Lightning strike protection strategies for composite aircraft
Tried-and-true materials thrive, but new approaches and new forms designed to process faster are entering the marketplace.

U.S. crew and cargo candidate takes shape with composites
Crew-capable Dream Chaser to enable ISS transport missions from U.S.

Hexcel awarded prize by Safran
Hexcel's HexMC material was compression molded to create an engine control bracket that cuts weight by 75 percent compared to the metal version.

JEC Europe 2013: Highlights from the show
Despite a rare snowstorm on the first day that kept some attendees and exhibitors away, the JEC Europe 2013 show in Paris March 12-14 offered the usual glimpse at emerging technology and trends in composites.

Carbon fiber reinforcements
Hexcel

Biz Briefs: March 2013 HPC
Business briefs from Hexcel, Bell-Boeing, Gougeon Brothers, Airtech, Magnolia and M1 Composites Technology.

Press-molding method emulates autoclave
Rubber tool insert avoids consolidation pressure “dead zones” and slashes cost.

JEC Group hosts first U.S.-based expo in Boston in November 2012
Publisher and show organizer JEC Group (Paris, France) entered the American market in late 2012 with its inaugural JEC Americas show, Nov. 7-9 in Boston, Mass.

Hexcel materials used in winning Vendee Globe racing boats
First and second finishers in the round-the-world race set records, in boats made with Hexcel prepregs and cores.

Hexcel receives Boeing Supplier Award
The company maintains its Silver Composite Performance Rating for 2012.

Hexcel receives Airbus supplier award
The carbon fiber manufacturer and prepreg supplier receives the Silver award in the "Best Performer category at the recent Airbus Supply Chain and Quality Improvement Programme Award Day held in Toulouse.

HPC for Aircraft Interiors Conference review
Colocated with Aircraft Interiors Expo Americas, CompositesWorld’s High-Performance Composites for Aircraft Interiors Conference focused on ways to get more composites inside the aircraft.

Acoustical architecture: Making beautiful music
On the market for more than 40 years, composite musical instruments have advanced from a novelty to critical acclaim.

Highlights: SAMPE Tech 2012, Charleston, S.C.
SAMPE Tech 2012 was held in Charleston, S.C., USA, Oct. 22-25. CompositesWorld was there and offers a review of news and presentations from the conference.

2012 Farnborough International Airshow Report
The biennial U.K. air event delivered the clear message that the aerospace industry — and aerospace composites with it — continue to soar.

HPC in Aircraft Interiors at a glance
A quick look at the conference presentations tentatively scheduled for the 2012 HPC in Aircraft Interiors conference (Sept. 25-26, 2012; Seattle Wash.). Colocated witht he Aircraft Interiors Expo America (AIX) trade show, the conference is produced by CompositesWorld Conferences.

Tour de France racers feature Hexcel carbon fiber in wheels
Bicycle wheel manufacturer Corima, which supplied wheels to the ASTANA and SOJASUN teams, use Hexcel's HexPly prepregs and Primetex 12K carbon fiber reinforcements.

Hexcel joins Singapore aerospace consortium
Hexcel has joined Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research Aerospace Programme (A*STAR AP). Emphasis is on manufacturing, repair and overhaul for the Asia-Pacific region.

Wind turbine blades: Glass vs. carbon fiber
The problem: Produce wind power at a more competitive price. The answer? For some, it’s a more expensive reinforcement.

Integrated, optimized aircraft door
This composites manufacturer is betting its one-piece 3-D preform and RTM process will trim weight from today’s fastener-intensive “black aluminum” aircraft doors.

Hexcel opens German prepreg plant expansion
Hexcel has expanded prepreg capacity at its facility in Stade, Germany, to support increasing build rates for the Airbus A350 XWB and legacy programs.

Hexcel joins U.K. composites center
Hexcel joins Vestas, Airbus, GKN Aerospace and Roll-Royce, Augusta Westland and others as a member of the U.K.'s National Composites Center.

Hexcel, Web Industries collaborate to serve Europe, Middle East
Web Industries will convert Hexcel's HexPly carbon fiber prepreg into various formats of precision slit tape for use in high-performance automated fiber placement (AFP) of aerospace and other end markets.

Carbon fiber market: Gathering momentum
All signs point to increasing demand from many market sectors. Will capacity keep pace?

Forged composites replace complex metal parts
Powerhouse manufacturer’s high-pressure compression molding process forms prepregged CFRP components with forged-metal properties.

Hexcel, Snecma Propulsion Solide grant license to LIBA
Under the license, LIBA will manufacture machines for making sheets of multiaxial fiber by laying up unidirectional layers of material formed by spreading several spread tows of filaments.

Sikorsky names suppliers for S-97 RAIDER helicopter program
Sikorsky is self-funding two prototype S-97 RAIDER helicopters for evaluation by the U.S. military. The design is based on the X2, which features coaxial, counter-rotating main rotors.

Carbon fiber manufacturers in the news
Hexcel commissions two new carbon fiber production lines in Utah; Zoltek expands its St. Louis operations.

The Plane in Spain
Site tours provide a rare glimpse into the Iberian Peninsula’s aerospace composites sector, with a special focus on Airbus’ activities at Illescas.

Hexcel commissions two new carbon fiber lines in Utah
The two additional carbon fiber lines in Salt Lake City increases Hexcel's global carbon fiber output to 16 million lb of nameplate capacity.

Self-deployable, composite satellite boom
Researchers design and validate a boom made of ultrathin carbon-fiber/epoxy laminate, using a novel, highly accurate analysis method.

Hexcel reports material use in 787 Dreamliner
With delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner to launch customer ANA on Sept. 26, Hexcel reports on use of its HexMC and Accousti-Cap technology on the composites-intensive aircraft.

CW Conferences: A what and who preview
CompositesWorld Conferences director Scott Stephenson offers a brief preview of speakers and topics at upcoming CW Conferences.

A350 XWB update: Smart manufacturing
Spirit AeroSystems actualizes Airbus’ intelligent design for the A350’s center fuselage and front wing spar in Kinston, N.C.

PRSEUS preform for pressurized cabin walls
Over the next few years, NASA and The Boeing Co. (Chicago, Ill.) will build larger and more elaborate pressurized passenger cabin structures for future blended-wing airliners.

An out-of-autoclave progress report
CW Conferences director Scott Stephenson recalls Dale Brosius’ update on Quickstep’s out-of-autoclave work for the F-35 program.

2011 International Paris Air Show
At the 49th event, records are set for attendance and aircraft orders, and airframers go on record about composites-related developments.

NCAMP releases first material property data report
The National Center for Advanced Materials Performance (NCAMP) has released composite material property data, statistical analysis reports and material and process specifications for Hexply 8552 prepreg from Hexcel.

WINDPOWER 2011 Report
Wind energy advocates, turbine builders and their suppliers, policy makers, and a growing number of wind-involved composites professionals gather where it all began.

Tooling for composites: Evolutionary trajectory
New technologies and improved methods keep up as tools get bigger and more complex and toolmaking gets ever more challenging.

SAMPE 2011 Long Beach Product Showcase
Huge show, huge new product offerings … huge success.

Carbon fiber/PEEK takes hydraulic pump to new depths
A switch from metal to composites reduces weight, minimizes part deflection in ultradeep ocean installations.

Paris Air Show: Composites at the year's largest air show
Albany Engineered Composites, Fokker, Latecoere, Premium AEROTEC and others emphasized composite components and structures at this year's Paris Air Show. No word from Boeing, however, about the future of the 737.

New Briefs: June 7, 2011
Oxeon consolidates its spread tow products under TeXtreme brand name; Osborne Industries named Outstanding Supplier by Altec Industries; PPG-Devold earns ISO 9001:2008 certification; JD Lincoln receives 2010 Boeing Performance Excellence Award; Companies of North Coast receives performance award; Hexcel U.K. lab accredited for wind energy products.

Highlights: WINDPOWER 2011, Anaheim, Calif.
The American Wind Energy Association's annual WINDPOWER exhibition and conference was held in Anaheim, Calif., May 22-26. Composites were a big part of the show's focus.

Carbon Fiber 2011 conference set for Washington, D.C.
CompositesWorld's Carbon Fiber 2011 conference will be held Dec. 5-7 at the Washington Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C. The conference is soliciting speakers and presentations.

Nanotechnology: It's real
CompositesWorld's conference director Scott Stephenson reviews several recent conference presentations as evidence that nanocomposites are no longer just the stuff of dreams.

Microwave: An alternative to the autoclave?
Aerospace composites manufacturer GKN evaluates microwave oven practicality and cost-effectiveness.

Carrier-capable, all-composite external fuel tank
Legacy product positions builder for a shot at an F-35 contract.

JEC Paris highlights
The news from this annual Parisian in-gathering of composites professionals is heavily weighted toward automotive lightweighting.

JEC Composites 2011: Show highlights
Skies outside were gray but the atmosphere inside was all sunshine at the 2011 JEC Composites Show in Paris. Held March 29-31 at the Paris Expo in Porte de Versailles, the event’s upbeat buzz reflected the current upward trend in the composites industry.

Aeroindustryjobs: Jobs of the week, March 22, 2011
Aerospace job opportunities from Aeroindustryjobs.com at Eclipse Aviation, Coast Composites, HOS-Technik GmbH and Hexcel.

More Hexcel prepregs approved by Germanischer Lloyd
Hexcel's HexPly M9.6G and M19G carbon fiber/epoxy prepreg systems have been approved by Germanischer Lloyd for use in wind energy applications.

Carbon fiber market: Cautious optimism
As the recession recedes, the demand for carbon fiber, and the supply to meet it, will exceed prerecession expectations.

Antiballistics: Better defense, less expense
Armor applications grow on the strength of new markets, new composite materials.

Aeroindustryjobs: Jobs of the week, Feb. 8, 2011
Aerospace job opportunities from Aeroindustryjobs.com at Hexcel, TenCate and GKN Aerospace Services Structures Corp.

Hexcel launches redesigned website
Hexcel has organized product information on the new website into three distinct market areas: Aerospace and Defense; Wind Energy and Industries.

GKN A350 spar program update
Automated fiber placement to replace established tape laying/drape forming process for the composite rear spars on the new midsize commercial passenger jet.

New European study shows benefits of prepreg fabrication in wind blades
A Hexcel-initiated design study shows that use of prepreg in manufacture of wind blade spar caps could save 400 kg per spar cap compared to infusion processes.

Future combat helmet: Promising prototype
Tape laying, thermoforming methods hold hope for rapid coforming of thermoplastic shell and ballistic liner for U.S. Army’s future warfighter headgear.

Aeroindustryjobs: Jobs of the week, Oct. 26, 2010
Aerospace job opportunities from Aeroindustryjobs.com at Aldila Composite Materials, Hexcel, Matrix Composites, AAR Composites and Coast Composites.

Hexcel, Cytec financial reports point to ongoing recovery
Increased orders for composites-intensive commercial aircraft indicate that the aerospace market is rebounding.

Hexcel prepreg approved for wind use by Germanischer Lloyd
Hexcel says its HexPly carbon fiber unidirectional prepregs have been certified by Germanischer Lloyd for use in wind energy applications.

Spirit AeroSystems opens Kinston composite aerostructures plant
The 500,000-ft² facility in Kinston, N.C., will use composites to manufacture the 65-ft center fuselage section for the Airbus A350 XWB, as well as the 105-ft front wing spar.

Shared composite material property databases
Work at NCAMP is proceeding, with several new materials undergoing testing.

SAMPE 2010 Seattle Showcase
SAMPE’s first-ever foray into Boeing Country wrapped up with the M&P organization’s biggest draw this decade.

2010 SAMPE Europe/JEC Paris Showcase
Record crowds and reignited technological development testified to the composite industry’s renewed health and the recent recession’s demise.

Hexcel optimistic in its revised outlook
Hexcel says increased aircraft build rates and the ramp-up of new programs could lead to double-digit growth rates starting in the second half of 2010 and continuing for several years.

Clarification: Role of Toray and Hexcel in A350 production
Last week, Toray was erroneously reported to be supplier of prepreg for the A350; Hexcel is the supplier of carbon fiber composites for major primary structures on the A350.

JEC Composites Show 2010 Highlights
Despite the volcanic ash that clouded air travel, an eruption of new technology and new business did much to dispel the clouds of economic recession.

Hexcel announces intermediate modulus carbon fiber
HexTow IM10 carbon fiber exhibits a tensile strength of more than 1,010 ksi and a tensile modulus of 44 Msi.

Aeroindustryjobs: Jobs of the week, April 13, 2010
Aerospace job opportunities from Aeroindustryjobs.com at Hexcel, Cobham Composites and GE Aviation.

Orion re-entry system: Composites displace metal
World’s largest heat shield updates metal design with out-of-autoclave process.

Carbon Fiber 2010 set for La Jolla, Calif.
CompositesWorld's Carbon Fiber 2010 conference will be held Dec. 7-9, 2010, at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines Hotel in La Jolla, Calif. Speaker recruitment is under way.

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.

Carbon fiber market: Key suppliers offer post-recession predictions
Although Hexcel and Cytec both are optimistic about long-term prospects for carbon fiber and composites use, 2010 looks to be a plateau year overall.

A400M cargo door: Out of the autoclave
This structural military airframe part is the largest made to date via the vacuum-assisted resin infusion process.

Carbon Fiber: UP!
Despite 2008-2009 recession lows, prognosticators at CompositesWorld's recent Carbon Fiber Conference predict a decade of highs.

CNTs ride a rising tide of nanotech optimism
Dr. Louis Pilato offers facts, figures and comment on the growing utility of carbon nanotechnologies in composites applications.

Hexcel acquires license for Gurit's SPRINT technology
Hexcel will pay Gurit for the past and future use of Gurit’s SPRINT technology that is used in industrial prepregs.

Obama announces $2.3 billion in clean energy manufacturing tax credits
Beneficiaries include manufacturers involved in composites, including TPI Composites, Hexcel, and Vestas Wind Systems.

Hexcel carbon fiber on board A400M first flight
The A400M transporter features wing skins, stringers and secondary structures manufactured using Hexcel's HexPly M21 carbon fiber/epoxy prepregs.

Hexcel carbon fiber used in BMW roof
HexForce NC2 reinforcements have been selected by BMW for the inner structural layer of the carbon fiber roof of its M-series cars.

Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft proves large structure practicality
Dr. John Russell reports that the successful completion of a flying aircraft in the the Advanced Composite Cargo Aircraft program has demonstrated the holistic impact that composites technology can have on future aircraft development.

Hexcel composites featured in transatlantic race winners
Hexcel's carbon fiber prepregs were used in the mono and multihull class winners in the Jacques Vabre transatlantic race that recently finished in Costa Rica.

Hexcel names Nick Stanage president
Stanage joins Hexcel after serving as president of the Heavy Vehicle Products business of Dana Holding Corp.

Hexcel opens Malaysian office
Hexcel has established a new sales office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to support Hexcel’s customers in the Southern Asia Pacific region.

Hexcel opening new sales office in Malaysia
Increased composites business activity in Southeast Asia prompts the expansion for Hexcel.

Resins for the Hot Zone, Part II: BMIs, CEs, benzoxazines and phthalonitriles
Next-generation aerospace programs demand higher temperatures for structural and hot-section components, fostering advances in thermoset resin chemistry.

Modular composites: A perfect fit in new medevac helicopter
Bell Helicopter's new manufacturing parardigm replaces sheet metal with composites in a modular "snap fit" design.

Paris Air Show celebrates centenary
The 48th installment of the Paris Air Show, held June 15-21, represented the event’s 100th year, and organizers claimed a record number of exhibitors.

JEC COMPOSITES 2009 Product Showcase
Despite the doleful state of the global economy, the turnout in Paris — exhibitors and visitors — proved surprisingly strong.

Composites supplier Hexcel features aerospace structures at Paris Airshow
The carbon fiber, prepreg and core supplier's display at the Paris Airshow includes a wing spar demonstrator for the Airbus A350 XWB.

Hexcel named supplier of the year by Vestas Blades
Hexcel has provided prepreg composite materials to Vestas Blades for more than 15 years.

JEC Composites 2009 showcase
 Despite the doleful state of the global economy, the turnout in Paris — exhibitors and visitors — proved surprisingly strong.

SAMPE Europe/JEC highlights
The global economy might be on the wane, but there was little evidence of it at the annual SAMPE Europe conference and nearby JEC Composites Show in Paris.

Hexcel on hand for GKN groundbreaking
GKN's new composites facility in Filton, U.K., will produce spars for the Airbus A350 XWB using Hexcel's HexPly prepreg carbon fiber.

JEC Composites show produces flurry of composites news
Amber, Axson announce cooperation agreement; DSM, BÜFA launch two joint ventures; Hexcel will use Imperium ultrasonic cameras for NDI; Umeco reorganizes to create two primary business groups.

News briefs -- March 3, 2009
Ashland publishes sixth edition of thermoplastics processing handbook; European conference, May 6-7, will highlight composites use in aircraft structures; CRP seems poised to win European patent for Windform XT rapid manufacturing composite material; Charles Miller named president of Harper International; Doran Grosman named president of Hexcel; Miles Wind Sercies certifies 30 more wind energy technicians; Sartomer opens thermoplastics lab.

Prepreg, foam facilities planted to harvest wind blade business
Hexcel's newest glass prepreg plant will be located in Windsor, Colo., and provide material to Vestas for manufacture of wind blades.

Aircraft simulation gets composites aware
Rapid software evolution enables faster, better virtual solutions to complex composite design problems.

Thermoplastic composites: Inside story
Reinforced thermoplastics buy their way into structural aircraft interior components.

SAMPE Europe/JEC Composites 2009 preview
SAMPE Europe’s 30th annual spring conclave and the nearby JEC Composites Show characterize the latest in material and process technologies.

Hexcel wins Boeing supplier award for second time
Carbon and glass fiber supplier Hexcel has won Boeing's silver award for the second consecutive year.

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.

Supply and demand: Advanced fibers
Manufacturers of carbon and other advanced fibers respond to sustained composites industry growth with new fiber production capacity.

Tooling
The molds used for forming composites, also known as tools, can be made from virtually any material. But tooling costs and complexity increase as the part performance requirements, surface quality requirements and/or the number of parts to be produced increase.

Hexcel reportedly in talks to supply composites for Chinese jets
Carbon and glass fiber manufacturer Hexcel reportedly is in talks to with the Chinese to supply composites for use in a large commercial aircraft program.

Hexcel to build new plant in Windsor, Colo.
The glass prepreg facility will be located near a Vestas wind blade manufacturing plant.

Hexcel in talks to supply material for Chinese airplane
Reuters says Hexcel is in talks to supply composite materials for a Chinese large commercial jet manufacturing program.

Wind Blade Manufacturing: Targeting cost efficiency through materials-based strategies
The wind blade’s four key elements — the root, the spar, the aerodynamic shell or fairing, and the surfacing system — have present unique manufacturing challenges that must be met with carefully selected composite material systems and molding strategies.

Wind Blade Manufacturing, Part I: M and P innovations optimize production
 As demand for wind turbines reaches unprecedented levels, rotor blade manufacturers explore new production strategies, including automation and blade segmentation.

Composites stabilize space-based telescope
Composite Primary Mirror Backplane Support Structure to hold James Webb Space Telescope’s thermal stability within extremely tight 38-nm dimensional tolerance.

Shared composite material property databases
For more than a decade, NASA, FAA, industry and academia have been working toward the goal of creating a centralized composite material property database similar to that for metals. Their efforts, while productive, have not come with the war-like strength that the standardization of metals did. The composites industry is guided by Composite Materials Handbook 17 or CMH-17 (formerly known as MIL-HDBK-17).

Hexcel scales back production in wake of Boeing strike
The strike by Boeing machinists has frozen work and forced Hexcel to scale back production of composite materials for the aircraft manufacturer.

Hexcel to locate new U.S. prepreg facility in Colorado
Hexcel (Dublin, Calif.) announced in its July 22 second quarter earnings report that it will establish a new glass prepreg plant in the state of Colorado to support the North American wind turbine blade industry. The new plant reportedly will begin production in the second half of 2009. Michael Bacal, a spokespers

Prepreg forecast: Strong growth through 2013
 Prepreg applications are on the rise in the composites industry as manufacturers in a variety of industries increasingly adopt this versatile material. Today, prepregs find use in commercial aerospace, military/defense, general aviation, space/satellite, marine, sporting goods, automotive, civil engineering, wind

2008 Farnborough Airshow Report
 This biennial aerospace showcase underscores the ascendancy of composites in airframes and jet engines.

ATL and AFP: Signs of evolution in machine process control
Improved machine-control software, placement accuracy and design simulation have made automated fiber placement and tape laying machines truly production-worthy. The evolution, however, still continues.

Aviation Outlook: Composites in commercial aircraft jet engines
Airlines' need for fuel-efficient flight provides the thrust behind composite lightweighting strategies in jet engine manufacturing.

SAMPE ’08 technology showcase
Billed as the world’s largest advanced materials trade event, SAMPE’s 2008 Symposium and Exhibition returned to Long Beach.

Hexcel to locate glass prepreg plant in Colorado
The facility will provide glass pregreg for North American customers in the wind energy manufacturing industry.

JEC COMPOSITES 2008 show review
Composites professionals converged on this annual Parisian gathering in greater numbers than ever before, confident that the market’s global growth will continue.

Flying high on composite wings
FRP wings, fuselages and other primary and secondary structures on GA prop, turboprop and jet aircraft help lift this market to unprecedented heights.

Polyurethane foam
Hexcel (Dublin, Calif.) has introduced Modipur 5-3-0, a two-component polyurethane foam system that allows the manufacture of skis and snowboards that weigh less than 3 kg/6.61 lb in less than 5 minutes. The company’s Modipur range includes rigid, semiflexible and integral foams with closed or open cell structures.

TechFab Changes Name, Forms Alliance With Denso North America
TechFab LLC (Anderson, S.C.) announced on Jan. 21 that the company has officially changed its name to Chomarat North America. Effective Jan. 3, 2008, Chomarat North America will consolidate the ongoing operations and business activities of TechFab LLC and Rovicore LLC into a single corporate commercial entity. Bruce

Aligned discontinuous fibers come of age
Discontinuous but aligned carbon fibers are proving formable and formidable in high-performance, compound-curvature applications.

Carbon/BMI and carbon foam form Invar alternative
For years, Invar steel has been the material of choice for tooling that must endure repeated autoclave cycling in volume part production. Invar's disadvantage is its relatively high density and resulting large mass. As processors move away from hand layup and toward automated fiber and tape placement, there is a

Focus on Design: Composite Engine Subframe a Popular Option on Open-Cockpit Supercar
Carbon/epoxy version of the standard steel subframe meets performance goals and reduces vehicle weight in Lamborghini’s coupé-to-convertible conversion program.

JEC COMPOSITES 2007 Product Showcase - 7/1/2007
The annual Paris conclave showcases the global expansion of composites.

SAMPE 2007 Baltimore
The SAMPE Symposium’s cross-country move proves a welcome boon to East Coast suppliers and composites professionals.

JEC Composites 2007 Product Showcase
This year’s Parisian exhibition provides key evidence of the composites industry’s unprecedented breadth and technical sophistication.

Boeing 787 Update
Approaching rollout and first flight, the 787 relies on innovations in composite materials and processes to hit its targets

JEC COMPOSITES 2007 Highlights
Advanced composites make notable marks not only in traditional aerospace apps, but in automotive, sport and infrastructure arenas as well.

Engineering Insights: Have Surfboard, Will Travel
This two-piece surfboard for the world traveler clamps together for seamless world-class performance.

Market Trends: The Composites Affordability Initiative, Part I
The Air Force Research Laboratory's Dr. John Russell outlines the U.S. Department of Defense Composites Affordability Initiative. Part I of a two-part series.

Hexcel sells share of joint venture company
Hexcel (Dublin, Calif. ) has sold its 50 percent interest in the joint venture company TechFab LLC (Anderson, S. C.

In Situ Manufacturing: Pipe Relining in Demanding, Corrosive Environments
Onsite technology offers continuous manufacture and insertion of new high-performance pipe, without excavation and replacement.

Composite spoilers brake Airbus for landing
New RTM'd carbon composite center hinge fitting withstands 20-ton air load in commercial jet spoiler assembly.

JEC Composites 2006 Product Showcase - 7/1/2006
Advanced composites continue to lead the economic upswing in the composites industry.

Lightning Strike Protection For Composite Structures
Composite structures are more vulnerable to damage than metal, but today's LSP products offer proven protection.

Tooling And Toolmaking Innovations Continue
New products and practices advance the efficiency and economy of advanced composite part production.

Autoclave Quality Outside The Autoclave?
Pioneers of out-of-autoclave processing in aerospace applications answer a qualified but enthusiastic Yes!

An update on composite tanks for cryogens
More automation, improved materials bring composite fuel tanks for space applications closer to reality.

Composites in Light-Sport Aircraft
The Federal Aviation Admin.'s Light-Sport Aircraft designation promotes growth in the manufacture of composite recreational aircraft.

Paris Air Show Report 2005
The 46th edition of the world's largest aircraft industry event provides a fitting showcase of composites industry gains.

A technological brake for the carbon supply roller coaster?
Henrik Olofsson is a co-founder and the business development manager of Oxeon AB (Västra Frölunda, Sweden). He holds an MS in mechanical engineering from Chalmers University of Technology and a BS in business economics and management from the School of Economics and Commercial Law, Gothenburg University (both in

Designing for dimensional stability in space
The accuracy of orbiting instruments depends on skillfully designed and manufactured composite components.

SAMPE Europe/JEC Composites 2005
Advanced materials reap rewards, enter new arenas of application in annual Parisian showcase.

Repair Of Infrastructure With Composites
Composites prove their mettle in large, demanding repairs and rehab.

At the top and still climbing
Trek Bicycles' OCLV manufacturing method shortens cycle times and optimizes compaction in molded carbon fiber-bike frame components.

Composites take off ... in some civil helicopters
Slowed by certification requirements, composites nevertheless are finding their way into the fuselages and rotor blades of commercial helicopters.

Are high-temp thermosets ready to go commercial?
Developed for the U.S. military, these high-performance matrices are branching out into wider use.

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.

Airline maintenance facility cuts repair costs while improving part quality
Delta TechOps uses simulation software to standardize repair procedures and bring work back in-house.

Nacelle manufacturers optimize hand layup and consider closed molding methods
Focused on optimizing traditional hand layup, nacelle and thrust reverser manufacturers cast an eye on future use of automation and closed molding.

Carbon fiber/epoxy wheels developed to replace metal wheels on large freight trailers
Semi-trailers roll lighter with Prins Dokkum's carbon fiber Dynawheels.

Liquid Composite Molding Achieves Aerospace Quality
Improvements in materials, tooling and process control bring RTM and VARTM into the realm of aerospace components.

Getting To The Core Of Composite Laminates
A wealth of low-cost core solutions are available for high-performance sandwich structures.

Designing The Chanute Aerobatic Aircraft
Finite element modeling speeds development time and reduces uncertainty.

Carbon Composites for Sports Cars and Mass Market Cars
A confluence of market demand, new product development and competition among automakers fuels growth in use of carbon fiber composites.

New Approaches To Cost-effective Tooling
New methods, materials and philosophies add up to tooling innovations.

Towpreg Proves Cost-competitive For Wound Pressure Vessels
Design group's new winding option streamlines new pressure vessel development.

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

AGATE Methodology Proves Its Worth
Increased availability, lower testing costs and shorter development times are among the program's achievements.

Light-sport Plane Category Creates Take-off Point For Composites
Composites manufacturers and suppliers — and pilots — benefit from new FAA aircraft designation.

New Options In Personal Ballistic Protection
Emerging materials and processing techniques expand choices for manufacturers of vests, helmets and shields.