News for September 2009

News Archive

Low emisson compound launched for automotive industry

Compounding specialist TechnoCompound of Bad Sobernheim, Germany has expanded its portfolio of TechnoFiber long glass fibre (LGF) reinforced polypropylene LH E-grades with low-odour and low-emission materials targeted at the automotive industry.

Fall in 2009 wind energy orders will affect 2010 revenues - Frost & Sullivan

The fall in orders for wind energy in 2009 will affect revenues in 2010, analyst Frost & Sullivan predicts.

First wind turbine for alpha ventus offshore wind farm installed First wind turbine for alpha ventus offshore wind farm installed

REpower Systems has erected the first of a total of 6 REpower 5M, 5 MW wind turbines for the alpha ventus offshore wind farm test field.

Phenolic prepregs go to war Phenolic prepregs go to war

In a project to improve the protection of UK armed forces serving in Afghanistan, phenolic prepreg materials from Advanced Composites Group (ACG) Ltd are being used to manufacture appliqué armour and spall liners for more than 100 military vehicles.

Natural Power and Risø DTU get Lidar measurements from wind turbine with ZephIR Natural Power and Risø DTU get Lidar measurements from wind turbine with ZephIR

Renewable energy consultancy, Natural Power, and the Danish national laboratory for sustainable energy, Risø DTU, have installed ZephIR in the rotating spinner of a Vestas NM80 wind turbine located at Tjæreborg Enge in western Denmark.

US construction spending expected to keep falling in 2010

Total construction spending in the USA on an annual basis is expected to fall 12% this year and 4% in 2010, according to IHS Global Insight.

ETI announces £5m to reduce cost of offshore wind energy

A £5 million project to develop and demonstrate a monitoring system that could reduce the cost of generating electricity from offshore wind farms in the UK, has been launched by the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI).

ACG adds to out of autoclave range

Advanced Composites Group (ACG) has added a new adhesive system and a surface improvement film to its range of out of autoclave products.

Powerboat demonstrates high level of performance Powerboat demonstrates high level of performance

SP, the marine business of Gurit, has supplied composite materials for the C-Boat superyacht tender, which was officially launched at Monaco Yacht Show last week.

Cured in place pipe aids restoration project Cured in place pipe aids restoration project

Underground pipe repair technology that uses ultraviolet (UV) light has helped preserve an historic home near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

US Departments Treasury, Energy surpass US$1bn milestone in Recovery Act awards for renewable energy projects.

At a White House meeting to discuss the American Recovery Act, US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu hosted a group of renewable energy developers and manufacturers, announcing US$550 million in new awards to these companies bringing the total amount to more than US$1bn awarded to date to companies investing in domestic renewable energy.

Superior Oil to distribute AOC’s products

AOC has appointed Superior Oil Company as distributor for its full product line, including unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, gel-coats and pigment dispersions.

Frost & Sullivan sees lucrative investment opportunities for wind industry in China

With the rapid decline of available credit and investor confidence, 2009 has not been the best year for the global wind power industry. However, the sector is presumed to pick up due to concerns for energy security and global warming and the growing demand for electricity in developing countries, according to Frost & Sullivan.

Reinforced thermoplastic used in Citroën biofuel engines Reinforced thermoplastic used in Citroën biofuel engines

Magneti Marelli has chosen a Rhodia glass fibre reinforced polyamide to produce the air intake manifold and the fuel rail of the Citroën C4 and the C5 2l biofuel car engines in Brazil.

Siemens introduces new and improved 3.6 MW wind turbine featuring a 120 m rotor diameter and 10% greater efficiency

Siemens has released a 3.6 MW wind turbine featuring a 120 m rotor diameter. The SWT-3.6-120 wind turbine is based on the SWT-3.6-107 offshore wind turbine. Siemens says it will generate roughly 10% more electricity at a typical offshore site compared to the SWT-3.6-107.

GE Energy expands in offshore wind sector with acquisition of ScanWind technology GE Energy expands in offshore wind sector with acquisition of ScanWind technology

GE has acquired ScanWind, a developer of both advanced drive train and control wind turbine technologies aimed at offshore deployment.

New record for free fall lifeboat New record for free fall lifeboat

Schat-Harding has set a new world record for a lifeboat free fall drop by launching its FF1200 model, which is built from sandwich composites, from a height of 55 m.

Rio Tinto to sell Alcan Composites to Schweiter Technologies

Rio Tinto has entered into an agreement to sell Alcan Composites, part of the Alcan Engineered Products division, to Schweiter Technologies AG for US$349 million.

AOC vinyl esters produced in Europe AOC vinyl esters produced in Europe

AOC's Vipel® vinyl ester resins are now available for shipment from manufacturing facilities in Europe.

Robotic testing reduces margin of error Robotic testing reduces margin of error

Advanced materials company Hexcel has purchased two robotic testing systems from Zwick Roell, in response to the growing demand for more extreme environmental testing.

Honeycomb materials aimed at wind energy market Honeycomb materials aimed at wind energy market

Wind energy applications are being targeted by honeycomb materials manufacturer nidaplast.

Boeing forecasts US$400 billion market for new aircraft in China

In its 2009 market update for commercial aircraft, Boeing forecasts a requirement for 3770 new aircraft for the China region over the next 20 years, valued at US$400 billion.

Composites One China becomes MVP distributor

Magnum Venus Plastech (MVP) has named Composites One China as its official distributor in China.

McLaren unveils new supercar McLaren unveils new supercar

McLaren Automotive has unveiled its new high performance sports car, the McLaren MP4-12C. The car is based around a carbon fibre composite chassis: the Carbon MonoCell.

Gamesa supplies 26 wind turbines to Spanish windfarms

Gamesa is supplying 26 of its G87, 2 MW wind turbines to ENEL Unión Fenosa Renovables (EUFER) for two windfarms in Spain.

Cytec Engineered Materials and Mitsubishi Rayon collaborate on aerospace applications

Cytec Engineered Materials (CEM) and Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd (MRC) have announced a strategic business collaboration to develop carbon fibre reinforced composites technology for the aerospace industry.

PPG increases prices for chopped strand fibre glass

PPG Industries’ fibre glass business has announced a price increase for all thermoplastic chopped strand and thermoset dry chopped strand products.

BP divests Indian wind power assets

BP is selling off its wind power interests in India for 4.622 billion Rupees (~US$95 million), but says it will continue to focus on wind in the USA.

The world’s biggest wind turbine blades could be made in the UK

UK Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband, has said the world’s biggest wind turbine blades will be made in the UK as he announced grants for three offshore wind energy companies.

China Composites Expo attracts over 8200 visitors

This year's China Composites Expo (CCE 2009), held in Shanghai on 2-4 September, attracted over 8249 visitors.

Adhesives win over industry conservatism Adhesives win over industry conservatism

UK firm Solomon has introduced structural bonding to the design of its refrigerated trucks, eliminating the use of mechanical fixings.

PNNL awarded US$6.8m for marine power studies

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will receive more than US$6.8 million over three years to advance the production of renewable power from marine and hydrokinetic projects.

Vestas launches V112, 3 MW offshore wind turbine

Vestas’ V112, 3 MW offshore wind turbine model is said to be optimised for the conditions at sea and “can generate more power than any other turbine in the 3 MW class.”

Processing equipment targets large scale applications Processing equipment targets large scale applications

A five-axis multi-processing system for the machining and finishing of large parts such as wind blades and boat hulls is being introduced by MAG.

Owens Corning converts Italian plant to Advantex glass fibre technology

Owens Corning's glass fibre reinforcement facility in Vado, Italy, has been converted to the company’s patented boron and fluorine-free Advantex® technology platform and will re-start operations during the fourth quarter.

MVP controls the heat MVP controls the heat

Magnum Venus Plastech (MVP) has developed a new system for the injection of single component resins.

Call for entries: Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy Call for entries: Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy

The organisers of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy is seeking entries from "inspirational and innovative" local sustainable energy programmes from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Lamborghini displays new car at COMPOSITES EUROPE Lamborghini displays new car at COMPOSITES EUROPE

Italian car maker Lamborghini will display its new Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce model at the COMPOSITES EUROPE trade fair in Stuttgart next month.

Mitsubishi and Peugeot Citroën join forces to develop European electric car Mitsubishi and Peugeot Citroën join forces to develop European electric car

Mitsubishi and Peugeot Citroën have signed an agreement in Paris to jointly develop an electric car for the European market.

Epoxy prepreg fuels urban car concept Epoxy prepreg fuels urban car concept

Futuristic automotive firm Riversimple has used epoxy prepregs from Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG) to form the body shell and bonnet of its new urban concept car.

TAI selects FiberSIM software for UAV project TAI selects FiberSIM software for UAV project

Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (TAI) has purchased VISTAGY’s FiberSIM® software to streamline the design-to-manufacturing process of complex composite parts for the Turkish Indigenous Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) – TIHA Programme.

Preview: Ernst & Young Global Renewable Energy Awards 2009

Organisers of the prominent global renewable energy awards report that nominations are reflecting the structural changes to clean energy markets…

Masdar Institute aims to lead the way in alternative energy research

Masdar Institute of Science and technology has welcomed its first intake of 92 graduate students, representing 22 different nations.

Zoltek and Global Blade Technology announce wind energy alliance

US-based carbon fibre supplier Zoltek and wind turbine blade designer Global Blade Technology (GBT) of the Netherlands are joining forces to promote the design and manufacture of turbine blades using Zoltek’s carbon fibres.

RTP adds bioplastics to its product range RTP adds bioplastics to its product range

Thermoplastic compounder RTP Company is introducing a line of bioplastic compounds that use resins derived from renewable resources.

E.ON Climate & Renewables completes 457 MW wind farm. E.ON Climate & Renewables completes 457 MW wind farm.

E.ON Climate and Renewables (EC&R) North America has confirmed the completion of its Panther Creek wind farm, one of the 10 largest in the USA.

Pressure indicating film for RTM Pressure indicating film for RTM

Sensor Products Inc says its Pressurex® pressure indicating film helps achieve uniform contact pressure more consistently in resin transfer moulding (RTM) operations.

UV curing prepregs pass fire tests UV curing prepregs pass fire tests

Australian Composites Pty Ltd has developed a range of ultraviolet (UV) curing prepregs which have passed fire tests required for interior parts of trains, buses and other public transportation.

DNV issues class notation for offshore wind turbine installation units DNV issues class notation for offshore wind turbine installation units

Risk management company Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is launching class notation for offshore wind turbine installation units based on DNV’s Offshore Service Specification DNV OSS-101 for drilling and production vessels used in the oil and gas industry.

Södra and Statkraft collaborate on renewable energy

Swedish forestry and timber product company Södra and Norwegian energy company Statkraft have signed a SEK 10 billion (~€1bn) agreement of intent on renewable energy.

Composite pipe aids city’s sewer expansion Composite pipe aids city’s sewer expansion

A project to expand the wastewater treatment facility in Denton, Texas, USA, is employing composite pipe in the manufacture of its sewer line.

Lectra and AB-Inventech cooperate on wind energy market

Lectra and AB-Inventech have signed a cooperation agreement to promote automated production solutions for the wind energy and aerospace markets.

ITW Plexus exhibits at Bondexpo

ITW Plexus is exhibiting its range of high performance methacrylate adhesives at Bondexpo in Stuttgart this month.

Zayed Future Energy Prize open for renewable energy nominations

The US$2.2 million Zayed Future Energy Prize awarded every year for innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and technologies is open for nominations until 16 October 2009.

Vestas receives order for 77 MW of wind turbines for Spain

Vestas has received an order for a total of 24m V90 2.0 MW wind turbines and 16 units of the V90 1.8 MW wind turbine for three projects in Spain.

Could a £3m wind turbine project in Oxford lead the way?

Oxford City Council – and former Renewable Energy Focus editor Paul Spencer - have revealed plans for a £3m wind turbine development on council land in the UK city, purportedly the first on council land anywhere in the UK.

AGY’s S-1 Glass rovings approved for turbine blades AGY’s S-1 Glass rovings approved for turbine blades

Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has approved AGY's S-1 Glass™ glass rovings for use in wind turbine blade applications.

Isomandrel technology alleviates need for cure ovens Isomandrel technology alleviates need for cure ovens

Canadian company Acrolab Ltd says its Isomandrel technology allows a quick and controlled cure of thermoset filament wound pipe sections without the need for cure ovens.

PPG introduces glass fibre roving for wind market

PPG Industries is introducing HYBON 2026 glass fibre roving for use in composite wind turbine blades and other applications.

UK government proposes faster grid access for renewable energy

UK Secretary of Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, has proposed to address the way power plants are connected to the UK’s power grid in the hope of getting new generation, including renewable energy, connected faster.

The US Treasury announces US$500m for clean and renewable energy projects

US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu have announced US$502 million in the first round of awards from an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act programme providing cash assistance to clean and renewable energy production companies in place of earned tax credits.

Poliya launches new website for composites Poliya launches new website for composites

Turkish polyester resin and gel-coat manufacturer Poliya has launched its new website.

Toho Tenax exhibits at China Composites Expo

Toho Tenax Co Ltd is exhibiting at China Composites Expo 2009 in Shanghai this week to support the expansion of its carbon fibre business in the Chinese market.

August's top 5 stories August's top 5 stories

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