The American Composites Manufacturers Association has announced the finalists for the Awards for Composites Excellence (ACE), sponsored by Composites One.
ACE recognizes outstanding achievement and innovation in technology, manufacturing and product development.
‘ACE is an incredible opportunity to see some of the best innovation our industry has to offer,’ said Tom Dobbins, ACMA president. ‘Every year we look forward to seeing how businesses envision new uses of composites and advanced materials to make better more innovative products.’
In the design category, the Most Creative Application Award is given to the composites product that showcases composites use in a new application. This year, the finalists are:
- Rapid manufacture of ultra-high quality composite mirrors: The Aerospace Corporation
- Composites lift the world's first electric flying surfboard: Strongwell
- One-piece molded high performance carbon fiber triathlon bicycle frame: Cervelo Cycles/Vroomen White Design
- Golf swing training (LAG) device: Tsunami Bar, LLC
- Composite self-driving shuttle by additive manufacturing: Local Motors.
The design category also features the Innovation in Green Composites Design Award, which recognizes a composites product that lowers/minimizes the environmental footprint. This year's finalists are:
- Composite overwrapped pressure vessel made with recycled continuous carbon fiber: Vartega Inc.
- Biodegradable 3D printed molds for FRP tank part manufacturing: Design Tanks LLC
- Large scale 3D printing using 100% bio-composite materials: Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
In the manufacturing category, the Equipment and Tooling Innovation Award is given to the equipment, tooling, production aid, or software that is designed to improve product quality and performance. This year, the finalists are:
- Composite material roll and kit life tracking software: JETCAM International sarl
- Comprehensive composite manufacturing platform: Autodesk
- Reusable shipping and storage containers for high value assets: PRC Composites.
The manufacturing category also features the Materials and Process Innovation Award, which recognizes a material or process that contributes to efficient manufacturing and product sustainability. This year, the finalists are:
- Out-of-autoclave process: low cost, low cycle time motorcycle helmets: Vistex Composites, LLC
- CFRTP processing technology using commingling, fiber laying, and light molding: Gifu University
- Significant weight reduction of aircraft seat: Oxeon AB
- 3D foam printing technology: University of Central Florida.
In the market growth category, the Infinite Possibility Award is given to the composites product that demonstrates the potential to significantly increase the use of composites. This year's finalists are:
- Low cost carbon fiber (LCCF): Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Curved pultrusion process applied to highly engineered hollow profiles: Shape Corp
- Ford/Magna carbon fiber subframe: Ashland LLC.
This story is reprinted from material from ACMA, with editorial changes made by Materials Today. The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent those of Elsevier.