CW Blog

Work In Progress

Long-fiber liquid crystal polymers

High-performance, injection moldable grades to be offered with long glass, carbon fiber options.

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From sailplanes to composites repair: Growing composite training opportunities over the years

Mike Hoke discovered his interest in the composites industry at a young age. His journey eventually led him to Abaris Training Resources, which he owned and evolved for more than 30 years.

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Composite rotary milking platform evolves via process innovations

Infusion and LRTM-based processes and design enabled Waikato Milking Systems to bring a lighter, less labor-intensive platform to the global dairy market.

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Application

Athletic shoe developed with repurposed thermoplastic waste

Manufactured via a single-step molding process, Decathlon’s Traxium Compressor soccer cleats propel the sporting goods market toward more recyclable solutions.

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Economics

Composites industry continues 2022 upswing

The Gardner Business Index closed March out at 61.4, with production activity continuing to persist despite some restraints caused by supplier delivery and employment components.

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Recycling

Precision pyrolysis: Controlled, heat-based composites recycling for higher material properties

Japan-based Fuji Design’s recycling technology involves controlled, cyclical heating and cooling for higher-performance fiber reclamation. New partnership with Teijin Ltd. aims to scale up and commercialize the technology.

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Pultrusion

Automated, continuous processes for high-volume automotive and defense components

Thunder Composite Technologies uses its automated pultrusion, RTM and other processes to produce custom-engineered composite parts for automotive and land defense vehicles.

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Aerospace

Rational exuberance for emerging markets

Advanced air mobility and hydrogen storage represent a huge opportunity for the composites industry. They will also be hugely challenging.

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Defense

Plant tour: Qarbon Aerospace, Milledgeville, Ga. and Red Oak, Texas

Veteran aerostructures Tier 1 transforms into 21st century leader in thermoplastic composites and multiple new markets.

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Repair

Alternate heat sources for hot-bonded composite repairs

Successfully using an alternate heat source for repairing composite structures requires an awareness of thermal dynamics and effective heat transfer management.

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Composites 4.0

Laboratory for Intelligent Lightweight Production at CTC Stade advances digital solutions for industrial composites

Four-year, 12-million-euro LaiLa project with Helmut Schmidt University combines R&D with industry collaboration to solve real production pain points, validate solutions in digital lab/model factory at CTC and transfer knowledge to supply chain including customized training.

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Aerospace

Hydrostatic membrane consolidation: Skin-stringer panels in 60 minutes

Airbus and Siempelkamp demonstrate press process as alternative to thermoplastic welding, aimed to enable rate 100 aircraft and future mobility manufacturing.

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