Past, Present and Future

Out of Autoclave

The Rubik’s Cube of working efficiently with different composite materials

Each member of an aerospace OEM’s supply chain works on a different side of the project, ultimately driving toward the same goal: a better composite-intensive aircraft.

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Aerospace

Riding the rollercoaster that is the aerospace industry

The Boeing’s 787 and the Airbus A350 XWB plunged the commercial aerospace supply chain into a period of instability from which it has only just emerged. The next generation of commercial aircraft production promises to be just as tumultuous.

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Infrastructure

Natural fiber composites: What’s holding them back?

Natural fiber reinforcements have been available for some time, but factors such as compatibility with current processes and geographic availability continue to limit widespread use.

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Aerospace

Can the aerospace industry regain its ability to "try"?

TPI Composites’ Steve Nolet reflects on the strides that composites in the aerospace industry have made in the past fifty years, while also wondering if the industry could regain the space race era desire to test limits.

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Autoclave

3D printing is missing the third dimension

Emerging processes like continuous fiber manufacturing, in-situ consolidation and tool-less manufacturing are bringing composite 3D printing into the third dimension.

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Aerospace

Aerospace outlook: A dynamic, evolving supply chain and market

With major new aircraft programs on the horizon, the aerospace industry is looking to reduce costs and increase efficiencies.

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Aerospace

Innovation in SMC: A long history and great potential

Manufacturer’s representative Steve Brown reflects on the history of sheet molding compound (SMC) development and lessons he has learned from working with companies through the process.

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Wind/Energy

Global offshore wind – the new frontier for composites

Offshore wind projects around the world provide new opportunities for composites suppliers.

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Reinforced phenolics: Still disruptive after all these years

Fiber-reinforced phenolics could be a key enabler of a coming automotive industry disruption.

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Autoclave

Thermoplastic composites in aerospace – the future looks bright

The real impediment to use of thermoplastic composites in critical control surfaces is an education gap.

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Kennametal Composite Material Tooling Solutions
Thermwood Corp.
re-engineered the ORPC foil and strut
industrial CNC routers
NewStar Adhesives - Nautical Adhesives
Chem Trend
Advanced Nonwovens for Aerocomposites - TFP
release agents, purging compounds, process chemical specialties
re-engineered the ORPC foil and strut