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High-pressure gas storage vessels represent one of the largest and fastest-growing markets for advanced composites, particularly for filament-wound carbon fiber composites. Although they are used in self-contained breathing apparatuses and provide oxygen and gas storage on aerospace vehicles, the primary end markets are for storage of liquid propane gas (LPG), compressed natural gas (CNG), renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen gas (H₂).

Filament winding is a specialized technique used in composite manufacturing, involving the precise and automated winding of continuous fibers onto a rotating mandrel or mold. This method allows for the creation of strong and seamless structures, optimizing the alignment and orientation of the fibers to meet specific design requirements. Filament winding is employed in producing cylindrical or conical composite parts, such as pipes, pressure vessels, and aerospace components, enabling engineers to tailor the strength, stiffness, and performance characteristics of the final product.

Processes in composites manufacturing encompass a diverse array of techniques employed to fabricate composite materials. These processes include methods like hand layup, where layers of resin and reinforcement materials are manually placed, and vacuum infusion, where a vacuum draws resin into a preform. Other techniques like compression molding, filament winding, and automated methods such as 3D printing are utilized to create intricate and specialized composite structures. Each process offers unique advantages in terms of precision, scalability, and efficiency, catering to diverse industry needs. As technology advances, newer methods are emerging, promising faster production cycles, reduced waste, and increased customization, driving the evolution of composite manufacturing towards more sophisticated and versatile methodologies.

The wind energy market has long been considered the world’s largest market, by volume, for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites — and increasingly, carbon fiber composites — as larger turbines and longer wind blades are developed, requiring higher performance, lighter weight materials. The outer skins of wind and tidal turbine blades generally comprise infused, GFRP laminates sandwiching foam core. Inside the blade, rib-like shear webs bonded to spar caps reinforce the structure. Spar caps are often made from GFRP or, as blade lengths lengthen, pultruded carbon fiber for additional strength.

CAMX 2024: Century Design Inc. highlights its OnDemand towpreg systems, designed to provide differentiation and cost efficiency in-house while maintaining high quality.

Exclusivity agreement applies to using Luran SC in leading edge protection (LEP) for wind turbine applications.

CAMX 2024: Roth Composite Machinery is exhibiting its µRoWin winding software, amongst other product options like its automation concept for reliable fiber changing.

CAMX 2024: Concordia Engineered Fibers presents customizable commingled yarn solutions, including environmentally friendly options.

Despite industry headwinds, offshore wind headed into 2024 is poised for rapid growth leading up to 2033, says the Global Wind Energy Council.

Avangrid recently donated 300 pounds of decommissioned wind turbine blades to test startup solution that recovers more than 90% of turbine blade material.

CAMX 2024: Mikrosam highlights its filament winding automation, AFP  and ATL, modular prepreg slitting and rewinding machine, and towpreg production lines for productivity and reduced costs.

Several new sources say that Siemens has told customers its largest wind turbine yet may be introduced by the end of the decade.

Production commencement on Iowa line is intended to recover and divert 30,000 tons of scrapped materials from wind blades each year.

CAMX 2024: Engineering Technology Corp. displays a range of products for composite part manufacturers, including tape wrapping machinery, automated workcells, winding software, tensioning creels, resin baths and more.