News for March 2012

News Archive

COMPOSITES EUROPE and ACMA strengthen partnership COMPOSITES EUROPE and ACMA strengthen partnership

The COMPOSITES EUROPE trade show and the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) are strengthening their partnership with the aim of advancing the exchange of information between the European and US markets.

TenCate acquires PMC Baycomp

TenCate has reached an agreement for the acquisition of Performance Materials Corporation Baycomp, a US company specialising in thermoplastic composites technology.

Quickstep completes first production parts for JSF

Quickstep Holdings Ltd of Australia has completed the first production parts for the international F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme under a purchase order secured in July 2011.

Japan's new feed-in tariff is attractive for solar and wind

The new feed-in tariff scheme in Japan offers attractive returns for both solar and wind power projects, according to analyst Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

Suzlon and CGN Wind Energy co-develop 800 MW of wind projects

Suzlon Group has signed a global strategic partnership agreement with China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group's subsidiary, CGN Wind Energy Co Ltd, to develop 800 MW of wind projects worldwide.

Zoltek and Magna join forces on automotive SMC

Carbon fibre producer Zoltek Companies Inc and automotive supplier Magna Exteriors and Interiors have agreed an exclusive global collaborative partnership to develop low-cost carbon fibre sheet moulding compound (SMC) for the automotive industry.

Green Marine creates Green Composites division Green Marine creates Green Composites division

Green Composites, a newly-created division of Green Marine Ltd, will focus on large composites projects.

ASTM composites committee elects chairman

ASTM International Committee D30 on Composite Materials has named Adam Sawicki, technical fellow at the Boeing Company, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, as chairman.

Global wind turbine market competition intensifies

The global wind turbine market is seeing fierce competition, especially in China, according to MAKE Consulting's 2012 Global Wind Turbine Market Share report.

PlastiComp unveils tough thermoplastic composites

PlastiComp Inc has developed polyamide composite materials that exhibit up to twice as much resistance to impact forces as standard materials.

Walk-in composites curing oven from Grieve Walk-in composites curing oven from Grieve

Grieve's No. 850 walk-in oven is currently being used for curing composite parts at a customer facility.

Wind turbine protective coatings recognised by Frost & Sullivan Award

Hempel has won the 2011 Frost & Sullivan Product Line Strategy Award for its accomplishments in the wind turbine protective coatings market.

Poliya starts resin and gel-coat production in Italy

Poliya, Turkey, has signed a strategic partnership and manufacturing agreement with Novaresine, Italy, under which Novaresine will produce Poliya brand products in Northern Italy production plants which were previously operated by Hexion Specialty Chemicals.

Ashland highlights cobalt curing concerns

Ashland Performance Materials will discuss the issues surrounding the use of cobalt in the room-temperature curing of unsaturated polyester resins at the JEC Europe show this week.

Composite panels for luxury UAE hotel Composite panels for luxury UAE hotel

The Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Gateway Tower, 150 km east of Dubai, UAE, will be clad with composite panels manufactured by Premier Composite Technologies.

Integran launches Intebond adhesion technology

Integran Technologies Inc is introducing its Intebond™ adhesion technology, which is designed to enable the creation of high performance metal-polymer hybrid materials.

Gamesa eyes Scotland for offshore wind manufacturing base

Gamesa is in talks with the Port of Leith, Scotland, for its offshore wind manufacturing base – including blade and nacelle plants, port logistics and O&M services.

METYX Composites invests in kitting METYX Composites invests in kitting

METYX Composites has announced a major investment in the core material and fabric kitting business with the creation of the METYX Composites Kitting Center (MCKC) at its new manufacturing centre in Manisa, Turkey.

Hexcel and Web Industries join forces in Europe

Hexcel Corporation and Web Industries have signed a long-term supply agreement under which Web will convert Hexcel's HexPly® carbon fibre prepreg into slit tape for aerospace programmes, including the Airbus A350 XWB.

Reichhold announces price increase for Europe

Reichhold has announced a price increase for all composites products in Europe.

Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute launched

A dedication ceremony to formally launch the Philadelphia University MAG Composites Institute took place this week.

LM 73.5 m blades flying on 6 MW offshore wind turbine LM 73.5 m blades flying on 6 MW offshore wind turbine

LM Wind Power’s 73.5 m blades became the first blades of over 70 m to be installed when Alstom inaugurated its 6 MW Haliade 150 offshore wind turbine in the world last month at Carnet in the Loire-Atlantique region of France.

TPI Composites and ALKE launch wind blade joint venture in Turkey

TPI Composites Inc, a US headquartered supplier of wind turbine blades, and Turkish engineering, manufacturing and construction company ALKE INSAAT have formed a joint venture company in Turkey to manufacture large composite wind turbine blades.

Teijin opens US carbon fibre composites centre

The Teijin Composites Application Center (TCAC), which will develop applications for carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites, will open in Auburn Hills, Michigan, next month.

AVK invites entries for Innovation Awards

The AVK (Federation of Reinforced Plastics), Germany, is inviting companies to submit entries for its 2012 Innovation Awards.

CREACOMP PT composite materials for pumps CREACOMP PT composite materials for pumps

CREATEC GmbH & Co KG has developed a set of CREACOMP PT composite materials combining VICTREX® PEEK polymer with carbon fibre for use in wear resistant pump parts.

Construction sector drives growth in wood plastic composites

The market for wood plastic composites (WPC) in Europe will reach almost 360 000 tonnes by 2015, an annual growth of 13%, according to a report from the Hackwell Group.

Honda Racing chooses Amber Composites prepreg Honda Racing chooses Amber Composites prepreg

Amber Composites has been chosen as prepreg provider for the 2012 Honda Yuasa Racing Team's British Touring Car Championships (BTCC) car.

BioMobile.ch features bio-composite body BioMobile.ch features bio-composite body

The latest version of the BioMobile.ch has a body frame made of bio-composites based on banana fibre, Greenlite® renewable reinforcements from Porcher Industries, and a resin derived from pine wood.

UK: Onshore wind only cost households £4.68 last year

Onshore wind power in the UK only added £4.68 to householders' annual energy bill last year, according to Ofgem's Renewables Obligation (RO) annual report for 2010/11.

GASTANK Sweden unveils zero permeation composite CNG cylinders

GASTANK Sweden AB is now offering zero permeation composite compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinders made using HiPer-tex™ glass fibre from 3B and an inner liner made with Akulon® Fuel Lock polyamide from DSM.

Last week's top 3 stories

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

Siemens releases Fibersim 2012 composites software Siemens releases Fibersim 2012 composites software

Siemens PLM Software has announced the release of the 2012 version of Fibersim™ composites design and manufacture software.

SP-High Modulus supplies materials for 41 m Gulf Craft yacht SP-High Modulus supplies materials for 41 m Gulf Craft yacht

SP-High Modulus has supplied Corecell™ M-Foam core material and engineering services to the newly launched Gulf Craft Majesty 135 superyacht.

Lincoln Composites receives permit from the US DOT

The US Department of Transport (DOT) has granted Lincoln Composites a permit that authorises the manufacture, marking, sale and use of its TITAN™ composite compressed gas storage tank transport modules in the US.

GE Aviation uses Umeco prepregs for Airbus A350 XWB wing

Umeco has announced that its MTM®44-1 out of autoclave prepregs are being used by GE Aviation to manufacture the outer and mid-section fixed trailing edge panels for the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft wing.

DSM announces resin price increase for Europe

DSM Composite Resins has announced a price increase for its complete portfolio of unsaturated polyester resins and vinyl ester resins in Europe.

Reichhold and Umicore partner on cobalt curing technology for unsaturated polyester resin

Resin manufacturer Reichhold and cobalt specialist Umicore have announced their cooperation to introduce a sustainable alternative curing technology for unsaturated polyester resins using Umicore's latest cobalt technology.

AOC opens new UK centre

Global resin supplier AOC is opening a new, expanded office and warehouse centre for distributor AOC (UK) Ltd and AOC Europe operations.

First Airbus A350 XWB aft fuselage built First Airbus A350 XWB aft fuselage built

Structural assembly of the first Airbus A350 XWB aft fuselage, destined for the first flying A350 XWB aircraft, has been completed at the Airbus manufacturing site in Hamburg, Germany.

RTP acquires conductive business from Clariant

Thermoplastics compounder RTP Company has acquired the conductive compound product line of Clariant.

Suzlon launches 1.5 MW turbine for low wind sites in India

Suzlon Group is launching the 1.5 MW S8X wind turbine for Class III, low wind sites in India.

Webinar: How to specify fibreglass (FRP) to lower corrosion costs

Reinforced Plastics and Owens Corning are hosting a free webinar on 19 April covering the use of glass fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) in corrosive environments.

Gamesa prototype wind turbine produces 104.6 MWh in one day Gamesa prototype wind turbine produces 104.6 MWh in one day

Gamesa's G10X-4.5 MW prototype wind turbine, installed in Alaiz, Navarra, Spain, has set an energy output record for its type, generating electricity for 23.24 equivalent hours at nominal capacity (98.26% of the day), for a total of 104.6 MWh.

Toray to increase global carbon fibre capacity

Toray Industries Inc has announced plans to increase production capacity for carbon fibre at its four sites in Japan, the US, France and South Korea.

Polyurethane composite produces lightweight train components Polyurethane composite produces lightweight train components

The Fraunhofer Institute for Chemical Technology (ICT) has developed a glass reinforced polyurethane sandwich material for use in reducing the weight of train components.

3A Composites and Bcomp partner on core material development

Swiss companies 3A Composites and Bcomp GmbH have entered into a cooperation agreement for the development, production and marketing of engineered core material solutions.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner team win Aviation Week award Boeing 787 Dreamliner team win Aviation Week award

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner team has been presented with a 2012 Aviation Week Laureate Award in Aeronautics/Propulsion.

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.

Nordex supplies 27.5 MW wind farm in Turkey

Nordex will supply and install 11 of its N100/2500 wind turbines for the 27.5 MW Sincik wind farm near the city of Adiyaman, Turkey, for Tektug Elektrik Group.

Repowering boosts wind industry

Installed wind capacity is set to increase as wind power markets are expected to witness large growth in multiple regions, including repowering schemes, according to market intelligence specialists GlobalData.

SCIGRIP SG5000 rivals epoxy adhesive performance

New SCIGRIP® SG5000 methacrylate adhesives from IPS Corporation can be used to bond polyester, vinyl ester, epoxy and gel-coated composites as well as most metals and thermoplastics with little or no surface preparation or priming.

US offshore wind gets US$180m

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has launched a US$180 million, 6-year initiative for offshore wind in the US.

US Senator proposal could revive Production Tax Credit

US Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has introduced a measure to prevent a tax increase on American entrepreneurs and innovators in clean and renewable energy, and in effect reviving the Production Tax Credit, which expired in 2010.

Messe Bremen and Faserinstitut Bremen launch thermoplastic composites event Messe Bremen and Faserinstitut Bremen launch thermoplastic composites event

The first International Conference and Exhibition on Thermoplastic Composites (ITHEC) will take place on 29-30 October 2012 in Bremen, Germany.

ACMA symposium – managing corrosion with composites

The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) will hold its first Chemical Processing Symposium in May, focusing on Managing Corrosion with Non-Metallics.

TenCate composites used in NASA James Webb Space Telescope TenCate composites used in NASA James Webb Space Telescope

High performance composites from TenCate Advanced Composites in Fairfield, California, USA, are being used in the manufacture of the mid-boom sunshield deployment structure of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

AOC showcases CIPP resins at No-Dig

AOC will showcase its range cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) resins at the 2012 NASTT No-Dig Show in Nashville this month.

EU installed wind power slowed in 2011

The EU-27 installation rate of wind power slowed 5.9% in 2011 with just under 9.4 GW of new capacity, compared with nearly 10 GW in 2010, with a significant slowdown in offshore wind, according to the latest EurObserv'ER Wind Power Barometer.

Lamborghini Aventador J premieres at 2012 Geneva Motor Show Lamborghini Aventador J premieres at 2012 Geneva Motor Show

At the 2012 Geneva Motor Show, Lamborghini presented its Aventador J sports car, a showcase of the company's carbon fibre technology.

Composite Scandinavia to stop production of LPG cylinders in Sweden

Hexagon Composites' subsidiary Composite Scandinavia AB is intending to discontinue production of composite LPG cylinders in Piteå, Sweden.

Overcapacity keeps wind turbine prices low

Overcapacity and new low-cost players will keep wind turbine prices low, according to the Bloomberg New Energy Finance Wind Price Index (WTPI).

Quickstep selected to manufacture C-130J composite wing flaps

Australian company Quickstep Holdings Ltd has been awarded the tender to manufacture carbon fibre composite wing flaps for the C-130J Hercules military transport aircraft.

Amber Composites offers flax fibre prepreg Amber Composites offers flax fibre prepreg

Amber Composites is introducing a prepreg based on a Biotex flax fabric made by Composites Evolution.

DONG sells 50% of German offshore wind farm

DONG Energy is selling 50% of the Borkum Riffgrund 1 offshore wind farm to the Lego Group’s parent company, KIRKBI A/S, and the Oticon Foundation, for DKK4.7 billion.

Ashland increases resin prices in Europe

Ashland Performance Materials is increasing the prices of its Derakane epoxy vinyl ester resins, unsaturated polyester resins and gel-coats portfolio sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

2011 saw record levels of renewable energy investment – uncertainty for 2012

Clean and renewable energy investment levels saw new heights in 2011, spurred by solar, but the outlook for 2012 is far less certain – especially within the Eurozone, says analyst Ernst & Young.

February's top stories

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

PCT to supply composite roof and interior ceiling for Saudi rail station PCT to supply composite roof and interior ceiling for Saudi rail station

Premier Composite Technologies (PCT) has been awarded a contract to supply the roof and inner ceiling panels for the Medinah station of the Haramain High Speed Rail Project in SaudiArabia.

Zyvax sponsors SAMPE bridge building contest

Mould release system supplier Zyvax is sponsoring SAMPE's 15th annual composite bridge contest.

Goldwind's profit nearly wiped-out in 2011

Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Company was hit by a slower wind power market and falling prices for wind turbines in 2011, recording a 73.5% decline in total profit and a 76.77% fall in net profit attributable to share holders.