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 use of CFRP has spread to a multitude of new products requiring strength, reduced weight and high performance. CFRP is finding more applications in wind energy, pressure vessels, sports and recreation equipment and in higher-volume automotive parts. Carbon fibre supply currently exceeds demand, bringing down the profitability of carbon fibre manufacturers, which remain optimistic for an upswing in demand. The drive toward out-of-autoclave curing technology and shorter cycle times continues.
18 March 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
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 increased demand for large-scale composites, especially in aerospace applications, is driving a trend toward lighter-weight, durable composite tooling and away from metal tooling. Richard Stewart reports on innovations in the tooling industry and ways suppliers are helping composites manufacturers meet the new challenges and changing needs of the industry.
27 April 2010
Despite the current lull in demand for carbon fibres from high-volume users, the range of manufacturing applications for carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) continues to expand in the face of new demands for lighter, stronger and higher-performing products. Richard Stewart examines the markets for CFRP composites and how the manufacturers of carbon fibres are riding out the economic storm.
15 January 2010
Following the publication by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) of its annual statistical report, Reinforced Plastics interviewed leading officers of the organisation in order find out what the future holds for the US composites market and what role the organisation will play in that future.
28 October 2009
Automated production of tanks, pipes, spheres, golf club shafts and other hollow symmetrical structures made of reinforced plastics are a natural fit for the filament winding process. Even non-symmetrical windings such as wind turbine blades and aircraft components are wound using advanced design and control software.
02 June 2009
Prepregs – reinforcing materials pre-impregnated with resin and ready to use to produce composite parts – are growing in popularity among all segments of the composites industry due to their versatility, high fibre content and wide selection. We report on new developments in prepreg technology and applications in which prepreg materials are being used.
21 May 2009