RTM

Pultrusion 8 Jun 2016

Fine-tuning fiberglass: Smart fiber sizing

Some insights into those proprietary chemistries that can customize performance at the fiber/resin interface.

Hi-Temp Resins 26 May 2016

Pixelated temperature control

Surface Generation is providing digital process control for composites molding that cuts energy use, cycle time and processing pressures while breaking boundaries in thickness, complexity and embedded elements.

IACMI 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.

Aerospace 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.

Glass Fibers 29 Apr 2016

Full steam ahead for composite ship doors and hatches

VABO Composites (Emmeloord, The Netherlands) has added to its wide range of composite products these ship doors and hatches that offer a 50% weight reduction vs. conventional steel doors.

Compression Molding 29 Apr 2016

JEC World 2016: Automotive highlights

On the automotive side, Henkel (Düsseldorf, Germany) emphasized on its JEC stand a glass fiber-reinforced composite leaf spring, based on Henkel’s polyurethane matrix resin Loctite MAX 2, used in the chassis of the new Volvo (Gothenberg, Sweden) XC90, a premium crossover SUV; the platform of this vehicle is expected to be applied to other Volvo cars in the coming years.

Compression Molding 29 Apr 2016

BMW cars again a composites showcase at JEC World 2016

BMW AG (Wolfsburg, Germany), already notable for its progressive use of composite materials in its i3 and i8 automobiles, provided the Parisian canvas for a palate of composites innovations.

Out of Autoclave 21 Apr 2016

Fastener-free, composite aircraft door and control surfaces

All-composite, integrated structures using RTM cut weight and cost by more than 30%.

Pressure Vessels 14 Apr 2016

More on Spanish composites: Solution providers

My pre-JEC Europe 2016 trip through Spain yielded much fodder for future editorial content, and proved to me that the country’s composites sector is brimming with innovation.