Top five CW news stories for Jan-April 2022

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Elkhart Composites acquired by Thor Industries

In December 2021, Thor Industries Inc. (Elkhart, Ind., U.S.), a U.S. manufacturer of recreational vehicles (RVs) acquired Elkhart Composites Inc. (Elkhart) through Thor’s subsidiary, Airxcel Inc. (Wichita, Kan., U.S.). Elkhart Composites is engaged in the development and sale of a proprietary sustainable foamed polypropylene-based composite material marketed and sold under the “Elkboard” brand name. Lightweight, rigid, durable and sustainable, Elkboard is used in the RV industry for sidewalls, in lieu of traditional lauan-based sidewalls, alleviating susceptibility of rot or delamination.

Joby Aviation advances toward FAA certification, highlights Toray prepreg and Coriolis AFP machines

A Coriolis Composites automated fiber placement (AFP) machine shown here in a composites lab at Joby Aviation’s facility in Marina, California. Photo Credit: John Kaemmerling, Joby Aviation, see Toray press release

Joby Aviation (Santa Cruz, Calif., U.S.) is a leader in the advanced air mobility (AAM) market. It is currently working toward two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA, Washington, D.C., U.S.) certifications simultaneously. One is its Part 135 air carrier certification, which will allow it to operate as an air taxi service in the U.S. It has begun the fourth of five stages in that process. The second is its S4 eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircraft type certification. For this, the FAA provided in 2020 a signed certification basis (G-1 issue paper at stage 4) which details the specific regulations and special conditions for the Joby S4 aircraft. Joby and the FAA are now close to completing the means for ensuring compliance to these regulations.

JEC World reveals 2022 Innovation Awards finalists

JEC World 2022, the world’s leading international composites trade show rescheduled for May 3-5, 2022 in Paris, France, has announced the official lineup of finalists for its Innovation Awards. The awards ceremony will be held April 26, 2022 in Paris — a week before JEC World — and will also be streamed live.

After pre-selection of the finalists, one winner is selected from each of 10 categories: Aerospace – Application; Aerospace – Process; Automotive & Road Transportation – Surface; Automotive & Road Transportation – Structural; Building & Civil Engineering; Design, Furniture & Home; Equipment & Machinery; Maritime Transportation & Shipbuilding; Sports, Leisure & Recreation; and Renewable Energy.

HX50 helicopter fuselage developed by finalist Composite Integration with partner Hill Helicopters. Photo Credit: JEC

Re-Wind Network successfully installs repurposed wind blade pedestrian bridge

BladeBridge assembly underway in the field. Photo Credit: RE-Wind Network

On Jan. 26, the Re-Wind Network — comprising the University College Cork, Queens University Belfast, Georgia Tech and Munster Technological University (MTU) — announced the successful installation of a wind blade pedestrian bridge (BladeBridge) in Cork, Ireland, with remaining landscaping, removal of shoring platform underneath and handrail assembly to be completed shortly. The structure is one of two repurposed end-of-life (EOL) wind blade solutions initially designed and rendered in its fall 2021 Re:Wind Design catalogue, and was additionally designed to have the capacity and width to carry maintenance or emergency vehicles. Completion of the second demonstration, a wind blade power pole (BladePole) located in Kansas is planned for summer 2022.

James Webb Space Telescope reaches major milestone as primary mirror unfolds

This artist’s conception of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in space shows all its major elements fully deployed. The telescope was folded to fit into its launch vehicle, and then was slowly unfolded over the course of two weeks after launch. Photo Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Adriana Manrique Gutierrez

As of Jan. 8, 2022, NASA’s (Washington D.C., U.S.) James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) team fully deployed its 21-foot, gold-coated primary mirror, successfully completing the final stage of all major spacecraft deployments (including the 70-foot sunshield) since its Dec. 25 launch, to prepare for science operations. The telescope makes ample use of composite materials.

A joint effort with the European Space Agency (ESA) and Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Webb mission will explore every phase of cosmic history, from within our solar system to the most distant observable galaxies in the early universe.

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