CW Blog
Life cycle assessment in the composites industry
As companies strive to meet zero-emissions goals, evaluating a product’s carbon footprint is vital. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is one tool composites industry OEMs and Tier suppliers are using to move toward sustainability targets.
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Revisiting the double vacuum debulk process
Evolution of the double vacuum debulk (DVD) process over the years continues to advance its “near autoclave quality” for low-void, highly compacted repair patches.
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From the CW Archives: I see thermoplastics in your future
Thermoplastics are evolving quickly into larger structures and clearly will have a significant role to play in the next commercial aircraft program — whenever that’s announced. This edition of “From the CW Archives” looks back on a thermoplastics pioneer.
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Composites industry GBI stayed the course in February
The GBI: Composites Fabricating contracted in February to the same degree as January, maintaining its position in a contraction zone.
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Eaton developing carbon-reinforced PEKK to replace aluminum in aircraft air ducts
3D printable material will meet ESD, flammability and other requirements to allow for flexible manufacturing of ducts, without tooling needed today.
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Who's ready for the Olympics?
With the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, this year’s JEC World is bound to be abuzz with talk of this year’s event — from the use of composites in sporting equipment to the roles they play in AAM.
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Watersports manufacturer diversifies into new markets, processes
CW Top Shops honoree Cobra International reflects on its growth over 45+ years, as well as current work expanding its automotive and UAV capabilities, increasing energy efficiency and new SMC production lines.
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Optimizing machining for composites: Tool designs, processes and Industry 4.0 systems
Hufschmied moves beyond optimized milling and drilling tools to develop SonicShark inline quality control system and Cutting Edge World cloud platform for optimized tool use and processes.
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Plant tour: Sekisui Aerospace, Orange City, Iowa, Renton and Sumner, Wash., U.S.
Veteran composites sites use kaizen and innovation culture to expand thermoplastic serial production, 4.0 digitization and new technology for diversified new markets.
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The future of quartz and oxide fibers at Saint-Gobain Advanced Ceramic Composites
New business builds on 100-year legacy in quartz, prepares for growth, while starting production of oxide fibers to meet increased demand for CMC by aerospace and industrial sectors.
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From the CW Archives: Drilling is not for the faint of heart
This edition of From the CW Archives revisits CW’s first plant tour — a visit to the F-35 FAL in Fort Worth, Texas — and a story by Ginger Gardiner a few years later. Both offer lessons on how to perform stacked drilling through composite and metallic materials.
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European boatbuilders lead quest to build recyclable composite boats
Marine industry constituents are looking to take composite use one step further with the production of tough and recyclable recreational boats. Some are using new infusible thermoplastic resins.
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