News

This section contains the latest news from the composites industry around the world. A selection of this news is also published in Reinforced Plastics magazine and in the Reinforced Plastics Newsletter

If you have a story you'd like us to cover please e-mail the Editor at RP@elsevier.com


 

 

News Archive

Paris Air Show 2013: Safran and Hexcel sign composite materials supply agreement for all LEAP-1 engines

Hexcel and Safran have signed a long-term contract for the supply of composite materials for the LEAP-1 engine programmes. The LEAP engine family is a product of CFM International, a 50/50 joint company between Snecma (Safran) and GE.

Paris Air Show 2013: TenCate and Fokker sign thermoplastic composites supply agreement Paris Air Show 2013: TenCate and Fokker sign thermoplastic composites supply agreement

TenCate Advanced Composites and Fokker Aerostructures have signed a long-term agreement under which TenCate will supply its thermoplastic composite materials to Fokker for the construction of aircraft components.

Paris Air Show 2013: Boeing launches 787-10 Dreamliner Paris Air Show 2013: Boeing launches 787-10 Dreamliner

Boeing has launched the 787-10 Dreamliner, the third and largest member of the 787 family. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner's construction is 50% composite materials.

LM Wind Power to develop ‘intelligent blades’

The company says sensors in the blades will be able to predict weather conditions and calculate when they can harvest the most energy from the wind - while ensuring minimum loads on the wind turbine.

Paris Air Show 2013: Cytec selected as supplier for LEAP-1 engine Paris Air Show 2013: Cytec selected as supplier for LEAP-1 engine

Cytec Industries has announced its selection as the preferred advanced materials supplier for the Leading Edge Aviation Propulsion (LEAP) engine programme.

Paris Air Show 2013: GE Aviation to build new composites facility at UK site to support A350 work Paris Air Show 2013: GE Aviation to build new composites facility at UK site to support A350 work

GE Aviation has announced the development of a composites production facility at its Hamble, UK, as part of a 5-year, US$50 million-plus investment at the site to support the manufacture of wing components for the Airbus A350 XWB family.

Paris Air Show 2013: Boeing forecasts demand for more than 35,000 new aircraft over next 20 years Paris Air Show 2013: Boeing forecasts demand for more than 35,000 new aircraft over next 20 years

Boeing projects a demand for more than 35,000 new aircraft over the next 20 years, valued at US$4.8 trillion, according to the company's Current Market Outlook (CMO) released this week at the Paris Air Show.

Platina and Arise open Nordics largest onshore windfarm

At 200MW, the development will also be one of the biggest in Europe, according to the companies.

Spirit AeroSystems and Spintech Ventures partner on complex composite aircraft manufacturing

Spirit AeroSystems has announced it has been working with Spintech Ventures to develop a reconfigurable tooling technology for manufacturing complex composite aircraft structures.

Global audience views Airbus A350 XWB’s first flight Global audience views Airbus A350 XWB’s first flight

More than 50,000 visitors watched the A350 XWB’s takeoff on its 14 June maiden flight on the Airbus website.

Last week's top 3 Reinforced Plastics stories Last week's top 3 Reinforced Plastics stories

The following stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website last week.

Airbus A350 XWB makes its maiden flight

The A350 XWB, the first Airbus aircraft to be over 50 wt% composite, made its maiden flight at Blagnac in Toulouse, France, today.

Composites roof panels top Medinah railway station Composites roof panels top Medinah railway station

Premier Composite Technologies is using Gurit composite materials to manufacture roof panels for the Medinah railway station, part a new high speed rail line in Saudi Arabia.

Quantum receives patent for composite CNG and hydrogen storage tanks Quantum receives patent for composite CNG and hydrogen storage tanks

Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide Inc has received the notice of allowance from the US Patent and Trademark Office for a new patent on lightweight composite shells of compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen storage tanks.

New RINA approvals for Scott Bader's Crystic Crestomer structural adhesives New RINA approvals for Scott Bader's Crystic Crestomer structural adhesives

Registro Italiano Navale (RINA) has given a new approval and re-approved grades from Scott Bader’s Crystic® Crestomer® range of high performance urethane acrylate structural adhesives.

DIAB stops colouring its cores

Core materials supplier DIAB has announced that it will no longer be using colour pigments in its H60, H45 and H80 Divinycell products.

Airbus A350 XWB set for first flight on 14 June Airbus A350 XWB set for first flight on 14 June

Airbus has announced that the A350 XWB's first flight is planned for Friday 14 June.

EuCIA and GlassFibreEurope join forces

The European Glass Fibre Producers Association (GlassFibreEurope) has become a member of the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA).

Morgan Advanced Materials launches composites and defence systems business Morgan Advanced Materials launches composites and defence systems business

Morgan Advanced Materials – Composites and Defence Systems incorporates the business formerly known as NP Aerospace, a manufacturer of composite products for defence and other applications.

North American resins market to reach $4.6 billion in 2018 – Composite Insights North American resins market to reach $4.6 billion in 2018 – Composite Insights

The demand for resins in the North American reinforced plastics industry is set for good growth between 2013 and 2018 to reach an estimated US$4.6 billion in 2018, according to Composite Insights.

Latin American composites association to open office in Argentina

The Latin American Composite Materials Association (ALMACO) is set to open an office in Argentina.

Germany must "balance costs and sustainability"

The IEA says further action is needed if Germany’s Energiewende is to maintain a balance between sustainability, affordability and competitiveness and called for cost reductions, investment in networks and closer regional co-operation.

SAERTEX develops reinforced core for high performance sandwich structures SAERTEX develops reinforced core for high performance sandwich structures

SAERTEX's SAERfoam is a low density polyurethane foam reinforced with a 3D glass structure and is said to be ideal for the manufacture of composite industrial vehicle bodies.

Last week's top 3 Reinforced Plastics stories Last week's top 3 Reinforced Plastics stories

The following stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website last week.

Composite panels clad energy-neutral office in the Netherlands Composite panels clad energy-neutral office in the Netherlands

Large, lightweight composite façade panels developed by DSM, Büfa and NPSP Composieten have been used in the construction of a new energy-neutral office building in the Netherlands.

Toray studies EconCore's polyamide honeycomb technology

EconCore and Itochu have entered an agreement securing an option for a license for EconCore’s ThermHex thermoplastic honeycomb core material technology for Japanese chemicals group Toray.

Global wind turbine installations set to fall 5% in 2013

2013 is expected to be a challenging year of the wind energy industry with global grid-connected installations set to be down 5% to 43.4 GW, according to MAKE Consulting.

Gurit’s SE 70 prepreg cured in the stratosphere Gurit’s SE 70 prepreg cured in the stratosphere

Gurit contributed to NASA research which demonstrates that uncured prepreg can be prepared in terrestrial conditions and transported into space for on-site curing and use in space construction projects.

Reusable vacuum bags gaining popularity

Over the last few years reusable vacuum bags have been gaining popularity in the composites industry. Benefits over conventional consumables include lower tooling costs, labour savings and less waste, as a new article published on ReinforcedPlastics.com explains.

Jushi USA increases glass reinforcement prices

Jushi USA has announced a 5% price increase for all Jushi glass fibre reinforcements from 1 July 2013.

DIAB supplies core materials for prototype 83.5 m offshore wind blade DIAB supplies core materials for prototype 83.5 m offshore wind blade

The 83.5 m long blade – said to be the world's largest to date – was commissioned by Samsung Heavy Industries and the first prototype was designed and manufactured by SPP Technology of Denmark. It is part of a project to develop a 7 MW turbine for South Korea's first offshore wind farm.

AGY to sell stake in AGY Shanghai to CPIC

AGY Hong Kong Ltd, a majority-owned subsidiary of US headquartered glass reinforcements producer AGY, has agreed to sell its 100% equity interest in AGY Shanghai Technology Co Ltd to Chongqing Polycomp International Corporation (CPIC) for aggregate consideration in the amount of US$1 million.

Vestas produces first V117 wind turbine blade in Colorado Vestas produces first V117 wind turbine blade in Colorado

Vestas has manufactured the first prototype blade for its new V117-3.3 MW wind turbine at its factory in Brighton, Colorado, USA.

Engines powered up on first Airbus A350 XWB Engines powered up on first Airbus A350 XWB

Rolls-Royce’s Trent XWB engines have run for the first time on the first Airbus A350 XWB (called MSN1), as part of the preparations for the aircraft’s maiden flight.

Last week's top 3 Reinforced Plastics stories Last week's top 3 Reinforced Plastics stories

The following stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website last week.

New blog: Reinforced Plastics – FAQs New blog: Reinforced Plastics – FAQs

In our latest blog we've compiled the answers to 10 of the most frequently asked questions we receive.