Composites
Anisoprint Composer is a 3D printer designed to manufacture polymer components with continuous carbon fiber reinforcement.
Anisoprint and Systemcreate announce exclusive partnership
Anisoprint, a manufacturer of continuous fiber 3D printing systems, and Systemcreate announce an exclusive distribution partnership that will accelerate the adoption of 3D printed continuous fiber-reinforced composites in the Japanese market.
In spite of the many challenges the world faces, the Additional Manufacturing (AM) market keeps growing and the Luxembourg-based deep-tech startup keeps expanding its global footprint. As part of the deal Systemcreate will exclusively distribute Anisoprints proprietary CFC (continuous fiber coextrusion) technology and the Composer 3D printing system in Japan.
Exclusive partnerships build the foundation of Anisoprint’s strategic growth
As seen in the recent deals in China, India, and now Japan, exclusive distributor agreements have become Anisoprint’s main method for establishing stable and strong business relationships that encourages dedicated and committed work.
Takafumi Sakamoto, Director of Asia & Pacific at Anisoprint: “Exclusive agreements are a cornerstone to building trust, close business relationships, and high productivity. We value the efforts and commitment that Systemcreate offers us and are eager to start working with such a strong and experienced partner.”
Anisoprint Composer is a 3D printer designed to manufacture polymer components with continuous carbon fiber reinforcement. The printer is capable of printing lattice structures, supports flexible material selection, and allows full control of fiber path generation.
Systemcreate plans to invest more resources in marketing to promote the Composer systems and establish a team of engineers with in-depth understanding of the CFC 3D printing technology and provide outstanding customer support service.
Mr. Masayoshi Kawakami, President at Systemcreate: “I am convinced that signing an exclusive distribution agreement for Anisoprint Composers will lead to our further growth. It is also my great pleasure that we can contribute and help Japanese engineers develop innovative products by using continuous carbon fiber 3D printers. We will now start collaborating closely with Anisoprint to accelerate cultivating the Japanese market.”
#composites #Anisoprint #Systemcreate #3Dprinter
> source
Anisoprint, a manufacturer of continuous fiber 3D printing systems, and Systemcreate announce an exclusive distribution partnership that will accelerate the adoption of 3D printed continuous fiber-reinforced composites in the Japanese market.
In spite of the many challenges the world faces, the Additional Manufacturing (AM) market keeps growing and the Luxembourg-based deep-tech startup keeps expanding its global footprint. As part of the deal Systemcreate will exclusively distribute Anisoprints proprietary CFC (continuous fiber coextrusion) technology and the Composer 3D printing system in Japan.
Exclusive partnerships build the foundation of Anisoprint’s strategic growth
As seen in the recent deals in China, India, and now Japan, exclusive distributor agreements have become Anisoprint’s main method for establishing stable and strong business relationships that encourages dedicated and committed work.
Takafumi Sakamoto, Director of Asia & Pacific at Anisoprint: “Exclusive agreements are a cornerstone to building trust, close business relationships, and high productivity. We value the efforts and commitment that Systemcreate offers us and are eager to start working with such a strong and experienced partner.”
Anisoprint Composer is a 3D printer designed to manufacture polymer components with continuous carbon fiber reinforcement. The printer is capable of printing lattice structures, supports flexible material selection, and allows full control of fiber path generation.
Systemcreate plans to invest more resources in marketing to promote the Composer systems and establish a team of engineers with in-depth understanding of the CFC 3D printing technology and provide outstanding customer support service.
Mr. Masayoshi Kawakami, President at Systemcreate: “I am convinced that signing an exclusive distribution agreement for Anisoprint Composers will lead to our further growth. It is also my great pleasure that we can contribute and help Japanese engineers develop innovative products by using continuous carbon fiber 3D printers. We will now start collaborating closely with Anisoprint to accelerate cultivating the Japanese market.”
#composites #Anisoprint #Systemcreate #3Dprinter
> source
Video report on the last exhibition "Composite-Expo 2022" is posted on the official YouTube channel of the event.
https://youtu.be/yvXD9H4pJaQ
https://youtu.be/yvXD9H4pJaQ
YouTube
14th Composite-Expo 2022 Video Report
14th Composite-Expo 2022 International Exhibition
Date: March 29 - 31, 2022.
Venue: Pavilion 1, Expocentre Fairgrounds, Moscow, Russia.
Organizer: Mir-Expo Exhibition Company, Ltd.
In 2022, the exhibition was attended by 90 companies from 7 countries (Germany…
Date: March 29 - 31, 2022.
Venue: Pavilion 1, Expocentre Fairgrounds, Moscow, Russia.
Organizer: Mir-Expo Exhibition Company, Ltd.
In 2022, the exhibition was attended by 90 companies from 7 countries (Germany…
Breakthroughs in composites and advanced material sustainment
NCMS Technology Briefs highlight NCMS’s cultivation and growth of innovative technologies. Through their management of government and industry collaborations, they’ve gained insights into novel approaches and best practices that can assist all companies navigate the sometimes complex journey towards advancement.
Based on the results of NCMS technology projects, the briefs show the applicability and usefulness of proven technical advances — all in an effort to speed adoption and eliminate duplication of effort. NCMS is pleased to share these insights to support U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
While composite materials have been used for thousands of years, technological advancements in modern composites have produced exceptional benefits: corrosion resistance, design flexibility, durability, strength, stiffness, light weighting, and low maintenance costs. Since the development of fiberglass, one of the first modern composites, in the 1930s, composites have been used in cars, trucks, boats, trailers, aircraft, spacecraft, wind turbine blades, bridges, buildings, bathtubs, swimming pools, storage tanks, countertops, sporting goods, solar cells, sensors, lasers, and many more items.
Created by merging two or more materials with different chemical or physical properties, without dissolving or blending those materials into each other, composites produce a new material with superior properties. Reinforcement materials (particles, flakes, or most commonly fibers made of carbon, glass, aramid, or boron) are embedded into a matrix (generally ceramics, metals, or most frequently polymers) that serves as an adhesive by binding the fibers together and lending solidity to the material. Many new types of composites are produced through alternating layers of different materials. By carefully choosing the matrix, the reinforcement, and the manufacturing process, engineers can tailor composite properties to meet needed requirements.
For several decades, the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has facilitated collaborations with industry, academic, and government partners that have advanced high-performance composite design and manufacturing processes. In the early 2000s, an NCMS project team assisted the DOD with repairing composite materials by establishing a standardized methodology to enable depot and field repair facilities to determine suitable substitute materials for weapon system repair and remanufacture. This project provided immediate benefit to warfighting capability during missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq.
In the 2010s, NCMS organized a collaboration to solve a significant problem the DOD has faced in the production and repair of composites: over 10% of engineering time is spent resolving cure cycle and heat transfer issues, which cost millions of dollars each year in scrapped parts and lost time. To help to save both money and time, an NCMS project team developed and tested tools to manage heat transfer for ovens and autoclaves used in the production and repair of composites. This project installed control hardware and software, optimizing manufacture and repair processes for several facilities that produce substantial composite hardware for the DOD.
Even with their great benefits, composites still suffer wear and damage over time. Making repairs to composites with the same materials used in the first manufacturing process has generally proven to be unsuccessful. This is because the interactions of repair materials with the original materials is never as cohesive as the original materials. As a result, alternate repair materials and procedures have been needed.
For this reason, the composite community has sought a detailed sustainment technology strategy to ensure community-wide unity of effort. The goal is to better utilize commercial and government resources toward boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of composite maintenance and sustainment.
NCMS Technology Briefs highlight NCMS’s cultivation and growth of innovative technologies. Through their management of government and industry collaborations, they’ve gained insights into novel approaches and best practices that can assist all companies navigate the sometimes complex journey towards advancement.
Based on the results of NCMS technology projects, the briefs show the applicability and usefulness of proven technical advances — all in an effort to speed adoption and eliminate duplication of effort. NCMS is pleased to share these insights to support U.S. manufacturing competitiveness.
While composite materials have been used for thousands of years, technological advancements in modern composites have produced exceptional benefits: corrosion resistance, design flexibility, durability, strength, stiffness, light weighting, and low maintenance costs. Since the development of fiberglass, one of the first modern composites, in the 1930s, composites have been used in cars, trucks, boats, trailers, aircraft, spacecraft, wind turbine blades, bridges, buildings, bathtubs, swimming pools, storage tanks, countertops, sporting goods, solar cells, sensors, lasers, and many more items.
Created by merging two or more materials with different chemical or physical properties, without dissolving or blending those materials into each other, composites produce a new material with superior properties. Reinforcement materials (particles, flakes, or most commonly fibers made of carbon, glass, aramid, or boron) are embedded into a matrix (generally ceramics, metals, or most frequently polymers) that serves as an adhesive by binding the fibers together and lending solidity to the material. Many new types of composites are produced through alternating layers of different materials. By carefully choosing the matrix, the reinforcement, and the manufacturing process, engineers can tailor composite properties to meet needed requirements.
For several decades, the National Center for Manufacturing Sciences (NCMS) has facilitated collaborations with industry, academic, and government partners that have advanced high-performance composite design and manufacturing processes. In the early 2000s, an NCMS project team assisted the DOD with repairing composite materials by establishing a standardized methodology to enable depot and field repair facilities to determine suitable substitute materials for weapon system repair and remanufacture. This project provided immediate benefit to warfighting capability during missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, and Iraq.
In the 2010s, NCMS organized a collaboration to solve a significant problem the DOD has faced in the production and repair of composites: over 10% of engineering time is spent resolving cure cycle and heat transfer issues, which cost millions of dollars each year in scrapped parts and lost time. To help to save both money and time, an NCMS project team developed and tested tools to manage heat transfer for ovens and autoclaves used in the production and repair of composites. This project installed control hardware and software, optimizing manufacture and repair processes for several facilities that produce substantial composite hardware for the DOD.
Even with their great benefits, composites still suffer wear and damage over time. Making repairs to composites with the same materials used in the first manufacturing process has generally proven to be unsuccessful. This is because the interactions of repair materials with the original materials is never as cohesive as the original materials. As a result, alternate repair materials and procedures have been needed.
For this reason, the composite community has sought a detailed sustainment technology strategy to ensure community-wide unity of effort. The goal is to better utilize commercial and government resources toward boosting the efficiency and effectiveness of composite maintenance and sustainment.
To meet this need, in 2016 NCMS reconfigured the Composite Maintainers Technical Interchange Meeting (TIM) into the Joint Composite & Advanced Materials Sustainment (JCAMS) Annual Meeting. This meeting continues to bring together government and military officials, industry leaders, manufacturers, engineers, and other technical experts who focus on issues facing the manufacturing, tooling, deployment, and repair of advanced composite materials in a defense setting.
JCAMS addresses the unique challenges for composite materials, repairs, tooling, processing, storage, and facilities. Their working groups have, for instance, solved issues in obtaining materials needed for repairing composite parts for several different assets; assembled a resource list for available training; and catalogued the skills, tools, equipment, techniques, materials, and analysis found to optimize sustainment.
In addition to the JCAMS initiatives, several NCMS collaborations have assisted the DOD transition to lightweight composite metals for industrial applications, resulting in enhanced performance, lower costs, and reduced fuel usage. Lightweight materials, such as composites, aluminum, and magnesium alloys do present a challenge: they cannot be fastened in the same way as traditional metals. They require special adhesives and other methods for joining separate parts, rather than bolts and welds.
NCMS has brought together initiatives that repair and maintain adhesive-intensive joints in a production setting using specification-compliant products. This includes making a survey of currently used joining materials used in the three largest Army depots and publicizing a list of specification-compliant replacement materials for obsolete adhesives and sealants. NCMS partners also found success in developing high-strength, high-elongation adhesives with low-temperature cure.
Another team of government and industry partners developed a reversible thermoplastic adhesive system by which a combination of steel, aluminum, and glass-fiber reinforced composite segments of vehicle components can be repaired. This work will facilitate faster, more effective maintenance of vehicles, vessels, and aircraft.
As the global transportation industry has increasingly sought to reduce carbon emissions, several NCMS collaborations have focused on using composites for vehicle light weighting, which is a primary strategy to reduce fuel consumption. One project team is developing a domestic source of mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber and lightweight composites to produce lightweight composite wheel rims and other components for commercial and military trucks.
Another collaboration has used an out of autoclave (OOA) composite manufacturing methodology, an alternative to the traditional high-pressure autoclave curing process commonly used to manufacture composite materials. This project has demonstrated efficient manufacturing processes for military ground vehicle structures, which has resulted in lightweight prototypes that are economical to produce.
Additional research on composites has upgraded the mechanical performance of additively manufactured (AM) parts used in vehicles that operate in austere, harsh environments. All these efforts have accelerated the development and transition of a wide range of composite materials into the commercial transportation industry, which will reduce corrosion, maintenance costs, and fuel consumption.
JCAMS addresses the unique challenges for composite materials, repairs, tooling, processing, storage, and facilities. Their working groups have, for instance, solved issues in obtaining materials needed for repairing composite parts for several different assets; assembled a resource list for available training; and catalogued the skills, tools, equipment, techniques, materials, and analysis found to optimize sustainment.
In addition to the JCAMS initiatives, several NCMS collaborations have assisted the DOD transition to lightweight composite metals for industrial applications, resulting in enhanced performance, lower costs, and reduced fuel usage. Lightweight materials, such as composites, aluminum, and magnesium alloys do present a challenge: they cannot be fastened in the same way as traditional metals. They require special adhesives and other methods for joining separate parts, rather than bolts and welds.
NCMS has brought together initiatives that repair and maintain adhesive-intensive joints in a production setting using specification-compliant products. This includes making a survey of currently used joining materials used in the three largest Army depots and publicizing a list of specification-compliant replacement materials for obsolete adhesives and sealants. NCMS partners also found success in developing high-strength, high-elongation adhesives with low-temperature cure.
Another team of government and industry partners developed a reversible thermoplastic adhesive system by which a combination of steel, aluminum, and glass-fiber reinforced composite segments of vehicle components can be repaired. This work will facilitate faster, more effective maintenance of vehicles, vessels, and aircraft.
As the global transportation industry has increasingly sought to reduce carbon emissions, several NCMS collaborations have focused on using composites for vehicle light weighting, which is a primary strategy to reduce fuel consumption. One project team is developing a domestic source of mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber and lightweight composites to produce lightweight composite wheel rims and other components for commercial and military trucks.
Another collaboration has used an out of autoclave (OOA) composite manufacturing methodology, an alternative to the traditional high-pressure autoclave curing process commonly used to manufacture composite materials. This project has demonstrated efficient manufacturing processes for military ground vehicle structures, which has resulted in lightweight prototypes that are economical to produce.
Additional research on composites has upgraded the mechanical performance of additively manufactured (AM) parts used in vehicles that operate in austere, harsh environments. All these efforts have accelerated the development and transition of a wide range of composite materials into the commercial transportation industry, which will reduce corrosion, maintenance costs, and fuel consumption.
NCMS partners are also advancing new composite technologies and design processes to improve the functionality and lifecycle of rigid-wall shelters. Using the Joint Warfighter Shelter of the Future—a DOD initiative—as a surrogate to prove out this new technology, this collaboration aims to determine whether composites can be used in a wide range of mobile shelters, freight containers, and other storage devices across commercial industries and DOD organizations. The use of composite materials for these structures will reduce transportation and maintenance costs in many different industries. Moreover, utilizing composites will reduce the carbon footprint by 90 percent, when compared to standard building materials.
The future of composites is extremely bright, with proven technologies—including liquid resin infusion, compression molding, OOA thermoset molding processes, and thermoplastic composites—being adapted to meet the fast-evolving needs of many industries, especially aerospace, automotive, defense, marine, and wind turbine. NCMS looks forward to continuing in its role of facilitating further advances in this critical industry sector.
#composites #breakthroughs #fiberglass #CarbonFiber
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The future of composites is extremely bright, with proven technologies—including liquid resin infusion, compression molding, OOA thermoset molding processes, and thermoplastic composites—being adapted to meet the fast-evolving needs of many industries, especially aerospace, automotive, defense, marine, and wind turbine. NCMS looks forward to continuing in its role of facilitating further advances in this critical industry sector.
#composites #breakthroughs #fiberglass #CarbonFiber
> source
Composites increases the resistance of tiles against corrosion
Brazilian company developed a tile whose estimated useful life is ten years.
According to estimates by Canadian scientists, corrosion was responsible for worldwide losses of US$ 2.5 trillion in 2021. In addition to marine corrosion, many industrial operations emit gases that end up damaging various types of metallic structures. In relation to tiles, however, there is a solution that not only solves the problem, but also offers additional advantages, such as better control of room temperature. These are composite tiles, a material that combines polymers and fiberglass.
“Although they are used abroad in very sophisticated applications, such as parts for space shuttles, trains and luxury vehicles, in Brazil composite materials are associated with products of dubious quality. However, if manufactured according to technical standards, they offer much more benefits than metal or wood, and this is clearly the case with tiles,” comments Cyrus Muchalski, general manager of Planefibra, a company from Santa Catarina specializing in solutions for lighting and ventilation.
Aware of the behavior of composites – light and extremely robust, they can even be formulated with resins resistant to the propagation of flames –, Planefibra decided to invest in the production of opaque tiles for corrosive environments, after consolidating itself in the market as a supplier of translucent tiles made with the same material.
“One of the main characteristics of composites is corrosion resistance, so much so that boat hulls and chemical tanks are made with this combination of polymers and fibers. So, we decided to include all this differential in a product that we already manufactured, but until then with a focus only on coverage associated with the gain in luminosity,” explains the general manager of Planefibra.
After a series of tests carried out in the Planefibra laboratory and in the field, some with the participation of the Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings (LabLEE), of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (USFC), the company started to manufacture opaque roof tiles for industrial applications, such as fertilizer factories, warehouses that store chemical products and port facilities.
“Our direct competitors are galvalume steel and fiber cement tiles. In addition to being able to develop much lighter products, in the color and to the extent that the customer wants, composite tiles have a useful life up to five times longer, which gives much more security not only to construction companies, but also to shed operators,” says Muchalski.
A fertilizer manufacturer, Yara Brasil was the first customer for Planefibra’s opaque tiles – it installed 9,877 m² of the product in its sheds, replacing fiber cement tiles. “Next, we supply the Port Terminal of Salaverry, in Peru”.
Planefibra’s opaque tiles have also been installed in farms and pigsties across Brazil – the gases produced by the animals’ feces required frequent replacement of metal tiles. “Our products have a five-year factory warranty and an estimated useful life of ten years, numbers that prove the excellent cost-benefit ratio”.
About Planefibra:
Founded in 2007, in the city of São Bento do Sul, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, Planefibra is a company specialized in solutions for natural lighting and ventilation through the manufacture of tiles, domus, shutters and sheets of composite materials (FRP). Its products are present in industrial, commercial and residential buildings throughout Brazil and in several countries in South America.
#composites #tiles #corrosion
> source
Brazilian company developed a tile whose estimated useful life is ten years.
According to estimates by Canadian scientists, corrosion was responsible for worldwide losses of US$ 2.5 trillion in 2021. In addition to marine corrosion, many industrial operations emit gases that end up damaging various types of metallic structures. In relation to tiles, however, there is a solution that not only solves the problem, but also offers additional advantages, such as better control of room temperature. These are composite tiles, a material that combines polymers and fiberglass.
“Although they are used abroad in very sophisticated applications, such as parts for space shuttles, trains and luxury vehicles, in Brazil composite materials are associated with products of dubious quality. However, if manufactured according to technical standards, they offer much more benefits than metal or wood, and this is clearly the case with tiles,” comments Cyrus Muchalski, general manager of Planefibra, a company from Santa Catarina specializing in solutions for lighting and ventilation.
Aware of the behavior of composites – light and extremely robust, they can even be formulated with resins resistant to the propagation of flames –, Planefibra decided to invest in the production of opaque tiles for corrosive environments, after consolidating itself in the market as a supplier of translucent tiles made with the same material.
“One of the main characteristics of composites is corrosion resistance, so much so that boat hulls and chemical tanks are made with this combination of polymers and fibers. So, we decided to include all this differential in a product that we already manufactured, but until then with a focus only on coverage associated with the gain in luminosity,” explains the general manager of Planefibra.
After a series of tests carried out in the Planefibra laboratory and in the field, some with the participation of the Laboratory of Energy Efficiency in Buildings (LabLEE), of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (USFC), the company started to manufacture opaque roof tiles for industrial applications, such as fertilizer factories, warehouses that store chemical products and port facilities.
“Our direct competitors are galvalume steel and fiber cement tiles. In addition to being able to develop much lighter products, in the color and to the extent that the customer wants, composite tiles have a useful life up to five times longer, which gives much more security not only to construction companies, but also to shed operators,” says Muchalski.
A fertilizer manufacturer, Yara Brasil was the first customer for Planefibra’s opaque tiles – it installed 9,877 m² of the product in its sheds, replacing fiber cement tiles. “Next, we supply the Port Terminal of Salaverry, in Peru”.
Planefibra’s opaque tiles have also been installed in farms and pigsties across Brazil – the gases produced by the animals’ feces required frequent replacement of metal tiles. “Our products have a five-year factory warranty and an estimated useful life of ten years, numbers that prove the excellent cost-benefit ratio”.
About Planefibra:
Founded in 2007, in the city of São Bento do Sul, in Santa Catarina, Brazil, Planefibra is a company specialized in solutions for natural lighting and ventilation through the manufacture of tiles, domus, shutters and sheets of composite materials (FRP). Its products are present in industrial, commercial and residential buildings throughout Brazil and in several countries in South America.
#composites #tiles #corrosion
> source
Composites
Photo
Hexcel to supply carbon fiber prepreg for Dassault F10X program
Hexcel announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with Dassault to supply carbon fiber prepreg for the Falcon 10X program. This is the first Dassault business jet program to incorporate high-performance advanced carbon fiber composites in the manufacture of its aircraft wings.
Dassault Aviation has selected HexPly® M21EV/IMA, a high-performance advanced composite that has proven over the past 10 years to meet high-efficiency manufacturing standards. Thanks to Hexcel carbon fiber composites, the wide, high-speed wing will be made for maximum strength, reduced weight and minimum drag. The Falcon 10X is planned to enter service at the end of 2025.
Thierry Merlot, Hexcel President Aerospace Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Industrial, said, “I am delighted that Dassault has decided to expand our partnership of more than 40 years with the selection of Hexcel materials to design and produce its first Falcon carbon fiber wing based on Hexcel advanced composite technology. Our strong, durable and lightweight carbon fiber prepreg is helping customers such as Dassault every day to push the boundaries and create the future of next-generation aircraft.”
#composites #Hexcel #Dassault #CarbonFiberPrepreg
> source
Hexcel announced that it has signed a long-term agreement with Dassault to supply carbon fiber prepreg for the Falcon 10X program. This is the first Dassault business jet program to incorporate high-performance advanced carbon fiber composites in the manufacture of its aircraft wings.
Dassault Aviation has selected HexPly® M21EV/IMA, a high-performance advanced composite that has proven over the past 10 years to meet high-efficiency manufacturing standards. Thanks to Hexcel carbon fiber composites, the wide, high-speed wing will be made for maximum strength, reduced weight and minimum drag. The Falcon 10X is planned to enter service at the end of 2025.
Thierry Merlot, Hexcel President Aerospace Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa & Industrial, said, “I am delighted that Dassault has decided to expand our partnership of more than 40 years with the selection of Hexcel materials to design and produce its first Falcon carbon fiber wing based on Hexcel advanced composite technology. Our strong, durable and lightweight carbon fiber prepreg is helping customers such as Dassault every day to push the boundaries and create the future of next-generation aircraft.”
#composites #Hexcel #Dassault #CarbonFiberPrepreg
> source
Engineers explore innovative ways to improve resilience of coastal structures
University of Miami engineering and ocean sciences faculty members received federal research funding recently to delve into how they can strengthen coastal buildings and seawalls in the face of climate change.
Faculty members from the University of Miami’s College of Engineering and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science were recently awarded a pair of grants from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, to explore novel ways to fortify structures that border our coastline.
The two grants—which amount to nearly $800,000 over three years—are part of a larger $7.6 million investment by the National Science Foundation and NIST to support research that expands on the nation’s knowledge of community and infrastructure resilience to hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural hazards.
The awards came just months after the creation of the University’s Climate Resilience Academy, launched this spring to incite more collaboration between faculty, industry, and government to find innovative remedies to issues related to the climate crisis, sustainability, and resilience.
“Of just eight grants awarded by NIST for this disaster resilience research, two came to the University of Miami,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
“This is a testament to our faculty members’ commitment to finding solutions that will help sustain our community in the face of climate change and align perfectly with our creation of the Climate Resilience Academy,” he said. “These faculty teams have built upon the University’s investment in climate-related research and give us a wider platform to share our expertise with the rest of the nation. We could not be prouder of our faculty leadership in this area.”
One of the two principal researchers is Prannoy Suraneni, assistant professor of engineering, who is leading a team to investigate how innovative building materials like ultra-high-performance concrete and glass fiber reinforced polymers can help make seawalls better equipped to withstand erosion and cracking from seawater, waves, and storm surge.
In addition, for the second grant, engineering assistant professor Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos is working with ocean sciences professor Brian Haus at the Rosenstiel School to quantify the coupled action of hurricane wind, storm surge, and waves on structures in coastal locations like Miami.
“Ultimately, our hope for these projects is to change the way engineers think about designing structures, not just for strength but also for resilience,” Suraneni said. “We also hope that this research will change the way people choose materials in the building industry.”
Both Rhode-Barbarigos and Suraneni have been engaged in coastal resilience research for the past four years with the University’s Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK), a program that offers seed funding to interdisciplinary faculty teams to investigate complex societal problems, such as climate change. Ideally, these teams can garner external funding to expand and continue their research, which is one goal of the U-LINK program. Rhode-Barbarigos and Suraneni consider the NIST projects an extension of work done with previous U-LINK teams.
“I’ve been studying seawalls and other coastal defenses as part of U-LINK grants, and the University’s support significantly helped us strengthen our application for the NIST funding,” Suraneni said.
As part of the NIST projects, both teams will be doing physical testing in the Alfred C. Glassell Jr. SUSTAIN laboratory at the Rosenstiel School, along with testing in other University labs and field testing. At the SUSTAIN facility, Suraneni and Rhode-Barbarigos will be able to simulate hurricane conditions to test the performance of new materials and measure the forces they would be up against in a strong tropical storm or hurricane.
University of Miami engineering and ocean sciences faculty members received federal research funding recently to delve into how they can strengthen coastal buildings and seawalls in the face of climate change.
Faculty members from the University of Miami’s College of Engineering and Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science were recently awarded a pair of grants from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a division of the U.S. Department of Commerce, to explore novel ways to fortify structures that border our coastline.
The two grants—which amount to nearly $800,000 over three years—are part of a larger $7.6 million investment by the National Science Foundation and NIST to support research that expands on the nation’s knowledge of community and infrastructure resilience to hurricanes, wildfires, and other natural hazards.
The awards came just months after the creation of the University’s Climate Resilience Academy, launched this spring to incite more collaboration between faculty, industry, and government to find innovative remedies to issues related to the climate crisis, sustainability, and resilience.
“Of just eight grants awarded by NIST for this disaster resilience research, two came to the University of Miami,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost.
“This is a testament to our faculty members’ commitment to finding solutions that will help sustain our community in the face of climate change and align perfectly with our creation of the Climate Resilience Academy,” he said. “These faculty teams have built upon the University’s investment in climate-related research and give us a wider platform to share our expertise with the rest of the nation. We could not be prouder of our faculty leadership in this area.”
One of the two principal researchers is Prannoy Suraneni, assistant professor of engineering, who is leading a team to investigate how innovative building materials like ultra-high-performance concrete and glass fiber reinforced polymers can help make seawalls better equipped to withstand erosion and cracking from seawater, waves, and storm surge.
In addition, for the second grant, engineering assistant professor Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos is working with ocean sciences professor Brian Haus at the Rosenstiel School to quantify the coupled action of hurricane wind, storm surge, and waves on structures in coastal locations like Miami.
“Ultimately, our hope for these projects is to change the way engineers think about designing structures, not just for strength but also for resilience,” Suraneni said. “We also hope that this research will change the way people choose materials in the building industry.”
Both Rhode-Barbarigos and Suraneni have been engaged in coastal resilience research for the past four years with the University’s Laboratory for Integrative Knowledge (U-LINK), a program that offers seed funding to interdisciplinary faculty teams to investigate complex societal problems, such as climate change. Ideally, these teams can garner external funding to expand and continue their research, which is one goal of the U-LINK program. Rhode-Barbarigos and Suraneni consider the NIST projects an extension of work done with previous U-LINK teams.
“I’ve been studying seawalls and other coastal defenses as part of U-LINK grants, and the University’s support significantly helped us strengthen our application for the NIST funding,” Suraneni said.
As part of the NIST projects, both teams will be doing physical testing in the Alfred C. Glassell Jr. SUSTAIN laboratory at the Rosenstiel School, along with testing in other University labs and field testing. At the SUSTAIN facility, Suraneni and Rhode-Barbarigos will be able to simulate hurricane conditions to test the performance of new materials and measure the forces they would be up against in a strong tropical storm or hurricane.
This will be especially critical for Rhode-Barbarigos’ project, which hopes to make buildings along the coast less vulnerable with the possibility of more intense hurricanes and tropical storms on the horizon. Currently, engineers design structures using separate load models for wind, waves, and storm surge that they later combine, Rhode-Barbarigos said. However, during a storm, wind, waves, and storm surge are always linked. Therefore, as part of this research, he wants to create new load models for structural engineers that account for combined action of wind, storm surge, and waves.
“We want to develop an understanding of how wind, storm surge, and waves interact at high wind speeds, to assess their combined effect on the structures,” said Rhode-Barbarigos.
Suraneni, an expert in cement chemistry, is looking forward to testing the performance of glass-fiber-polymer-reinforced, ultra-high-performance concrete. This is an alternative to the traditional steel-reinforced concrete, but one that aims to avoid corrosion that often causes concrete structures in saltwater environments to degrade. His team will also be evaluating the ability of these materials to create more sustainable seawalls, which could prove extremely useful in coastal communities. The team includes Rhode-Barbarigos; Antonio Nanni, professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering; Esber Andiroglu, engineering associate professor of practice; and Haus.
Both projects will offer insight about how South Florida and other coastal communities can better protect themselves for future storms, noted Haus, a physical oceanographer and coastal engineer who directs the SUSTAIN facility.
“These projects will be important for a lot of applications in the field, where you can use these new loads to revamp building codes. Or in the case of the materials, they could be used to improve coastal construction,” said Haus, who leads the University’s Department of Ocean Sciences and is a co-investigator on both projects.
Photo: From left, assistant professor of engineering Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, along with associate professor of practice Esber Andiroglu, and assistant professor Prannoy Suraneni display some of their coastal resilience research project at the eMerge Americas conference in April. Photo: Mike Montero/University of Miami
#composites #UltraHighPerformanceConcrete #GlassfiberReinforcedPolymers
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“We want to develop an understanding of how wind, storm surge, and waves interact at high wind speeds, to assess their combined effect on the structures,” said Rhode-Barbarigos.
Suraneni, an expert in cement chemistry, is looking forward to testing the performance of glass-fiber-polymer-reinforced, ultra-high-performance concrete. This is an alternative to the traditional steel-reinforced concrete, but one that aims to avoid corrosion that often causes concrete structures in saltwater environments to degrade. His team will also be evaluating the ability of these materials to create more sustainable seawalls, which could prove extremely useful in coastal communities. The team includes Rhode-Barbarigos; Antonio Nanni, professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering; Esber Andiroglu, engineering associate professor of practice; and Haus.
Both projects will offer insight about how South Florida and other coastal communities can better protect themselves for future storms, noted Haus, a physical oceanographer and coastal engineer who directs the SUSTAIN facility.
“These projects will be important for a lot of applications in the field, where you can use these new loads to revamp building codes. Or in the case of the materials, they could be used to improve coastal construction,” said Haus, who leads the University’s Department of Ocean Sciences and is a co-investigator on both projects.
Photo: From left, assistant professor of engineering Landolf Rhode-Barbarigos, along with associate professor of practice Esber Andiroglu, and assistant professor Prannoy Suraneni display some of their coastal resilience research project at the eMerge Americas conference in April. Photo: Mike Montero/University of Miami
#composites #UltraHighPerformanceConcrete #GlassfiberReinforcedPolymers
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Composites
Photo
The Gill Corporation announces new Gillcore® HF fiberglass honeycomb core
The Gill Corporation (TGC) announces new Gillcore® HF fiberglass honeycomb core meeting all requirements of AMS 3715. TGC began developing fiberglass honeycomb in response to industry demand from aerospace customers around the world.
The core is produced with a substrate consisting of woven fiberglass cloth reinforced with heat resistant phenolic resin for improved moisture resistance over traditional aramid fiber substrates. It is suitable for high temperature applications requiring a high degree of forming and high moisture areas. TGC processes rolls of fiberglass cloth through the same manufacturing equipment as aramid honeycomb cores. TGC successfully completed all AMS 3715 test requirements. TGC is working with other customers to meet their qualification requirements.
Testing performed includes:
– Plate shear strength and modulus, Ribbon and Transverse
– Stabilized compression strength and modulus
– Flatwise tension
– 65F, RTA, 180F, 250F, 350F
– Wet – RTA, 180F, 250F, 350F
#composites #FiberglassHoneycombCore #fiberglass
> source
The Gill Corporation (TGC) announces new Gillcore® HF fiberglass honeycomb core meeting all requirements of AMS 3715. TGC began developing fiberglass honeycomb in response to industry demand from aerospace customers around the world.
The core is produced with a substrate consisting of woven fiberglass cloth reinforced with heat resistant phenolic resin for improved moisture resistance over traditional aramid fiber substrates. It is suitable for high temperature applications requiring a high degree of forming and high moisture areas. TGC processes rolls of fiberglass cloth through the same manufacturing equipment as aramid honeycomb cores. TGC successfully completed all AMS 3715 test requirements. TGC is working with other customers to meet their qualification requirements.
Testing performed includes:
– Plate shear strength and modulus, Ribbon and Transverse
– Stabilized compression strength and modulus
– Flatwise tension
– 65F, RTA, 180F, 250F, 350F
– Wet – RTA, 180F, 250F, 350F
#composites #FiberglassHoneycombCore #fiberglass
> source
Composites
Photo
New recycling process for polyester fishing nets helps to reduce environmental burden
Fishing nets are mainly made from chemical fibers such as nylon and polyester to prevent rot as well as to ensure excellent strength and easy maintenance. Whereas common nylon fishing nets are generally easy to recycle with an established process, recycling polyester fishing nets has been technically difficult and also costly due to the lack of a dedicated process. In recent years, discarded polyester fishing nets in Japan have accounted for about 1,300 tons of landfill waste annually.
But in April 2021, a breakthrough solution was launched by Teijin Limited and four additional enterprises specialized in fields including fishing net manufacturing, plastic molding, fiber processing and resin processing. Under the new system, it is now possible to collect polyester fishing nets and recycle them into resin that can be used to make commercially marketable trays and stationery.
Initially, the partners faced two major tasks. First was the challenge of developing a technology capable of cleaning smelly, waterlogged fishing nets and stripping the polyester of coatings applied to improve durability. Teijin and the other partners eventually identified organic solvents that can be used in an environmentally friendly cleaning process to produce virtually odorless resin that can be recycled repeatedly.
The second big challenge was profitability. Raw polyester costs less than many other materials, so the companies knew that its resin would not be price-competitive if the cleaning and drying processes incurred prohibitive costs. The companies’ solution was to devise a method for manufacturing high-quality resin pellets containing a mixture of other recycled resins added to improve durability and heat resistance.
Thanks to this project’s success, commercially viable resin recycled from fishing nets is now being used to produce food trays for a restaurant chain in Japan. Teijin is responsible for collecting and cleaning the nets and selling the final products.
Going forward, Teijin aims to promote the new recycling system for the global production and sale of various practical products. The hope is to realize locally produced and locally consumed products in efficient circular economies that incur little energy loss. Along with strengthening the traceability of fishing nets, Teijin initially aims to recycle 1,000 tons of polyester fishing nets annually by 2030.
Teijin, a people-focused company that develops innovative solutions for enhanced quality of life, is committed to minimizing any negative impact on the environment or society through its business in order to support the society of the future.
#composites #RecyclingProcess #polyester
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Fishing nets are mainly made from chemical fibers such as nylon and polyester to prevent rot as well as to ensure excellent strength and easy maintenance. Whereas common nylon fishing nets are generally easy to recycle with an established process, recycling polyester fishing nets has been technically difficult and also costly due to the lack of a dedicated process. In recent years, discarded polyester fishing nets in Japan have accounted for about 1,300 tons of landfill waste annually.
But in April 2021, a breakthrough solution was launched by Teijin Limited and four additional enterprises specialized in fields including fishing net manufacturing, plastic molding, fiber processing and resin processing. Under the new system, it is now possible to collect polyester fishing nets and recycle them into resin that can be used to make commercially marketable trays and stationery.
Initially, the partners faced two major tasks. First was the challenge of developing a technology capable of cleaning smelly, waterlogged fishing nets and stripping the polyester of coatings applied to improve durability. Teijin and the other partners eventually identified organic solvents that can be used in an environmentally friendly cleaning process to produce virtually odorless resin that can be recycled repeatedly.
The second big challenge was profitability. Raw polyester costs less than many other materials, so the companies knew that its resin would not be price-competitive if the cleaning and drying processes incurred prohibitive costs. The companies’ solution was to devise a method for manufacturing high-quality resin pellets containing a mixture of other recycled resins added to improve durability and heat resistance.
Thanks to this project’s success, commercially viable resin recycled from fishing nets is now being used to produce food trays for a restaurant chain in Japan. Teijin is responsible for collecting and cleaning the nets and selling the final products.
Going forward, Teijin aims to promote the new recycling system for the global production and sale of various practical products. The hope is to realize locally produced and locally consumed products in efficient circular economies that incur little energy loss. Along with strengthening the traceability of fishing nets, Teijin initially aims to recycle 1,000 tons of polyester fishing nets annually by 2030.
Teijin, a people-focused company that develops innovative solutions for enhanced quality of life, is committed to minimizing any negative impact on the environment or society through its business in order to support the society of the future.
#composites #RecyclingProcess #polyester
> source
Brazilian consumption of composites fell 4.2% in the first half of 2022
For the year as a whole, the sector represented by ALMACO expects a reduction of 2.5%.
In the first half of 2022, Brazilian consumption of composites fell by 4.2%, totalling 117 thousand tons. Total revenue was US$ 359 million, 17% higher than that recorded between January and June 2021. The mismatch between consumption and revenue is due to successive increases in raw material prices. The data are part of a survey carried out by the Latin American Composite Materials Association (ALMACO).
“This result means much more an accommodation of demand, after the explosion in 2020 and 2021, than a fall itself,” evaluates Erika Bernardino Aprá, president of ALMACO.
According to ALMACO survey, in the first half of 2022, civil construction accounted for 30.9% of Brazilian consumption of composites, ahead of transport (24.7%), corrosion/sanitation (17.5%), leisure/pools (12.4%), electric energy (5.2%), wind energy (3.1%), marine (2.1%) and clothing (1%), among others. When only the consumption of epoxy resin-based composites is separated, the generation of wind energy led with 90.5%, ahead of oil (3.8%) and electronics (2.7%).
“The drop in demand from the construction and leisure market, the latter represented mainly by swimming pools, was partially mitigated by the good phase of the transport industry, especially road buses, whose sales increased after the resumption of post-pandemic tourism,” comments Erika.
For 2022 as a whole, ALMACO study points to a retraction in consumption of around 2.5%, which will total 239 thousand tons. In terms of revenue, the Brazilian composites sector should register US$ 922 million this year, a figure 20% higher than that recorded in 2021.
“The second half of the year is historically better for our industry than the first. Added to this is the start of major projects in the area of corrosion, a movement that will positively impact many companies in the composites production chain,” adds the president of ALMACO.
#composites #BrazilianConsumption #ALMACO
> source
For the year as a whole, the sector represented by ALMACO expects a reduction of 2.5%.
In the first half of 2022, Brazilian consumption of composites fell by 4.2%, totalling 117 thousand tons. Total revenue was US$ 359 million, 17% higher than that recorded between January and June 2021. The mismatch between consumption and revenue is due to successive increases in raw material prices. The data are part of a survey carried out by the Latin American Composite Materials Association (ALMACO).
“This result means much more an accommodation of demand, after the explosion in 2020 and 2021, than a fall itself,” evaluates Erika Bernardino Aprá, president of ALMACO.
According to ALMACO survey, in the first half of 2022, civil construction accounted for 30.9% of Brazilian consumption of composites, ahead of transport (24.7%), corrosion/sanitation (17.5%), leisure/pools (12.4%), electric energy (5.2%), wind energy (3.1%), marine (2.1%) and clothing (1%), among others. When only the consumption of epoxy resin-based composites is separated, the generation of wind energy led with 90.5%, ahead of oil (3.8%) and electronics (2.7%).
“The drop in demand from the construction and leisure market, the latter represented mainly by swimming pools, was partially mitigated by the good phase of the transport industry, especially road buses, whose sales increased after the resumption of post-pandemic tourism,” comments Erika.
For 2022 as a whole, ALMACO study points to a retraction in consumption of around 2.5%, which will total 239 thousand tons. In terms of revenue, the Brazilian composites sector should register US$ 922 million this year, a figure 20% higher than that recorded in 2021.
“The second half of the year is historically better for our industry than the first. Added to this is the start of major projects in the area of corrosion, a movement that will positively impact many companies in the composites production chain,” adds the president of ALMACO.
#composites #BrazilianConsumption #ALMACO
> source
Composites
Photo
Russian scientists suggest using a cryptozoic mineral to create new lightweight carbon composites
Scientists at MISIS University and Skoltech have developed a technology for the production of a new composite material based on shungite and carbon fibers in a graphite matrix. Due to the combination of low density, high strength and chemical stability at elevated temperatures, it can be used to produce fuel cells, super-capacitors, and next-generation aircraft engine components. The work was published in Polymers.
Composites with carbon fillers are widely used in modern industry. They can be used for the production of units and equipment operating in extreme conditions, due to their unique properties — high chemical and temperature resistance. Unlike heavy refractory metals that are readily oxidized at elevated temperatures, carbon materials have exceptional high temperature resistance and low weight. At the same time, properties of different carbon materials vary a lot — from diamond to graphite.
Materials scientists are now developing a new class of composites consisting of various carbon reinforcing fillers in a graphite matrix obtained by carbonization, i.e. transformation of a polymer into a carbon material.
Scientists from MISIS University and Skoltech have presented the technology of fast and economical production of such composite and identified the optimal parameters for heat treatment to achieve the best performance in terms of “crack resistance” — that is, resistance to the initiation and propagation of cracks that largely determines the strength for brittle and quasi-fragile materials.
The composite synthesis process is similar to “baking” a “dough” made from an elastomer (a soft rubber-type polymer) reinforced with a “filling” at several temperatures above 180ºC. The short carbon fibre often used as a “filling” is however quite expensive and its available volume is limited. Therefore, in the new material the short carbon fibers were partially import-substituted with shungite. Shungite is a unique Precambrian rock consisting of almost 100% carbon that was first discovered in Russia.
The result of processing is the enrichment of the initial product with carbon accompanied by simultaneous restructuring. The easily shaped polymer is thereby turned into one of the most stable carbon compounds, such as graphite or diamond. Given the unique rigidity of these materials it is almost impossible to machine necessary part shapes from graphite or diamond.
“The purpose of this study was to optimize the carbonization process to increase the crack resistance depending on the processing temperature and the initial mixture composition, namely, the volume fraction of the reinforcing phases. A careful selection of conditions was undertaken to obtain the highest values of the critical stress intensity factor in samples carbonized at the temperature of 280°C,” says Alexey Salimon, Ph.D, co-author and Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry.
The researchers expect the obtained materials to find use for the manufacture of key parts of fuel cells (devices for direct conversion of the fuel chemical energy into electrical energy without combustion), components of chemically resistant equipment, complex pumping equipment for oil production at record depths and in the harshest conditions (sand, hydrogen sulfide, temperature over 200 °C). Another promising area for the use of new materials will be to create a new generation of aircraft engine components.
#composites #MISIS #shungite #CarbonComposites
> source
Scientists at MISIS University and Skoltech have developed a technology for the production of a new composite material based on shungite and carbon fibers in a graphite matrix. Due to the combination of low density, high strength and chemical stability at elevated temperatures, it can be used to produce fuel cells, super-capacitors, and next-generation aircraft engine components. The work was published in Polymers.
Composites with carbon fillers are widely used in modern industry. They can be used for the production of units and equipment operating in extreme conditions, due to their unique properties — high chemical and temperature resistance. Unlike heavy refractory metals that are readily oxidized at elevated temperatures, carbon materials have exceptional high temperature resistance and low weight. At the same time, properties of different carbon materials vary a lot — from diamond to graphite.
Materials scientists are now developing a new class of composites consisting of various carbon reinforcing fillers in a graphite matrix obtained by carbonization, i.e. transformation of a polymer into a carbon material.
Scientists from MISIS University and Skoltech have presented the technology of fast and economical production of such composite and identified the optimal parameters for heat treatment to achieve the best performance in terms of “crack resistance” — that is, resistance to the initiation and propagation of cracks that largely determines the strength for brittle and quasi-fragile materials.
The composite synthesis process is similar to “baking” a “dough” made from an elastomer (a soft rubber-type polymer) reinforced with a “filling” at several temperatures above 180ºC. The short carbon fibre often used as a “filling” is however quite expensive and its available volume is limited. Therefore, in the new material the short carbon fibers were partially import-substituted with shungite. Shungite is a unique Precambrian rock consisting of almost 100% carbon that was first discovered in Russia.
The result of processing is the enrichment of the initial product with carbon accompanied by simultaneous restructuring. The easily shaped polymer is thereby turned into one of the most stable carbon compounds, such as graphite or diamond. Given the unique rigidity of these materials it is almost impossible to machine necessary part shapes from graphite or diamond.
“The purpose of this study was to optimize the carbonization process to increase the crack resistance depending on the processing temperature and the initial mixture composition, namely, the volume fraction of the reinforcing phases. A careful selection of conditions was undertaken to obtain the highest values of the critical stress intensity factor in samples carbonized at the temperature of 280°C,” says Alexey Salimon, Ph.D, co-author and Head of the Department of Physical Chemistry.
The researchers expect the obtained materials to find use for the manufacture of key parts of fuel cells (devices for direct conversion of the fuel chemical energy into electrical energy without combustion), components of chemically resistant equipment, complex pumping equipment for oil production at record depths and in the harshest conditions (sand, hydrogen sulfide, temperature over 200 °C). Another promising area for the use of new materials will be to create a new generation of aircraft engine components.
#composites #MISIS #shungite #CarbonComposites
> source
Composites
Photo
Velocity Composites launches digital manufacturing cell
Velocity Composites has launched a new digital manufacturing cell – located at its headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire – which has been designed to help improve traceability and efficiency for customers.
The cell creates a process where all composite plies can be scanned, logged and sequenced efficiently to improve traceability and reduce costs.
Matthew Fisher, Product and Process Manager at Velocity Composites, said: “We aim to be at the forefront of Industry 4.0 technologies to improve the aerospace supply chain, helping customers to cut waste, become more efficient and save money.
“Our Digital Manufacturing Cell is the next step in our journey to improve even further. Our bespoke AVISoCS technology can help customers to fully trace each individual piece of ply within a job, as it is nested, cut and sequenced ready to be delivered.
“Within our own processes, we pride ourselves on minimal waste and ultimate efficiency and the Digital Manufacturing Cell allows us to optimise our workflow so each job is managed flexibly and can provide greater value to the customer.”
The cell is the latest in a range of data-driven technology advances at Velocity Composites, aimed at fully tracking and tracing the aerospace supply chain for customers, improving efficiencies and making savings on material and operational costs.
Velocity’s own VRP technology has been designed to manage the entire value stream, from customer demand management, raw material management, batch traceability, complex nesting, kit manufacture and kit logistics, with all areas being connected and sharing real time data to drive maximum efficiencies.
Matthew Fisher added: “The software allows clients to benefit from real-time data which helps with Enterprise Resource Planning to optimise operations, cut down on waste and provide sound information upon which to make decisions.
“Customers can have a real time view of jobs from their initial acceptance and planning, through every step before it is delivered. The basic technology is similar to what people would experience when tracking a postage delivery or ordering a takeaway, but we have specifically tailored it to our processes in composite manufacturing to add that value to the aerospace and related sectors.”
As a result of the company’s proprietary software, Velocity’s customers have been able to reduce material waste by up to 20%, while also creating operational, stock and process efficiencies in a way which supports staff to be more effective.
The savings not only help companies to become more efficient and competitive but can help mitigate the impact of rising material costs while closing the gap on achieving environmental targets for the aerospace sector which stand at 15% by 2030, 40% by 2040, and achieving net zero by 2050.
Velocity Composites plc is the leading supplier of advanced composite material kits to the aerospace market. Through its development of proprietary digital technologies, Velocity offers a bespoke, fully managed supply chain and manufacturing service, targeting cost efficiencies for a global customer base. The company has its headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire, with a second site at Fareham, Hampshire.
#composites #VelocityComposites #cells
> source
Velocity Composites has launched a new digital manufacturing cell – located at its headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire – which has been designed to help improve traceability and efficiency for customers.
The cell creates a process where all composite plies can be scanned, logged and sequenced efficiently to improve traceability and reduce costs.
Matthew Fisher, Product and Process Manager at Velocity Composites, said: “We aim to be at the forefront of Industry 4.0 technologies to improve the aerospace supply chain, helping customers to cut waste, become more efficient and save money.
“Our Digital Manufacturing Cell is the next step in our journey to improve even further. Our bespoke AVISoCS technology can help customers to fully trace each individual piece of ply within a job, as it is nested, cut and sequenced ready to be delivered.
“Within our own processes, we pride ourselves on minimal waste and ultimate efficiency and the Digital Manufacturing Cell allows us to optimise our workflow so each job is managed flexibly and can provide greater value to the customer.”
The cell is the latest in a range of data-driven technology advances at Velocity Composites, aimed at fully tracking and tracing the aerospace supply chain for customers, improving efficiencies and making savings on material and operational costs.
Velocity’s own VRP technology has been designed to manage the entire value stream, from customer demand management, raw material management, batch traceability, complex nesting, kit manufacture and kit logistics, with all areas being connected and sharing real time data to drive maximum efficiencies.
Matthew Fisher added: “The software allows clients to benefit from real-time data which helps with Enterprise Resource Planning to optimise operations, cut down on waste and provide sound information upon which to make decisions.
“Customers can have a real time view of jobs from their initial acceptance and planning, through every step before it is delivered. The basic technology is similar to what people would experience when tracking a postage delivery or ordering a takeaway, but we have specifically tailored it to our processes in composite manufacturing to add that value to the aerospace and related sectors.”
As a result of the company’s proprietary software, Velocity’s customers have been able to reduce material waste by up to 20%, while also creating operational, stock and process efficiencies in a way which supports staff to be more effective.
The savings not only help companies to become more efficient and competitive but can help mitigate the impact of rising material costs while closing the gap on achieving environmental targets for the aerospace sector which stand at 15% by 2030, 40% by 2040, and achieving net zero by 2050.
Velocity Composites plc is the leading supplier of advanced composite material kits to the aerospace market. Through its development of proprietary digital technologies, Velocity offers a bespoke, fully managed supply chain and manufacturing service, targeting cost efficiencies for a global customer base. The company has its headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire, with a second site at Fareham, Hampshire.
#composites #VelocityComposites #cells
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