Automotive

Weaving 26 May 2016

All-carbon fiber wheel moves to the carbon fiber-bodied Ford GT

This carbon fiber wheel, manufactured by Carbon Revolution, already had been specified for the 2015 Ford Shelby GT350R Mustang. Each wheel reduces unsprung wheel mass by 2 lb per wheel compared to the aluminum versions.

Aerospace 25 May 2016

Gardner Business Index at 46.3 in April

Another uptrend in future capital spending plans points to an increase in capital equipment investment.

Autoclave 25 May 2016

Composites manufacturing — where the excitement lives

A regular CW columnist and the chief commercialization officer for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI, Knoxville, TN, US), Dale Brosius points out that for today's engineering students, a Ph.D in manufacturing could open the door to an exciting, alternative career path.

Automotive 23 May 2016

TenCate opens its European Centre of Excellence for thermoset composite materials

The opening follows a period of significant investment for the UK operation of TenCate Advanced Composites.

Autoclave 19 May 2016

Carbon/epoxy Cadillac hood

Automated process for prepreg hood inner/outer cuts weight by 20% and yields Class A exterior out of the autoclave.

Aerospace 16 May 2016

Composites recycling becomes a necessity

Boeing and Airbus each is generating as much as a 1 million lb of cured and uncured carbon fiber prepreg waste each year from 787 and A350 XWB production. If you include the entire supply chain for these planes, the total is closer to 4 million lb/year. And with the automotive industry poised to consume (and waste) more carbon fiber than ever, recycling of composite materials has become an absolute necessity. The technology is there, but the markets are not. Yet.

RTM 9 May 2016

Carbures, el Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain

On a rapid and audacious growth trajectory, this Tier 2 supplier based on the Iberian Peninsula opens the doors of three foundational facilities near Spain’s aerospace epicenter.

Carbon Fibers 5 May 2016

Carbon/epoxy Cadillac hood in production

While they typically keep their research efforts close to the vest, automakers and automotive Tier suppliers nevertheless are always in the process of evaluating the multitude of materials available for lightweighting.