Composites

The US$50-million Indiana Manufacturing Institute – based in the Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette, USA, and housing the Center for Composites Manufacturing and Simulation – has officially ope

Recycling specialist ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd of Coseley, UK, has joined the US Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI). 

The National Composites Centre (NCC) in Bristol, UK, has signed a collaborative innovation agreement with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST).

PolyOne Corp has acquired Gordon Composites and Polystrand from Gordon Holdings.  

METYX Composites, a division of textiles company Telateks AS, is in the process of doubling the size of its production facilities at its main manufacturing centre in Manisa, Turkey.  

Technology that can be seamlessly incorporated into composites to create a high-capacity, resilient data transfer network has been developed by TWI of Cambridge, UK.

Impossible Objects of North Brook, Illinois, has added carbon fibre-reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) to its three-dimensional (3D) printing range.

A glass fibre-reinforced polyamide (PA) 6 is being used to produce the oil pan module for the six-cylinder boxer engines used in the Porsche 911 Carrera.

A continuous carbon and glass fibre-reinforced polycarbonate (PC) is being used by LEONHARD KURZ Stiftung & Co KG of Fuerth, Germany, to produce thin-walled, decorated housings for electronic d

At the Farnborough International Airshow in the UK in July, QinetiQ unveiled a material that could make composite aircraft structures three times more resistant to impacts such as bird and

Long fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (LFT) specialist PlastiComp Inc has invested in a dedicated research and development (R&D) laboratory at its headquarters in Winona, Minnesota, USA. 

Henkel has opened a composites laboratory in Heidelberg, Germany. 

North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT) has opened its new production facility in Zory, Poland. 

As part of plans to increase its presence in Europe and North America, Chinese glass fibre producer Jushi of Tongxiang has started its second glass fibre furnace in Suez, Egypt. 

Carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) manufacturer Quickstep Holdings has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with shipbuilder DCNS Group. 

A unique herringbone structure observed in the outer layer of the mantis shrimp's dactyl club is inspiring the development of high-strength composites. 

A flame, smoke and toxicity (FST)-retardant thermoset system offers a high level of design freedom for rolling stock interiors, according to its developer Huntsman Advanced Materials. 

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) of Tennessee and Cincinnati Inc of Harrison, Ohio (both in the USA), have signed a nonexclusive licensing agreement on ORNL patents related to large-scale addit

The first polyurethane (PU) rotor blade for wind turbines in Asia has been manufactured by Covestro of Leverkusen, Germany. 

A researcher at Clemson University of South Carolina, USA, has received a US$2 million grant to develop cheaper precursors for the production of carbon fibres. 

Giro Sport Design, based in Santa Cruz, California, USA, has launched a new cycling helmet – the Aerohead Ultimate MIPS – employing TeXtreme carbon fibre fabrics to create a light, strong and rigid

Hexcel Corp has made a strategic investment in Oxford Performance Materials (OPM), a producer of three-dimensionally (3D)-printed carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic parts.

A laser-based surface preparation process developed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) could make joints between carbon fibre-reinforced plastics (CFRPs) and aluminium more robust and cheaper

Prepreg producer GMS Composites of Dandenong South, Victoria, Australia, has developed a flame retardant (FR) epoxy prepreg with high toughness and a relatively short gel time. 

The carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP)-bodied GT has become the latest Ford model to feature CFRP wheels. 

A plasma-based oxidation method that reduces dramatically the time and energy needed for the production of carbon fibre has been developed by RMX Technologies of Knoxville and the Department of Ene

A carbon fibre-reinforced polyphenylene sulphide (PPS) leading edge access door panel, made with recycled thermoplastic composites, has been developed by The ThermoPlastic composites Research Cente

Reichhold Group of Durham, North Carolina, USA and Polynt of Scanzorosciate, Italy, have agreed a merger that will create a global manufacturer of composite resins, coatings and other speciality ch

Dow Automotive Systems of Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA, has developed an injection bonding technique for use with its Betaforce composite bonding adhesives. 

EconCore and DuPont Performance Materials are working together to produce wide, strong and rigid honeycomb sandwich panels for the transportation, construction, leisure and energy industries.

A hybrid plastic–metal airbag housing with an integrated lead frame, co-developed and produced by Quadrant Creative Molding & Systems (QCMS) for automotive steering wheel airbag assemblies, is

As part of a significant growth programme, North Thin Ply Technology (NTPT) is expanding its offering of conventional-weight prepreg following the installation of equipment at its facility in Zory,

The global aerospace ceramic matrix composite (CMC) industry is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9% from 2016 to 2021, according to a recent report from Lucintel. 

A natural fibre-reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) developed by ELIX Polymers of Tarragona, Spain, has picked up the 2016 Frost & Sullivan New Product Innovation Award. 

Aerospace composites manufacturer Albany International Corp of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA, has completed the acquisition of Harris Corp’s composite aerostructures division in Salt Lake City, Uta

Aliancys has installed a sheet moulding compound (SMC) line at its research and development (R&D) facilities in Zwolle, The Netherlands, which the company will use for joint development project

Aerospace composites manufacturer Albany International Corp of Rochester, New Hampshire, USA, has completed the acquisition of Harris Corp’s composite aerostructures division in Salt Lake City, Uta

Quickstep Holdings is entering the South Korean automotive market through a sales contract it has signed with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST).

A hybrid woven fabric that is highly permeable – making it suitable for use with resin-transfer moulding (RTM) processes – has been developed by Cytec Industries Inc (now Solvay Cytec Group). 

Custom compression moulder and compounder of sheet-moulding compound (SMC) R3 Composites of Grabill, Indiana, USA, has set up a subsidiary that will supply multi-material nonwoven products to both

A production method that could reduce the cost of carbon fibre by as much as 50% – and the energy used in its production by more than 60% – has been developed by researchers at the US Department of

A rapid curing epoxy resin, called MTR 760, has been developed by Solvay and has been used to manufacture the carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) bonnet for BMW’s M4 GTS.

Continental Structural Plastics (CSP) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd (MRC) to develop carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) structural components for t

A range of commingled yarns consisting of high-performance reinforcements combined with thermoplastic fibres to form a uniform mixed roving has been unveiled at JEC World, taking place in

Additive fibre spraying is a technology being developed in Germany as part of the iComposite 4.0 project.

Toho Tenax Europe GmbH has developed an integrated production system, from fibre to finished part, for making carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) components in a single step.

Johns Manville (JM) is to expand its glass fibre plant in Etowah, Tennessee, USA, to meet the increasing needs of the thermoplastics industry. 

SABIC has purchased a majority stake in fibre-reinforced thermoplastic unidirectional (UD) tapes producer Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastics (FRT) BV.

Albany International Corp has agreed to acquire Harris Corp’s composite aerostructures division for US$210 million, including the assumption of a $23 million capital lease.