Q&A Interviews
Q&A: Car Salesman Tactics Could Benefit Composites
Jason Carrington, president of Carrington Yachts Limited, is sought after to create new sleeker, lighter yachts. In his experience as a project manager and an avid racer (he has competed in the Volvo Ocean Race four times), he helps designers and manufacturers find the right balance between speed and sleek sturdiness. Here are his... »
Q&A: Next Gen NASA Explores Composites
John Vickers has been with NASA for over 20 years and worked within the aerospace industry for almost 30 years. As manager of NASA’s National Center for Advanced Manufacturing, he has worked on many projects utilizing advanced composites, including presently a new larger space launch vehicle, and participated in several national projects with NASA,... »
Q&A:Composites Stack the Deck Against Wood
Winchester, Va.-based Trex is a $350 million, publicly-held company that manufactures wood-plastic composite decking, railing, fencing and trim. It started as a division of Mobil Oil in 1992, went public in 1999, and currently has two operating facilities in Virginia and Nevada. The products are made from a wood-plastic composite blend between recycled polyethylene... »
Q&A: Why Can’t Composites Get Traction in Automotive?
Hamid Kia is the author of more than 40 published papers and has more than 25 patents to his name. He is a participant at the United States Council for Automotive Research LLC (USCAR), a joint venture company formed by Chrysler Group LLC, Ford Motor Company and General Motors Company (GM) to support and... »
Q&A: Composite Consultant’s Tips to Optimize the Market Upswing
In 2007 Ray MacNeil, a COMPOSITES 2010 general session speaker, left his job at PPG Industries, where he’d worked for 35 years, and began consulting. With a background in sales and marketing, strategic planning and business analysis, MacNeil does market research and development for a variety of companies within the composites industry. This experience... »
Q&A: Nanocomp Transforms Quick Conversations into Best Leads
Nanocomp Technologies started as a spin-off from technology development company Synergy Innovations. Five years ago the Concord, N.H.-based business, started by Peter Antoinette and David Lashmore, began making carbon nanotube yarn and sheet material for various segments of the composites industry. »
Wind Energy Council Exec Names Fastest-Growing Markets
The General for the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) is a hybrid association that represents companies and regional associations from around the world. As a global voice, its members include companies like GE and Clipper from the U.S., as well as many within Europe. As the GWEC’s General Secretary, Steve Sawyer is privy to... »
Rep. Joe Wilson Leads Composites Caucus on Capitol Hill
Joe Wilson is a Republican politician for South Carolina and Co-chair of the Composites Caucus. He was a former U.S. Army lawyer, South Carolina State Senator and since 2001 has represented the state’s 2nd congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. What is the purpose of the composites caucus? Last year when the Composites Caucus... »
Iowa Professor Turns Crops Into Composites
David Grewell is assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering and the chair of the Biopolymers and Biocomposites Research Team at Iowa State University. The research team, which operates under the Center for Crops Utilization Research (CCUR) umbrella, was founded to develop new uses for Iowa crops. »
Composites Pioneer Sees Potential in Pipes, Bridges, and More
George Epstein is known for his pioneering work in a wide variety of composites and structural adhesives materials and applications. He received commendations for his work with the U.S. Navy, NASA and other programs. At the age of 83, he is now retired but continues to consult with the Aerospace Corp., the Air Force... »
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