News for January 2010

News Archive

Hexcel reports fourth quarter 2009 results

Hexcel Corporation reports net sales for the fourth quarter of 2009 of US$266.6 million, 7.9% lower than reported for the fourth quarter of 2008. Operating income was $14.5 million, compared to $29.3 million for the same quarter for 2008.

Spanish wind firm registers VCS wind park in USA

ACCIONA is the first company to register a wind energy facility in the USA under the requirements of the Voluntary Carbon Standard (VCS).

Polystrand introduces 'green series' reinforcements Polystrand introduces 'green series' reinforcements

Polystrand Inc has announced the release of its 'green series' reinforcing tape which uses recycled polyolefin as the matrix.

Energetx Composites and Aeroblade form strategic partnership

Energetx Composites and Aeroblade have entered into a licensing agreement to design and produce utility-scale wind turbine blades for the North America market.

AVK invites entries for 2010 Innovation Awards

The German Federation of Reinforced Plastics, AVK, is inviting entries for its annual innovation awards competition.

Anaglyph releases Laminate Tools V4.0 software Anaglyph releases Laminate Tools V4.0 software

Anaglyph has announced the release of version 4.0 of the Laminate Tools software application.

Composites One introduces Sika epoxy resins

Distributor Composites One has announced that it will introduce a new line of formulated epoxy resin products manufactured by SIKA Corporation into the US market.

Eastman introduces dual laser and blade cutting system

Eastman Machine Company is introducing a dual laser and blade cutting system for use by companies in the composites, aerospace, automotive, and industrial fabrics industries.

ENECON introduces composite pipe repair system

ENECON Corporation is introducing DuraWrap™, a carbon fibre composite wrap system for use in repairing metal and concrete pipes and tanks.

Huber highlights functional fillers at Composites 2010

Huber Engineered Materials engineers will present an educational session on fillers at the Composites 2010 show in Las Vegas next month.

Plugged-in vehicles could capture 20% of the market by 2030

Electric vehicles – plug-in hybrids and battery powered – will comprise nearly 20% of the global market for light vehicles in 2030, according to a study by automotive industry analysts at IHS Global Insight.

Composites One holds closed moulding demos at Composites 2010

Composites One, along with the Closed Mold Alliance and 10 industry partners, will host demonstrations of closed mould technology at the Composites 2010 tradeshow in Las Vegas next month.

Zyvax to hold 'Sustainability Summit' on eco-friendly mould release products

Mould release specialisst Zyvax is bringing its distributors together at a training event to highlight the latest environmentally friendly products, applications and market requirements.

Gurit grants Sprint technology and product license to Hexcel

Gurit has granted a non-exclusive license for its patented Sprint technology and products to Hexcel Corporation.

EPTA publishes programme for 10th World Pultrusion Conference

The European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA) has published the programme for its 10th World Pultrusion Conference, taking place on 8-9 April 2010 in Barcelona, Spain.

Last week's top 3 stories Last week's top 3 stories

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

UK Renewables offers help to composites companies

The UK government's UK Renewables Service is offering help to composites companies interested in becoming involved in the growing UK offshore wind energy sector.

Eastman exhibits at Composites 2010

Cutting systems manufacturer Eastman Machine Company will exhibit at the Composites 2010 exhibition in Las Vegas on 9-11 February.

SP-High Modulus contributes to Tour de France à la Voile design SP-High Modulus contributes to Tour de France à la Voile design

SP-High Modulus has announced that it will supply composite materials, engineering and expertise for the boat design selected for the Tour de France à la Voile race.

Composite window frames reduce heating bills Composite window frames reduce heating bills

A European project aims to develop a window frame constructed of composite that has twice the insulation efficiency of the best frames currently on the market.

European glass fibre manufacturers start anti-dumping procedure

In December, the Official Journal of the European Union published a notice of initiation of anti-dumping proceedings concerning imports of certain continuous filament glass fibre products from China. European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) believes that this action could lead to price increases in the composites industry.

UK and UAE to jointly research renewable energy

Britain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will jointly fund £1 million for research into renewable energy policy.

METYX Composites names Scott Bader distributor in France

METYX Composites has announced the signing of an agreement making Scott Bader the exclusive distributor of its products in France.

Eastern and Central Europe – a wealth of opportunities

Despite the global economic crisis, optimism remains for the future growth prospects of Eastern and Central Europe reports global engineering group Trelleborg.

TPI Composites tests composite military vehicle TPI Composites tests composite military vehicle

TPI Composites Inc has announced the successful durability and road testing of its All Composite Military Vehicle (ACMV).

US study shows that 20% from wind is possible by 2024

The integration of 20% from wind energy is technically feasible, but will require significant expansion of the transmission infrastructure and system operational changes in order for it to be realised, according to an analysis from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Scott Bader joins sustainable resources project Scott Bader joins sustainable resources project

Composite resin manufacturer Scott Bader has joined a UK sustainable resources project group which aims to identify new ways of manufacturing chemicals from alternative sustainable resources.

Carbon fibre recycling and reuse

The world’s first conference dedicated to carbon fibre recycling was held in November in Hamburg, Germany.

REpower supplies 20 wind turbines to Minnesota

REpower Systems AG will supply 20 REpower MM92 wind turbines to National Wind LLC, a large-scale community wind project developer, for the first phase of the Lake Country Wind Energy project in central Minnesota.

RES enters South African wind market with acquisition of 300 MW portfolio

RES has acquired a portfolio of wind power projects in South Africa totalling almost 300 MW.

Wind has potential to generate 12% of electricity by 2050, predicts IEA

Wind energy could supply 12% of the world’s power by the middle of this century, up from the current 2%, according to a 'Wind Energy Roadmap' to be published soon by the International Energy Agency (IEA).

Boeing 787 Dreamliner achieves initial airworthiness milestone Boeing 787 Dreamliner achieves initial airworthiness milestone

Boeing has completed initial airworthiness testing on its 787 Dreamliner aircraft. This will allow more aircraft to join the flight test programme.

European offshore wind power market up 54% in 2009

The European offshore wind power market grew 54% in 2009 according to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

Risø embeds smart sensor systems for offshore wind turbines

The embedded smart sensor systems will allow operators of offshore wind farms to check ‘the health’ of the wind turbines, while the operator is sitting onshore and while the wind turbine blades are spinning offshore, Denmark’s Risø DTU says.

Car makers look closer at carbon fibre Car makers look closer at carbon fibre

From city cars, to supercars and alternative energy vehicles, car makers are finding more applications for carbon fibre composite.

Last week's top 3 stories

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

TenCate receives 'significant' defence orders

TenCate says it has been granted significant orders for anti-ballistic composite materials.

MVP designs winding system for Delta Environmental Products MVP designs winding system for Delta Environmental Products

MVP has designed an automated vertical winding system to speed up production time for Delta Environmental Products.

Navimo appointed UK distributor for SP-High Modulus

SP-High Modulus, the marine business of Gurit, has appointed Navimo as a new distributor for the UK marine retail market.

Sika introduces epoxy resin for aviation market

Sika Deutschland GmbH is introducing a new composite resin system for the aviation market which has been been approved by the German Air Ministry for use in light aircraft, powered gliders and gliders.

Campion Marine selects Ashland bio-based resin for all new boats Campion Marine selects Ashland bio-based resin for all new boats

Canadian boat builder Campion Marine Inc has decided to manufacture all of its new boats with Envirez® bio-derived resin from Ashland Performance Materials.

CCP announces price increase

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

Natural Power launches forecasting for wind farms

Natural Power has launched a new product in its suite of wind farm monitoring and management tools: ForeSite.

ITW Plexus adhesives offer improved bonding for wind turbine blades ITW Plexus adhesives offer improved bonding for wind turbine blades

ITW Plexus reports it has developed long working time, fast-curing, 1:1 methacrylate structural adhesives which provide improved bonding in wind turbine blade applications.

Round 3 offshore wind announcement enables new UK industry – BWEA Round 3 offshore wind announcement enables new UK industry – BWEA

The British Wind Energy Association (BWEA) has called on the UK government to ensure that UK manufacturing benefits from the recently announced Round 3 offshore wind projects through support for skills and training, the identification of coastal manufacturing hubs and upgrades to the UK’s electricity grid.

Flow International announces aerospace orders

Waterjet machine manufacturer Flow International Corporation has received approximately US$11 million of orders for Composite Machining Center abrasive waterjet and routing machine tool systems. Most of the orders are from Airbus suppliers.

Vestas will deliver 80 MW of wind turbines to Germany

Vestas will deliver 40 of its V90 2 MW wind turbines to Nordwind Handels GmbH & Co KG for the eastern part of Germany.

Materials centre to increase wind turbine reliability

The Danish Council for Strategic Research’s Programme Commission on Energy and Environment has granted funding of DKK38 million for the establishment of the Danish Centre for Composite Structures and Materials (DCCSM), which will look into materials to increase wind turbine reliability.

AOC announces price increase for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean

AOC LLC has announced a price increase for Mexico, Latin American and the Caribbean for all resins and gel-coats.

Risø DTU: Smart wind turbines can predict the wind

Risø DTU has completed a successful test on a wind turbine with a laser-based anemometer built into the spinner in order to increase electricity generation.

Last week's top 3 stories

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

PPG's HYBON glass fibre certified for wind turbine applications

PPG Industries has announced the certification of its HYBON glass fibre roving products for wind turbine blades by Germanischer Lloyd (GL), an international certification body in the wind energy industry.

AOC announces price increase for Europe and Asia

AOC LLC has announced price increases for resins shipped from its European and Asia plants.

Renewable energy enjoys a 'significant comparative advantage' in Scotland

A study commissioned by the Scottish Government highlights Scotland's location, natural resources, research and manufacturing bases as key advantages for developing renewable energy resources.

Marine and hydrokinetic energy can play a “substantial role” in clean energy options

The marine energy industry is at a relatively early stage of development and maturity when compared to other renewable energy technologies, but the US Department of Energy (DoE) will help speed deployment of the technologies, according to testimony before a federal subcommittee.

Wind farm selected in first selection of clean energy projects

A wind farm in the Caribbean island of Dominica is one of the first three projects to receive US funding under the ‘Energy & Climate Partnership of the Americas’ announced by President Obama at the 2009 Summit of the Americas.

Scott Bader Europe increases prices

Scott Bader is increasing the prices from its European production sites of all Crystic® unsaturated polyester, DCPD and vinyl ester resins, plus all gel-coats, pigments, bonding pastes and Crystic Crestomer® structural adhesive products.

Reichhold announces price increase for Europe

Reichhold has announced a 150 Euro/tonne price increase on all of its composite products sold in Europe.

Forewind consortium to develop Dogger Bank Round 3 offshore wind farm zone

The Forewind consortium will develop the largest zone in Round 3 for UK offshore wind farms, Dogger Bank.

Siemens Project Ventures and Mainstream Renewable Power to develop 4 GW of Round 3 offshore wind

The SMart Wind consortium, led by Mainstream Renewable Power and Siemens Project Ventures (SPV), a division company of Siemens Financial Services, will develop 4 GW of offshore wind farms by 2020 as part of The Crown Estate’s Round 3 offshore wind farm programme.

SSE part of two consortia developing Round 3 offshore wind farm sites

Two consortia, of which Scottish and Southern Energy Plc (SSE) is a partner, have been awarded development partner status by The Crown Estate in Round 3 of its UK offshore wind farm development programme.

RWE npower renewables to develop Bristol Channel Round 3 offshore wind zone

RWE npower renewables has been awarded the Bristol Channel Zone, off the South Wales and North Devon coasts, UK, under The Crown Estate’s Round 3 offshore wind farm development.

VISTAGY partners with US aerospace institute

VISTAGY Inc, developer of the FiberSIM composites engineering software, has announced a partnership with the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University, one of the leading aerospace research institutions in the USA.

EDP Renováveis and SeaEnergy get 1.3 GW Moray Firth Round 3 offshore wind site

EDP Renováveis (EDPR) and SeaEnergy Plc have been awarded the right to develop offshore wind farms in the Moray Firth, Scotland, with an approximate installed capacity of 1.3 GW, as part of the UK Round 3 awards.

Gurit to temporarily adjust staffing levels in Canadian foam production

Composite materials developer Gurit is temporarily reducing the work force of its structural foam plant in Magog, Canada, by 125 people.

UK's offshore wind Round 3 winning consortia announced UK's offshore wind Round 3 winning consortia announced

The UK's Crown Estate has announced the successful bidders for the exclusive Round 3 "Zone Development Agreements", which will take the development of up to 32GW of offshore wind farms through the consenting phase.

Russian shipbuilder buys FiberSIM composite design software

Russian shipbuilder SNSP has purchased Vistagy Inc's FiberSIM® composites engineering software to design and manufacture composite hulls, hull spars and supports for minesweepers.

Nine EU Governments take first steps towards a Northern European Supergrid.

The siging of a political declaration in early December last year will see the countries cooperate on the development of a North Sea supergrid joining up clean energy projects scattered in and around the North Sea.

Windtec and Dongfang to cooperate on 5MW offshore turbine

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC)'s wholly-owned AMSC Windtec subsidiary has signed a follow-on contract with China's Dongfang Turbine Co. Ltd. to design and jointly develop 5 MW full conversion wind turbines for the offshore wind power market.

AOC announces price increase for North America

AOC has announced a price increase for the USA and Canada for all resins and gel-coats.

Ashland announces price increase for Europe

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

Europe launches ELENA facility to support renewable energy projects

The European Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) have launched an initiative to help regional authorities invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency initiatives.

IHS Global Insight publishes economic predictions for 2010

Forecasting company IHS Global Insight has issued its top 10 economic predictions for 2010.

METYX Composites invests in RTM technology METYX Composites invests in RTM technology

METYX Composites of Turkey has strengthened its expertise in the resin transfer moulding (RTM) sector with the addition of two new production lines.

ZCL Composites acquires Dualam Plastics

Canadian storage tank manufacturer ZCL Composites Inc has acquired Dualam Plastics Inc of Montreal, Quebec, a specialist in composite products for use in corrosion-resistant applications.

California processing 244 proposals for renewable energy facilities

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger says the projects represent 70,000 MW of capacity that will help the state meet its 2020 goal of one-third of power from renewables.

The top 10 composites stories of 2009 The top 10 composites stories of 2009

The following stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website during 2009.

Britain generates 39% more electricity from wind turbines

The United Kingdom generated 5.5 TWh of electricity from renewable energy in the third quarter (Q3) of 2009, an increase of 25% compared with Q3 2008.

December's top stories

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

Vestas to deliver 96 MW of wind turbines to Poland

Vestas will provide 48 of its V90 2.0 MW wind turbines to the German company Prokon, for different locations in Poland.

HAPPY NEW YEAR HAPPY NEW YEAR

The Reinforced Plastics team would like to wish you a Happy New Year!