News for August 2012

This section contains the latest news from the composites industry around the world. A selection of this news is also published in Reinforced Plastics magazine and in the Reinforced Plastics Newsletter

If you have a story you'd like us to cover please e-mail the Editor at RP@elsevier.com


 

 

News Archive

Umeco exhibits at China Composites Expo 2012 Umeco exhibits at China Composites Expo 2012

Umeco will exhibit its high-performance prepregs, process materials and tooling at China Composites Expo in Shanghai.

AOC announces price increase for Mexico

Resin supplier AOC is increasing prices for all products sold in Mexico from 10 September.

COMPOSITES CHINA marks successful second edition COMPOSITES CHINA marks successful second edition

COMPOSITES CHINA 2012 attracted more than 3000 industry experts from around the globe to Shanghai in June.

MREC partners with NREL on marine renewable energy

A new partnership to advance research and development of renewable energy captured from ocean waves, tidal currents and offshore wind in the US has been announced.

German-Austrian joint venture for wind farms featuring the world's biggest turbine

German project developer juwi has formed a joint venture with Austria’s Verbund AG.

United Initiators acquires Syrgis Performance Initiators

United Initiators has announced the acquisition of organic peroxide manufacturer Syrgis Performance Initiators.

Assunção to distribute Ashland products in Brazil

Ashland Performance Materials has named Assunção as its distributor for the states of Pernambuco and Paraíba in Brazil.

DSM announces resin price increase for Europe

DSM Composite Resins is increasing prices of its unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins sold in Europe in September.

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.

GBT announces Brazil blade manufacturing operation

Flessak Energia Eolica Ltd (FEEL) of Brazil and Global Blade Technology (GBT) of the Netherlands have formed a new company GBT do Brasil Equipamentos Eolicos (GBTB) to focus on the production of moulds and blades for the Brazilian wind energy market.

Turkish association joins EuCIA

The Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association (TCMA) has joined the European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA).

Ottobock selects Umeco prepregs for running blades Ottobock selects Umeco prepregs for running blades

Otto Bock HealthCare is using Umeco’s carbon fibre prepregs to produce prosthetic limbs ('running blades') for athletes around the world.

AOC announces resin price increase for Europe

AOC LLC will increase prices for all products sold in Europe from 3 September.

Demand growing for easier to use prepreg machines Demand growing for easier to use prepreg machines

The growing number of new composites manufacturers entering the market is driving a need for prepreg machines that are easier to operate, reports Century Design Inc (CDI).

GKN Aerospace wins Bombardier aircraft wing structures contract

GKN Aerospace has won a multi-million £ contract from Triumph Aerostructures – Vought Aircraft Division covering the design, build and supply of composite winglets and ailerons for the Bombardier Global 7000 and Global 8000 ultra long-range business jets.

2013 will be "even tougher" for Vestas

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has announced that it is intensifying its cost reduction plans in order to prepare for a challenging 2013. It will also cut more jobs.

Scott Bader increases resin prices in Europe

Scott Bader Europe is increasing the prices of its Crystic® unsaturated polyester, vinyl ester and DCPD resins, plus all other manufactured composite products, in September.

Sika introduces epoxy family for light aviation Sika introduces epoxy family for light aviation

Sika is introducing its Biresin® CR132 family of epoxy matrix systems suitable for the light aviation market.

Cape Wind offshore wind power proposal gets federal aviation authority approval

The long running dispute over the Cape Wind offshore wind project in Nantucket Sound, 30 miles from the shore of the state of Massachusetts, has come another step closer to a successful conclusion, with the issue of a DNE (Does Not Exeed) determination for 130 wind turbines.

Keele University partnership develops vertical axis turbine for urban environments Keele University partnership develops vertical axis turbine for urban environments

Keele University has been working in partnership with McCamley Ltd, a renewable energy company with premises on the Keele campus business park, to develop a new form of vertical axis wind turbine that could be installed in urban environments.

Report: US wind market booms, but policy uncertainty threatens jobs

While policy prospects beyond 2012 remain uncertain, the US wind power sector was one of the fastest growing wind energy markets in the world throughout 2011, says a new report by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Thermoplastic wind turbine blades offer potential Thermoplastic wind turbine blades offer potential

Some wind turbine blade manufacturers are turning to carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites, which are less liable to break and easier to repair than thermoset composites, report the organisers of ITHEC International Conference and Exhibition on Thermoplastic Composites.

Interplastic acquires Valspar gel-coat technology

Speciality chemicals company Interplastic Corporation has announced the acquisition of three gel-coat technologies from The Valspar Corporation.

Brazil's composites industry sees sales grow 4.9% in the second quarter

The Brazilian composites industry saw sales of US$384.5 million in the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 4.9% on the first quarter, according to consultancy Maxiquim.

Hall Spars & Rigging manufactures composite components for ORPC’s TidGen tidal turbine Hall Spars & Rigging manufactures composite components for ORPC’s TidGen tidal turbine

Hall Spars and Rigging, a manufacturer of carbon fibre spars and other components for yachts, is manufacturing the turbine components for the US' first commercial, grid-connected tidal energy project.

METYX Composites adds to its kitting capabilities

Turkish company METYX Composites has aquired all the assets of LEDA's Mondavio, Italy, facility, as well as some of the assets of Advanced Composites Technology (ACT Group), also located in Mondavio, Italy.

Last week's top 3 stories

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

AIC sees growing demand for composite equipment support in Asia

Composites service company AIC is continuing its expansion into Asia with the opening of an office in Singapore to enable it to deal with the growing demand for support services for autoclaves and other composite process equipment in China, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

Kayak paddles feature carbon fibre recycled from aircraft production Kayak paddles feature carbon fibre recycled from aircraft production

Werner Paddles is using a carbon fibre reinforced plastic compound, featuring carbon fibre reclaimed from Boeing aircraft manufacture, to manufacture its kayak paddles.

ITT Exelis opens composite aerostructures centre

ITT Exelis has opened its composite design and manufacturing centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, which will provide increased capacity and enhanced automation capability for commercial and military composite aircraft structures.

Zoltek reports third quarter results

Carbon fibre manufacturer Zoltek Companies Inc has reported financial results for the third quarter of its 2012 fiscal year (ended 30 June 2012).

Airtech introduces latest infusion products at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Airtech introduces latest infusion products at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012

Airtech will be highlighting its latest auxiliary products for the vacuum bagging and resin infusion processes at COMPOSITES 2012 in Düsseldorf in October.

Ashland announces resin price increase for Europe

Ashland Performance Materials has announced a September price increase for its Derakane epoxy vinyl ester resins, unsaturated polyester resins and gel-coats sold in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Reichhold announces resin price increase for Europe

Reichhold has announced a September price increase for all unsaturated polyester resins and vinyl ester resins in Europe.

Stäubli Robotics highlights high speed machining robot at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Stäubli Robotics highlights high speed machining robot at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012

Stäubli Robotics is showcasing its new RX170 high speed machining robot designed for the fast and accurate milling of composite materials at the COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 trade show in Düsseldorf this October.

BP invests $100m in materials for oil and gas industry BP invests $100m in materials for oil and gas industry

BP is to establish a $100 million research centre to lead work aimed at advancing the use of advanced materials across a variety of oil and gas industrial applications. One focus will be structural materials such as new metal alloys and composites.

Cytec collaborates with Jaguar Land Rover to develop automotive composites

Cytec Industries Inc has announced a strategic collaboration with vehicle manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover to develop designs, materials and manufacturing concepts for the cost-effective use of composites materials for automotive structures.

ZCL Composites reports second quarter 2012 financial results

ZCL Composites Inc, a manufacturer of composite storage tanks for petroleum, water and chemical storage, reports revenue of $42.9 million for the second quarter of 2012, an increase of 44% on the same quarter of 2011.

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.

Reichhold announces resin price increase for North America

Reichhold Inc has announced a September price increase for all unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins and flame retardant resins sold in North America for the composites industry.

LANXESS focuses on 'green mobility' at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012

The LANXESS High Performance Materials (HPM) business unit is exhibiting at the COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 trade show in Düsseldorf in October, showcasing lightweight construction for sustainable green mobility.

Network Group for Composites in Construction goes global

The Network Group for Composites in Construction (NGCC), headquartered in the UK, is opening up its membership to companies worldwide.

Scott Bader and Satyen Polymers Pvt Ltd form joint venture in India

Scott Bader Group and Satyen Polymers Pvt Ltd are forming a joint venture in India to manufacture unsaturated polyester resin gel-coats.

Huntsman focuses on faster processing at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Huntsman focuses on faster processing at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012

At the COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 trade show in Germany in October, Huntsman Advanced Materials will highlight products designed to meet the growing demands for faster composites processing and reduced production cycles.

Construction completed at offshore wind turbine blade testing facility in UK

Shepherd Construction has completed the construction of a new offshore wind turbine blade testing facility in at Blyth, Northumberland.

Bluewater 31 employs Scott Bader products Bluewater 31 employs Scott Bader products

Blue Water Boats (Plymouth) Ltd has launched its latest composite workboat, the Bluewater 31, which was manufactured using Scott Bader resin and gel-coat.

Owens Corning sees lower second quarter 2012 results, predicts improvement for rest of year Owens Corning sees lower second quarter 2012 results, predicts improvement for rest of year

Owens Corning reports consolidated net sales of US$1.39 billion in the second quarter of 2012, compared with $1.45 billion during the same period of 2011, but the company expects improvements in the second half of the year.

Polystrand to start manufacturing at new Denver site Polystrand to start manufacturing at new Denver site

Thermoplastic composites manufacturer Polystrand Inc plans to begin production at its new facility south of Denver, Colorado, in September.

Obama: seven utility-scale wind energy and solar projects to be expedited in the US – 3GW wind plan in the mix

US President Barack Obama has given his support to seven “nationally and regionally significant solar and wind energy projects” – including a 3GW wind farm proposal - as part of his We Can’t Wait initiative, proclaiming they will be “expedited”.

Construction starts on Germany’s €1.3bn Meerwind offshore wind farm project

Offshore construction work has got underway for the Meerwind Süd and Ost Offshore Wind Farms.

Tour De France team uses PRO TeXtreme carbon fibre wheel Tour De France team uses PRO TeXtreme carbon fibre wheel

Riders from the team that won Tour De France 2012 used the new PRO TeXtreme® disc wheel, which features Oxeon AB's TeXtreme® spread tow carbon fabrics, during the competition.

SAE offers automotive composites 'academy'

SAE International will hold an Automotive Composites Technology Engineering Academy in October focusing on carbon fibre processes and applications.

AOC announces price increase for North America

AOC LLC will increase prices for all its products in the US and Canada in September.

Carbon Revolution launches carbon fibre wheel for Porsche 911 Carbon Revolution launches carbon fibre wheel for Porsche 911

Carbon Revolution has manufactured a carbon fibre composite wheel for the Porsche 911 car.

Further delay for Airbus A350 XWB

EADS, Airbus' parent company, has announced a further delay to the entry into service date of the A350 XWB aircraft.

Composites bring lightweight advantages to train interiors Composites bring lightweight advantages to train interiors

The advantages of composites have ensured a growing role for them in rail vehicle structures, and especially interiors.

ABB wins $55mn energy infrastructure order to support wind power growth in Brazil

ABB has secured a key order to supply substations and transmission infrastructure to increase wind-generated electricity in Brazil’s energy mix.

COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012: Focus on mass production COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012: Focus on mass production

Lightweight composites designed for mass production will be one focus of the COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 in Düsseldorf on 9-11 October. Co-located with the ALUMINIUM trade fair, the combined event constitutes an important forum for the lightweight construction sector.

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.

As US wind power gets tax extension boost Spanish industry fights for its life

As the Spanish wind industry faces the crushing prospect of an 11% tax to be levied on it, its US counterpart is sighing with relief after proposals to extend the wind energy Production Tax Credit (PTC) gained “overwhelming” bipartisan support in the Senate Finance Committee.

Composites market to be worth $62.6b in 2012

The global composites market will reach a value of US$62.6 billion in 2012, according to a report from Visiongain.

Offshore wind up to 10% of global installed capacity by 2020

Although offshore wind is often the most talked about part of the wind sector, it is likely to account for no more than 10% of global installed wind power capacity by 2020, reports the Gobal Wind Energy Council (GWEC).

Siemens secures 270MW wind turbine order in Australia Siemens secures 270MW wind turbine order in Australia

Siemens has won its first major order for wind turbines in Australia.

July's top 3 stories July's top 3 stories

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