Grace Nehls

Grace Nehls Senior Managing Editor

Wind/Energy

Blue Canyon II Wind Farm repower completed, required recycling of decommissioned composites turbine blades

Nacelle replaced for 84 turbines and 39-meter V80 blades replaced with 54-meter V110 blades.

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Automation

Natilus blended wing freighter secures first order

Large autonomous cargo drone freighter, Natilus N3.8T, comprises a carbon fiber airframe, offers 60% more cargo volume than same-weight aircraft and reduced cost and emissions by 50%.

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Robroy Enclosures adds 1,000-ton hydraulic press for large, nonmetallic enclosures

Custom-built press meets rapidly growing demand for nonmetallic electrical and industrial enclosures.

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Construction

Nonmetallic Excellence and Innovation Center launch extends advanced materials use in China

Beijing-based institute joins NEx in the U.S. and NIC in the U.K. in exploring joint R&D projects, standards development and adoption, professional development and certifications, advocacy and international outreach.  

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Wind/Energy

Firefly Inspect drone outfitted with infrared vision and AI to transform wind turbine, aircraft inspection

Drone technology combined with active thermography reported to offers faster, cheaper and more in-depth inspection of composites used in wind turbine blades and aircraft wings.

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Aerospace

Dornier Seawings acquires project for composites-intensive amphibious eVTOL

The current Flywhale FW650 is a two-seat amphibious composite aircraft. It will now be produced and sold under the name, DS-2C, with plans to present an eVTOL version. 

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MakerBot 3D printing platform offers expanded advanced composite materials portfolio

Available through MakerBot Labs, the newly qualified 3D printing materials are ideal for demanding engineering applications that require high strength and heat resistance.

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Aerospace

Boom Supersonic selects Greensboro, N.C. for airliner manufacturing facility

400,000-square-foot Overture Superfactory in Piedmont Triad Area to break ground in 2022, begin production in 2024 and add local jobs and provide university internships by 2032.

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Repair

Heatcon, Watlow distributor agreement expands repair equipment options for aerospace customers

A variety of thermal solutions including temperature controllers, power switching devices, data loggers and more will be added to Heatcon’s composite repair equipment products.

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FACC seeks 200 new hires in IT, digitalization, innovation and automation

Upswing in aviation, including 2021 new contracts worth €1 billion, impels FACC investment of €150 million to support short-cycle processing of lightweight composites, recycling and expanded production via automation and next-gen manufacturing technologies.

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Medical

Kaman Composites leverages composites expertise to expand medical imaging programs with Mirion Technologies

While known as a critical component supplier to the aerospace industry, the Vermont-based company is also recognized for its composite patient positioning components, structural cantilevered solutions and assembly in the medical field.

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Carbon Fibers

NC State University study kick-starts carbon fiber production process

Addition of chemical additives, glucaric acid and mucic acid, into precursor PAN material decreased energy requirements for conversion into carbon fiber five-fold. 

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