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Innovation Award finalists revealed for JEC World 2024

Returning to the international composites trade show are the Innovation Awards, representing up to 33 finalists in 11 categories that highlight composites innovation excellence and fruitful collaborations.

JEC World 2024 spotlights composites sustainability, innovation

This past year’s JEC Innovation Planets and awards are returning, with new opportunities like Country on Stage, a Building & Infrastructure Planet and more villages dedicated to specific aspects of the industry.

TPI Composites, UT advance recycled glass fiber yarn development

In Phase II, industrial textile manufacturing methods and equipment will be used to scale the process and optimize the properties of the recycled yarn, leading to eventual commercialization.

Orbital Composites licenses AMCM technology

Additive manufacturing compression molding (AMCM), co-developed with ORNL, combines robotic AM and continuous fiber technologies to revolutionize high-volume composites manufacturing.

People in composites: April 2023

Concordia Engineered Fibers, Nawa Technologies, IACMI, Joby Aviation and Akarmak America have made new personnel announcements in April 2023.

IACMI receives funding renewal from U.S. DOE to continue composites R&D

Over the next five years, IACMI aims to further composites R&D efforts to support U.S. decarbonization and its pillars: technology, economy and workforce development.

JEC Composites presents 2023 Innovation Award finalists

This year’s 30 Innovation Award finalists representing 11 categories portray excellence in composites innovation and fruitful collaboration.

The state of recycled carbon fiber

As the need for carbon fiber rises, can recycling fill the gap?

IACMI names Chad Duty as CEO

Duty will fully assume his new role as CEO in April 2023, while continuing his position as an engineering professor at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

People in Composites: August 2022

New hires, appointments and promotions have been announced by KraussMaffei Corp., IACMI, French Oil Mill, IntegriCo, Exel Composites, ASM International and Revved Industries.

Mito Material Solutions cuts ribbon on new facility in Indianapolis

The graphene additive developer, which serves sporting goods and other composites markets, grows its capabilities with a new facility that includes in-house R&D and testing space.

IsoTruss donates two carbon fiber cell towers to Learning Alliance

Donation supports telecom workforce development initiative to train telecom tower climbers on lightweight, durable IsoTruss lattice structures fabricated with carbon fiber.

UAMMI announces composites 202 class in September

The free class takes place at the Davis Technical College – Applied Science Building in Utah on Sept. 27, 2022, covers available composite materials, their advantages, disadvantages and applications, and six different processes.

IsoTruss receives USDA funding award for rural broadband project

Resilient composite mobile cell sites to provide more sustainable and versatile network access across rural locations.

Moving toward next-generation wind blade recycling

Suppliers, fabricators and OEMs across the composite wind blade supply chain ramp up existing technologies, develop better reclamation methods and design more recyclable wind blades.

IACMI, N.C. A&T State University to lead DOD regional machine tool workforce training center

America’s Cutting Edge (ACE) hub aims to revitalize and close the skills gap for the U.S. machine tool industry, and from there, advanced manufacturing capabilities.

Composites One finalizes agenda for “From Space to Sea” composites workshop

The free, two-day event occurring mid-April will host live demonstrations and presentations geared toward a wide range of experience levels, from professionals to students.

IACMI names Dale Brosius as Interim CEO

Effective April 1, Brosius will take on the new interim role while continuing his roles as CCO, Executive Director of the IACMI Consortium and chair of the IACMI Consortium Council.

Can 3D printing debottleneck prototype tool production?

Preliminary IACMI/ORNL study evaluates viability of using polymer additive tooling to compression mold SMC.

Composites One opens registration for advanced materials workshop in April 2022

“Space to Sea: Composites Are Changing the Way We Make Parts” is a free, two-day session to be led by Composites One, the Closed Mold Alliance and IACMI.

John Hopkins announces he will be stepping down as IACMI CEO

Under Hopkins’ leadership, IACMI has expanded its footprint and elevated its reputation for advancing composites manufacturing and applications.

Envisioning high-volume, 100% composite wheels

Vision Wheel debuted its first carbon fiber composite wheel at CAMX 2021, claiming its low-cost, high-volume process can be scaled up for performance vehicles, UTVs and — ultimately — passenger EVs.

Carbon fiber in automotive: At a dead end?

For decades, carbon fiber has failed to break through into mainstream automotive applications as the composites industry has hoped it would. Alternative composite applications suggest future opportunities still remain bright.

SAMPE North America to host Materials Innovation & Advanced Technology Leadership Forum

The Jan. 26-27, 2022, conference held in Huntington Beach, Calif., convenes composites stakeholders from a variety of end markets to address the industrialization of composites manufacturing.

IACMI highlights new program, workforce developments

IACMI covers collaborations for a Center for Composite and Hybrid Materials Interfacing (CHMI), the development of a regional talent development strategy and establishment of a learning network to develop the industry’s workforce.

Volkswagon launches new research collaboration with ORNL, University of Tennesse, Knoxville

Projects involve integration of advanced functional materials, novel recycling and wireless charging concepts to support electric mobility and sustainable transportation.

NREL explores novel manufacturing approach for next-generation wind turbine blades

3D printing of thermoplastic blades enables thermal welding and improves recyclability, offering the potential to reduce turbine blade weight and cost by at least 10%, and production cycle time by 15%.

IACMI Members Meeting reconnects members, discusses road ahead

Oct. 5-7 in Detroit, Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) members presented automotive R&D and discussed industry trends.

SAMPE names 2021 Young Professional of the Year, North American Award winners

Young Professional of the Year award recognizes the achievements of those who have graduated from university and are under the age of 35. North American Award winners reflect those who have succeeded in delivering on SAMPE’s mission.

GE, LM, NREL complete successful automated blade finishing trials

Pilot project started in 2020 leverages knowledge of advanced composites processing together with sensing, robotics and automation for low-cost solutions to boost throughput by 30%.

Composites AM research targets wind energy

The U.S. DOE, universities and industry leaders ramp up new efforts and funding to develop 3D-printed composite wind blade molds and end-use blade components.

SPE ACCE announces call for student poster competition abstracts

Annual competition invites grad, undergrad, community college and high school students to submit poster topics on innovative composite technologies for automotive and ground transportation.

New Tennessee FRP bridge to promote composites use for rural infrastructure

Embedded fiber-optic sensors to give IACMI and industry partners critical performance and safety data of composite bridge deck, promote federal, state and local adoption of composites.

Thermoplastic tapes reinforced with textile-based PAN carbon fiber

IACMI project trials inline production of thermoplastic tapes reinforced with textile-based PAN carbon fiber.

Bilsing expands aerospace composites capabilities with 3D tape laying equipment

Conbility PrePro 3D system will be used to produce components for aircraft interior galleys, seats and overhead bins.

Episode 36: Dale Brosius and Uday Vaidya, IACMI

IACMI’s Dale Brosius and Uday Vaidya talk about the first five years of the organization, how it has evolved and what the future might hold as IACMI continues its quest to help drive composite materials and process growth.

NREL, Arkema research recyclable, thermoplastic composite wind turbine blades

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory and partners aim to develop more sustainable, longer-lasting turbine blades that are less expensive to manufacture.

Hybrid, large-format additive tooling: Lighter, faster, less costly molds for big parts

Additively manufactured cores, CFRP face skins produce large tools for prototype, low-volume aerostructure parts.

Dassault Systèmes, Purdue establish center of excellence

The 3DEXPERIENCE Education Center of Excellence in Advanced Composites at Purdue University aims to educate the next-generation workforce and accelerate Industry 4.0.

Composite One webinar: Careers in composites

Composite One is co-hosting an upcoming webinar titled, “Careers in Composites: Building Today for the Future of Manufacturing,” on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT (1:00-2:00 p.m. CST).

Carbon Fiber NOW registration is open

CompositesWorld’s annual Carbon Fiber conference, renamed Carbon Fiber NOW and moved completely online for 2020, has opened registration and posted the agenda for the event.

IACMI launches workforce development initiative

The program, Elevate by IACMI, will serve as an initiative to bring together the diverse stakeholders and partners in the advanced manufacturing workforce development field.

IACMI supports UT-designed face shield production

The UT Shield features lightweight frame and clear plastic that is reusable and easily cleaned for incoming students, faculty and staff.

Utah selected as a Defense Manufacturing Community

The selection will bolster Utah’s growing aerospace, defense and manufacturing industry, and its plan to focus on carbon composites and advanced materials.

IACMI collaboration aims to develop carbon fiber for hydrogen storage tanks

The $2.7 million U.S. Department of Energy funding supports the vision for affordable hydrogen production, storage distribution and use.

DOE announces funding for projects supporting composites for vehicle applications

Composite recipients Ford and GM will develop a multi-functional cross-car beam and volume manufacturing of structural battery enclosures.

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.

Developing new solutions for noise, vibration and harshness

Several recent IACMI partner projects focus on technology innovation related to challenges in noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) in vehicle design.

Developing new solutions to multimaterial joining

Several recent IACMI partner projects focus on technology innovation related to challenges in multimaterial joining for the wind and automotive sectors.

Enabling a circular economy approach to advanced composites innovation, manufacturing and use, Part 2

IACMI chief technology officer Uday Vaidya reflects on IACMI’s role in improving composites’ recyclability and reusability.

Enabling a circular economy approach to advanced composites innovation, manufacturing and use, Part 1

In part 1 of a two-month column, IACMI chief technology officer Uday Vaidya reflects on the organization’s efforts to reduce the embodied energy of composites.

CompositesWorld and IACMI renew media partnership through 2021

The media partnership is a commitment by both parties to continue working together to support a growing advanced composites industry.

Volkswagen, ORNL, UT collaborate on innovation hub

Initial work at Volkswagen’s first North American innovation hub will focus on developing composite vehicle components and electrification of vehicles.

IACMI Winter 2020 Meeting

The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) held its winter meeting in Dayton, Ohio, U.S. January 21-23, updating its membership on the public-private institute's efforts to accelerate composites design and manufacturing.

IACMI awarded grant to expand U.S. defense manufacturing workforce

Through a $5 million grant, IACMI and partners will scale up Davis Technical College’s composites training program to multiple U.S. locations.

IACMI: Driving innovation in the advanced composites industry

Since its start in 2015, the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) has come a long way in its mission of advancing composites innovation. CTO Uday Vaidya reflects on the past five years.

Composites One to present advanced composites workshop

In partnership with the Closed Mold Alliance and IACMI, Composites One will present an advanced composites workshop on Nov. 6 in Clearfield, Utah, U.S.

Carbon fiber/epoxy for automotive mass reduction, mass production

IACMI precompetitive research explores carbon fiber-reinforced prepreg, SMC with novel matrix for structural passenger-car applications.

Composites industry events to highlight thermoplastics, defense, space

A roundup of news about events in the composites industry, including the TPRC’s thermoplastics conference and events from Composites UK, ACMA and more.

IACMI SMC Workshop: From What to Why

Introductory course teaches students about composition, characteristics, benefits of sheet-molding compound.

Robert C. Byrd Institute launches Composite Technician Apprenticeship program

In partnership with IACMI, the new program will provide composites manufacturing training for a variety of industries.

National Composites Week takes place Aug. 26-30

Each day features a different theme celebrating the composites manufacturing industry.

Innovate UK and IACMI composite competition now open

The U.K.-based competition will award funding for disruptive composite technologies.

IACMI to host training workshop with Composites One, Closed Mold Alliance

The workshop will be held at the Composite Prototyping Center on June 11-12, 2019.

IACMI to host two-day SMC workshop

The “SMC 101: From What to Why” workshop, led by industry leader Jim Plaunt, will take place at IACMI SURF from August 21-22, 2019.

Composites One and IACMI to host two-day workshop

The workshop, called “the Evolution of Composites,” will be held March 20-21 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., U.S.

IACMI, Abaris host collaborative training workshops

The IACMI/Abaris workshops are aimed at mitigating the critical skills gap in the composites technical industry and growing a skilled composites workforce nation-wide.

KRÜSS Scientific Instruments joins IACMI

The organizations plan to use their combined networks to further research in surface science.

IACMI showcases composites at North American International Auto Show

The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation is showcasing composites innovations in lightweighting at the 2019 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) Jan. 14-17.

IACMI Scale-Up Research Facility to host Compression Molding Workshop

Workshop aims to enable OEMs and fabricators seeking to expand composites penetration in automotive and other end markets.

Musings on my first CAMX

Insights and inspiration from the 2018 Composites and Advanced Materials Expo which was held in Dallas, TX, US last week.

IACMI consortium aims to close the loop on automotive carbon fiber prepreg scrap

Carbon fiber recycling start up Vartega leads a project to close the loop on automotive carbon fiber prepreg manufacturing scrap for use in new automotive applications.

Globe, UDRI announce Composites Technology Center

Composites Technology Center to support materials/process development and applications development/demonstration projects for multiple markets.

IACMI and ORNL showcase additive manufacturing advancements at IMTS

Demonstration followed the journey of an additively manufactured metal die as it was 3D printed, machined and used to mold advanced composite parts.

Utah Lt. Governor to make keynote address at composites workshop

The Fly Away with Composites workshop will be held August 21-22 at Davis Technical College in Clearfield, UT, US.

People on the Move: August 2018

CW’s monthly roundup of people on the move in the composites industry.

IACMI announces collaborative smart composite pressure vessel project

The goal of the collaboration is to develop structurally predictable, low-cost smart composite pressure vessels (SCPVs) with integrated health-monitoring.

Sustainable thermoplastics and additive manufacturing alliance forms in Colorado

Vartega, the Colorado Cleantech Industries Association and a group of industry and academic partners have founded an Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing Infrastructure Development and Education (AMIDE) Alliance.

Abaris to relocate advanced composites training operation to Composite Prototyping Center

New base for Abaris’ East Coast operations will allow the company to expand beyond its current curriculum.

IACMI, DuPont, Fibrtec and Purdue University explore new thermoplastics manufacturing process

New carbon fiber composite manufacturing process exhibits improved fabric formability characteristics compared to traditional woven materials.

The spread of spread tow

Advancing from “lighter and thinner” to boosting strength, stiffness, impact resistance and productivity, spread tow unlocks new applications and markets.

People on the Move: April 2018

CW’s monthly roundup of people on the move in the composites industry.

Service & repair: Optimizing wind power’s grid impact

As wind farms surge into the electrical mainstream, a fast-growing industry works to maximize the service lives of the composite blades that harvest the power of the wind.

Composites One and IACMI partner for Road2Composites workshop

The Road2Composites Workshop will take place in Detroit, April 17-18.

Michelman to partner with AZL Aachen GmbH

Michelman’s latest move is part of its partnership strategy to further advance and improve composite development throughout the industry.

John Hopkins named permanent CEO of IACMI

Hopkins had been serving as interim CEO since September 2017. The “interim” tag was removed at the IACMI winter membership meeting on Jan. 16.

IACMI accepting applications for 2018 internship program

The internship program, now in its third year and with nearly 40 previous participants, launched in 2016 as part of the IACMI mission to cultivate the next generation of technology leaders and foster interest in low-cost, energy-efficient manufacturing technologies.

Students develop composite sled prototype

IACMI enables art-to-part composite sled prototype project with University of Tennessee, Knoxville engineering students

Composites and Industry 4.0: Where are we?

As the tide of the Fourth Industrial Revolution rolls in, how will composite manufacturers ride the wave?

IACMI officially opens new innovation facility in Detroit

Two years in the works, the IACMI Vehicles Scale-Up Facility offers the automotive industry a composite materials and manufacturing development innovation center.

IACMI announces 2017 internship class

Fourteen students will work at IACMI partner institutions in Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Colorado. Seven more internships will be announced in the fall.

CRTC and IACMI to develop advanced carbon recycling equipment

Thanks to a new contract with IACMI, the CRTC will pioneer ways to automate processing of carbon prepreg scrap. This technology breakthrough is essential so recycled carbon fiber can be processed in high volumes, says CRTC.

Episode 2: Bryan Dods, IACMI

The second episode of CW Talks: The Composites Podcast is an interview with Bryan Dods, CEO of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI).

Composites recycling: Gaining traction

Recycling of carbon fiber, glass fiber and — at last — resins, is growing as new players enter the space.

SMC: Old dog, new tricks

A sheet molding compound renaissance highlights new reinforcements, new fillers, new matrices, new opportunities.

Earth Stewardship: The future of composites development

Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnerships holds great promise for advanced composites.

Metal + composite = Less weight, more room

Global supplier develops scaled design approach for metal/composite hybrids in highly loaded automotive applications.

The power of personal connections

CW columnist and IACMI chief commercialization officer Dale Brosius suggests that composites industry “old-timers” need to figure out a better way to connect to the generations that are entering the composites workforce.

Follow the leader — or maybe not

The easy explanation for lack of proliferation of carbon composites is the “not invented here” syndrome.

Get ready for Composites 4.0!

It might seem like science fiction, but it must be our path if we are to make composites competitive.

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.

University of Delaware announces composite medal award winners

The medal is to recognize outstanding achievement in the field of composite materials.

In defense of glass fiber

Given the hype around carbon fiber, CW columnist Dale Brosius says it's easy to overlook the importance and future of glass fiber.

Can we make recycled carbon fiber “sexy”?

Although we have methods to create useful product forms from recovered fiber, creating demand for those products will require new entrepreneurial effort.

IACMI – One insider’s perspective

A CW columnist, a composites industry consultant and the chief commercialization officer for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (Knoxville, TN, US), Dale Brosius asks, “What if we took a ‘big hat’ approach to reach faster, more cost-effective solutions?”

Alternative precursor R&D: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL, Oak Ridge, TN, US) has been at the forefront of North American research into alternatives to the polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor used to make aerospace-grade carbon fiber.

Alternative precursor R&D: Lignin in the lightweighting limelight

This abundant, renewable resource shows promise as an alternative to PAN for low-cost, functional carbon fibers.

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