Composites in the News Last Week
Some companies are defying the winter weather blanketing much of the Northern Hemisphere by gearing up for summer recreation. Zipp Speed Weaponry, which manufactures high-end bicycle components, invested $12.4 million in a new manufacturing center in Indianapolis, which will create 105 jobs by 2013. Hermes Sport is now distributing carbon fiber bicycle components. The move is designed to give traditional bike shops a means of competing against online, direct-sales outlets. Advanced International Multitech Co., Ltd. landed contract orders from large-sized high-tech makers of electronic components made of carbon fiber. The move is designed to push the company into the 3C (computer, communication and consumer electronic) sector. The Toronto Boat Show turned out to be a prosperous event, with some companies experiencing a 27 percent increase in sale. Florida-based Ameracat defied the economic odds of the time and expanded their boat-building business as they build and sell boats at a rate of three per week.
In other areas of the industry it was business as usual, somewhat. Axion International Holdings began construction on two new composite replacement railroad bridges at Ft. Eustis Army Transportation Corp. military base in Virginia. Emerging technology company InnoVida donated 1,000 homes to the Haitian effort. The company manufactures housing panels made with fiberglass skins, a special resin, sandwiching a polyurethane, high-density foam core. Sintex Industries announced it will be reopening two of its Wausaukee Composites plants, both wind power-manufacturing facilities, by June. Vert-I-Go Wind Energy chose Clovis, Texas, for its foray into wind farm operation and turbine manufacturing. The new plant is expected to create 60 jobs by 2013.
Meanwhile, other companies continue to strive to make 2010 an accomplish-packed year. Boeing began working on an efficiency make-over for its iconic 747. AGC Aerospace & Defense Company was awarded certification for the AS9100 International Aerospace Quality System Standard. The University of Tennessee is seeking ways to make high-value chemicals used in auto parts and nanotechnology from blades of grass. Goodrich awarded Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation with a $25,000 grant to fund a new course, designed to encourage women and minority students to study science, math, technology and engineering. Mechanical engineering student Phillip Chavez won NASA’s Space Grant scholarship based on his research into FRP material for adaptive composite materials. Several Utah cities are vying for the location of aerospace company ATK’s new facility. Fischer Automotive Systems GmbH and Bayer MaterialScience AG developed a new technology, DirectSkinning, designed to improve cost efficiency in the production of injection molded parts for automotive applications. Nanocyl announced a collaboration with distributor NRC – Nordmann, Rassmann GmbH to promote its NC 7000 multiwall carbon nanotubes and Plasticyl thermoplastic concentrates into the German automotive market.
In other news, reports were published this week showing that the wind power grew 39 percent in the U.S. in 2009, despite a crippling recession, and estimate that FRP pipe consumption in North America will grow 5.9 percent in the next 5 years to reach sales of $563.1 million.
For daily composites updates, subscribe to CM Twitter.
