K2 Snowboards manufactures thousands of quality snowboards featuring top-of-the-line technology developed at their new research facility.

Competitive snowboarders rely on a slim piece of fiberglass and some plastic strapping to ride down the sleek, often precarious slopes like the Colorado Rocky Mountains. In stiff competition, snowboarders must trust the equipment they bring to the slopes to keep from breaking in harsh conditions. Especially when the boards are tested in extreme conditions like the high intensity rides, the Superpipe, BigAir and Snowboarding X events, during the ESPN Winter X-Games. This year’s events will take place in Aspen, Colo., starting today through January 29, 2012, and new snowboard advances thanks to composites are expected to raise the level of competition.

K2 Sport based in Seattle has been engineering snow skis with composite materials since the company was founded exactly 50 years ago in November 1961. Bill Kirshner is the original founder of the company and a pioneer in the market for fiberglass manufacturing in winter sports equipment. Previous to his work in the 1960’s, most ski manufacturers were making components out of wood or metal. Kirshner, a manufacturer of fiberglass cages, knew that composites would be the future of winter sports equipment design because the use of fiberglass could prevent wood rot and other corrosion issues associated with traditional winter gear.

Today, K2 Snowboards, a branch of K2 Sport exclusively focused on manufacturing composite snowboards, still uses hand lay-up to handcraft high-performance winter sporting equipment. It stays ahead of the curve by investing in snowboard technology research and development at a state-of-the-art facility capable of building 100 percent production level snowboards in four business days. “We can concept a design on Monday, have the board ready on Thursday, test it out on Friday and potentially tweak it on Monday if we want to,” says Doug Sanders, global product director of snowboards at K2.

K2 manufactures thousands of snowboards a year and prototypes approximately 200 boards. “That mathematically works out to be about one board a day that we mold to ride, break and make it better,” says Sanders. “When it comes to manufacturing snowboards, there’s only so much engineering you can design in the board before you have to just go out and test it. Our research facility gives us that opportunity.” Some of the low end snowboards have started to implement closed molding technology like compression molding on preforms to increase the production speed, but hand lay-up is a must for the high-performance boards. “In composites, you can’t just have all hard structural layers, you need sheer layers to allow the product to flex and stay together under the enormous stresses our products go through; especially since we have to perform at cold temperatures. A lot of little components need to be put into the board and the only way to do that is with a skilled craftsman and not an assembly line. It’s the only way to get the quality we want,” says Sanders.

The snowboard team sponsored by K2 is used as a research group to develop competitive snowboards for their personal use. The athletes typically use the boards they help to develop during competitions. One composite component that has recently undergone considerable amounts of testing is the material used in snowboard cores. In high-performance snowboards, K2 uses a mixture of different woods and bamboo to strengthen the board. “We use three different trees in the core to increase strength and durability on the outsides and down the center of the board. Then we mix in some bamboo for flexibility and strength,” says Sanders. Just this year, K2 developed a board using a laminated bamboo wood core that has been termed “unbreakable.” The snowboard has gone through multiple extreme tests and riders and has never broken. Bamboo is not the lightest of woods but it is easily available for snowboard construction. “Bamboo has huge weight to strength properties. In Asia people are using it to build scaffolding!” says Sanders.

The recent downhill economy has not impacted the popular downhill sport manufacturer. “We took the opportunity to capitalize on research and development opportunities at the height of the U.S. economic depression. We saw the dip coming but we didn’t take our foot off the pedal,” says Sanders. “Our new designs started coming out around that time. The entire time I’ve been involved in the snowboard industry I’ve never seen new technology move faster than it is now. It feels like it’s the first five years that snowboarding ever existed. Honestly, if you have a board older than three years, you’re riding old technology.”

Angie Mcpherson is the communications coordinator at ACMA. Email comments to amcpherson@acmanet.org.

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The NOAA Seal Observatory in Saint Paul, Alaska uses pultruded products to withstand harsh weather conditions. Photos courtesy of Wade Perrow Construction and Strongwell.

Saint Paul Island is located in the middle of the Bering Sea and is home to the largest Northern Fur Seal breeding ground the in the world. American scientists have been conducting research at the site since 1911, counting the colony’s population and observing new-born seal behavior. To stay aloof from the marine mammals, scientists make their observations from a series of wooden planks connecting seven towers on a remote part of the island that is surrounded by rocks and ice. When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) needed to replace the long-standing wooden observatory deck at a research facility in Saint Paul Island, Alaska, the U.S. government specified pultruded composites as the material of choice.

Because the location of the observatory is difficult to reach via traditional methods like trucks and ships, not only would the building material need to be transportable, but contractor Wade Perrow Construction LLC (WPC), Gig Harbor, Wash., needed materials that were strong enough to withstand the 20-60 mph winds and light enough to install with limited construction equipment. Chiefly, NOAA wanted to extend the observatory lifespan. “NOAA specified composites to ensure the product life would reach 50 years,” says Jason Sousie, project manager at WPC. This was the first project that Sousie constructed using composite materials. To research more about the material he would be working with, Sousie searched the Internet for “composite materials” and found Strongwell Corporation, Bristol, Va.

“WPC contacted us to supply durable building material that could outlast wood. But it couldn’t bring any heavy equipment to the island,” says Randy Montgomery, project manager at Strongwell who coordinated the material provided for the Seal Observation project. The small island population seldom uses heavy construction equipment and the installation was manhandled using a forklift and pulley system. This required non-traditional planning from WPC to ensure project success with the available tools. Logistics continued to challenge Strongwell and WPC to complete the observatory before June and remain within the budget.

The Northern Fur Seal is an endangered species and the colony occupies the island during the summer months, leaving only the winter available for construction. Saint Paul Island is extremely difficult to access in the winter; therefore, the timeline for shipping the building materials to the island was imperative to the success of this project. “We put a lot of energy into the coordination of this project. Everything they needed to complete the project had to ship on one boat to the island,” says Montgomery. The composite handrails, platforms and ladders were manufactured in September and delivered to Washington state via trucks by November. The product departed Seattle on a 300-foot coastal boat to Saint Paul Island in December where WPC employees installed Strongwell pultruded composites in blizzard-like conditions during a four month timeframe. If the building materials missed the last western Alaskan boat to Saint Paul for the year, the team would have to hire a charter vessel, which costs upwards of $30,000.

“During transportation, some of the fiberglass parts were crushed in the shipping trucks. Fortunately, we were able to contact Montgomery at Strongwell and ordered extra spare parts. There aren’t any hardware stores on the island, just the tools we brought,” says Sousie. “I was really impressed with the level of responsiveness from Strongwell and the durability of the product. I know NOAA was extremely pleased with the outcome as well. If the right opportunity came up, I would definitely work with the material again.”

The Alaskan Observatory Project was recently named the Best Federal Heavy Renovation Project of 2010 at the Aon Build America Awards in Las Vegas. The composite observatory provided NOAA and WPC with material more durable than wood, corrosion resistant and easy to install in the field. Montgomery predicts that the observatory will last much longer than the previous wood installation, based on his experience with current Strongwell products in the field, and looks forward to completing more projects with unique composite applications in the coming year.

Angie McPherson is the communications coordinator at ACMA. Email comments to amcpherson@acmanet.org.

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Four Cascade series sculptures were installed along Orlando’s International Drive, designed by artist Walter Geiger and manufactured by Entech Creative.

Artist Walter Geiger recently designed functional sculptures to inspire Orlando citizens in his composite outdoor bus stop shelters. His collection, named the Cascade series, was installed in September 2011 after three years of development. Geiger wanted to put art in a public space and bring FRP composites into the limelight of a new market – art and architecture.

An engineer, architect and sculptor, Geiger earned his master’s degrees in Architecture and Landscape Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design and is a member of the American Institute of Architects and a fellow of the Society of American Registered Architects. In his projects, he applied three philosophies: People who prosper in communities should give back to the community, those who cannot afford art are the ones who deserve it most and through collaboration, engineers, architects and artists can move processes and materials from one industry into another.

Prospering in communities

In 2008, Geiger attended a benefit gala with his wife, Anne, a former Orange County school board member, where he met Linda Watson, the former executive director of LYNX (the central Florida regional transportation authority.) The two spoke about implementing art in public spaces, which Watson could provide in the form of bus stop shelters along popular Orlando routes. LYNX funded the project to build four bus stop shelters with art transit initiative funding and Geiger connected with engineering firm Entech Creative, Orlando, to use technology the engineering firm was developing for use in theme parks.

Geiger spent over 15 years working with Entech Creative Chief Engineer John Marhoefer building large composite structures at major theme parks like Universal Studios and Disney World. After working with Marhoefer on a recent theme park project, he was intrigued by the process of forming composites into organic shapes where form and function come together. Geiger draws inspiration from natural forms and felt that the free flowing composite lamination process fit his vision for the nature-inspired sculptures. “The natural forms represent free-flowing waterfalls,” says Geiger. “The use of composites allowed us to maintain the pure integrity of the shapes.”

Art for those who need it

The sculptures were strategically installed where tourists and workers in the tourism industry could see the art. “I don’t want my sculptures in galleries; I want them on the living, breathing streets. Central Florida is a huge tourist destination and thousands of people traverse it daily to see attractions and work in the service industry. That’s where people who deserve the art can see it,” says Geiger. The bus stops reinforce the surrounding landscape using artistic techniques that keep it from competing with the surrounding buildings. For example, using the color white and curvilinear forms to enhance the buildings and integrate with the landscape.

The Cascade series composed of four different shaped sculptures, each approximately 3 feet wide and 15 to 16 feet tall. The structures are laminated FRP panels using spun fiberglass, fire retardant resins and a honeycomb core. “There were different thickness core and laminated skin materials needed on parts of the structures. Our main focus was on perfecting joining techniques because this was a 100 percent laminated structure and the seeming techniques had to be looked at carefully to ensure it would not take away from artistic expression,” says Marhoefer.

From one industry to another

The challenge for Geiger was determining the tolerances and properties of composite materials, specifically resins, to match his material needs. In order to find more information, he contacted several composite industry members such as Pat Hery, sales representative at distributor company Fiberglass Coatings, Inc., in Saint Petersburg, Fla., about spun fiberglass mats and how they mixed with certain resins. He collaborated with Bill Karren, Jr., principal at Lochsa Engineering in Las Vegas, who performed advanced analysis on the composite materials. “It was a complicated process to get the composite information from Pat into a form that Bill could use to analyze, and finally, numbers that could be used to manufacture the forms John was making.” says Geiger. The team built four full-scale prototypes to test the tolerances of the composite materials to submit to LYNX and Orange County building department.

This process of research, testing and meeting building specifications took nearly the entire three-year planning period. “In order to do all the testing required by the county for the design and installation of non-traditional structures, we had to go through empirical as well as technical analysis,” says Geiger. “We even used FARO digital technology to assist in documentation. That way we could model complex shapes.” All the research was completed by Geiger, Entech and Lochsa without public or industry funding. “Lochsa, Entech and I made the investment, which really means that the bus stops were a technical gift to the city of Orlando and to the composite industry.”

The 100-year journey

Geiger and Marhoefer believe that the composites industry is in its infancy with vast potential in the architectural market. “Right now we have engineers in building departments that need to understand the new material. We’re on a 100-year journey and a 100-year pact with Entech Creative to bring composites up to the level of its competitors in the architectural industry,” says Geiger. “This is just the beginning. I’d like to bring this technology next to museums, educational facilities, gymnasiums – places with large floor plans that can free up floor areas and create inspirational forms.”

Geiger and Marhoefer believe that in order to bring composites to the next level, the industry will need to work with academics and manufacturers to make codes and standards available for engineers. They are currently working to build a stand-alone sculpture for a private client in Orlando who requested it after seeing the bus stop sculptures. They expect that advances in composite technology will continue to expand to include small stand-alone structures and large flowing forms in art and architecture.

Brigham Young University alumnus and CEO of Altus Poles Mark Jensen, who is manufacturing and marketing IsoTruss grid structures.

The September/October issue of Composites Manufacturing magazine featured research projects underway at universities worldwide. We also received an update on one project, the bike-manufacturing IsoTruss technology, included in last year’s article on university research. Here we catch up with Brigham Young University alumnus and CEO of Altus Poles Mark Jensen, who is manufacturing and marketing IsoTruss grid structures.

Why did you decide to research composite pole structures?

My father, David Jensen, is a professor of civil engineering at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, and he invented the composite pole structure. I just wanted to make sure it became a reality, so I started Altus Poles in 2009 with Aaron Howcraft when we built a prototype machine. The company is focused on developing and implementing the most advanced structural composites for the pole, tower and aircraft industries. In pursuit of this goal, Altus Poles has secured the exclusive worldwide license of IsoTruss technology for these markets.

How do you describe the composite lattice pole structures?

It is difficult to explain in words, but essentially we are taking advantage of the directional properties in fiber and orienting the fiber into lattice members to create a stronger geometric design. If you look down the axis of the pole it will look like a polygon or star shape. The star shape creates ‘wall thickness’ that helps prevent shell-buckling failure and increases rigidity.

How are they manufactured?

We have two processes. The first is a batch-type process of filament winding each pole and then using a special metallic with silicon rubber inserts mandrel. The second process is a 3D braiding machine that we’ve put together to wind the lattice shape while at the same time braiding a sleeve on each of the lattice members. This consolidates the fiber and squeezes out resin and voids, creating a very strong structure. Our current machine operates in a continuous manner from prepreg fiber and cures it, so out comes a finished structure.

Why are composites well suited for this application?

There are several reasons. First, composites are lighter and this helps save installation costs. Second is reduced degradation compared to metal, concrete or wood. Third, it’s engineerable/customizable for specific loading.

What real-world applications do composite lattice pole structures have?

In the near future, poles and towers. I would really like to see it used in aircraft and aerospace as well.

Toyota FT-EV II

Vehicle Lightweighting
In 2011, the automotive industry started dropping a few thousand pounds off the weight of compact cars and trucks to increase fuel efficiency. Carbon fiber suppliers, such as the SGL Group and Quicksilver, contracted with European auto giants like BMW and Audi to get ready for a new wave of composite automotive parts.

First 787 Delivery

Terrafugia Transition

Cars with Wings
“It’s 2012, why don’t we have flying cars?” Well, soon you’ll have the opportunity to purchase one. The Terrafugia Transition is expected to hit the roads in 2012 and will cost upwards of $250,000. There are several other roadable aircraft prototypes currently being tested, which suggest that more designs may be on the way.

SpaceShipTwo by Scaled Composites

Personal Space Travel
Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic providing customers with personal space travel, aided by the development of SpaceShipTwo by Scaled Composites. But there are also companies, like XCOR, building commercial spacecraft for two people to be shot out into space from Caribbean-island Curacao in 2014. Even several Russian companies and Bigelow Aerospace in the U.S. are building space hotels for this growing industry.

Asimo by Honda

Is that a robot?
Honda recently upgraded its Asimo robot to run, pour drinks, communicate through sign language and do other cool tricks, making it the most inundated robot ever built! Even the military is supporting new robot technology. An updated AlphaDog robot – modeled to look and operate like, well, a dog – and its LittleDog brother are manufactured by Boston Dynamics and sponsored by DARPA. Alpha can walk over 20 miles of rough terrain and carry 400 pounds.

Knickerbocker Bridge

Bridging the gap
More bridges like Knickerbocker Bridge, the longest composite bridge in the world, are using composites to extend the life and reduce maintenance life of installations. This is increasing the visibility of composites in large structures and giving DOTs the opportunity to learn more about the material.

What was your favorite composite engineered product from 2011? Weigh-in now!

Composites in Hydrogen Fuelled Design

Mercedes Benz F125! Concept

Mercedes Benz celebrated its 125 anniversary with the debut of the F125!, a hydrogen-hybrid concept car. The F125! uses a hybrid chassis made of FRP composites and a metal alloy to lightweight the design as well as an integrated a carbon fiber hydrogen tank to contain the hydrogen fuel cell. The composite design is the first fuel tank to be integrated into floor assembly and acts as a structural element of the car. The concept car runs similar to a Chevrolet Volt in that it uses a lithium-sulphur battery pack interchangeably with hydrogen fuel but operates without expelling emissions. Mercedes predicts that the technology used in the F125! may be used to replace Mercedes luxury CL Class in 2025 and some of the sleek exterior components will be replicated in the 2013 S Class.

The new Eterniti Hemera uses carbon-composite body panels to lighten the design and to provide stability in the chassis.

Best SUV Concept

Eterniti Hemera

Eterniti Motors, a new British luxury car company based in London, drew attention from automotive enthusiasts with its first car monikered the Hemera, named after the Greek goddess of daytime. Eterniti claims the car is the first “Super SUV” capable of reaching top-speeds around 180 mph with a 620 horsepower engine based on an upgraded Porsche twin-turbo 4.8 liter used in the Cayenne Turbo (the Porsche engine only runs 500 horsepower). It uses carbon-composite body panels to lighten the design and to provide stability in the chassis. The design is headed by Hemera’s Lead Engineer Alastair MacQueen, Formula One engineer and designer of the Jaguar, and influenced by Le Mans racing driver Johnny Herber. The company has not revealed the price of the Hemera but the baseline price tag is estimated at $237, 000.

 Smart Composite Design

Smart Forvision Concept

A new electric concept design by Smart, in collaboration with German-based chemical company BASF, reveals its future use of passive engineering strategies and carbon fiber composites to increase fuel efficiency in its designs by 20 percent. The Forvision uses reflective paint and windows in addition to increased foam to reduce heat transmission in and out of the car, significantly reducing the energy used to maintain a comfortable temperature in the Smart concept. Smart uses FRP wheel rims, carbon fiber composite doors and body cage to lightweight the already light Smart car. Smart envisions that the new composite elements will make the Smart Forvision even safer when combined with the steel cage, which is rated four stars for front impact and five stars for side impact by U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A2 will not be produced until 2015 and the company is currently investigating alternate fiber material, possibly basalt, to mix with aluminum for light weight and cost-efficient parts.

Eco-friendly Rivalry

BMW i3 and the Audi A2

Two cars are in competition for the most energy and cost saving methods to change the face of the electric automotive world. The BMW i3 concept announced earlier this summer made its debut at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The i3 uses carbon fiber to provide lightweight material in the passenger compartment framework as well as the roof panel. It is expected to be a production car in late 2013, utilizing a new hydro power plant in Moses Lake, Wash., to produce the carbon fiber in a joint venture with SGL Carbon. The Audi A2 electric rival also debuted at the auto show and criticized BMW for using carbon fiber, which is costly and emits carbon dioxide during manufacturing. The A2 will not be produced until 2015 and the company is currently investigating alternate fiber material, possibly basalt, to mix with aluminum for light weight and cost-efficient parts. However, Audi is still using carbon fiber in sections of the A2, including the transmission tunnel and rear bulkhead.

Angie McPherson is the communications coordinator at ACMA. Email comments to amcpherson@acmanet.org.

Marcy Offner, marketing manager at Composites One, received the ACMA Volunteer award for her various rolls including convention committee chair and participating in the newly launched ACMA Marketing Committee.

Steve Walling, chairman of the board and CEO of Plasticolors Inc., was this year’s President’s Award recipient. According to ACMA President Monty Felix, Walling was honored because of his dedicated focus and ability to help develop and refine ACMA’s strategic goals.

Don Abel, national operations manager at ZCL Composites, and Charles Dore, technical director of Cinnabar Florida Inc and resident of Abate Fire Technologies, were elected to ACMA’s Hall of Fame. To be eligible, inductees must have attained distinction among his/her peers through their efforts, involvement and accomplishments in the composites industry and its associations.

Richard Morrison, president and CEO of Molded Fiber Glass, received ACMA’s Lifetime Achievement award for his long-standing industry and association leadership. To be considered for the Lifetime Achievement Award, nominees must have been involved in the composites industry for at least 20 years and must have made a significant and lasting contribution.

Several new products won Awards for Composites Excellence, which recognize technology achievement, salute excellence in composites manufacturing, and advancements in product development.

• BEST OF SHOW: Composite Cargo Tanker with DuraShield continuity capability, Corrosion Companies Inc, Washougal, Wash.
• COMPOSITES SUSTAINABILITY: 2011 Chevrolet Volt SMC Battery Cover Assembly, Continental Structural Plastics, Troy, Mich.
• EQUIPMENT INNOVATION: Multi-directional (MD) Reinforcement System, MD Fibertech Corporation, Sausalito, Calif.
• INFINITE POSSBILITY FOR MARKET GROWTH: Lightweight Glass Made Type 4 CNG Cylinder, GASTANK SWEDEN, Pitea, Sweden
• INNOVATION IN GREEN COMPOSITES: Sustainable composites for water and sewer applications, 3B-the fiberglass company, Battice, Belgium
• MOST CREATIVE APPLICATION: RAZR Hawk Driver featuring Forged Composite, Callaway Golf Company, Carlsbad, Calif.
• PROCESS INNOVATION: Acell Monolithic Composite Process, Italpresse / Acell USA, Punta Gorda, Fla.

Pinnacle Award winners were also recognized. This award is presented for the best installations demonstrating innovation and creativity in cast polymer design and application.

• DESIGN CATEGORY: Ro – Bella    A unique Combination of Robal Glass and Terra Bella, Monroe Industries Inc., Avon, N.Y.
• MARKET GROWTH: Engineered composite vanity top using recycled content and bio based resin, Monroe Industries Inc., Avon, N.Y.

The awards luncheon was sponsored by Syrgis and the awards by CCP, Composites One, Reichhold and Ashland.

Pricing and Turnaround

According to Perry Martin of Martin Testing Laboratories in McClellan, Calif.[MS1] , price is a determining factor. “Anyone can find test labs on the internet or directories. The buyers get a list of labs, send requirements out and price plays heavily in their decision.” Closely related to this is turnaround, or the time in which testing is completed. “We have found that the quality, turnaround time, and customer service that people expect trump most other considerations,” says Mary Ann Acresi of the M&P Lab in Schenectady, N.Y. Jim Carnahan, who independently runs Edison Analytical Laboratories in Schenectady, makes this a focal point of his business. “Something we try to offer, which differentiates us from multi-person lab aggregators, is to turn a job around in quicker time, say in three days instead of ten,” he says.

Qualifications

Take a close look at what a business has to offer. “You can tell a lot by seeing the certifications of the companies a firm is working with,” says Harry Hansen of Hansen Aerospace Laboratory in Danvers, Mass. “Anyone can purchase a piece of equipment and put a promotion on their website that they can run a test,” notes Alan Boerke of Q-Lab Corporation in Cleveland, Ohio. “But if there’s no accreditation, you have to wonder if they will run the test properly, and should you make a business decision based on that?” Some companies, like Intertek Plastics Technology Laboratories in Pittsfield, Mass., stress their accreditations for precisely this purpose. “What that does is provides proficiency-type guidelines regarding your capabilities,” says Jim Galpo of Intertek.

Longevity

Some laboratories point to how long a firm has been in business as another factor often raised by customers. “The experience level of the testing company is important. Not only in terms of depth of experience, but also in terms of the longevity in providing that service. It’s a multi-dimensional, experience-based expectation,” says Paul Braun of Cincinnati Testing.

Equipment

Another important consideration is availability to proper equipment and standards for conducting testing. ‘Not just in terms of conducting test, but also using the materials that might be tested because a metal will test different than a composite,” says Braun. “It could be beneficial for customers to see some actual inspection results on an image,” says Hansen. Boerke notes that industry approvals is important, but doing due diligence in researching materials, looking at science and spectrums is very important. “Don’t base your choice just off who’s been out there a long time,” he says.

Whatever the case may be, the important thing for manufacturers to consider is to be well-informed. With laboratories offering a variety of services and features, it is best to talk to a variety of firms to figure who best suits your needs.

No top hat needed here, as Scott Bader has upgraded its new Crystic Fireguard 75PA intumescent topcoat. The new Excel version of the product offers better fire-retardant properties and significant handling improvements, yet is still cured with a standard MEKP catalyst (2 percent addition by weight). It has been used for interior parts in buildings, rail and other public transport vehicles, as well as in the marine sector where it is used to protect the engine compartments of both pleasure craft and working boats. The company says upgrades in the Excel edition include improved consistency and cure, with much better handle ability. The upgraded product has been implemented by such companies as Wright Composites, which incorporated it into a range of different bus parts which can go up to 10 sq. meters in size.

Plataine is not softening its efforts in composites as it unveils its FabricOptimizer software for composite parts manufacturers. FabricOptimizer is part of Plataine’s Total Production Optimization (TPO) product suite that offers composite parts manufacturers an integrated solution for dynamic nesting, optimized material-selection and cut-planning. Integrated to the manufacturer’s ERP/MRP and CAD systems, TPO creates ready-to-cut production plans by optimally selecting the composite fabric rolls to use, and generating the optimal nests for each roll. TPO achieves this by matching the orders’ due dates and product quantities with actual inventory data (such as material expiration date, width & length). TPO also considers the full order plan for additional optimization opportunities. In addition to optimizing daily operations, the company says TPO now enables manufacturers to use FabricOptimizer as a cost estimation tool for bids and RFQs.

Ritchey keeps on riding along with the launch of new lightweight road materials. The SuperLogic wheels have 46mm deep aero rims with glass-reinforced Scrim sidewalls to cope with the heat of hard and/or prolonged braking and to prevent rim deformation. The hubs are cold forged Ritchey SuperLogics with new SKF bearings, the rear one featuring a forged six-pawl micro-clutch freehub body for fast engagement when you kick the cranks round. The company is also releasing bar designs in carbon fiber and alloy. The WCS Carbon Curve comes in a shallow drop (128mm) and short reach (73mm) that the company says suit riders looking for a slightly more upright than normal, back-friendly ride position.

Sometimes, it takes more than one set of minds to make the best product. With that in mind, Goodrich Corporation and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics are teaming to design and develop polymer matrix composite (PMC) landing gear drag braces for the F-35 Lightning II. In addition, Goodrich signed an agreement with Netherlands-based Fokker Landing Gear for the supply of PMC drag braces for the F-35′s main landing gear. Goodrich is the exclusive landing gear system supplier and integrator for the F-35. Under the three-year agreement, Goodrich and Fokker will work together to design, qualify and produce prototype PMC drag braces to be incorporated into the main landing gear for F-35 conventional take-off/landing (CTOL) and short take-off/vertical landing (STOVL) variants. The companies say that compared to the metallic drag brace equivalent, using PMC materials will result in reduced weight and lower maintenance costs over the life of the F-35.

the new Vector Series Model VB10C by Liquid Process Systems

Liquid Process Systems hopes to have the whole package with its Vector Series Model VB10C Thermal Fluid Filtration System, a heat transfer fluid filtration system specifically developed for the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic packaging industry This is designed to keep thermal fluids or hot oil clean for higher heat transfer and plant efficiency, longer fluid life and minimum maintenance downtime. System flow and pressure available from the plant process is used to re-circulate fluid or hot from the pump discharge through the filter. Clean fluid is then returned to the suction side of the pump.

MAG is going retro…sort of. A new CNC retrofit program from the company is designed to get machines upgraded and back into production quickly, with pre-engineered application software and mechanicals that reduce installation and run-off time. MAG has pre-engineered retrofit kits available for G&L vertical turning lathes and horizontal boring mills, Cincinnati Cinturn lathes and Arrow, Sabre and Lancer vertical mills. A retrofit kit is also available for MAG aerospace profilers. The retrofit program is designed to be modular, offering control-only, control and servos, or control, servo and spindle options.

VAST Enterprises realesed the Pro Pavers for contractors

VAST Enterprises, LLC is further paving the road of green masonry by releasing the newest product in its line of VAST Pro Pavers for professional contractors: VAST Composite Permeable Pavers. VAST Composite Permeable Pavers reduce rain runoff into storm drains and decrease storm water pollutants by infiltrating rainwater on building sites. The pavers have a tested infiltration rate of more than 450 inches per hour (4.9 gallons per square foot per minute) when installed with aggregate conforming to ASTM D448 No. 8. The pavers weigh 8.2 pounds per square foot, versus 30 or more pounds per square foot for concrete permeable pavers.

Heads are spinning at Quantum as they unveil a new Accurist PT spinning fishing reel. The product features a graphite-composite-aluminum frame, which the company implemented to provide a tough exterior and keep drive and pinion gears stayed amply aligned, while 10 total stainless bearings provide long-term smooth internal operations. The reel weighs 9.2-ounces, which the company says is one of the lightest in its class. The reel also features performance-tuned components like a bend resistant, nickel titanium bail wire that has a lifetime warranty.