Top 10 CompositesWorld News of 2021

As we gear up from 2022, it is time to reflect on all of the new innovations and trends seen in the composites industry this year. From supply chain issues to composite intensive aircrafts, there was no shortage of important and exciting news on the CompositesWorld website. To that end, here’s a list of the most viewed news on our website in 2021. 

1. Resin shortages continue to affect composites supply chain (May, 2021)

Power outages caused by mid-February’s U.S. winter storms led to immediate shortages from Gulf Coast petrochemical companies. Fabricators continue to report shortages like epoxy, polyester and vinyl ester resins. Global supply chain shortages for many products have been impacting industries since the start of the pandemic in 2020, caused by pandemic-related and economic issues in transportation, rising demand and labor shortages.

2. Russian-powered MC-21 performs well in test flights (July, 2021)

Irkut Corp.’s (Moscow, Russia) MC-21-310 flight-test composite aircraft arrived in Zhukovsky from Ulyanovsk, Russia, after being painted at by paint-shop specialist, Spektr-Avia. According to test pilot Vasily Sevastyanov, the aircraft, which is equipped with new Russian PD-14 engines, performed well in flights from Irkutsk to Ulyanovsk and Ulyanovsk to Zhukovsky. It will continue the flight test program at the airfield, which is home to the Gromov Flight Research Institute.

3. Archer to be listed on NYSE through Atlas Crest Investment merger (February, 2021)

It was announced on Feb. 10 that Archer (Palo Alto, Calif., U.S.) an urban air mobility (UAM) company and developer of all-electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, and Atlas Crest Investment Corp., a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), have entered into a definitive agreement for a business combination that would result in Archer becoming a publicly listed company by Q2 2021. It is anticipated that the post-closing company, Archer, will be listed on the NYSE with ticker symbol “ACHR.”

4. Glass fiber supply chain struggles amid pandemic economic recovery (February, 2021)

As the coronavirus pandemic enters its second year, and as the global economy slowly re-opens, the worldwide glass fiber supply chain is facing shortage of some products, caused by shipping delays and a fast-evolving demand environment. As a result, some glass fiber formats are in short supply, affecting the fabrication of composite parts and structures for the marine, recreational vehicles and some consumer markets.

5. Arrival EV producer becomes a Nasdaq-listed public company (March, 2021)

Global electric vehicle (EV) company Arrival (London, U.K.), became a publicly listed company March 25, trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market with its Ordinary Shares and Warrants listed under the new ticker symbols “ARVL” and “ARVLW,” respectively. Arrival completed the previously announced special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) combination with CIIG Merger Corp. (New York, N.Y., U.S.) on March 24, 2021. The company plans to use its approximately $660 million in gross proceeds to ramp up delivery of its EVs and expand its global network of microfactories. Its first local facility in Rock Hill, S.C., U.S., is slated to begin producing the composite body panels for its EVs in Q4 2021.

 

6. Leonardo invests for the future, establishes pilot carbon fiber plant in Italy in collaboration with MAE (October, 2021)

Aerospace OEM Leonardo SpA (Rome, Italy), as part of its mission to “develop and deploy advanced technology in the pursuit of security, progress and value, today and tomorrow,” has invested in a new project with MAE (Fiorenzuola, Italy) to establish a pilot carbon fiber manufacturing line in Italy.

MAE was chosen by Leonardo to build a €17 million pilot plant in Piacenza, as part of a larger research project to innovate composites technologies. The new factory is co-financed by the national business development agency Invitalia (Rome, Italy), which supports innovative programs to boost Italy’s production structure. 

7. Retrofitted EHang facility for commercial AAV production close to completion (April, 2021)

EHang (Guangzhou, China) has recently reported that the retrofitting process of its existing autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) production facility in Yunfu, China, is being completed, with production of its passage-grade AAVs expected to start Q2 2021. With a total planned gross floor area covering 24,000 square meters, the facility will be home to EHang’s newest aerial vehicle assembly lines, a computer numerical control (CNC) processing center, a painting workshop and a carbon fiber composite materials processing area. In addition, the Yunfu facility will include a research and training center and an outdoor flight test vertiport.

8. CosiMo: Smart thermoplastic RTM process demonstrated for battery box cover challenge simulator (September, 2021)

The project uses network of DEA, temperature/pressure and ultrasonic sensors plus digital simulation and AI modeling to monitor and optimize injection of caprolactam into complex glass fiber preform and in-situ polymerization of PA6.

 

 

 

 

 

9. Lanxess, INFAC develop composite battery module housing (August, 2021)

The halogen-free, flame-retardant and glass fiber-reinforced polyamide 6 (PA6) part lowers battery module assembly weight, improves insulation and flame resistance and retains a high level of functional integration.

 

 

 

 

 

10. Faurecia to supply CFRP tanks and hydrogen storage systems for Stellantis light commercial vehicles (April, 2021)

Stellantis (Amsterdam, Netherlands), the multinational automotive manufacturer formed by the 2021 merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and French company Groupe PSA, and composite hydrogen storage tank technology leader Faurecia (Nanterre, France) collaborated to equip Stellantis’ new zero-emission family of light commercial vehicles with hydrogen storage systems, as well as fuel cell stacks through Symbio, Faurecia’s joint venture with Michelin.