News for August 2011

News Archive

GE to develop 15 MW wind turbine?

GE Global Research is looking into wind turbine generators in the 10-15 MW range using MRI technology under a two-year, US$3 million project from the US Department of Energy (DoE).

Brunswick sells Sealine to investment group

US headquartered Brunswick Corporation has sold its Sealine brand of boats, based in Kidderminster, UK, to The Oxford Investment Group.

Scott Bader Europe increases prices of gel-coats and pigments

Bader is increasing the prices for its range of Crystic® gel-coats and pigments.

ATK opens Aircraft Commercial Centre of Excellence ATK opens Aircraft Commercial Centre of Excellence

Alliant Techsystems has officially opened its new Aircraft Commercial Centre of Excellence (ACCE) in Clearfield, Utah, USA, which will support high rate composites manufacturing.

Interplastic announces price increase for gel-coats

Interplastic Corporation’s Thermoset Resins Division is raising the price of its CoREZYN® gel-coats and certain polyester colorants.

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.

Iberdrola begins installation of 400 MW offshore wind farm

Iberdrola Renewables has begun the installation process of the 400 MW Wikinger offshore wind farm off the German coast of the Baltic Sea.

Gurit secures automotive standard

Gurit, which manufactures carbon composite body panels for the automotive industry at a facility on the Isle of Wight, UK, has secured Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance approval for the ISO / TS 16949: 2009 automotive standard.

US: 24 governors wants Obama to focus on wind energy

A coalition of 24 governors from both major parties and each region of the USA wants President Obama to provide better conditions for wind power developments.

DTE Energy buys 120 MW of wind power

DTE Energy has signed a contract to purchase 120 MW from a wind farm in Tuscola, Bay and Saginaw counties, MI, USA.

UN prioritises clean and renewable energy

Providing renewable energy to the 1.4 billion people living without electricity is the No. 1 priority of the United Nations, says UN's Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

UK wind generation up 131.1% in Q2 2011

UK wind generation more than doubled in the second quarter (Q2) of 2011, rising 131.1%, compared to the same period last year.

Neptune plans 500 MW offshore wind farm in the US

Neptune Wind LLC is planning a 500 MW offshore wind farm between Massachusetts and Rhode Island, USA.

Quickstep on track with new aerospace facility

Australian advanced materials company Quickstep Holdings Ltd has provided an update on its relocation to a new aerospace manufacturing facility in south-west Sydney, New South Wales.

Giant 10 MW Britannia wind turbine scrapped

Clipper Wind Power has scrapped the 10 MW Britannia wind turbine project for the UK Round 3 offshore wind development.

EHA Spezialmaschinenbau GmbH changes name

EHA, a German manufacturer of filament winding machinery and other production equipment, has changed its name to EHA Composite Machinery GmbH.

Core Molding Technologies launches new business

Core Molding Technologies Inc, a US moulder of glass reinforced plastics and compounder of sheet moulding compound (SMC), has established a new subsidiary and manufacturing site to support a new business venture outside its traditional heavy truck market.

Statkraft to build Stamåsen 1 wind farm in Sweden

Statkraft will build the 60 MW Stamåsen 1 wind farm in Sweden in addition to another wind farm already under construction in Central Sweden.

ACG focuses on aerospace and rail applications at China Composites Expo 2011 ACG focuses on aerospace and rail applications at China Composites Expo 2011

Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG), sister company Richmond Aerovac and partner company Shanghai Leadgo-Tech Ltd will be exhibiting at the China Composites Expo in September.

GRPMS announces distribution agreement with Aerovac Systems

GRPMS and Aerovac Systems, both subsidiaries of Umeco plc, have entered into a non-exclusive agreement for GRPMS to distribute the Aerovac product range in Sweden, Norway and Finland.

Ashland focuses on sustainability at China Composites Expo 2011

Ashland Performance Materials will feature its portfolio of products for a sustainable economy at the China Composites Expo in Shanghai in September.

Composite Horizons wins contracts for Avenger UAS Composite Horizons wins contracts for Avenger UAS

Composites Horizons Inc (CHI) has been chosen by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) to produce a second exhaust duct for the company's Predator® C Avenger™ unmanned aircraft system (UAS).

Italy overtakes Germany as world's largest solar PV market Italy overtakes Germany as world's largest solar PV market

Italy could overtake Germany as the world's largest solar photovoltaic (PV) market, according to analyst SolarPlaza.

Last week's top 3 stories

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

3M introduces 'instant grab' structural adhesive 3M introduces 'instant grab' structural adhesive

3M has launched a two-part hybrid structural adhesive which it says can save time when bonding bigHead and other fasteners.

Atlantis deploys 1 MW tidal turbine at EMEC in Orkney

Atlantis Resources Corporation has connected its 1 MW AR1000 tidal turbine to the grid at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) in Orkney, UK.

Lincoln Composites wins €3.2m contracts for Vietnam Lincoln Composites wins €3.2m contracts for Vietnam

Lincoln Composites has signed contracts with two Vietnamese companies for the supply of high-pressure composite tanks and storage modules. The contracts worth a total of around €3.2 million.

Boeing projects $110b commercial aircraft market in Russia and CIS

Boeing forecasts that air carriers in Russia and CIS will take delivery of 1080 new aircraft over the next 20 years at an investment of US$110 billion.

E.ON orders 202 MW of wind turbines from Vestas

E.ON Climate & Renewables North America has ordered 112 units of Vestas’ V100 1.8 MW wind turbines, totalling 202 MW, for a project in the US.

Composites Skills Alliance signs up training providers

The UK's Composites Skills Alliance has signed up the first of its training providers to deliver accredited composites training across the UK.

Vectorply introduces lightest carbon fabric

Vectorply is adding the C-BX 0300 multiaxial carbon fibre fabric to its VectraUltra line of reinforcements.

DSM composite materials used in Indian school DSM composite materials used in Indian school

DSM reports that is composite materials have been used to build a school in India.

AOC increases prices of gel-coats and pigments

AOC LLC has announced a price increase on selected gel-coats and liquid pigment dispersions.

Zoltek receives DOE award for low cost carbon fibre development

Zoltek Companies Inc has been notified by the US Department of Energy / National Energy Technology Laboratory (DOE / NETL) that it has been selected for negotiations leading to a US$3.7 million financial assistance award.

US spends $175 million on advanced vehicle R&D

The US Department of Energy has announced more than US$175 million over the next 3-5 years to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies. The funding will support innovations throughout the vehicle, including lightweight materials.

Last week's top 3 stories

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

STRUCTeam to engineer new Wally Cento yacht

STRUCTeam Ltd has won a contract to engineer the first example of a new class of sailing yacht being built to the Wally Cento 'box' rule. The 100 ft (30 m) composite yacht is currently being built by Green Marine in the UK.

Huntsman helps Carbon Innovation manufacture CODE8 yacht Huntsman helps Carbon Innovation manufacture CODE8 yacht

Tooling and production materials from Huntsman Advanced Materials have been selected to construct a new One Design carbon composite racing yacht,CODE8, manufactured by by Carbon Innovation Ltd.

US clean energy investment strong in Q2

Solar thermal projects in the US have attracted billions of dollars in the second quarter of 2011.

Permabond launches high temperature epoxy adhesive Permabond launches high temperature epoxy adhesive

Permabond Engineering Adhesives Ltd is adding a high temperature resistant structural epoxy adhesive to its range.

First A350 XWB centre wing box delivered First A350 XWB centre wing box delivered

The first Airbus A350 XWB centre wing box, which is made from 40% carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP), has been delivered to Airbus’ facility in St Nazaire, France, where it will be assembled into the first A350 XWB aircraft fuselage.

Owens Corning delivers strong 2011 second quarter

Owens Corning reports consolidated net sales of US$1.5 billion in the second quarter of 2011, an increase of 5% on the second quarter of 2010.

Zoltek reports third quarter results

Carbon fibre manufacturer Zoltek reports net sales of US$38.6 million for the quarter ended 30 June 2011, the third quarter of its 2011 fiscal year. This was 9.1% down on the third quarter of fiscal 2010.

US wind power capacity grows 72% in H2

The second quarter of 2011 has seen healthy growth in installed wind power capacity in the US.

Survey reveals 44% of composite engineering firms lack manufacturing expertise

According to software provider VISTAGY Inc, only 56% of the composite design companies completing its survey considered themselves knowledgeable in composites manufacturing practices and applied that knowledge during design.

WindMW completes financing for German offshore wind farm

The 288MW offshore wind farm Meerwind off the coast of Germany is expected to be completed by 2013.

Seminar showcases composites technologies for earthquake zones

The Composites Association of New Zealand (CANZ) is sponsoring a seminar showcasing composites technologies which can help rebuild cities following earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Jet Edge exhibits waterjet systems at China event

US waterjet systems manufacturer Jet Edge Inc is exhibiting at the 2nd Annual China Aircraft Development Summit in September.

First COMPOSITES CHINA takes place

COMPOSITES CHINA, the 1st Chinese Trade Fair & Forum for Composites, Technology and Applications, opened its doors on 13-15 July in Shanghai.

Umeco makes German composites acquisition

Umeco plc's German subsidiary Umeco Composites GmbH has purchased certain assets of Fenotec Ges.i.L from the administrator for the cash sum of €2.2 million.

The Windquest Group invests in Energetx Composites

The Windquest Group, a US private investment group, has made an investment in Energetx Composites of Holland, Michigan. The proceeds of the investment will be used to continue the scale-up of Energetx Composites’ manufacturing equipment for the production of utility scale wind turbine blades.

Boeing unveils first 787 Dreamliner that will enter service Boeing unveils first 787 Dreamliner that will enter service

The first Boeing 787 Dreamliner that will enter into service has been unveiled. The aircraft bears the livery of launch customer ANA.

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.

Nuna 6 solar car prepares for World Solar Challenge race Nuna 6 solar car prepares for World Solar Challenge race

The bodywork of the Nuna 6 solar powered car designed by the Nuon Solar Team of Delft University, the Netherlands, consists of a composite sandwich structure based on ROHACELL® structural foam core material.

GE and Wind Capital make 350 MW wind turbine deal

228 GE wind turbines will be sent to Wind Capital Group projects in Oklahoma and Kansas.

COMPOSITES EUROPE 2011 offers comprehensive supporting programme COMPOSITES EUROPE 2011 offers comprehensive supporting programme

From the International AVK Conference, to the Composites Forum and Product Demonstration Area, the COMPOSITES EUROPE 2011 trade show in Stuttgart this September offers visitors a comprehensive supporting programme.

EU wind power expected to triple by 2020

Wind power capacity will increase but EU member states will have vastly different growth rates, according to the EWEA.

Kemrock launches industrial grade carbon fibre

Indian company Kemrock Industries and Exports Ltd launched a range of carbon fibre products for industrial applications under the brand name JAITEC.

DoE invests $50m in Domestic Solar Market

The SUNPATH programme aims to help the US gain a competitive edge in solar manufacturing.

Web Industries launches composites automation centre

Web Industries' new Composites Automation Development Center in the Atlanta, Georgia, will help the company's customers to test new carbon fibre composite materials for qualification and use in the automated fibre placement manufacturing process.

Composite sphere tops Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs building Composite sphere tops Turkmenistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs building

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan's new building features a spherical composite conference room developed using structural engineering expertise from Gurit.

LAMILUX develops carbon composite sheet for automotive applications LAMILUX develops carbon composite sheet for automotive applications

LAMILUX has announced that it can manufacture carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) sheets in widths up to 3.2 m in a continuous production process.

Gamesa posts €1,297m revenue for 1H 2011

The wind turbine manufacturer credits internationalisation and efficiency for increases in its income and revenue.

South Africa launches renewable energy programme

South Africa’s news 20-year plan calls for 42% of new energy generation capacity to come from renewable sources.

Australian solar research gets AUS$3.5m boost

The grant will allow a team of researchers in Victoria to continue the development of plastic solar cells.

Barrday Composite Solutions to display new products at Aircraft Interiors Expo Barrday Composite Solutions to display new products at Aircraft Interiors Expo

Barrday Composite Solutions will display its aircraft interior prepreg products and adhesives at the Aircraft Interiors Expo in Seattle, Washington, next month.

Brunswick to build boats in Brazil

Brunswick Corporation has announced that it will establish a manufacturing plant in Brazil to produce boats for Brazil and the surrounding region.

Vattenfall completes Ormonde offshore wind farm

The final wind turbine has been installed on Vattenfall’s offshore wind farm in Barrow off the coast of North-West England.

New European anti-dumping procedure on glass fibre fabrics from China

The Official Journal of the European Union has published a notice of initiation of anti-dumping proceedings concerning certain woven and/or stitched glass fibre fabrics originating in China.

Last month's top stories Last month's top stories

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

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.