Loading ...New announcements from the automotive sector this week: Mercedes-Benz wants to use carbon fiber and charge gasoline injection technology on all its vehicles by 2015. But Mercedes will have competition, since automotive companies and designers are not only implementing more carbon fiber, but incorporating it in unique designs such as a new type of electric car. These savvy designs coupled with news that production of compressed natural gas (CNG) composite tanks will increase by 10 percent in the next five years should help the sagging industry.
However, natural gas has its share of competition in the renewable energy sector. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, fiber reinforced composites still have tremendous potential in energy. Energy Composites closed on its land purchase and received tax-exempt bond facility approval for a new blade manufacturing plant in Wisconsin. The Federal Aviation Administration determined that the proposed 130-turbine wind farm in Nantucket Sound will not interfere with planes or radar, giving the plan one of the last approvals it needed to proceed. A new wind farm project along the Snake River in Garfield County, Wash., confirms there is a growing partnership between the wind energy industry and farmers within the U.S. And schools of fish are helping CalTech unlock clues to better vertical axis wind turbines, yielding 10 times more energy. In another part of California, Envision Solar said it plans to market a solar paneled carport, called the LifePort, and a solar canopy called the LifeTree.
Meanwhile, aerospace took a look glimpse into its future this week. NASA researchers unveil what they see has the future design in passenger aircrafts. The aircraft of 2025 are set to mark further evolution in transportation, with more efficient engines, frame design and lighter environmental footprints. And George Whitesides, former chief of staff at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, was appointed as Virgin Galactic’s first chief executive to steer it in the right direction.
Enjoying the extra hours of daylight and warmer temperatures, the sports and recreation market made headline news of its own. The BMC bike racing team has posted a video of how its carbon fiber wheels stayed intact despite damage from a race melee. Silveira Group announced the all-electric version of its carbon fiber personal watercraft will be ready for testing in the beginning of fall. Many motorcycle riders are using carbon fiber wheels to set new speed records in dragstrips and road race courses. And on the University front, Researchers at the University of Auckland are developing ionic polymer metallic composites into wearable sensor devices to allow sports scientists to monitor directly impact forces of athletes.
Finally, within the building and infrastructure sector, The Marvin Companies announced that it has expanded beyond windows and doors to use its fiberglass material for housing siding. It was reported that a composite bridge system, supplied by Irish company RMD Kwikform, allowed for speedier construction of a 100-meter-long bridge on the M6 motorway. Mississippi manufacturer DuraSip may soon create more jobs by exporting its fiberglass structural insulated panels to Africa soon for housing. Belfast manufacturer Atlantis Composites, which produces glass-reinforced plastic structural panels, received an investment boost which will create 10 new jobs. Panolam Industries announced it is the first FRP manufacturer to receive GREENGUARD certification for low emitting products.
For daily composites updates, subscribe to CM Twitter.
