News for June 2009

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

Composite pipe lining installed in US sewer project Composite pipe lining installed in US sewer project

A ‘cured in place’ composite pipe lining system has been used for a major sewer repair project in Reno, Nevada, USA.

June's top five stories June's top five stories

These five stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website during the month of June.

Amber Composites launches line of vacuum bagging consumables

Amber Composites is launching a range of consumable products for use in vacuum bagging in the oven curing, autoclave and infusion composite processes.

SP specifies composite materials for Rogers yacht SP specifies composite materials for Rogers yacht

For its latest project Rogers Yacht Design is working with composite materials supplier SP to produce a new line of carbon composite cruiser racers.

Atkins Nedtech to design composite wing components for A350 XWB

Airbus Germany has awarded Atkins Nedtech a contract to design composite components for the inboard flap of the new Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.

Electric aircraft under test Electric aircraft under test

Yuneec International is carrying out test flights on its E430, two-seat, composite aircraft, which is said to be the first commercially available electric powered aircraft.

Offshore wind has potential to "meet more than a quarter" of the UK's electricity needs

An extra 25GW of offshore wind energy could be accommodated around the UK’s shores, in addition to the 8GW already built or planned, UK Energy Minister Lord Hunt says.

Owens Corning licenses Twintex® composites technology to Fiber Glass Industries

Owens Corning has licensed its Twintex® glass thermoplastic composites technology to Fiber Glass Industries Inc (FGI).

Boeing postpones 787 first flight

Boeing has announced a further delay to the first flight of its 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

Composite fuel tank for gas powered chopper Composite fuel tank for gas powered chopper

Lincoln Composites has manufactured a compressed natural gas (CNG) fuel tank for what is claimed to be the world's first chopper (motorcycle) to be powered by natural gas.

Wales invests in Airbus composite aircraft wing facility

The Welsh Assembly Government has committed £28.66 million to support Airbus' development of a facility for the assembly of composite aircraft wings at its site in Broughton, North Wales.

Braided fabrics for aircraft interiors use carbon reinforced PPS tapes Braided fabrics for aircraft interiors use carbon reinforced PPS tapes

Braided textile specialist A&P Technology Inc is now using carbon fibre reinforced Fortron polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) tape for aircraft interior applications.

Scott Bader launches new composites website Scott Bader launches new composites website

Scott Bader is introducing its new website which covers the range of products and services offered by its Composites, Adhesives, and Specialty Polymers business units globally.

Quickstep awarded grant to develop RST technology

Australian-based Quickstep has been awarded A$2.6 million under the Australian Federal Government’s AusIndustry Climate Ready Programme, an initiative focusing on the production of lightweight, low-emission vehicles and aircraft.

Strongwell’s composite products earn LARR approval

Strongwell’s glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP) structural materials have achieved Los Angeles Research Report (LARR) approval for radio frequency (RF) transparent screening and enclosure systems.

Ultrasonic test instrument for carbon composite aircraft structures Ultrasonic test instrument for carbon composite aircraft structures

GE Sensing & Inspection Technologies has announced the availability of a hand-held, ultrasonic test instrument for use while an aircraft is at the arrival/departure gate.

Composite footbridge installed in six hours Composite footbridge installed in six hours

UK railway contractor Birse Rail has recently installed a new composite railway footbridge in just six hours at Bradkirk, Blackpool, UK, thereby minimising disruption to rail services.

EuCIA appoints new General Manager

The European composites industry association EuCIA has appointed Alisa De Backer as its new General Manager.

IDI Composites acquires Menzolit plants

US firm IDI Composites International has acquired the former Menzolit Compounds International sheet and bulk moulding compound plants in France and China.

Final assembly begins on first Boeing 787

Final assembly has begun on the first Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft destined for delivery to ANA of Japan. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2010.

Boeing, Ten Cate, Stork Fokker and Twente University establish research centre on thermoplastic composites

Boeing, TenCate Advanced Composites BV, Stork Fokker and the University of Twente have signed an agreement to establish the Thermoplastic Composites Research Centre (TPRC) in the Netherlands.

Cytec Engineered Materials forms industrial team

Cytec Engineered Materials (CEM) has formed a new group to address the growing need for advanced materials such as composites in the industrial sector.

Hexion raises prices for composite resins

Hexion Specialty Chemicals will increase prices of its unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins in North America next month.

China expects 20% of renewable energy by 2020

China could generate 20% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2020, according to Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice Chairman of China’s national development and reform commission.

Energetx Composites to manufacture wind turbine components

US firm Energetx Composites plans to start manufacturing wind turbine components following approval of a grant from the State of Michigan.

AGY acquires controlling interest in Chinese yarn manufacturer

AGY, a US producer of glass fibre yarns and reinforcements, has acquired a 70% controlling interest in the Shanghai, China, based yarn manufacturing business of Grace THW Group.

Europe’s wind potential almost 20 times energy demand in 2020 – report

The European Environmental Agency (EEA) says European onshore and offshore wind energy potential is equivalent to almost 20 times energy demand in 2020.

Mubadala starts construction of Abu Dhabi composite aerostructures plant

Investment company Mubadala Development Company has announced the construction of its composites plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, will start this month and that the plant will be operational in 2010.

Hexion to enhance North American composite resins manufacturing

Hexion Specialty Chemicals is realigning its North American composite resins and coatings manufacturing operations in order to enhance customer service, improve efficiency and manage costs.

Quickstep awarded AS 9100 aerospace certification

Quickstep Technologies Pty Ltd has been accredited to the AS 9100 international aerospace quality standard.

Exel Composites considers job cuts in Finland

Pultruder Exel Composites is starting negotiations with staff on possible job losses at its plants in Finland.

FRP corrosion protection process for pipes and tanks FRP corrosion protection process for pipes and tanks

A new FRP lining process for pipes and storage tanks is said to offer significant advantages over existing corrosion protection methods.

Premix extends capacity with new moulding press

US moulder of composites products Premix is extending its manufacturing capacity with the addition of a 2000 ton compression moulding press.

Programme announced for Advanced Composites in Construction 2009 conference Programme announced for Advanced Composites in Construction 2009 conference

The programme for the Advanced Composites in Construction (ACIC) 2009 conference has been released by organiser The Network Group for Composites in Construction (NGCC).

Interplastic announces price increase for resins

Interplastic Corporation is raising the price of its CoREZYN® and Silmar® brand products, including vinyl ester, polyester and speciality resins, gel-coats, and colorants.

Floating offshore wind turbine installed by Siemens and StatoilHydro Floating offshore wind turbine installed by Siemens and StatoilHydro

What could be the world’s first large-scale floating offshore wind turbine has been installed by Siemens and StatoilHydro off the coast of Norway.

Biocomposites congress joins COMPOSITES EUROPE

This year, the nova-Institut will hold its Biocomposites Congress as part of the annual AVK International Convention which is held alongside the COMPOSITES EUROPE exhibition.

Pentland Firth wave and tidal energy leasing round gets 42 applications Pentland Firth wave and tidal energy leasing round gets 42 applications

The UK Crown Estate has received a total of 42 applications from 20 bidders for wave and tidal energy leases for the Pentland Firth Strategic Area – the world’s first large scale commercial wave and tidal energy leasing round.

CCP announces price increase for composite products

Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) is increasing prices of its unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, gel-coats and Thermaclean® industrial cleaner products.

AMSC’s licenses wind turbine design to India

American Superconductor Corporation’s (AMSC) wholly-owned AMSC Windtec subsidiary, has licensed its 2 MW doubly-fed induction wind turbine design to Inox Wind Limited, part of India’s Inox Group of Companies.

Dutch composites industry develops training programme

A training programme for the composites industry has been developed by the Dutch association for composites VKCN, and VAPRO, a consultancy specialising in vocational training.

Lantor introduces flexible, flame retardant core material Lantor introduces flexible, flame retardant core material

A flame retardant, flexible core material has been developed by Lantor BV. It is designed to support the development of lightweight composite solutions, especially in the mass transit market.

Polytec closes Swedish automotive composites plant

The Polytec Group is closing the Swedish plant of its Automotive Composites Division.

US wind will see a surge in 2010 US wind will see a surge in 2010

The US wind energy market could bounce back in 2010 after a slower 2009, predicts analyst Emerging Energy Research (EER).

Jeff Martin named Pultruder of the Year Jeff Martin named Pultruder of the Year

Jeff Martin of Martin Pultrusion Group Inc has been named the Brandt Goldsworthy Pultruder of the Year 2009 by the delegates of the 2nd Global Pultrusion Conference.

Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft makes first flight Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft makes first flight

The US Air Force Research Laboratory and Lockheed Martin have announced the first flight of the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft (ACCA).

Mastergel Compósitos becomes Ara Ashland distributor

Resin supplier Ara Ashland has appointed Mastergel Compósitos as a distributor for the southern region of Brazil.

CST Composites introduces range of pultruded structural laminates CST Composites introduces range of pultruded structural laminates

CST Composites is introducing a range of pultruded carbon composite laminates designed for use in the the reinforcement of concrete, metal, wood and composite structural members.

ElringKlinger produces reinforced thermoplastic oil pan ElringKlinger produces reinforced thermoplastic oil pan

Automotive parts producer ElringKlinger has developed a reinforced thermoplastic pick-up truck oil pan using DuPont's Zytel polyamide resin.

Transmission greatest barrier to US wind energy – industry poll

For the second year in a row, transmission / interconnection constraints were identified as the greatest barrier to wind energy development according to a poll conducted by wind measurement provider NRG Systems.

ACMA releases 2008 composites industry report ACMA releases 2008 composites industry report

The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) has released its 2008 Composites Industry Report.

Reichhold announces price increase for North America

Reichhold Inc is increasing prices of all unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins sold in North America for the composites industry.

Meridian sells parts of its composites business

Meridian Automotive Systems Inc has sold certain parts of its composites business to Decoma Composites LLC in response to the severe downturn in the North American automotive industry.

Scott Bader increases prices of resins in Europe

Scott Bader is increasing the prices of Crystic® unsaturated polyester, DCPD and vinyl ester resins across all its European sites.

Surfboard uses nano-carbon/epoxy resin system Surfboard uses nano-carbon/epoxy resin system

Entropy Surfboards is producing a range of custom surfboards that use Amroy Europe’s Hybtonite® resin system in order to improve durability by a factor of between two and three while retaining the flex and feel of a traditional custom board. Hybtonite is an epoxy-based system that is reinforced with Bayer MaterialScience’s Baytubes® carbon nanotubes.

First epoxy ‘cast to size' tooling blocks First epoxy ‘cast to size' tooling blocks

Composite tooling specialist Ebalta has announced the availability of what is believed to be the first ‘cast to size’ epoxy tooling blocks.

Tods Defence wins contract for Spanish submarine sonar domes Tods Defence wins contract for Spanish submarine sonar domes

Tods Defence has been awarded a contract by the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia to supply the carbon composite, bow sonar domes for Spanish Navy’s new S80 submarines.

Composites Technology Research Malaysia expands manufacturing facility

Composites Technology Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd (CTRM) is expanding its manufacturing facility in Melaka, Malaysia, in anticipation of business growth.

AIAA names top ten emerging aerospace technologies of 2009

The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) has released its list of the top 10 emerging aerospace technologies.'Greener' aviation technologies and alternative fuels head the list; advanced materials such as composites are at 6th place.

Abahsain Fiberglass starts production in Bahrain Abahsain Fiberglass starts production in Bahrain

Abahsain Fiberglass Middle East has started production of ECR-glass fibre products at its new factory at the Bahrain International Investment Park.