News for August 2009

News Archive

Preview - COMPOSITES EUROPE 2009 Preview - COMPOSITES EUROPE 2009

A preview of the COMPOSITE EUROPE 2009 exhibition will be published in the October issue of Reinforced Plastics magazine.

Terra Firma confirms US$350 million acquisition of Everpower

Private equity firm Terra Firma has announced its planned acquisition of US wind energy developer Everpower Wind Holdings.

China to add 358 000 MW of FGD by 2020

The installed capacity of flue gas desulphurisation (FGD) systems in China will rise from 365 000 MW this year to 723 000 MW in 2020, according to the latest forecast from the McIlvaine Company.

Reinforced Plastics now on Twitter Reinforced Plastics now on Twitter

Reinforced Plastics is now posting composites industry news and comment on the Twitter networking site.

Boeing expects 787 first flight by end of 2009

Boeing has announced that it expects the first flight of the 787 Dreamliner aircraft to take place by the end of 2009. First delivery is expected in the fourth quarter of 2010.

DoE to invest nearly US$300m in clean vehicles initiatives

The US Department of Energy (DoE) is investing nearly US$300 million in its Clean Cities Grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to support clean fuels, vehicles and infrastructure development.

Ashland increases resin prices in Europe

Ashland Performance Materials is increasing the price of its unsaturated polyester resins and gel-coats produced and sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

Cyprus windfarm closes financing deals

A Cyprus windfarm has reached a €170 million financial close and construction is already underway.

Europe falls behind North America on clean energy investment

Europe has fallen drastically behind North America on investment levels into the clean energy sector since 2003, the UK Carbon Trust says in its report Investment Trends in European and North American Clean Energy 2003 to 2008 – The Rise and Fall of Clean Energy Investment, carried out by analyst New Energy Finance.

3B highlights glass fibre products at China Composites Expo

Glass fibre reinforcements manufacturer 3B is exhibiting at the China Composites Expo for the first time this year, reflecting the company's plans to expand beyond its core European market.

Intertape Polymer Group develops products for renewable energy market

Intertape Polymer Group (IPG) has announced plans to develop further products designed for the wind, solar, geothermal and biofuel generation markets.

UK invests more in coal than in marine renewables

The UK government has spent 20 times more on subsidising the coal industry than on investment in marine renewable energy, says UK main opposition party, the Conservatives.

Vestas’ profit down 34% in Q2

Danish wind turbine producer Vestas has reported a 34% fall in profit after tax to €43 million in the second quarter (Q2) of 2009.

Siemens opens wind training centre in Germany

Siemens has opened a wind power training centre in Bremen, Germany, for customer personnel and wind turbine service technicians.

Cray Valley increases resin prices in Europe

Cray Valley has announced a price increase for unsaturated polyester resins sold to the composites industry in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.

Nordex USA completes its largest US windfarm to date

Nordex USA has completed its largest American wind project to date, the 25 wind turbines Highland windfarm, for EverPower Wind Holdings, connecting 62.5 MW of wind power to the grid in Pennsylvania.

CTS offers green technology to composites industry CTS offers green technology to composites industry

Composite Technical Services Inc (CTS) has established manufacturing and R & D operations in Dayton, Ohio, USA, to provide 'green' products for the composites and plastics industries. The company also offers composite cylinders for gas storage.

Australia passes 20% renewables by 2020 bill

Australia has passed a bill targeting 20% of stationary energy to come from renewables by 2020.

DoE awards over US$119m for energy efficiency and renewable energy programmes

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has allocated over US$119 million in funding from the American Recovery and Investment Act to support energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in seven states and territories in the USA.

Vestas closes wind turbine blade factory on Isle of Wight, UK

Vestas, the leading wind energy technology business, has confirmed that it will cease wind turbine blade production activities at the company's UK sites on the Isle of Wight and in Southampton, resulting in 425 employees being dismissed.

Suzlon enters Bulgarian wind market

Indian wind turbine manufacturer Suzlon Energy Ltd has signed an agreement with Technomash Bulgarian Industrial Group to deliver six Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines to a windfarm in the Varna region in Bulgaria.

Reichhold names Whitaker Oil as distributor for composite resins

Reichhold Inc has appointed Whitaker Oil as an authorised distributor for its composite resins in the Southeastern USA.

Paper identifies R&D requirements for expansion of renewable energy

The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) and the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) have collaborated to identify research, development, demonstration and deployment (RDD&D) requirements that would enable broad expansion of renewable energy.

Renault takes pole position with FiberSIM diffuser Renault takes pole position with FiberSIM diffuser

Using FiberSIM composites software from Vistagy Inc, the ING Renault Formula One (F1) Team dramatically cut the design and manufacture time of the composite double diffuser for its R29 race car by 50%.

Glass reinforcement offers increased corrosion resistance

A high strength E-glass fibre reinforcement has been developed by Jushi Group and Gibson Fiberglass, aimed at composite applications requiring increased corrosion resistance.

UK government invests £340m in Airbus A350 XWB

The UK government has agreed to support Airbus with up to £340 million repayable launch investment for the development of the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft.

CCP announces price increase for composite products

Cook Composites and Polymers (CCP) has announced a price increase for its unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, and gel-coats.

DSM Composite Resins increases prices

DSM Composite Resins has announced a price increase for its entire range of resins in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

DONG Energy targets more wind farms in Norway

DONG Energy is to build and run the Norwegian onshore wind farm Nygårdsfjell 2 in the Narvik municipality in Northern Norway.

Hexion to increase prices of composite resins in North America

Hexion Specialty Chemicals has announced a price increase for its unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resin systems in North America.

Huber launches optimised ATH for pultrusion applications Huber launches optimised ATH for pultrusion applications

Huber Engineered Materials (HEM) is introducing an alumina trihydrate (ATH) flame retardant (FR) product optimised for pultrusion and wet-mat based applications.

Vestas receives order for 111 MW in Australia

Vestas has received an order for 37 units of its V90-3.0 MW wind turbine, for a wind farm project in South Australia.

Interplastic announces price increase

Interplastic Corporation’s Thermoset Resins Division is raising the price of its CoREZYN® and Silmar® brand products, including its vinyl ester and polyester resins and gel-coats.

Ahlstrom to reduce staffing levels at Karhula, Finland, plant

Following personnel negotiations started in June, Ahlstrom has decided on temporary layoffs of staff at its Karhula plant in Finland. These are to adapt production volumes of speciality reinforcements and glass fibre tissue to match demand.

Reichhold increases resin prices in North America

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

ACG launches high temperature prepreg for motorsport applications

Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG) is introducing an epoxy resin matrix prepreg designed to offer the high levels of temperature resistance demanded by the motorsport industry.

New tidal flume available in UK for offshore testing

A combined wave and tidal flume at the UK's University of Manchester can now be hired by engineering companies and consultancies looking to conduct physical tests of nearshore structures or renewable energy devices.

UK Crown Estate offers area extensions to Round 1 & 2 offshore windfarms

The UK Crown Estate plans to offer Round 1 and 2 offshore windfarm operators with offshore wind projects in operation, under construction or awaiting construction, the opportunity to apply for area extensions.

AOC announces price increase for USA and Canada

Resin supplier AOC LLC will increase prices on all products in the USA and Canada on 31 August.

Zyvex Performance Materials announces agreement with Toho Tenax America Zyvex Performance Materials announces agreement with Toho Tenax America

Zyvex Performance Materials (ZPM) has announced that Toho Tenax America’s Tenax® carbon fibre will be used in the construction of its 540SE technology demonstrator boat.

F&S: South Africa set for "flood" of renewables projects

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan talks up the prospects for renewable energy in South Africa

AMSC increases wind turbine component shipments to meet Chinese demand

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has amended its contract with Beijing-based Sinovel Wind Corporation, China’s largest wind turbine manufacturer, to enable Sinovel to meet increased demand in China for its 1.5 MW wind turbines.

Garrad Hassan set to merge with Germanischer Lloyd Garrad Hassan set to merge with Germanischer Lloyd

The companies will provide consulting, engineering, turbine design, certification, measurement, project management, strategic advice, inspection services and software products for renewable energies.

Owens Corning reports second quarter 2009 results

Owens Corning reports consolidated net sales of US$1.2 billion for the second quarter of 2009, compared with $1.6 billion in the second quarter of 2008.

Banks team up for £1bn of loans for wind power

Three UK-based banks are working with the European Investment Bank (EIB) on a programme to lend up to £1 billion to onshore windfarms over the next 3 years, the UK Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced.

AGY introduces rovings for LFT applications AGY introduces rovings for LFT applications

AGY is introducing S-1 Glass™ high performance glass rovings for use in long fibre reinforced thermoplastics (LFT).

Introducing Verantis

Verantis Corporation, successor in interest to Ceilcote Air Pollution Control, has announced the rebranding of Ceilcote’s pollution control products and services, including its corrosion resistant fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) fans and scrubber systems.

DSM reports 2009 second quarter results

DSM's net sales for the 2009 second quarter were down 20% compared to the same quarter of 2008, but were up 7% compared to the 2009 first quarter.

DIAB doubles core finishing capacity in China

Core materials manufacturer DIAB has expanded capacity at its operation in Kunshan (Shanghai), China, to meet increasing demand for its products in Asia.

UK Wave Hub project is closer to installation and commissioning

The UK wave energy project, Wave Hub, has placed a £1 million contract for electrical equipment installation and commissioning to link the wave energy project to the National Grid.

‘Spring loaded’ pipe lining system ‘Spring loaded’ pipe lining system

US company QuakeWrap Inc has developed a novel (patent-pending) fibre reinforced plastic (FRP), pipe lining system called PipeMedic™.

AOC announces price increase for Latin America

AOC LLC has announced a price increase on all resins, gel-coats, pigments, colorants and additive shipments for Latin America.

Miliband responds to Vestas critics

UK energy and climate change secretary says he's done all he can for Vestas workers.

Isle of Wight council to block wind turbines

Despite denouncing the closure of Vestas' Isle of Wight blade facility, it has emerged that the conservative-led council has a history of blocking wind farm projects on the island.

Ashland increases resin and gel-coat prices in India

Ashland Performance Materials is increasing the prices of its unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and gel-coats produced and sold in India.

JEC announces Innovation Award winners for Asia

JEC Composites has named the winners of the JEC Asia Innovation Awards Programme 2009.

July's top 5 stories July's top 5 stories

The following five stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website during the month of July.

Reinforced Plastics 2010 features programme Reinforced Plastics 2010 features programme

Reinforced Plastics magazine has published its editorial features programme and event distribution list for next year. (Deadlines available on request.)

South America set for growth

With its large domestic market, strong economic growth, considerable oil reserves and the major manufacturing base of industrial powerhouse Brazil, South America is a region with considerable business potential, says Trelleborg.