developments and an expanding range of applications for sandwich composites.
22 June 2010
The use of adhesives in industry has increased significantly in recent years, but with the development of methacrylate technology the advance of structural adhesives has seen improvements in manufacturing techniques in many markets.
02 June 2010
David Kendall, Managing Director of Optima Projects Ltd, reviews a recent Network Group for Composites in Construction (NGCC) conference discussing some exciting developments in fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) bridges.
25 May 2010
Louis R. Ross, Director of Research and Development at Interplastic Corporation, explains how composites made with resins that contain rapidly renewable and post-consumer recycled components contribute to LEED certification.
05 May 2010