News for May 2012

News Archive

Babcock develops NDE technique for composite repairs Babcock develops NDE technique for composite repairs

Babcock says it has developed a new technique allowing non-destructive examination (NDE) of composite repairs and the underlying substrate.

Virgin Galactic space vehicles get FAA launch permit Virgin Galactic space vehicles get FAA launch permit

Space tourism company Virgin Galactic's space vehicle developer Scaled Composites has been granted an experimental launch permit from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for its SpaceshipTwo spacecraft and carrier aircraft WhiteKnightTwo.

ebalta introduces high temperature tooling board ebalta introduces high temperature tooling board

ebalta UK has added an ultra high temperature product for use in the automotive, aerospace and composite sectors to its range of epoxy tooling boards.

Johnson Controls develops process for carbon composite automotive parts Johnson Controls develops process for carbon composite automotive parts

Automotive interiors and electronics supplier Johnson Controls is applying its expertise in natural fibre processing technology to carbon fibre exterior body parts.

Umeco launches MTM47 out-of-autoclave prepreg

Umeco Structural Materials' new MTM®47 out-of-autoclave capable, high service temperature, epoxy resin prepreg is designed for the manufacture of primary aerospace structures.

Refrigerated vehicle bodies assembled up to 4 hours faster Refrigerated vehicle bodies assembled up to 4 hours faster

Solomon Commercials Ltd, a manufacturer of refrigerated vehicle bodies, has made its assembly process faster by switching to Scott Bader’s Crestabond M1-30 methacrylate (MMA) structural adhesive.

Jushi USA announces price increase

Jushi USA has announced a price increase for all its glass fibre reinforcements, including direct and multi-end roving products, chopped strands, chopped strand mat, woven roving, and all other roll goods.

TenCate completes acquisition of PMC Baycomp

TenCate Advanced Composites has completed the acquisition of thermoplastic composites specialist Performance Materials Corporation (PMC) Baycomp.

ANDRITZ HYDRO Hammerfest tidal turbine features composite blades ANDRITZ HYDRO Hammerfest tidal turbine features composite blades

ANDRITZ HYDRO Hammerfest has successfully supplied electrical power to the grid from its 1 MW HS1000 tidal turbine installed in Scotland. The turbine's composite blades were engineered and manufactured by Gurit.

McLaren GT set for new engineering centre McLaren GT set for new engineering centre

New race car manufacturer McLaren GT plans to establish an engineering and vehicle assembly facility close to the McLaren Technology Centre (MTC) in Woking, UK, one year after the 12C GT3 made its racing debut.

More than 70 jobs lost at Lola

The administrators of Lola Cars and Lola Composites have cut 73 jobs at the two companies while the search for new owners continues.

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.

Heraeus supplies infra-red heating system to GKN Aerospace Heraeus supplies infra-red heating system to GKN Aerospace

An infra-red heating system from Heraeus Noblelight is being used in the processing of the composite rear spar assembly of the Airbus 350 XWB aircraft at GKN Aerospace's facility at Western Approach, near Bristol, UK.

COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 press trip to Hamburg COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 press trip to Hamburg

As part of a press trip organised by Reed Exhibitions Deutschland on behalf of its COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 trade show, a group of journalists were invited to visit Airbus' Hamburg facility and CFK Valley in Stade.

Fiberspar announces expansion Fiberspar announces expansion

Fiberspar Corporation, a US manufacturer of spoolable composite pipe for the oil and gas industry, has broken ground for a new sales and manufacturing centre in Johnstown, Colorado.

ASTM standard for damage resistance testing of sandwich constructions

A new ASTM International standard covering damage resistance testing of sandwich constructions will be useful for designers of composite sandwich structures for the aerospace, marine, civil infrastructure, automotive and energy industries.

Solar Impulse to attempt flight to Africa Solar Impulse to attempt flight to Africa

The solar powered aircraft Solar Impulse is to attempt its longest flight, from Switzerland to Africa.

HyperSizer v6.2 software improves design and manufacturability of composites HyperSizer v6.2 software improves design and manufacturability of composites

Collier Research Corporation has announced the release of HyperSizer® v6.2, the latest version of its structural sizing and analysis software used in the spacecraft and aviation industries.

Vestas ready to construct five new wind projects in South Africa

The South African Department of Energy has selected one of the most prominent wind energy contractors to build five new wind farm projects in the country.

FORMAX carbon multiaxials achieve DNV qualification FORMAX carbon multiaxials achieve DNV qualification

FORMAX has announced that its range of carbon fibre multiaxial fabrics has been awarded the DNV materials qualification for use in a lifeboats and other marine vessels.

Umeco certified to AS9100 Rev C aerospace standard

Umeco’s Structural materials operations in Derby and Manchester in the UK have been awarded certification to aerospace best practice standard AS9100C.

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.

Brazil's composites industry reports continued growth

Earnings in the Brazilian composite materials industry totalled US$366 million in the first quarter of 2012, up 2.5% growth on the first quarter of 2011, and 1.6% higher than the last quarter of 2011.

Lola goes into administration Lola goes into administration

Lola Group Holdings Ltd has issued a statement announcing its decision to appoint an administrator to Lola Cars International Ltd and Lola Composites Ltd.

US Liner brings back Bulitex thermoplastic composite sheet US Liner brings back Bulitex thermoplastic composite sheet

US Liner Company is re-launching its Bulitex and Bulitex Hybrid glass reinforced polypropylene composite sheet for the transportation industry.

Comtek offers faster aircraft part repairs

Composite structures specialist Comtek Advanced Structures has reduced its aircraft part repair turnaround times to an average of 15 calendar days in the first quarter of 2012.

Nordex points to stronger second half of year

The German Nordex Group has announced an 8.3 percent increase in sales in the first quarter of 2012 (€198.3 million compared with €183.1 m last year), but operating profit was restrained by below-average capacity utilisation and lower margins on projects.

US Department of the Interior to review offshore wind power proposal

A top U.S. government agency, the Department of the Interior (DOI), has announced that it intends to proceed with a review of plans by Atlantic Grid Holdings to develop an offshore wind grid.

Benteler-SGL builds production plant for carbon fibre automotive components Benteler-SGL builds production plant for carbon fibre automotive components

Benteler-SGL GmbH & Co KG has invested €36 million in a new plant in Austria to manufacture automotive components made of carbon composites.

World’s "largest solar park" to be created in Serbia

Representatives of the Serbian Government and Securum Equity Partners Europe have signed a memorandum regarding construction of what is claimed to be the largest solar park the world has seen so far.

AOC cobalt-free resin certified by NSF International

AOC's new Vipel® F010-H2O-00 vinyl ester resin is certified to the NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components-Health Effects standard.

DSM Composite Resins announces price increase

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

Edra Equipamentos develops 'green' ATM Edra Equipamentos develops 'green' ATM

Brazilian company Edra Equipamentos has created an ATM booth using composite resins partially derived from renewable resources from Elekeiroz SA.

SP-High Modulus exhibits at Australian boat show SP-High Modulus exhibits at Australian boat show

SP-High Modulus, the marine business of Gurit, is exhibiting at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in Queensland, Australia, this month.

Umeco promotes global branding at SAMPE 2012 Umeco promotes global branding at SAMPE 2012

Umeco will be promoting its new branding at the 2012 SAMPE 2012 trade show in Baltimore this month.

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.

Boeing 787 Dreamliner wins innovation award

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has been honoured with the Grand Prize during the 2012 Hermes Awards for Innovation.

Zoltek reports continuing growth trends in second quarter

Carbon fibre manufacturer Zoltek Companies Inc reports net revenues of US$47 million for the second quarter of its 2012 fiscal year, an increase of 26.7% on the second quarter of fiscal 2011.

Yingli brings solar power to Brazil’s most prestigious football stadium

A partnership between Chinese company Yingli Green Energy, EDF Consultoria and the State of Rio de Janeiro is bringing solar power to Brazil’s most prestigious sports stadium, Estado do Maracana, which will host the 2014 World Cup.

Bayer sites wind energy centre in Denmark Bayer sites wind energy centre in Denmark

Bayer MaterialScience plans to establish a global wind energy competence and development centre at its site in Otterup, Denmark, to coordinate the development of materials for wind energy applications.

Reports discusses automotive and aerospace materials selection

Advanced high-strength steel (AHSS), aluminium, magnesium, titanium and carbon fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) each has its own set of cost, availability, manufacturing and performance characteristics that affect their adoption in the automotive and aerospace industries, according to a Lux Research report.

Hawker Beechcraft files for bankruptcy

US business aircraft maker Hawker Beechcraft Inc has filed for reorganisation under Chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code.

EURECOMP organises event on recycling thermoset composites

The EURECOMP project will hold its first training event, focusing on the recycling of thermoset composites, in Brussels on 22 May.

Unitech Composites invests in NDI equipment

Unitech Composites and Structures has invested in non-destructive inspection (NDI) equipment to aid its production and inspection processes.

AGY expands S-2 Glass manufacturing capacity by 20%

AGY has increased production of its S-2 Glass® fibre reinforcements by 20% to meet growth in demand from aerospace and industrial markets.

Umeco showcases Sea-Spider tidal energy device at All-Energy 2012 Umeco showcases Sea-Spider tidal energy device at All-Energy 2012

Composite materials supplier Umeco's stand at the All-Energy 2012 renewable energy trade show will feature a model of Renewergen Ltd’s Sea-Spider, a 70 m diameter 6.5 MW vertical axis tidal energy device.

Janneby wind testing site ready to open

It will reportedly be the only independent wind turbine testing site in the German federal state of Schleswig-Holstein.

GE to supply 95 MW to Polish utility scale wind projects

38 of GE's 2.5 MW wind turbines will be used for projects in northern Poland, and the company will also build a service centre to provide long-term local support.

Innovative Composites to supply EcoScape modular composite homes to Antigua Innovative Composites to supply EcoScape modular composite homes to Antigua

Innovative Composites International Inc (ICI) has announced an agreement to supply its EcoScape™ composite modular homes for a housing project in Antigua.

Umeco sponsors Multimatic's Grand-Am cars Umeco sponsors Multimatic's Grand-Am cars

Umeco’s Structural Materials business has signed an agreement with Canadian motorsports organisation Multimatic Motorsports to sponsor two Aston Martin Vantage V8s in the 2012 Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC).

Lignol joins Carbon Fibre Consortium

Lignol Energy Corporation, a technology company specialising in advanced biofuels and renewable chemicals, has become a member of the Oak Ridge Carbon Fibre Composites Consortium managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Gurit signs balsa core supply deal with Sino Composite

Swiss company Gurit and Sino Composite of China have signed a long-term agreement under which Gurit will supply balsa core materials to Sino for the Chinese market.

Last week's top 3 stories

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

Gamesa halts U.S. offshore wind prototype installation

The company blames the U.S. market and regulatory conditions for postponing installation of the offshore prototype near Cape Charles, Va. - which the Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) approved earlier this year.

Formaplex expands Formaplex expands

Specialist engineering and manufacturing company Formaplex has increased production space by a further 30% with the opening of a new 15 000 ft2 factory.

Composites reduce wheel weight Composites reduce wheel weight

University Racing Eindhoven (URE) has developed a hybrid composite wheel for this year’s Formula Student competition using Huntsman Advanced Materials' epoxy resin.

LM Wind Power reports "disappointing" results for 2011

Wind turbine blade manufacturer LM Wind Power says that although its 2011 financial results are in line with expectations for the year, they are disappointing and lower than last year.

Airtech celebrates successful JEC Europe show Airtech celebrates successful JEC Europe show

Airtech, a manufacturer of processing materials for the composites and tooling industries, showed its latest products and services for the resin infusion process during the JEC Europe trade show in March.

MAC-RTM – microwave curing of resins MAC-RTM – microwave curing of resins

AIMPLAS is coordinating a European project called MAC-RTM, which is aiming to develop a system for curing resins using microwaves.

Composites One now owned by Synergy 55

Total affiliate CCP Composites has sold its shares in North American distributor Composites One to GLS Composites Distribution Corporation, which is owned by Synergy 55.

First Wind starts construction of 105 MW wind farm in Washington

First Wind has started construction of its first wind project in Washington state - the 105 MW Palouse Wind farm in northern Whitman County.

RHC Lifting supplies Automated Guided Vehicle to GKN Aerospace RHC Lifting supplies Automated Guided Vehicle to GKN Aerospace

RHC Lifting Ltd has commissioned and supplied its first Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) to GKN Aerospace’s new composite wing structures manufacturing and assembly facility near Bristol, UK.

ACCIONA installs AW-3000/116, 3 MW wind turbines in North America

ACCIONA Windpower is installing two of its AW-3000/116, 3 MW wind turbines at Pioneer Grove in Cedar County, Iowa, USA, marking the first installation of the turbines in North America.

Lockheed Martin and Ingersoll Machine Tools improve AFP software

Lockheed Martin has partnered with Ingersoll Machine Tools Inc to develop an improved software package for the programming of automated fibre placement equipment (AFP).

Overcapacity and new players keep wind turbine prices down

Contracts signed for wind turbines in the second half of 2011 for delivery in 2013 fell 4% to €0.91 million/MW from 6 months earlier, with overcapacity and new players keeping prices for utility-scale wind turbines down, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance's Wind Turbine Price Index (WTPI).

Kaman and Kineco form composites joint venture in India

Kaman Aerospace Group Inc and Kineco Pvt Ltd have announced an agreement to form a company in India to manufacture composite structures for aerospace, medical and other industries.

Zyvex Technologies and ENVE Composites introduce nano-enhanced bike rim Zyvex Technologies and ENVE Composites introduce nano-enhanced bike rim

Zyvex Technologies and ENVE Composites have announced an exclusive partnership to provide a bicycle rim for downhill mountain bikes that uses nano-enhanced carbon fibre.

RenewableUK says CPRE concern over wind turbines is “misplaced”

RenewableUK says the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England's (CPRE) concern about over-development of onshore wind turbines is “misplaced”, as the actual number of wind turbines for England is less than a sixth of CPRE's figure of 12,000.

Amber Composites part of Make it in Great Britain exhibition Amber Composites part of Make it in Great Britain exhibition

Amber Composites will feature in the UK government’s Make it in Great Britain exhibition, which takes place in London during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.

Vestas loss near doubled in Q1 – postpones V164 prototype

Vestas' loss almost doubled in the first quarter (Q1) of 2012 to €162 million, compared with a loss of €85m in the same period last year, as the company continues to struggle – and it is postponing the prototype of the new V164 7 MW offshore wind turbine.

Hexcel opens prepreg plant extension in Stade, Germany

Hexcel has officially opened an extension to its prepreg facility in Stade, Germany, which will increase plant capacity to support increasing build rates for the Airbus A350 XWB and other aircraft programmes.

VICTREX PEEK release film for aerospace composites

Victrex Polymer Solutions has announced a strategic partnership with Umeco under which Umeco will market release films made from Victrex's APTIV® film, which is based on high performance PEEK polymer.

Last month's top 3 stories Last month's top 3 stories

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