Composites featured in odor-control ductwork
ECS Environmental Solutions employs AOC's Vipel vinyl ester resin to filament wind more than 1,000 ft of fiberglass ductwork used in an odor-control system as part of a wastewater infrastructure project.

ACMA COMPOSITES 2013 review
Once again, cautious optimism, an abundance of revealing research and a parade of notable new products are ACMA convention keystones.

Hawkeye Manufacturing, AOC partner on spa/hot tub
The Bossetti spa/hot tub combo from Barefoot Fitness Spas (Richmond, Va.) features a thermoformed acrylic, FRP-backed 2,000-gallon tub that can seat five adults.

AOC resin's chemical resistance helps enhanced oil recovery project
A large storage tank produced on-site with filament winding benefits from AOC's vinyl ester technology.

Cured-in-place pipe: Trenchless trends
A variety of CIPP products are enabling the rehabilitation, rather than excavation and replacement, of underground pipe for wastewater and drinking water.

ACMA COMPOSITES 2013 preview
For 2013, the American Composites Manufacturers Assn. (ACMA, Arlington, Va.) returns its annual U.S. COMPOSITES exhibition and convention to the East Coast’s sunny, fun capital, Orlando, Fla.

Resin producers post price increases
Three U.S. based resin formulators, AOC, Reichhold, and Interplastic, cite raw material costs as the culprit in the increases.

Building a better corrosion-control composite
Many FRP products used in corrosive environments — pipe, tanks, ductwork, stack liners and so forth — are constructed with filament winding or pultrusion processes and contain 60 to 70 percent glass fiber reinforcement by weight.

Industrial corrosion control: Huge opportunities
Fiber-reinforced plastic is the ideal but still widely ignored option in environments that eat away at most metal alloys. Opportunities abound, but the key is still education.

Cured-in-place pipe: UV curing ensures liner performance in leaking pipe
When the Knoxville, Tenn. Utilities Board faced a needed repair of an actively leaking clay sewer pipe, it opted for Reline America's (Saltville, Va.) cured-in-place pipe cured with ultraviolet (UV) light.

New AOC resin certified by NSF International
AOC's cobalt-free Vipel F010-H2O-00 vinyl ester has been certified to NSF/ANSI 61: Drinking Water System Components-Health Effects by NSF International, making it easier for manufacture of potable water applications.

Corrosion prevention: Glass/vinyl ester liner protects power plant pit
When PT Paiton Energy in Paiton, East Java, Indonesia, wanted to expand its existing 1,230-MW coal-fired power plant, it needed a new concrete aeration pit to hold seawater that is circulated through the plant’s cooling system.

Vinyl ester for pipe applications
AOC has expanded its cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) resins lineup with the addition of Vipel L085-PPA epoxy novolac vinyl ester, designed for applications that need resistance to aggressive chemical solutions and high heat.

Hexagon Composites receives DOE grant for fuel cell hydrogen storage
The U.S. Department of Energy will provide more than $7 million to advance hydrogen storage technologies to be used in fuel cell electric vehicles; Hexagon's Lincoln Composites business unit will participate.

Green resins: Growing up
High hurdles remain, but the push for sustainable sources of resin monomers is gaining momentum.

Cured-in-place pipe project tests composites capabilities
Insituform Technologies uses iPlus Composite cured-in-place pipe technology to replace a sewer pipeline 25 ft underground at San Diego International Airport.

Fire retardant resin guide
AOC has published a new Fire Retardant Resin Guide designed to help composite specifiers and manufacturers choose the optimum resin for 18 different fire and smoke standards from around the world.

Tooling resin provides Class A surface
AOC has introduced MoldTru LPT-68000, a low-profile tooling resin designed to reduce the cost and time to make Class A surface composite tools by up to 70 percent.

People Briefs, June 2011
Personnel announcements from Vectorply, BYK-Chemie GmbH and AOC.

Tough resins for aggressive environments
New thermoset systems drive composites deeper into markets where fire, corrosion, stress and fatigue are ever-present threats.

Heavy-duty infusion: Scaling up for scrubbers
Infused 3-D woven fabric preforms best steel in beams and unitized deck structures built for the caustic confines of massive flue gas desulfurization systems.

BASF-Spain to manufacture AOC unsaturated polyester resin
BASF-Spain will have exclusive rights to manufacture AOC's unsaturated polyester resin product line.

Alpha Corp. celebrates 50th anniversary
Resin manufacturer AOC LLC (Collierville, Tenn.) reports that its parent company, The Alpha Corp., is celebrating its 50th anniversary with the grand opening of its new world headquarters in Piperton, Tenn.

Corrosion resistance: Desert-bound chemical and potable-water tanks
RL Industries (Fairfield, Ohio) recently overcame logistical obstacles to successfully fabricate five large composite storage tanks for a chemical plant in Saudi Arabia.

Composite tanks store chemicals in Middle East project
RL Industries used filament winding and epoxy vinyl ester from AOC to make massive composite tanks for storage of a solution of 32 percent hydrogen chloride or 20 percent sodium hydroxide.

News Briefs: June 8, 2010
AOC promotes Lindberg, Marber; Composites One to distribute Zyvex materials; MAG endows engineering chair at Chinese university; Park wins Northrop Grumman supplier award, Smithers Rapra joins European natural fibers consortium.

Boatbuilder adopts styrene-free resin system
Houseboat fabricator Catamaran Cruisers reportedly has become the first manufacturer in the marine sector to adopt AOC LLC’s new trademarked Eco-Tek styrene-free resin technology,

News briefs: March 23, 2009
AOC donates DSC to University of Memphis; Boeing considers carbon fiber for 777 wings; Cook Composites and Polymers celebrates 20 years; Composite Resources hires Kevin Bialas and Mike Fuller; Composites One launches MIRteq; Exova receives Nadcap certification; HEATCON earns AS9100 certification; Interplastic increases resin prices; Park promotes Gregory Strand to VP of Aerospace Structures Engineering; PPG increases fiberglass prices; Kaman Helicopters to use VISTAGY's FiberSIM; Zyvax will sponsor SAMPE bridge and wing contest.

Composites 2010 Product Showcase
The ACMA’s Las Vegas exhibition reflected an industry in recovery.

Report from Detroit: NAIAS highlights
Electrics and hybrids make headlines, composites suppliers see hopeful signs after OEM restructuring.

News briefs: Feb. 23, 2010
AOC, Ashland, CCP increase resin prices; AVK calls for papers; Diversified Plastics achieves ISO 13485:2003 certification; Goldshield renews its ISO 9000 certification; RINA approves Scott Bader materials; Axel Seifert, Michael Skinner launch composites enabling business; University of Alabama at Birmingham announces 2010 composites conference.

News briefs: Feb. 16, 2010
Brian Parker, Emilio Oramas named to new positions at AOC; Composites One to sell SIKA epoxies; Fibre Glast launches new website; Tom Haulik joins Hexcel from Sigmatex; Scott Bader to distribute for METYX Composites in Europe; SeaGen tidal turbine passes 1,000 hours of operation; cancellation makes Wisconsin Oven system immediately available.

Composites community makes noise at Composites 2010
After a tough 2009, the mood at the Composites 2010 show in Las Vegas, Feb. 9-11, was cautiously optimistic; exhibitors showed that product innovation hasn't slowed.

News briefs: CT, February 2010
News from DSM, Gurit and AOC.

People briefs -- CT, December 2009
Hirings, promotions and other composites industry employment news.

News briefs -- Nov. 10, 2009
Fred Norman named COO of AOC; HGF Industries hires Mark Hartsky; BMCI hires Scott Henricks as technical sales engineer; William (Bill) Wood named president of Cytec's Engineered Materials business; EPTA soliciting pultrusion papers; Doug Still named national accounts sales manager at Gibson; Janicki launches new website; JB Martin Ltd. names Suzanne Hofford new business development manager.

AOC starts European production of vinyl esters
The resin supplier reports that its high-performance Vipel vinyl ester resins now will be offered from manufacturing facilities in Europe.

SPE's ACCE 2009 Show Preview
The Society’s 2009 Automotive Composites Conference & Exhibition charts an industry at a crossroads.

Researchers nano-enhance natural fiber
Mississippi State University uses nanoparticle impregnation to improve the performance of kenaf fiber in composites.

COMPOSITES+POLYCON 2009 Showcase
Despite the deepening recession, composites pros returned to the show in its new time slot to explore the wealth of products and services collected here.

Resin systems update: The greening of thermosets
 Thermoset resin formulators seek environmental benefits as customers demand reduced cost and increased performance.

One-piece molded truck body uses customized resin formulation
When General Motors Corp. (Flint, Mich. ) opted to update its small Astro cargo van in 2007 concurrent with the introduction of new Colorado and Canyon light truck platforms, customers talked and GM listened.

Composites ride and support the rails
Increased ridership and heavier axle loads on rail systems around the world signal a potential boon for composites. 

NAIA 2009 show highlights
The Detroit auto exhibition’s hybrid and electric vehicle introductions underscore the need for lightweighting with low investment cost, which composites can provide.

Casting resin for cultured marble
AOC's Vicast A830 is designed for high loadings in cultured marble applications.

Competitive to the core
 This new superyacht combines luxury innovations with energy-efficient construction, enabled by a new marine-grade balsa core.

ACMA calls for products for competition
The American Composites Manufacturers Association is calling for entries in its parts competition. Winners will be announced at COMPOSITES+POLYCON in 2009.

FRP forms enable fluted concrete column design
 The Century Project, a 42-story luxury condominium tower in Los Angeles, Calif. , designed by Robert A. M.

People Briefs - October 2008
 

News briefs -- Sept. 16, 2008
AOC announces management reorganization; Henkel wins sustainability award; SME issues call for speakers; TPI Composites adds personnel.

Automotive Composites: Taking Subjectivity out of Class A Surface Evaluation
 Toward the goal of more consistent, repeatable and quantifiable Class A surface analysis, automakers and systems suppliers are developing and employing automated surface inspection tools.

Composites Pick Up New Applications in Light Trucks
Long a bastion of steel, the tougher-duty pickup segment of the light truck market is warming to the benefits of composites.

Cast polymer concrete structures save city's sewers
Beneath its historic colonial charm, Charleston, S.C. had an underground sewer system in need of repair. Engineers at U.S. Composite Pipe (Alvarado, Texas) devised a solution that included unique cast polymer composite sewer interceptor structures — 10-ft/3m-diameter vertical access shafts that extend as far as 110

NAIA Show Highlights
The 2007 Detroit Auto Show emphasizes “green” themes and high performance.

Biz Brief: AOC LLC
Resin supplier AOC LLC (Collier, Tenn.) has increased its North American resin capabilities by obtaining a majority interest in a former 50/50 resin joint venture in Mexico. The new company is named AOC Mexico and includes a resin manufacturing facility in Nezahualcóyotl near Mexico City. Brian Parker has been

Composites Polycon 2007 Showcase
Tampa show attendance is up despite slow economy. ACMA reschedules 2008 show.

Hybrid bridge design employs composite beams
The Texas Dept. of Transportation (TxDOT) recently installed over a drainage ditch in Refugio County a new bridge that incorporates composite beams, replacing a single-span, steel girder bridge. Located 35 miles from Corpus Christi, the 50-ft/15.4m long, 32-ft/10m wide bridge is the state’s second to use

Carbon fiber buys its way onboard
First used in one-off yacht and powerboat designs, where cost is no obstacle in the search for a performance edge in local regattas or around-the-world races, carbon fiber has since carved a niche in categories that were once the exclusive reserve of glass-reinforced composites, metals or wood. In applications as

Composites Technology Digs-In Underground
The Underground Construction Technology Conference welcomes corrosion-resistant composites for underground infrastructure.

Innovation Driving Automotive SMC
New materials, methods and machinery are restoring sheet molding compound's preferred material status for automotive and heavy truck body panels.

FRP Two way Joist System The Answer For Cleanroom Concrete Flooring
When electronics giant Texas Instruments Inc. (TI, Dallas, Texas) spec'd the 200,000 ft2 (18,850m2) multistory cleanroom for its new semiconductor manufacturing facility, it needed to accommodate not only strict indoor air quality requirements but heavy structural loads as well. The cleanroom was designated as the

Detroit Auto Show a showcase for new composites applications
SMC makes a big comeback in production models, while carbon fiber sustains interest in high-end and aftermarket applications.

In-mold Preforming Cost-justifies Closed Molding
Computer-controlled robots spray preforms directly into the part tool, a running start for closed molding.

POLYCON 2005 Highlights
ICPA's "last" cast polymer industry show its best.

SPE Automotive Composites Conference Highlights
Highlights of the 4th annual Society of Plastics Engineers celebration of car composites.

Composite manufacturers thrive on products manufactured for the Automotive Aftermarket
Carbon and fiberglass accessories make up a big chunk of this multi-billion-dollar industry.

Composites Recreate Ultimate Alien
Largest-ever theme park ride icon comes to life in glass/epoxy laminates.

User-friendly resins expanding composites' reach
Novel niche formulas enable composites breakthroughs for new market applications, traditional material replacement.

Cast polymer materials
AOC LLC (Collierville, Tenn., U.S.A.) introduces three new products for the cast polymer market, which can be used for both cultured marble and onyx vanities, shower pans and other bath fixtures: Vicast A540-DHA-15 casting resin offers improved green strength and reduced color, and can be used in flat or contoured

Techonologies for UV curing of composite laminates demonstrated
Racing go-kart project demonstrates advances in UV processing of composites.

NAIA auto show spotlights pop-free SMC, cars with carbon fiber
Detroit auto exhibition spotlights pop-free SMC, cars with carbon fiber.

How Are Composite Bridges Performing?
Ongoing monitoring and inspection demonstrates that composite bridge decks meet or exceed expectations.

Vinyl Esters Make Tough Parts For Highly Corrosive Applications
An array of case studies showcases the growing acceptance of fiberglass/vinyl ester composites in harsh industrial environments.

JEC Composites 2003 SAMPE Europe Conference Review
Paris is the debut stage for a galaxy of composites industry innovations.