The markets: Oil and gas (2021)
Composites continue to play a critical role in onshore hydraulic fracturing, and thermoplastic composites are on the rise for deepwater pipelines.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
Hybrid metal composite four-disc milling cutter reduces machining times by 78%
CompoTech and Hofmeister steel and carbon fiber tool achieves 50% faster cutting speed and 54% higher feed rate compared to conventional two-disc tools.
The industrialization of thermoplastic epoxy
Fast-processing composites that are strong yet tough, thermoformable, reformable, recyclable and even FST-compliant save cost in aircraft and rail equipment.
Eastman Machine appoints TeCS as U.K. representative
TeCS has established an Eastman technical demonstration facility inside composites specialist Kamm Projects Ltd. in Newcastle, U.K.
High-rate, automated aerospace RTM line delivers next-gen spoilers
At Spirit AeroSystem’s Prestwick facility in Scotland, a glimpse of the future of aerocomposites manufacturing in a resin transfer molding line for A320 spoilers.
Fiberglass composites enable lighter, sturdier COVID-19 testing booth design
Canada-based Imagine Fiberglass’ IsoBooth station is designed to eliminate the need for PPE by healthcare workers testing patients for COVID-19.
Engel, Fill develop automated cell for thermoplastic composites
The system combines a tape-laying cell with a consolidation unit to produce fit-for-purpose blanks with 15-30 tapes in 1-minute intervals.
The markets: Sports and recreation (2021)
The use of lightweight and high-performance composite materials in sports equipment continues to increase.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
Fibreworks Composites launches sister firm Composite Factory
Composite Factory will be ISO AS9100-certified and offer build-to-print, quick-turn prototype and pre-production fabrication of composite parts and structures.
F-35 Lightning program adopts closed molding technology
Reduced manufacturing time and high part-to-part dimensional repeatability are some benefits of Matrix Composites’ HiRPM molding technology.
Racing to build tomorrow’s automotive composites workforce
Recent graduates share experiences gained from collegiate automotive design, engineering and motorsport competition Formula SAE.
Ascent Aerospace invests in large-format AM machine
The LFAM machine will enable fabrication and delivery of production-ready fixtures and molds at significantly reduced lead-times.
Composites speed concrete facade fabrication
The 45-story One South First building, on the 11-acre Domino Park campus in Brooklyn, N.Y., features a geometrically complex concrete facade made, in part, with composite molds fabricated using large-format additive manufacturing.
Coriolis Composites and Edixia develop inline inspection for AFP
Video and discussion of how the sensor and software operate to boost composites productivity
The markets: Utility infrastructure (2021)
Corroded metal infrastructure continues to be a problem, and composite materials, including new advancements in graphene nanotubes, are providing solutions.
Hannah Mason
Associate Editor, CompositesWorld
Hyperjoint: additive metal + composites = stronger, tougher joints
Eliminates drilling holes with lap shear 60% higher than bolted joints and almost twice that of bonded joints.
Siemens, Comau offer integrated robot/CNC control solution
The jointly offered system enables Comau robot kinematics to be fully integrated into a Siemens CNC system.
Composites suppliers, fabricators respond to coronavirus
Companies across the composites industry supply chain share how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting their businesses, and how they are available to help.
Novel prepreg for compression molding in RAPM
Solvay and Boeing combine aerospace performance with process knowledge for high-rate, low-cost composites production.
YG-1 solid-carbide routers designed for faster composites machining
Four new solid-carbide fiberglass routers have been launched for CNC or hand routers to handle everyday composite machining.
Tooling, precision enable composites in satellite subsystems
Tight tolerances drive design and engineering of large-format composite component and dishes to create unique satellite structures.
Composites-intensive masterwork: 2020 Corvette, Part 2
Innovative composite materials trim mass, costs and noise on the high-volume mid-engine sports car.
Peggy Malnati
Contributing Writer
Thermwood's LSAM 1010 offers lower-cost, walled large-scale additive option
The LSAM 1010 uses the walls from the company’s larger LSAM systems with the gantry, control and sub-systems from the similarly-sized LSAM MT.
3D printing large composite molds with a 5-axis CNC machine
Hungarian manufacturer uses CEAD Robot Extruder to cut composite tooling time and cost.
Rockwood Composites, Leonardo produce 10,000th blade for Eurofighter Typhoon
The delivery of the 10,000th blade for the towed decoy on Leonardo’s defense aircraft marks 10 years of partnership for the companies.
Revolutionizing the composites cost paradigm, Part 1: Feedstock
Highly-aligned, short-fiber Tailorable Universal Feedstock for Forming achieves aerospace properties, metal-like formability in zero-waste, fiber-to-parts pilot plant.
Kanfit coping with COVID-19 and managing growth using Composites 4.0 systems
Bluetooth sensors and AI track parts and tools, save time and suggest production line improvements.
IPCO introduces powder, fiber scattering system
The company’s double-belt presses and scattering systems provide an efficient solution for the continuous production of a range of materials.
