Infrastructure
Composites Knowledge Increasing Among Engineers
In early June, representatives from the American Composites Manufacturers Association’s (ACMA) Transportation Structures Council (TSC) attended the International Building Code (IBC) conference in Pittsburgh. The group’s aim is to obtain language in the transportation bill that promotes the specification, design and construction of long-life bridges and other highway structures, and to also emphasize the... »
Composites in the News
Automotive topped the news this week, as Congress is expected to exempt auto loans from its overhaul of the financial structure of a new consumer agency. In an effort to win more buyers, Ford is stepping up its efforts to incorporate bio-based materials such as soy foam and natural fiber-reinforced plastics through nearly its... »
Percentages Can Be Misleading
Nationwide housing starts rose for a third consecutive month in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 626,000 units, according to a report from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) that relies on U.S. Commerce Department data. The report also indicates that the rate of permit issuance for new housing construction rose... »
Composites in the News Last Week
China has established its first national laboratory to focus on the application of polymers and composites in aerospace. German composites manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Limited will design and manufacture more than 100 basic trainers for the Indian Air Force. In the U.S., Parkway Products plans to expand its Boone County, Kentucky aerospace and defense production... »
The Role of Composites in Disaster Relief
InnoVida manufactures composite panels and assembles structures for housing applications in the residential and defense markets. The Miami-based company has pledged to donate 1,000 homes to Haitians. The implementation of such a large sample of composite homes is a charitable act, but it will also demonstrate the role composites can play in rehabilitating housing... »
Composites in the News Last Week
As the World Cup kicked off this weekend, it’s notable that Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa features fiber-reinforced concrete panels, which manufacturer Rieder Smart Elements says are 10 times lighter than conventional materials. In other infrastructure news, Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, Calif. said it is incorporating composite landscape... »
Q&A: Boeing Believes In, But Not Sold on, Composites (Part I)
Alan G. Miller is the director of technology requirements & incorporation for Boeing Commercial Airlines – Product Development. Miller oversees the development of multi-platform airplane and services requirements, which focuses on the technology investments for Boeing across all technical disciplines. Prior to joining the Product Development team, he was the director of technology integration... »
Composites in the News Last Week
In business news, composite manufacturers have until July 1 to submit forms as part of the EPA’s toxic release reporting. The Labor Department stated the U.S. unemployment rate fell to 9.7 percent in May, with employers adding 431,000 jobs to the market and a spike in manufacturing. An Amarillo Economic Development Corporation grant may... »
Q&A: Is Your State Ahead of the Composites Curve?
Louis N. Triandafilou acts as a liaison between the FHWA and the composites industry. In addition to working with AASHTO’s subcommittee on bridges, he also attends and hosts a variety of conferences to keep FRPs in the forefront of bridge applications. »
Composites in the News Last Week
Infrastructure companies take note: The Construction Safety Council plans to roll out a new national Health Hazards Awareness Program for the construction industry by late summer. International pipe producer HOBAS has opened a new research center for glass fiber-reinforced plastics (GRP) pipe systems in Wietersdorf, Austria. Yet, the National Composite Center was denied $3... »
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