Composites

A consortium of international companies is being formed to drive the development of high-performance sheet moulding compound (HP-SMC), an established and cost-efficient material for the production

Diab Americas of Desoto, Texas, USA, has invested in additional stabilization chambers to support the growing need for its Divinycell HT and Divinycell HP foam cores.

Markforged of Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, is introducing two three-dimensional (3D) printers for carbon fibre-reinforced parts that it claims are fast and cheap.

Toray Industries of Tokyo, Japan, is to construct a polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) compound production facility at the site of its subsidiary and large-tow carbon fibre manufacturer Zoltek in Nyerges

Haydale of Ammanford, UK, has agreed heads of terms for a technical and commercial collaboration with Rogers Advanced Composites (RAC) Ltd of Fawley, UK. 

A quick and accurate inspection method for composite components has been developed by FACC of Ried, Austria, and the Upper Austrian University of Applied Sciences and the Higher Technical College (

Automotive supplier Valeo is producing a top column module whose housing and levers are made of BASF’s Ultramid polyamide (PA) and Ultradur polybutylene terephthalate (PBT). 

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and nano-enhanced nonwovens are among the innovations to be exhibited by Technical Fibre Products (TFP) of Kendal, UK, at the CAMX show in Orlando, Florida,

Advanced composites manufacturer Pentaxia is to double its existing production capability through the purchase of a large manufacturing site in Derby, UK. 

Carver Non-Woven Technologies of Fremont, Indiana, USA, is to begin commercial production of pre-impregnated, preconsolidated glass-mat thermoplastic (GMT) composite products. 

N12 Technologies Inc is to work with the University of Dayton Research Institute (UDRI) to develop high production capacities for its NanoStitch interlaminar reinforcement product.

Henkel of Düsseldorf, Germany, has opened a test facility for composites in Japan. 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility (MDF) and the US Navy’s Disruptive Technology Laboratory have created the US military’s first three-dimensionally (3D)-pr

The Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen University in Germany is working to develop environmentally friendly methods for the manufacture of concrete and composites. 

Technical textiles and thermoplastics specialist Porcher Industries has been working with STELIA Aerospace on its recent Arches Box TP research project. 

The Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) in Port Angeles, Washington, USA, is to work with the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) to develop automated method

North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT) of Renens, Switzerland, and FIBRE Mechanics of Lymington, UK, are working together to develop high-performance composite products for boatyards that reduce labour t

A glass fibre-reinforced thermoplastic that demonstrates low warpage and high flame retardance has been developed for use in electric vehicle battery parts by Lanxess of Cologne and HELLA KGaA Huec

OCSiAl is to build what it claims will be the world’s largest production facility for single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) in Luxembourg, with the assistance of the country’s Ministry of the Eco

Metyx Group is reporting that it has concluded a multi-machinery deal with its long-time partner Karl Mayer Technische Textilien GmbH for the supply of warp-knitting production lines. 

Vartega, Steelhead Composites and Michelman, have fabricated what they claim to be the first composite overwrapped pressure vessel (COPV) made from continuous recycled carbon fibre tow. 

The Institutes for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) and for Building Structures and Structural Design (ITKE) at the University of Stuttgart are developing a production process for archit

KraussMaffei of Munich, Germany, and Roctool SA of Le Bourget du Lac, France, are working together to promote Roctool’s inductive mould heating technology (HD Plastics). 

Solvay Composite Materials of Heanor, UK, and GKN Aerospace’s Fokker business of Hoogeveen, The Netherlands, are teaming-up to promote and accelerate the adoption of thermoplastic composites for ae

US company LeMond Composites has signed an exclusive $US44-million deal to license technology developed by Deakin University’s carbon fibre research centre, Carbon Nexus, in Australia.

A pair of flame-retardant polyamide (PA) 6 compounds that are highly reinforced with glass fibres has been launched by Lanxess of Cologne, Germany. 

Taking inspiration from the nacre found in oyster shells, researchers at Columbia University in New York, USA, have developed a nanocomposite that demonstrates great strength and resilience.

A standard (PDESP21) for highly aesthetic spread-tow carbon fibre fabrics has been developed by Oxeon of Boras, Sweden.

Markforged, which claims to be the inventor of the world’s first printer capable of processing carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), is making its Eiger software available free-of-charge to inter

Web Industries has opened a thermoplastics development centre its Composites Center of Excellence in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where its CAD Cut division has also just opened a ply cutting and kitting

Gurit of Zurich, Switzerland, is to produce and supply carbon fibre-based exterior car body panels for an Italian premium automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM). 

Hexcel Corp is negotiating to buy Structil SA, a producer and supplier of high-performance composites to the aerospace, defence and industrial markets.

A method for depositing graphene nanoplatelets directly onto composite laminates in a controlled and targeted manner is being developed by Applied Graphene Materials (AGM) of Redcar, UK.

The boards of directors of Huntsman Corp of The Woodlands, Texas, USA, and Clariant of Muttenz, Switzerland, have unanimously approved a definitive agreement to combine the companies in a merger of

Bio-based epoxy resins from Sicomin of Châteauneuf-les-Martigues are being used by NOTOX of Anglet (both in France) to produce composite surfboards.

Surface Generation of Rutland, UK, has completed delivery of its largest ever PtFS system to advanced composites manufacturer Quatro Composites of Poway, California, USA.

A range of hybrid rovings for the automated, high-volume production of composite parts has been launched by PHP Fibers of Wuppertal, Germany.

Research confirms that several reinforced grades of Solvay’s Ryton polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) polymer demonstrate strong compatibility with Ford’s ultra-low viscosity ULV 25 automatic transmissio

Faurecia has acquired exclusive access to the intellectual property and process know-how for the manufacture of composite hydrogen tanks from STELIA Aerospace Composites.

Computer modelling analysis undertaken by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shown that the use of composites reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could lead to a 30

Ensinger GmbH of Nufringen, Germany, has taken over plastics processing company next composites GmbH of Otelfingen, Switzerland. 

A carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) rear suspension knuckle for a C-segment vehicle that is 50% lighter than a conventional steel component is being developed by a consortium in the UK. 

PlastiComp has completed the installation of an additional pultrusion line dedicated to manufacturing long carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (LCFRTP) pellets at its facility in Winona, Minnesot

A chemical-based method for the recycling of carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) is being developed by researchers at Washington State University (WSU) in Pullman, USA.

A report calling for industry and government to work closely together to put an end to the constraints that currently inhibit the growth and use of composite materials in the marine, rail, oil and

Chomarat is planning a multi-million-Euro investment that will allow it to focus its development activities on the automotive and aerospace sectors. 

Solvay, Bentley and Penso have been awarded a multi-million pound grant by the UK government Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC) for the Flexible Lightweight Architecture for Volume Applications (

The assembly carrier for Porsche’s GT3 Cup II is being manufactured from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) by Toho Tenax Europe GmbH at its site in Heinsberg, Germany.

The next generation of Audi’s A8 will feature in its multi-material spaceframe a carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) rear wall.