News for November 2012

News Archive

Feiplar Composites & Feipur 2012 attracts record 14,500 visitors

The seventh edition of Brazil's composites, polyurethane and engineering plastics trade show Feiplar Composites & Feipur brought more than 14,500 visitors to São Paulo on 6-8 November.

Composites for high volume automotive applications – Reinforced Plastics poll Composites for high volume automotive applications – Reinforced Plastics poll

The development of materials and processes to enable the use of composites in high volume automotive applications is a big challenge. Some companies are taking the thermoplastics route, others are choosing thermosets. What do you think is the most promising material, and why?

A350 XWB prepares for static testing A350 XWB prepares for static testing

Airbus’ A350 XWB static test airframe has moved into the facility where it will undergo testing to validate the structural design of the aircraft.

Embraer’s Portugal facility ships first composite part Embraer’s Portugal facility ships first composite part

Aircraft manufacturer Embraer has completed the first shipset in composite material in its Embraer Compósitos factory in Évora, Portugal – a Legacy 500 empennage.

First JEC Americas attracts over 4000 visitors

JEC’s inaugural trade show for the Americas attracted 4159 visitors to Boston on 7-9 November.

Learjet 85 gets its wings Learjet 85 gets its wings

The first wing shipment for Bombardier Aerospace's Learjet 85 business aircraft has arrived at the assembly line and is now being readied for joining to the fuselage of the first Flight Test Vehicle (FTV1).

Vestas Sailrocket 2 – the world’s fastest wind-powered craft Vestas Sailrocket 2 – the world’s fastest wind-powered craft

The sail-powered composite boat Vestas Sailrocket 2 has broken the 500 m world speed sailing record.

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.

New Whitepaper: UK Wind & Marine Energy Business Barometer 2012

The UK wind and marine industry is at a pivotal point. The potential for growth is immense, but there are many unanswered questions about how that growth can be achieved, especially in times of economic austerity. The second UK Wind and Marine Energy Business Barometer highlights industry awareness of the challenges to be overcome.

Driving forward wind and marine in the UK

Guest Blog by Felicia Jackson

RWE Innogy tests two offshore wind turbines on shore

RWE Innogy and Essent have inaugurated two Repower 6M wind turbines in the Dutch city of Eemshaven, each with a rated power of 6.15 MW and a hub height of 114 meters.

Royal installs composite machining centre Royal installs composite machining centre

Royal Engineered Composites has installed a composite machining centre (CMC) built by Flow International Corp.

Frost & Sullivan: Venture capital funding for renewables to triple by 2020

Renewables developers will benefit from a threefold increase in availability of venture capital for investment in solar, wind biofuels, geothermal and marine and hydro energy, according to London-based financial services company Frost & Sullivan.

Juhl Wind eyes ageing North American wind farms

Community wind power operator Juhl Wind has formed a joint venture with Colorado-based 8030 Companies with a view to acquiring operating wind farm assets across the United States and Canada, the company has announced.

GKN Aerospace and SAMC extend C919 partnership GKN Aerospace and SAMC extend C919 partnership

GKN Aerospace and Shanghai Aircraft Manufacturing Company (SAMC) have revised their Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and signed further agreements covering manufacturing and intellectual property rights for structures of the COMAC 919 aircraft.

London Array "produces first power"

DONG Energy, E.ON and Masdar have announced that the world’s largest offshore wind farm, the 630MW London Array located in the Thames Estuary, has produced its first power.

PPG Fiber Glass joint venture starts fourth furnace in Kunshan, China

PFG Fiber Glass (Kunshan) Co Ltd – PPG Industries' joint venture in Kunshan, China, with Nan Ya Plastics Corp – has started a fourth furnace to serve the expanding Asian electronics industries.

Areva announces wind turbine factory in eastern Scotland Areva announces wind turbine factory in eastern Scotland

French wind turbine manufacturer Areva has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Scottish government to build a wind turbine manufacturing plant in eastern Scotland, the company announced today.

Faurecia and Fraunhofer ICT research industrial processes for automotive composites Faurecia and Fraunhofer ICT research industrial processes for automotive composites

In a further step to increase its composites expertise, automotive supplier Faurecia of France has signed a framework agreement with German research institute Fraunhofer ICT concerning the joint R&D of industrial processes for composites for automotive applications.

Boeing 737 MAX on schedule for first delivery in 2017 Boeing 737 MAX on schedule for first delivery in 2017

Boeing has finished defining in broad terms its newest single-aisle aircraft, the 737 MAX, completing a major milestone in development known as 'Firm Concept.'

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.

Composite air extractor for Camaro ZL1 wins award Composite air extractor for Camaro ZL1 wins award

The carbon composite air extractor for General Motors' 2012 Chevrolet Camaro® ZL1 sports car has won the Performance & Customisation category in the SPE's 2012 Auto Innovation Awards Competition.

Sika introduces foaming epoxy resin system

Sika Deutschland GmbH is introducing a three-component foaming epoxy system, Biresin® ER200, to its range of resins for composites.

Loiretech specifies Araldite resin for Airbus A350 project Loiretech specifies Araldite resin for Airbus A350 project

Huntsman's Araldite® 8615 epoxy resin has been used by French tooling specialist Loiretech in the manufacture of prototype lower front panels for the new Airbus A350.

UK's Advanced Engineering show attracts 9000 visitors

The Advanced Engineering UK 2012 group of events, which included the Composites Engineering Show, attracted a total of 9000 visitors to Birmingham on 7-8 November.

A350 XWB gets its wings A350 XWB gets its wings

The second wing for the first flyable Airbus A350 XWB aircraft (MSN001) has arrived at the Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Toulouse and the wings are now being joined to the plane.

UK's DECC announces £10 million to spur innovation in offshore wind

Innovators across the country have been invited to develop ideas aimed at reducing the cost of offshore wind power.

Boeing increases 787 production Boeing increases 787 production

Boeing has started producing 787 Dreamliners at a new rate of five aircraft per month.

New aircraft programmes drive adoption of aviation composites – Frost & Sullivan

Newer aircraft programmes like the Boeing B787 and Airbus A380 and A350 XWB, high fleet operating costs and regulatory pressure on aviation-related carbon emissions are driving the adoption of composites in commercial aviation applications, reports Frost & Sullivan.

SP-High Modulus to rebrand as Gurit

From January 2013, the SP-High Modulus brand will no longer be used and all of the company’s composite products and services will be marketed globally under the Gurit brand.

Lamborghini unveils Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster Lamborghini unveils Aventador LP 700-4 Roadster

Lamborghini has introduced an open-top version of the Aventador LP700-4.

AGY introduces 99 GPa tensile modulus glass fibre

AGY is introducing a new glass fibre with a tensile modulus of 99 GPa (14,359 ksi) – a level it says has not previously been seen in commercial glass fibre products.

Reichhold announces resin price increase for North America

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

Renewable energy to become world's second-largest power generation source by 2015, says IEA

The global energy map is changing “in dramatic fashion”, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said today, as it launched the 2012 edition of its World Energy Outlook.

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.

Renault and Caterham Group partner to design sports vehicles

Building on their expertise in the sports and motorsports sector, Renault and Caterham Group are joining forces to develop future sports vehicles.

Premier Composite Technologies expands into concrete-based materials Premier Composite Technologies expands into concrete-based materials

To broaden its product offering, Premier Composite Technologies (PCT), a Dubai-based supplier of composite components for the architectural market, has launched a new Glass Reinforced Concrete (GRC) and Ultra High Performance Concrete (UHPC) division.

Composites-intensive Chrysler SRT Viper wins SPE award Composites-intensive Chrysler SRT Viper wins SPE award

The 2013 SRT Viper® supercar from Chrysler Group LLC’s Street and Racing Technology (SRT) brand has been named the 2012 Vehicle Engineering Team Award winner by the Automotive Division of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE).

Northrop Grumman signs F-35 Lightning II agreement with Danish composites manufacturer

Northrop Grumman Corporation has entered a long-term agreement with Terma AS of Denmark to manufacture component parts for the international F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft programme.

Antares III named Best Sailing Superyacht 24-40 m Antares III named Best Sailing Superyacht 24-40 m

Antares III, a 30 m composite sloop, was named Best Sailing Superyacht in the 24-40 m category at the International Superyacht Society Awards held during the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in October.

Spirit AeroSystems reports third quarter 2012 loss Spirit AeroSystems reports third quarter 2012 loss

Aerostructures supplier Spirit AeroSystems Holdings Inc reports a net loss of $134 million for the third quarter of 2012, compared to net income of $67 million in the same period of 2011.

DSM issues life cycle assessment for composite windows

DSM and Fiberline Composites have collaborated in producing a life cycle assessment (LCA) which demonstrates that the eco-footprint of windows made from pultruded composite profiles can be substantially lower than that of equivalent windows in traditional materials.

New calculations show nuclear is "much more expensive" than offshore wind power

Renewable energy makes sense on cost, security, and environmental grounds, says group

UBC’s coren bike uses Umeco’s prepregs UBC’s coren bike uses Umeco’s prepregs

The frame for UBC GmbH's new urban bike, the coren®, is made from Umeco carbon fibre/epoxy prepregs.

SAMPE and ACMA to launch joint trade show in 2014

The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE) have signed a Letter of Intent regarding a new conference and exhibition for the composites industry in North America.

Ashland increases resin prices for North America

Ashland Performance Materials has announced a North American price increase for its epoxy vinyl ester resins, unsaturated polyester resins, gel-coats and additives.

Last month's top 3 stories

The following stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website during the month of October 2012.

Amber Composites announces automotive contract

Amber Composites has announced that its prepreg has been specified for a new automotive programme for a "major European OEM."

Momentive opens global R&D centre in India

Speciality chemicals company Momentive has opened a new global research and development centre and business headquarters for the India, Middle East and Africa (IMEA) region in Bangalore, India.

DNV unveils its SUNdy floating solar field concept

SUNdy - with a hexagonal array that floats on the sea surface - was officially launched during the Singapore International Energy Week.

Siemens to drop PV but keep wind and hydro

The company says it is holding talks with various parties interested in buying Siemens solar PV assets, but will continue to offer products for solar thermal and PV power plants.

Startlink composite house built in UK Startlink composite house built in UK

Housing development company Larkfleet Homes has constructed a Startlink test house, constructed using pultruded composite profiles, alongside its headquarters in Bourne, UK.

Ashland to start gel-coat production in Brazil

Ashland Performance Materials has announced that it will commence production of its Maxguard™ premium gel-coats in Brazil to meet demand from the boat building market.