CW Blog

Industrialized continuous fiber composite printing in Delft

CEAD offers large builds with speed, precision, low-cost extrusion and continuous fiber.

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Aerospace

What does the future hold for Bombardier Belfast?

Bombardier Belfast, fabricator of the infused composite wings for the Airbus A220 single-aisle aircraft, is for sale. The ownership under which this facility lands may say a lot about the future of infusion in large aerostructures.

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Editorial

Space: The next frontier and battleground

CW Editor-in-Chief Jeff Sloan reflects on the goals outlined leaders for space travel at the 35th Space Symposium – exploration, commercial travel and military defense among them – and the role of composites in the vehicles under development to reach them.

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Defense

Index shows modest expansion on production and supplier delivery activity

The Composites Business Index moved lower in March as backlogs contracted, resulting from slowing of the previous month’s new orders growth and increased production activity.

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Autoclave

Hybrid resin system: Epoxy benefits, without the epoxy

Rapid cure, zero tack material ideal for automated, higher-volume production.

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Aerospace

Fusing waterjet, laser for efficiency in CFRP/CMC machining

Laser MicroJet technology offers high accuracy and speed without heat issues, burring or replacement of cutting tools.

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Glass Fibers

Smarter, integrated data for ATL/AFP

More than helping to eliminate dry runs and costly errors, AFP/ATL software is beginning to benefit the whole product lifecycle through the interconnectedness of the digital thread.

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Marine

Composites: Irrational exuberance?

Columnist Dale Brosius advises against overoptimism as he reflects that much of the composites technology on display at JEC World 2019 were prototypes and proof of concepts, not revenue-generating products.

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Out of Autoclave

Ballistic panels protect school

A composites manufacturer has developed military-grade pultruded panels that are being used to protect schools in case of violent intruders.

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Work In Progress

Reusable vacuum bags go digital

CAD-guided casting boosts precision, utility of reusable vacuum bags.

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Automation

New Products: April 2019

CW’s roundup of new products for the composites industry – the past month has seen innovations from Ahlstrom-Munksjö, Airtech, Broetje-Automation, Chromaflo Technologies, Holland Composites BV, Michelman, Nouryon, Petro Lube, PostProcess Technologies, Sicomin, Toray and Xenia.

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Fabrics/Preforms

Zero-waste: New process, equipment recycles prepreg, tape offal

Technology provides sustainable approach to reusing valuable thermoplastic scrap in chips-based laminate.

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prepeg and slit tape products
Alpha’s Premier ESR®
Composite raw materials
Quickly Make Molds, Tools and Fixtures