Top 10 CW news from the 2010s

TenCate thermoplastic composite spar, JEC World 2018. TenCate Advanced Composites was acquired by Toray in 2018.

What composites industry news will shape the 2020s? As CW gears up for the new year and new decade, we have also collected our Top 10 most-viewed news stories from 2010-2019:

Carbon fiber engine block revealed (2011). Composite Castings LLC (Palm Beach, Fla.) announced the development of a new, lightweight carbon fiber composite four-cylinder engine block, which used fiber from Toho Tenax America and weighed 45-50% less than a comparable aluminum block.
Hexion/Momentive merger made official (2010). Momentive Performance Materials announced that it had completed its acquisition of epoxy manufacturer Hexion Specialty Chemicals, creating a new company that kept the Momentive name.
Spirit AeroSystems debuts next-generation fuselage panel (2019). The top news post from 2019 introduced Spirit AeroSystems (Wichita, Kan. U.S.) 18-by-12-foot (5.5-by-3.7-meter) demonstrator panel, which features integrated skin and stringers and offers substantial cost savings combined with strong performance attributes.
SABIC and Kringlan developing first carbon thermoplastic composite wheel (2014). SABIC, Kringlan and other industry partners announced that their collaborative technology was close to commercialization in automotive while targeting other industries, including energy-efficient appliances. (Note: for CW’s most recent coverage of carbon fiber composite wheels, see our January 2020 cover story.)
Swede preps for around-the-world journey in 10-ft sailboat (2014). Sven Yrvind, 75, announced his plans to sail around the world in his 10-foot, 1.5-ton sailboat, which he made using DIAB Divinycell composites.
BMW formally launches i3 manufacture and assembly (2013). As BMW formally launched manufacture of the composites-intensive i3, the company reveals more information about the composites manufacturing and assembly process at its German facilities.
Revolutionary fuselage concept unveiled by MTorres (2017). MTorres (Torres de Elorz, Navarra, Spain) introduced its paradigm-changing monocoque composite fuselage, made without fasteners or molds and with carbon fiber that could cut raw material cost by 50%.
Sixty-second cycle time for carbon composites? (2011). Teijin (Tokyo, Japan) announced its breakthrough process using press-forming and thermoplastics to produce carbon fiber composite parts in less than 60 seconds. (Note: See CW’s most recent coverage on Teijin’s Sereebo process.)
Citroën DS3 supercar sports carbon/aramid composite body panels (2013). The 600-horsepower speedster driven by former World Rally Champion Peter Solberg in the 2013 European Rallycross Championships featured 11 vacuum-infused composite body panels made with Crestapol 1250LV urethane acrylic resin from Scott Bader Co. Ltd. (Northamptonshire, U.K).
Toray acquires TenCate Advanced Composites (2018). Toray, the world’s largest carbon fiber manufacturer, acquired TenCate Advanced Composites to shore up its thermoplastic composites capabilities.