CW Features
What is the future for Owens Corning Glass Reinforcements?
An industry pioneer discusses divergent visions in a global industry, consolidation and growth in Asia, doubling market share and tells a composites sustainability story involving circular fibers.
Composite conductor cores boost capacity, cut cost to help power grids meet AI demand
Composite cores have evolved to increase conductor capacity 2X and cut transmission losses by up to 50%, achievable within 1-3 years with existing infrastructure, but also enable sensing and smart, adaptive grids.
Read MoreComposites end markets: Energy (2026)
Composites continue to drive energy innovations, from new materials and installations of recyclable wind blades to nuclear CMC and offshore oil pipelines.
Read MoreComposites end markets: Industrial (2026)
Composites solve performance, weight, durability challenges and more in a variety of industrial applications. Recent notable examples include fire truck pumps, biogas reactor tanks and shipping pallets.
Read MoreCeramic matrix composites: Faster, cheaper, higher temperature
New players proliferate, increasing CMC materials and manufacturing capacity, novel processes and automation to meet demand for higher part volumes and performance.
Read MoreComposites end markets: Energy (2025)
Despite political and supply chain challenges, renewable and nuclear energy continue to grow in use. Composite materials enable current and future energy technologies across sectors.
Read MoreComposites end markets: Electronics (2025)
Electronic and smart device innovations achieved through the use of advanced materials ranging from thermoplastic composites to biomaterials emphasize high-volume production and sustainability.
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Composites end markets: Automotive (2025)
Composites manufacturing intelligence drives circular economy solutions as automotive industry balances technical demands with sustainability mandates.
Stewart Mitchell
Contributing Writer
The pursuit of energy efficiency in composites manufacturing
In an increasingly energy-driven world, technology developments are being sought after to reduce energy consumption in composites manufacturing, further translating into waste reduction and other efficiencies.
Read MoreComposites end markets: Sports and recreation (2025)
The use of composite materials in high-performance sporting goods continues to grow, with new advancements including thermoplastic and sustainability-focused materials and automated processes.
Read MoreComposite pressure vessels enable future energy storage
Q&A between Hexagon Purus, Infinite Composites and Hyosung USA delves into the future of H2 storage, including scalability and production goals, materials and application trends and other dynamics.
Read MoreTrends fueling the composites recycling movement
Various recycling methods are being considered for composites, from novel dismantling and processing, to building capacity and demonstrating secondary use applications.
Read MoreJEC Group looks ahead to JEC World 2025
JEC World will celebrate its 60th year as the premier international trade show for the global composites industry. CW interviews JEC CEO Eric Pierrejean to get a preview of what's in store for the event’s 2025 installment.
Read MoreBiomaterials make strides toward composites sustainability
A compilation of trends in development or application of natural fibers, bio-based resins and more showcases industry players, educational institutes and global projects.
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Composites end markets: New space (2025)
Composite materials — with their unmatched strength-to-weight ratio, durability in extreme environments and design versatility — are at the heart of innovations in satellites, propulsion systems and lunar exploration vehicles, propelling the space economy toward a $1.8 trillion future.
Scott Francis
Editor-In-Chief, Gardner Business Media
SMC composites progress BinC solar electric vehicles
In an interview with one of Aptera’s co-founders, CW sheds light on the inspiration behind the crowd-funded solar electric vehicle, its body in carbon (BinC) and how composite materials are playing a role in its design.
Read MoreIndustrializing additive manufacturing in the defense/aerospace sector
GA-ASI demonstrates a path forward for the use of additive technologies for composite tooling, flight-qualified parts.
Read MoreLife cycle assessment in the composites industry
As companies strive to meet zero-emissions goals, evaluating a product’s carbon footprint is vital. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is one tool composites industry OEMs and Tier suppliers are using to move toward sustainability targets.
Read MoreThe future of quartz and oxide fibers at Saint-Gobain Advanced Ceramic Composites
New business builds on 100-year legacy in quartz, prepares for growth, while starting production of oxide fibers to meet increased demand for CMC by aerospace and industrial sectors.
Read MoreEuropean boatbuilders lead quest to build recyclable composite boats
Marine industry constituents are looking to take composite use one step further with the production of tough and recyclable recreational boats. Some are using new infusible thermoplastic resins.
Read MoreBio-based, fire-resistant composites become mainstream
Projects use Duplicor prepreg panels with highest Euroclass B fire performance without fire retardants for reduced weight, CO2 footprint in sustainable yet affordable roofs, high-rise façades and modular housing.
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Assembling the Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator: The final welds
Building the all-thermoplastic composite fuselage demonstrator comes to an end with continuous ultrasonic welding of the RH longitudinal fuselage joint and resistance welding for coupling of the fuselage frames across the upper and lower halves.
Ginger Gardiner
Executive Editor, CompositesWorld
The next evolution in AFP
Automated fiber placement develops into more compact, flexible, modular and digitized systems with multi-material and process capabilities.
Read MoreRTM, dry braided fabric enable faster, cost-effective manufacture for hydrokinetic turbine components
Switching from prepreg to RTM led to significant time and cost savings for the manufacture of fiberglass struts and complex carbon fiber composite foils that power ORPC’s RivGen systems.
Read MoreIncreased molding productivity via additive manufacturing
Companies in multiple segments turn to 3D printing for end-of-arm tools, fixtures for increased safety and functionality, lower cost and faster turnaround times.
Read MoreCW Top Shops 2023: Honoring global top-performing facilities
CW congratulates the 2023 CW Top Shops honorees and composites fabricators whose leaders cite team expansion, focus on Industry 4.0 and adaptation to emerging markets among this year’s top achievements.
Read MoreCelebrating 30 years of CompositesWorld, Part 2
CW covers key composite developments that have taken place from the 1990s to today in the second part of this two-part retrospective.
Read MoreA new era for ceramic matrix composites
CMC is expanding, with new fiber production in Europe, faster processes and higher temperature materials enabling applications for industry, hypersonics and New Space.
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