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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.

As a part of the company’s continued focus on wind, TPI has entered an agreement to sell, rename subsidiary to Clear Creek Investments.

JEC World 2024: BlueWind is exhibiting at JEC World for the first time at the Brazil Pavilion, highlighting a novel nacelle technology.

Wind energy is gaining momentum in the United States, back by six installation orders received by Vestas this past summer.

Several companies are making headway to ease the challenging, dangerous and manual job of wind turbine blade upkeep.

CAMX 2023: Acrolab features its Isomandrel technology, which redistributes high thermal energy uniformly over the entire filament winding mandrel surface, providing predictable and consistent energy input into the part and removing the need for oven cure.

CAMX 2023: Roth Composite Machinery focuses on automation, safety and time savings.

Ingersoll Masterprint LFAM printer will be used to produce and demonstrate 100% recyclable tooling that could cut large composite blade development cycles and tooling costs by as much as 50%.

Norwegian Offshore Wind is launching a new two-year program in August to foster growth of startups and scale-ups and address pressing issues in offshore wind.

Roth’s filament winding and coatings expertise goes back to the merging of three original German companies, which continue to characterize its commitment to quality, innovation and high performance.

Under Aeris Service, the Latin American wind blade manufacturer provides North American customers with various preventative and corrective maintenance services, taking advantage of increased turbine capacity.