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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.

Consortium partners have proven the complete recycling of thermoplastic wind turbines via two manufactured wind blades, featuring reduced operating cost, CO₂ emissions.

Machine addition to a larger dedicated cell will support the company’s higher volume composites manufacturing capabilities and future growth plans.

Clarksons Research releases a range of data points profiling the offshore wind sector, projecting strong, long-term growth. 

BOEM has finalized its environmental review of East coast commercial wind energy leases, and the DOI approved its 10^th offshore wind project in Maryland.

With more than 2,000 2X nacelle covers manufactured, the company expands its supply with the WT20 model

Physics-informed machine learning algorithms will be applied to simulate and optimize composite wind blade curing in an effort to advance smart composites manufacturing in industry.

Automated fiber laying (AFL) placement and winding machine technologies enhance OEM capabilities to produce reliable, commercially viable custom composite products.

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

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

EU project will develop bio-based, repairable and recyclable vitrimer composites and advanced sensors for highly reliable, sustainable wind blades.