Video: the concept behind the New Bus for London project.
Fire retardant composites
Gurit says its ability to supply proven fire retardant materials was one of the key reasons it was chosen for the NBfL – New Bus for London – project, an initiative to introduce a new range of double-decker buses to London. The buses utilise advanced composites to achieve weight savings, whilst structurally supporting the diesel-electric hybrid drivetrain, meeting aggressive fuel efficiency targets and delivering iconic styling.
The bus manufacturer, Wrightbus, located in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, selected Gurit for the design and supply of the structurally loaded rear-end body panels.
Gurit specified SPRINT™ ST 70FR to meet the fire retardant requirements, and worked closely with Wrightbus to ensure the structural design, attachments and assembly methods met the performance requirements.
Gurit supplied 9 sets of prototype components, made with SPRINT™ ST 70FR epoxy prepreg and Corecell™ M-Foam SAN core material, to Wrightbus during late 2011 and early 2012 to show proof of concept. The first of the new buses is now in service in London.
More than 600 New Bus for London vehicles will enter passenger service by 2016.
Manufacturing in China
Gurit has two manufacturing centres producing the structural foams Corecell, G-PET and PVCell, a tooling facility for the production of large-scale plugs and moulds (see Gurit inaugurates Red Maple blade tooling site), and numerous sales offices throughout China.
As well as the development of composite materials – including prepregs, core materials, laminating systems and adhesives – Gurit also offers structural design and technical services for the development of highly engineered structures. (See Gurit establishes Engineered Structures business unit.)
China Composites Expo takes place on 11-13 September in Beijing.
