Ginger Gardiner Senior Technical Editor

Sheet Molding Compound 31 Jan 2017

SMC 4.0

The story behind the supplier-orchestrated effort that eliminated unacceptable defects levels in painted Class A SMC exterior auto parts.

Out of Autoclave 29 Jan 2017

CTC’s CEO on digital manufacturing for composites

The Composite Technology Center (Stade, Germany) advances composites production and sustainability through Industry 4.0 working groups.

Wind/Energy 26 Jan 2017

Hydraulic hybrids: Boosting fuel economy without batteries

Carbon fiber helps to lightweight hydraulic accumulators, increasing efficiency in hybrid vehicles and myriad other applications.

Aerospace 23 Jan 2017

Automating NDT for CFRP aerostructures

Robotic laser shearography enables 100% inspection of complex, flight-critical composite structures.

Glass Fibers 19 Jan 2017

Composites in Class A body panels: Evolution continues

Low-density SMCs lead the way as fiber-reinforced polymers make headway in auto components that must please the eye.

Out of Autoclave 19 Jan 2017

Class A composites: A history

Composites have made a lingering and increasingly positive impression in the for exterior automotive body panels.

Aerospace 2 Jan 2017

SpaceX announces COPV’s role in September rocket explosion

Buckles (voids) between carbon composite overwrap and aluminum liner in cryotank led to ignition of super chilled oxygen — will be fixed long-term via COPV design change.

Adhesives 30 Dec 2016

Hybrid steel/composite transmission gears

Scalable gear design trims heavy-truck weight, preserves wear life, controls cost.

NDI 30 Dec 2016

Plant Tour: Tri-Mack Plastics Manufacturing, Bristol, RI, US

Precision thermoplastics parts manufacturer expands into hybrid composites to help meet OEM demand for higher performance while trimming weight, cost and lead times.