Loading ...There was some unpleasant news in the automotive sector, as industry analysts trimmed vehicle sales forecasts for 2010. However, not all news was grim. Three months after it was announced, work finally began on the joint BMW and SGH facility, which the companies will share to produce carbon fiber. Aptera plans to build a new facility to manufacture its composite three-wheeled car. Password JDM is working on manufacturing a carbon fiber hood, front lip and front fenders for Nissan’s upcoming GT-R. McLaren’s F1 successor, which will feature expanded usage of carbon fiber, is rumored to debut in 2012. Bugatti’s composite Veyron sports car set a new land speed record by reaching speeds of 267.81 miles per hour.
In an online article, Aviation Weekly addressed the future of composite repairs in aerospace. The American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) announced it will present aerospace awards in late July, including innovative design concepts incorporating new composite materials. Hartzell Aerospace received Nadcap accreditation for composites, accompanied by upgrades to its manufacturing capabilities within the facility.
The infrastructure industry was looking a little green this week, as New Polymer Systems Inc. announced it plans to commercialize a bio-based additive from lignocellulose fiber for use in landscaping, roofing and drainage pipes applications. Meanwhile, fiberglass siding may soon become a more widespread option for residential homeowners. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) plans to file a lawsuit against the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for removing a provision that allowed contractors to bypass extra preparation, clean-up and recordkeeping requirements in homes where there were no children under six or pregnant women, thus avoiding additional costs.
Efforts in renewable energy received some high-profile boosts. President Obama announced a $400 million loan to support solar panel manufacturing. The University of Houston’s efforts to become a national leader in offshore wind technology received a $2.3 million boost from the U.S. Department of Energy for a testing facility. And Colorado-based Abound Solar secured a $400 million Recovery Act loan guarantee for manufacturing thin-film solar panels. Danish-based wind energy giant Vestas announced a new R&D office in Louisville, Ky. that will employ up to 240 people over the next few years. Elsewhere in the sector, a recent feasibility study published in the Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy says that deepwater, floating wind turbines up to 5-megawatts won’t topple. China officially started transmitting power from its biggest offshore wind farm, off the coast of Shanghai, to the mainland grid. Suzlon bagged a wind turbine order from Hindustan Petroleum Corp for the company’s 25.5-megawatt project in Rajasthan, India. A wind farm project protest proves that, to some, green energy isn’t green enough.
Turning to marine, the U.S. Court of Appeals exonerated Cook Composites and Polymers for claims related to gel coat cracking on yachts built by Viking Yacht Co. and Post Marine Co. between 1997 and 2004. Sabre Yachts celebrated its 40th anniversary this past weekend in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. And Australian-based Bar Crusher introduced a new 550CR model, the first in a new series, offering crossover boats to a broader audience.
If you kept an eye on the leisure and recreation industry, you would have seen a new giant fiberglass eye sculpture at Chicago’s Pritzer Park. Deakin University researchers will incorporate out-of-autoclave composites in the development of a “Smart Bike” for the UCI World Road Championships later this year. Reynolds’ composites division unveiled a more aerodynamic version of their RZR 46 wheels in the opening prologue of this year’s Tour de France. Finally, composite baseball bats suffered another setback as the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) banned the materials until they can meet a revised performance standard.
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