Materials news, September 2009

Low emisson compound launched for automotive industry

Compounding specialist TechnoCompound of Bad Sobernheim, Germany has expanded its portfolio of TechnoFiber long glass fibre (LGF) reinforced polypropylene

Phenolic prepregs go to war

In a project to improve the protection of UK armed forces serving in Afghanistan, phenolic prepreg materials from Advanced Composites Group (ACG) Ltd are b

Natural Power and Risø DTU get Lidar measurements from wind turbine with ZephIR

Renewable energy consultancy, Natural Power, and the Danish national laboratory for sustainable energy, Risø DTU, have installed ZephIR in the rotating spi

US construction spending expected to keep falling in 2010

Total construction spending in the USA on an annual basis is expected to fall 12% this year and 4% in 2010, according to IHS Global Insight.

ETI announces £5m to reduce cost of offshore wind energy

A £5 million project to develop and demonstrate a monitoring system that could reduce the cost of generating electricity from offshore wind farms in the UK

ACG adds to out of autoclave range

Advanced Composites Group (ACG) has added a new adhesive system and a surface improvement film to its range of out of autoclave products.

Novel silver nanoparticle gel shows promise for healing skin burns

Powerboat demonstrates high level of performance

SP, the marine business of Gurit, has supplied composite materials for the C-Boat superyacht tender, which was officially launched at Monaco Yacht Show las

Cured in place pipe aids restoration project

Underground pipe repair technology that uses ultraviolet (UV) light has helped preserve an historic home near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Frost & Sullivan sees lucrative investment opportunities for wind industry in China

With the rapid decline of available credit and investor confidence, 2009 has not been the best year for the global wind power industry. However, the sector

Educating tomorrow's engineering leaders

Reinforced thermoplastic used in Citroën biofuel engines

Magneti Marelli has chosen a Rhodia glass fibre reinforced polyamide to produce the air intake manifold and the fuel rail of the Citroën C4 and the C5 2l b

US Departments Treasury, Energy surpass US$1bn milestone in Recovery Act awards for renewable energy projects.

At a White House meeting to discuss the American Recovery Act, US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu hosted a group of renewab

Superior Oil to distribute AOC’s products

AOC has appointed Superior Oil Company as distributor for its full product line, including unsaturated polyester and vinyl ester resins, gel-coats and pigm

Siemens introduces new and improved 3.6 MW wind turbine featuring a 120 m rotor diameter and 10% greater efficiency

Siemens has released a 3.6 MW wind turbine featuring a 120 m rotor diameter. The SWT-3.6-120 wind turbine is based on the SWT-3.6-107 offshore wind turbine

Engineered bone dependant on cell source

2000 year old Greek athlete sheds light on corrosion

Climbing the walls – gecko-style

Micro-second force spectroscopy

Tip-enhanced phonon Raman

GE Energy expands in offshore wind sector with acquisition of ScanWind technology

GE has acquired ScanWind, a developer of both advanced drive train and control wind turbine technologies aimed at offshore deployment.

Flipping sandwiches

CCAI To Host New Finishing Technologies Pavilion at the FABTECH Show

The Chemical Coaters Association International, CCAI, has announced that beginning in 2010, it will host a new Finishing Technologies Pavilion at the FABTE

EPA Finalizes the Nation’s First Greenhouse Gas Reporting System

On January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, will, for the first time, require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to begin col

Metalformers Less Optimistic About Business Conditions Over the Short Term

Metalforming companies are somewhat less optimistic about the trend in general activity and in their expectations for new orders over the next three-month

Sounding out molecular control

Membrane breaks through performance barrier

Guidelines designed to steer new course for PM design

A new set of guidelines for engineers and others who design or specify high performance pressed and sintered PM parts is on the road to publication in 2011

Höganäs’ PoP Centre aims to lift powder metal development

This month sees the opening of an innovative new centre in Höganäs, Sweden, aimed at promoting the advantages of metal powder technology and provide suppor

New record for free fall lifeboat

Schat-Harding has set a new world record for a lifeboat free fall drop by launching its FF1200 model, which is built from sandwich composites, from a heigh

Rio Tinto to sell Alcan Composites to Schweiter Technologies

Rio Tinto has entered into an agreement to sell Alcan Composites, part of the Alcan Engineered Products division, to Schweiter Technologies AG for US$349 m

AOC vinyl esters produced in Europe

AOC's Vipel® vinyl ester resins are now available for shipment from manufacturing facilities in Europe.

Honeycomb materials aimed at wind energy market

Wind energy applications are being targeted by honeycomb materials manufacturer nidaplast.

Robotic testing reduces margin of error

Advanced materials company Hexcel has purchased two robotic testing systems from Zwick Roell, in response to the growing demand for more extreme environmen

Boeing forecasts US$400 billion market for new aircraft in China

In its 2009 market update for commercial aircraft, Boeing forecasts a requirement for 3770 new aircraft for the China region over the next 20 years, valued

McLaren unveils new supercar

McLaren Automotive has unveiled its new high performance sports car, the McLaren MP4-12C. The car is based around a carbon fibre composite chassis: the Car

Gamesa supplies 26 wind turbines to Spanish windfarms

Gamesa is supplying 26 of its G87, 2 MW wind turbines to ENEL Unión Fenosa Renovables (EUFER) for two windfarms in Spain.

Composites One China becomes MVP distributor

Magnum Venus Plastech (MVP) has named Composites One China as its official distributor in China.

New automotive PM parts listing

The Metal Powder Industries Federation (MPIF) has set up a continually-updated online document covering specific PM parts applications in North American, E

COATING East Online Registration Ends This Week

The last day to register for COATING 2009, which takes place in Nashville, Tenn., is Friday, Sept. 18. After that time, only on-site registration will be a

Michigan Governor Seeks to Expand Automotive Investment

Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has concluded her ninth overseas investment mission and fourth visit to Japan, meeting with company leaders from Den

NASF Reminds Industry Members to Save the Date for SUR/FIN 2010 in Grand Rapids, Michigan

The National Association for Surface Finishing, NASF, is inviting industry members to save the date for SUR/FIN 2010, set to take place June 15 –17 at the

Henkel Adds HIT Solutions to Stable of Distributors

Henkel Automotive Surface Technology Group has entered into an agreement with HIT Solutions, whereby HIT Solutions will serve as a sales and distribution p

Integran Technologies Signs Agreement with Magnetic Shield Corporation

Pittsburgh, Pa.-based Integran Technologies Inc., a leader in the development and commercialization of advanced metallurgical nano-technologies, has entere

Concurrent Technologies Corporation Awarded Competitively Bid U.S. Army Tank Research Contract

Concurrent Technologies Corporation, CTC, recently won a competitively bid contract to participate in the support of the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research

AkzoNobel Adjusts Performance Coatings and Specialty Chemicals Portfolios

AkzoNobel adjusts Performance Coatings and Specialty Chemicals portfolios as part of a realignment that will see the launch of two new business units and t

The world’s biggest wind turbine blades could be made in the UK

UK Energy and Climate Secretary Ed Miliband, has said the world’s biggest wind turbine blades will be made in the UK as he announced grants for three offsh

PPG increases prices for chopped strand fibre glass

PPG Industries’ fibre glass business has announced a price increase for all thermoplastic chopped strand and thermoset dry chopped strand products.

Cytec Engineered Materials and Mitsubishi Rayon collaborate on aerospace applications

Cytec Engineered Materials (CEM) and Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd (MRC) have announced a strategic business collaboration to develop carbon fibre reinforced com

BP divests Indian wind power assets

BP is selling off its wind power interests in India for 4.622 billion Rupees (~US$95 million), but says it will continue to focus on wind in the USA.

Adhesives win over industry conservatism

UK firm Solomon has introduced structural bonding to the design of its refrigerated trucks, eliminating the use of mechanical fixings.

China Composites Expo attracts over 8200 visitors

This year's China Composites Expo (CCE 2009), held in Shanghai on 2-4 September, attracted over 8249 visitors.

PNNL awarded US$6.8m for marine power studies

The Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will receive more than US$6.8 million over three years to advance the production of

Processing equipment targets large scale applications

A five-axis multi-processing system for the machining and finishing of large parts such as wind blades and boat hulls is being introduced by MAG.

Vestas launches V112, 3 MW offshore wind turbine

Vestas’ V112, 3 MW offshore wind turbine model is said to be optimised for the conditions at sea and “can generate more power than any other turbine in the

Owens Corning converts Italian plant to Advantex glass fibre technology

Owens Corning's glass fibre reinforcement facility in Vado, Italy, has been converted to the company’s patented boron and fluorine-free Advantex® technolog

Call for entries: Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy

The organisers of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy is seeking entries from "inspirational and innovative" local sustainable energy programmes from

MVP controls the heat

Magnum Venus Plastech (MVP) has developed a new system for the injection of single component resins.

Mitsubishi and Peugeot Citroën join forces to develop European electric car

Mitsubishi and Peugeot Citroën have signed an agreement in Paris to jointly develop an electric car for the European market.

Epoxy prepreg fuels urban car concept

Futuristic automotive firm Riversimple has used epoxy prepregs from Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG) to form the body shell and bonnet of its new urban

Lamborghini displays new car at COMPOSITES EUROPE

Italian car maker Lamborghini will display its new Murciélago LP 670-4 SuperVeloce model at the COMPOSITES EUROPE trade fair in Stuttgart next month.

Masdar Institute aims to lead the way in alternative energy research

Masdar Institute of Science and technology has welcomed its first intake of 92 graduate students, representing 22 different nations.

TAI selects FiberSIM software for UAV project

Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc (TAI) has purchased VISTAGY’s FiberSIM® software to streamline the design-to-manufacturing process of complex composite pa

Preview: Ernst & Young Global Renewable Energy Awards 2009

Organisers of the prominent global renewable energy awards report that nominations are reflecting the structural changes to clean energy markets…

New standard for Carney Funnel flow rate

A new international ASTM standard has been developed to measure the flow rate of metal powders using c Carney Funnel.

U.S. Unemployment Rate Rises to 9.7% in August

The U.S. economy lost 216,000 jobs in August, pushing the nation’s unemployment rate to 9.7%, according to a newly released Labor Dept. report. While job l

Zoltek and Global Blade Technology announce wind energy alliance

US-based carbon fibre supplier Zoltek and wind turbine blade designer Global Blade Technology (GBT) of the Netherlands are joining forces to promote the de

MetoKote Corporation Names PPG Industries ‘Supplier of the Year’

MetoKote Corporation, an industry leader in protective coating applications—including electrocoat, powder coating and liquid paint—has awarded PPG Industri

Countdown to SUR/FIN 2010: NASF Calling on Finisher Exhibitors

The National Association for Surface Finishing, or NASF, is putting out the call for finisher exhibitors to participate in SUR/FIN 2010, set to take place

RTP adds bioplastics to its product range

Thermoplastic compounder RTP Company is introducing a line of bioplastic compounds that use resins derived from renewable resources.

Pressure indicating film for RTM

Sensor Products Inc says its Pressurex® pressure indicating film helps achieve uniform contact pressure more consistently in resin transfer moulding (RTM)

Södra and Statkraft collaborate on renewable energy

Swedish forestry and timber product company Södra and Norwegian energy company Statkraft have signed a SEK 10 billion (~€1bn) agreement of intent on renewa

DNV issues class notation for offshore wind turbine installation units

Risk management company Det Norske Veritas (DNV) is launching class notation for offshore wind turbine installation units based on DNV’s Offshore Service S

E.ON Climate & Renewables completes 457 MW wind farm.

E.ON Climate and Renewables (EC&R) North America has confirmed the completion of its Panther Creek wind farm, one of the 10 largest in the USA.

UV curing prepregs pass fire tests

Australian Composites Pty Ltd has developed a range of ultraviolet (UV) curing prepregs which have passed fire tests required for interior parts of trains,

Clunkers’ deals net $2.9 billion

US car dealers submitted more than 690 000 deals worth about $2.9 billion in government rebates under the “Cash for Clunkers” car scrappage scheme that ran

Ford Motor Co. to Install Novel Paint Emissions Conversion System

Ford Motor Co. plans to install a patented Fumes-to-Fuel system at its Oakville, Ontario, assembly plant—an innovative system designed to convert emissions

Composite pipe aids city’s sewer expansion

A project to expand the wastewater treatment facility in Denton, Texas, USA, is employing composite pipe in the manufacture of its sewer line.

Controlling the electronic surface properties of a material

Lectra and AB-Inventech cooperate on wind energy market

Lectra and AB-Inventech have signed a cooperation agreement to promote automated production solutions for the wind energy and aerospace markets.

ITW Plexus exhibits at Bondexpo

ITW Plexus is exhibiting its range of high performance methacrylate adhesives at Bondexpo in Stuttgart this month.

Vestas receives order for 77 MW of wind turbines for Spain

Vestas has received an order for a total of 24m V90 2.0 MW wind turbines and 16 units of the V90 1.8 MW wind turbine for three projects in Spain.

Zayed Future Energy Prize open for renewable energy nominations

The US$2.2 million Zayed Future Energy Prize awarded every year for innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and technologies is ope

Could a £3m wind turbine project in Oxford lead the way?

Oxford City Council – and former Renewable Energy Focus editor Paul Spencer - have revealed plans for a £3m wind turbine development on council land in the

AGY’s S-1 Glass rovings approved for turbine blades

Germanischer Lloyd (GL) has approved AGY's S-1 Glass™ glass rovings for use in wind turbine blade applications.

Bowman International acquires former competitor

Bearings and sintering specialist Bowman International has acquired most of the assets of former competitor Oilite Bearings Ltd, after the UK-based manufac

AMI DODUCO expands European silver powder production

AMI DODUCO, a Technitrol company, has completed a two-year expansion of its silver powder production and recovery capacity in Europe.

GKN auto business returns to profitability

GKN, which owns Hoeganaes Corporation, has reported an upload in its auto business, which includes powder metallurgy.

Isomandrel technology alleviates need for cure ovens

Canadian company Acrolab Ltd says its Isomandrel technology allows a quick and controlled cure of thermoset filament wound pipe sections without the need f

UK government proposes faster grid access for renewable energy

UK Secretary of Energy and Climate Change, Ed Miliband, has proposed to address the way power plants are connected to the UK’s power grid in the hope of ge

Poliya launches new website for composites

Turkish polyester resin and gel-coat manufacturer Poliya has launched its new website.

The US Treasury announces US$500m for clean and renewable energy projects

US Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Energy Secretary Steven Chu have announced US$502 million in the first round of awards from an American Recovery and

PPG introduces glass fibre roving for wind market

PPG Industries is introducing HYBON 2026 glass fibre roving for use in composite wind turbine blades and other applications.

Metal Finishing Launches Online Finishers’ Directory

Metal Finishing magazine, the plating and coating industries’ technology magazine, is making it easier for finishers to connect with potential customers. M

IPC Monthly North American Printed Circuit Board Report Reflects Declines

The Association Connecting Electronic Industries, or IPC, has released its North American Printed Circuit Board Report providing key statistics for the mo

Institute for Supply Management Index Rises in August

The newly released Institute for Supply Management’s Index, a barometer of manufacturing inventories, rose more than 8% to 52.9 in August—up from 48.9 in J

U.S. Auto Sales Hit $3B Mark in August

A newly released government report showed U.S. auto sales reached $3 billion in August, largely on the strength of government incentives such as the Cash f

Toho Tenax exhibits at China Composites Expo

Toho Tenax Co Ltd is exhibiting at China Composites Expo 2009 in Shanghai this week to support the expansion of its carbon fibre business in the Chinese ma

August's top 5 stories

The following five stories were the most popular with visitors to the Reinforced Plastics website during the month of August.