Composites in the News Last Week

The aerospace sector featured many new contracts last week. Hartzell Aerospace won a long-term contract to design, test and supply the low pressure ducting system for the new Embraer legacy 450 mid-size plane. Quickstep Holdings secured a $500,000 contract for development work on the manufacture of integrated parts in one cure cycle and composite repair solutions. And TenCate received a five-year contract extension to produce compression molded hydraulic and fuel line clamps for the new Boeing 787. Additionally, Cobham opened its composite manufacturing facility in Suffolk, Va., which will focus on high-volume production of products for the aerospace and defense industries. In lesser news, Airbus reported that five years after its first test flight, the A380 remains more than 200 units short of making the program profitable.

Many associations played a strong role in infrastructure developments. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) released a report emphasizing the need for states to increase highway and bridge capacity in their communities. Representatives from the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) met with the Department of Energy (DOE) to showcase how composite poles could protect against damage from natural disasters. At the international Hannover Messe fair, the European Composites Industry Association showcased the role of composites in lightweight construction.

Last week, the Association of German Engineers’ (VDI) plastics in automotive engineering conference and exhibition in Mannheim, Germany focused on trends such as carbon fiber composites, sustainability, and bio-based and biodegradable plastics. RV panel manufacturer AZDEL stated it will increase its annual production capacity for RVs by 20 million pounds. Meanwhile, more high-profile automotive models continue to incorporate composites. Audi unveiled the R8 GT, which features bumpers and diffusers made from carbon fiber, while BMW’s new Z4 GT3 incorporates carbon fiber reinforced plastics into the front and rear wings, bonnet, roof, and fenders.

Renewable energy investments were sprouting across the country. Google made its first direct investment in a utility-scale renewable energy project to the tune of $38.3 million. Sempra Energy announced plans to construct a massive wind farm in Baja California, which will cover 294 hectares and use approximately 1,000 turbines. Solar Aero received a patent for its wind turbine that uses boundary layers instead of blades to generate power, making it virtually silent and completely enclosed, effectively avoiding noise pollution and radar interference. Also, last week’s approval of an offshore wind farm in Massachusetts has developers in other states pushing for their own (such as Georgia who cites the oil spill as more reason for wind energy).

In the recreation market, SK Fiber announced it will add new composite shafts to its golf club line for 2010, which incorporate unidirectional carbon fiber and other composites in their design. Yachts Composites is branching out into catamaran construction with its new multihull Opencat 23 boat. And in a more unusual recreational development, a British-based company that specializes in making body panels for Formula 1 cars has manufactured four sets of hands for the world’s largest mechanical clock, located in Guangzhou, China.

In other interesting news, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is developing a carbon composite which would mimic the human nervous system for bionic applications. The Society of Plastics Engineers announced the recipients of its Global Plastics Environmental Conference (GPEC) 2010 Environmental Stewardship Awards. Applied Nanotech Holdings has received a contract from the US Army to develop composite panels using carbon nanotube reinforcement. And following its acquisition by Schweiter Technologies, Alcan Composites changed its name to 3A Composites. Sandvik Coromant and Precorp Inc. will work together with the aim of being a joint solution provider for composite machining.

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