Composites
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Teijin Automotive Technologies rebrands to CSP
A new logo, tagline and continued North American operations reflects Teijin Automotive’s transition to a standalone, privately held company focused on innovative composite solutions.
As of July 2025, Teijin Automotive Technologies (Auburn Hills, Mich., U.S.) has rebranded to CSP. The new name marks the company’s transition to a standalone, privately held business and reflects its legacy in lightweight composite solutions.
As part of this transformation, the company has unveiled a new logo (shown above) and is retiring the historical “Continental Structural Plastics” name. The new tagline, “The Composites Solution Partner,” more accurately conveys CSP’s commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance composite solutions to its customers.
The redesigned logo features a sleek, modern aesthetic with thin lines and a forward-leaning stance — symbolizing motion, mobility and progress. Its lighter design reflects the advanced lightweight materials that define CSP’s product portfolio.
“This transition gave us an opportunity to return to a brand that is well recognized in the industry, while also giving it a fresh, contemporary update,” says Kim Zitny, director of corporate communications. “We’re excited to roll out our new brand identity across advertising, social media and upcoming industry events. A new website will also launch later this year.”
Now operating independently, CSP remains focused on building strong partnerships with leading OEMs and delivering solutions for the transportation industry. CSP will continue its North American operations at the following locations:
• Ohio: Carey, Conneaut, North Baltimore, Van Wert
• North Carolina: Lenoir, Salisbury
• Louisiana: Sarepta
• Indiana: Grabill, Huntington
• Texas: Seguin
• Michigan: Auburn Hills (two locations), Manchester
• Mexico: Saltillo, Tijuana.
Note that CSP’s operations are limited to North America. The European operations previously under Teijin Automotive Technologies are not part of this transition and remain separate.
#composites #TeijinAutomotiveTechnologies #TheCompositesSolutionPartner
> source
A new logo, tagline and continued North American operations reflects Teijin Automotive’s transition to a standalone, privately held company focused on innovative composite solutions.
As of July 2025, Teijin Automotive Technologies (Auburn Hills, Mich., U.S.) has rebranded to CSP. The new name marks the company’s transition to a standalone, privately held business and reflects its legacy in lightweight composite solutions.
As part of this transformation, the company has unveiled a new logo (shown above) and is retiring the historical “Continental Structural Plastics” name. The new tagline, “The Composites Solution Partner,” more accurately conveys CSP’s commitment to delivering innovative, high-performance composite solutions to its customers.
The redesigned logo features a sleek, modern aesthetic with thin lines and a forward-leaning stance — symbolizing motion, mobility and progress. Its lighter design reflects the advanced lightweight materials that define CSP’s product portfolio.
“This transition gave us an opportunity to return to a brand that is well recognized in the industry, while also giving it a fresh, contemporary update,” says Kim Zitny, director of corporate communications. “We’re excited to roll out our new brand identity across advertising, social media and upcoming industry events. A new website will also launch later this year.”
Now operating independently, CSP remains focused on building strong partnerships with leading OEMs and delivering solutions for the transportation industry. CSP will continue its North American operations at the following locations:
• Ohio: Carey, Conneaut, North Baltimore, Van Wert
• North Carolina: Lenoir, Salisbury
• Louisiana: Sarepta
• Indiana: Grabill, Huntington
• Texas: Seguin
• Michigan: Auburn Hills (two locations), Manchester
• Mexico: Saltillo, Tijuana.
Note that CSP’s operations are limited to North America. The European operations previously under Teijin Automotive Technologies are not part of this transition and remain separate.
#composites #TeijinAutomotiveTechnologies #TheCompositesSolutionPartner
> source
Composites
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Otto Aerospace develops AI model for Phantom 3500 business jet aerodynamics
Tailored AI model will enable detailed aerodynamic analysis of current and future Otto aircraft configurations, streamlining design speed, precision and informing the aircraft program’s composite structures.
Otto Aerospace (formerly Otto Aviation, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.) has announced the development of a proprietary aerodynamic AI model designed to optimize and accelerate the configuration of next-generation laminar flow airfoils and ultra-efficient sustainable aircraft. The AI model is trained on extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind-tunnel test data. This new AI capability enables Otto to explore the aircraft design space for optimal configurations within a day, a process that previously required months or years.
The AI model will operate on Luminary Cloud’s (San Mateo, Calif., U.S.) GPU-accelerated Physics AI platform, enabling detailed aerodynamic analysis of current and future Otto aircraft configurations. Recognized for its SHIFT family of pre-trained physics AI models, including SHIFT-Wing for aerodynamic analysis of transonic wings, Luminary provides advanced tools to support fast and accurate design evaluations.
“Our Phantom 3500 program has generated extensive high-fidelity simulation and wind-tunnel test data,” says Obi K. Ndu, Ph.D., chief information and digital officer at Otto Aerospace. “At Otto, we believe that the future of aircraft design is at the intersection of AI and first principles. Luminary’s platform gives us the computational power and infrastructure to quickly train an AI model optimized for next-generation laminar flow aircraft and our design approach.”
The Phantom 3500’s laminar-flow fuselage and airfoil demand precise aerodynamic modeling for ultra-low-drag and long-range efficiency. Using Luminary’s accelerated cloud computing capabilities, Otto will significantly expedite parametric design exploration compared to traditional CFD simulation workflows, fast-tracking the current and future development of aircraft designed to burn up to 60% less fuel and achieve up to 90% lower emissions when operating on sustainable aviation fuel.
The Phantom 3500 will have a highly composites-intensive design, backed by Leonardo (Rome, Italy) and Re:Build Manufacturing (Framingham, Mass., U.S.). The AI model, to inform the evolution of the aircraft’s geometry and aerodynamics, will provide direct input into these composite structures.
The business jet is expected to begin flight testing in 2027, with entry into service targeted for 2030.
#composites #Phantom #aircraft
> source
Tailored AI model will enable detailed aerodynamic analysis of current and future Otto aircraft configurations, streamlining design speed, precision and informing the aircraft program’s composite structures.
Otto Aerospace (formerly Otto Aviation, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.) has announced the development of a proprietary aerodynamic AI model designed to optimize and accelerate the configuration of next-generation laminar flow airfoils and ultra-efficient sustainable aircraft. The AI model is trained on extensive computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind-tunnel test data. This new AI capability enables Otto to explore the aircraft design space for optimal configurations within a day, a process that previously required months or years.
The AI model will operate on Luminary Cloud’s (San Mateo, Calif., U.S.) GPU-accelerated Physics AI platform, enabling detailed aerodynamic analysis of current and future Otto aircraft configurations. Recognized for its SHIFT family of pre-trained physics AI models, including SHIFT-Wing for aerodynamic analysis of transonic wings, Luminary provides advanced tools to support fast and accurate design evaluations.
“Our Phantom 3500 program has generated extensive high-fidelity simulation and wind-tunnel test data,” says Obi K. Ndu, Ph.D., chief information and digital officer at Otto Aerospace. “At Otto, we believe that the future of aircraft design is at the intersection of AI and first principles. Luminary’s platform gives us the computational power and infrastructure to quickly train an AI model optimized for next-generation laminar flow aircraft and our design approach.”
The Phantom 3500’s laminar-flow fuselage and airfoil demand precise aerodynamic modeling for ultra-low-drag and long-range efficiency. Using Luminary’s accelerated cloud computing capabilities, Otto will significantly expedite parametric design exploration compared to traditional CFD simulation workflows, fast-tracking the current and future development of aircraft designed to burn up to 60% less fuel and achieve up to 90% lower emissions when operating on sustainable aviation fuel.
The Phantom 3500 will have a highly composites-intensive design, backed by Leonardo (Rome, Italy) and Re:Build Manufacturing (Framingham, Mass., U.S.). The AI model, to inform the evolution of the aircraft’s geometry and aerodynamics, will provide direct input into these composite structures.
The business jet is expected to begin flight testing in 2027, with entry into service targeted for 2030.
#composites #Phantom #aircraft
> source
Dear colleagues!
A preliminary 📄 list of participants has been posted on the official website of the Composite-Expo exhibition.
As a reminder, the 2026 event will be held from April 22 to 24 in Hall 3 of Pavilion 13 at the Crocus Expo IEC in Moscow.
The following leading market players have confirmed their participation in Composite-Expo 2026:
Aviation Paints and Varnishes Technologies, AKPA Organic, BMP Technology, VitaReaktiv, Volna, Glasstex, ETS Group of Companies, Eurokhim-1 FD, DUGALAK, Vist Composite, EPITAL ENPC JSC, Carbon Studio, Composite Products, P-D Tatneft-Alabuga Fiberglass, ITEKMA, Spectra Company (S7), Elektroizolit, All-Russian Research Institute of Aviation Materials, NIAGARA, MegaPlast, Neva Technology, Tatneft-Presscomposit, Polimerprom, Polotsk-Steklovlokno, ROSATOM, Peleng, Saiwer Shelanger Chemical Plant, SIBUR, and many others.
Don't miss your chance to take part in the main event of the composites market!
🔸 Book a booth
A preliminary 📄 list of participants has been posted on the official website of the Composite-Expo exhibition.
As a reminder, the 2026 event will be held from April 22 to 24 in Hall 3 of Pavilion 13 at the Crocus Expo IEC in Moscow.
The following leading market players have confirmed their participation in Composite-Expo 2026:
Aviation Paints and Varnishes Technologies, AKPA Organic, BMP Technology, VitaReaktiv, Volna, Glasstex, ETS Group of Companies, Eurokhim-1 FD, DUGALAK, Vist Composite, EPITAL ENPC JSC, Carbon Studio, Composite Products, P-D Tatneft-Alabuga Fiberglass, ITEKMA, Spectra Company (S7), Elektroizolit, All-Russian Research Institute of Aviation Materials, NIAGARA, MegaPlast, Neva Technology, Tatneft-Presscomposit, Polimerprom, Polotsk-Steklovlokno, ROSATOM, Peleng, Saiwer Shelanger Chemical Plant, SIBUR, and many others.
Don't miss your chance to take part in the main event of the composites market!
🔸 Book a booth
Composites
Photo
Zhongfu Shenying’s carbon fibre cables sustain the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge
The Changtai Yangtze River Bridge is the river’s first crossing to carry an expressway, regular road and intercity railway, all on the same structure. China’s major carbon fiber producer Zhongfu Shenying is the only carbon fiber supplier for this project.
The highly anticipated Changtai Yangtze River Bridge, the world’s largest cable-stayed bridge, has officially opened to traffic. As a new artery connecting Changzhou and Taizhou in China’s Jiangsu province, the bridge reduces travel time between the two cities from over an hour to approximately 20 minutes, significantly improving cross-river travel efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta and accelerating regional integration.
The Changtai Yangtze River Bridge – which took six years to complete and was built using a number of world-first techniques – stretches 10.3 km (6.4 miles) with a main span of 1,208 metres (3,960 feet). It is the river’s first crossing to carry an expressway, regular road and intercity railway, all on the same structure.
One of the structure’s most distinctive features is its asymmetrical lower deck, with a 200 km/h (124 mph) railway on one side and a regular road on the other – the first time a side-by-side traffic layout has been used in a large-span bridge.
China’s carbon fiber producer Zhongfu Shenying is the only carbon fiber supplier for this major project. The core material it provides to solve the difficult TARS system is T700-grade high-performance carbon fiber SYT49S-24K, which has properties such as high elongation percentage, low discreteness, low hairiness, and high winding efficiency, ensuring the safety and service life of the bridge, according to the company.
Adaptive release of deformation
To span the Yangtze River, the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge uses 28 horizontal cables made of Zhongfu Shenying carbon fiber with a tensile strength of up to 2600 MPa and a single length of 559 meters. They constitute the world’s first “temperature-adaptive longitudinal restraint system (TARS)”, which realizes the longitudinal restraint of the main beam and the low-level transmission of longitudinal force, significantly reducing the longitudinal load effect of the tower-beam structure, setting a global record for the longest carbon fiber cable and the largest-scale engineering application, marking a breakthrough in China in the field of large-span bridge structural materials. CFRP (carbon fiber composite material) can not only effectively limit the longitudinal displacement of the main beam, but also achieve adaptive release of deformation when the temperature changes, significantly reducing structural stress and improving bridge safety and durability.
The successful application of carbon fiber cables in this major project not only demonstrates the strength of domestic high-performance carbon fiber technology, but also marks a milestone in the field of civil engineering, says Zhongfu Shenying opening up new prospects for the widespread application of carbon fiber composite materials in bridges, buildings and other infrastructure.
Speaking to Chinese media mentioned by South China Morning Post, project leader Zhong Aixiu, from state-owned China Communications Construction Company, said the bridge’s challenges pushed engineers to invent their own tools. The team developed a satellite-guided tower crane to lift materials precisely onto the bridge towers, Zhong Aixiu said. The engineers also built the world’s largest bridge-deck crane to roll along the span and position massive segments with millimetre-level accuracy.
In recent years, carbon fiber cables have been used in the Tuhai river bridge in Shandong province and in another bridge in Jiangsu province. According to CCTV, there are around 150 bridges along the 3,000km main stretch of the Yangtze River. China aimed to increase that number to 240 by 2035 – averaging one bridge every dozen kilometres, it said.
#composites #airspace #сarbonfibre
> source
The Changtai Yangtze River Bridge is the river’s first crossing to carry an expressway, regular road and intercity railway, all on the same structure. China’s major carbon fiber producer Zhongfu Shenying is the only carbon fiber supplier for this project.
The highly anticipated Changtai Yangtze River Bridge, the world’s largest cable-stayed bridge, has officially opened to traffic. As a new artery connecting Changzhou and Taizhou in China’s Jiangsu province, the bridge reduces travel time between the two cities from over an hour to approximately 20 minutes, significantly improving cross-river travel efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta and accelerating regional integration.
The Changtai Yangtze River Bridge – which took six years to complete and was built using a number of world-first techniques – stretches 10.3 km (6.4 miles) with a main span of 1,208 metres (3,960 feet). It is the river’s first crossing to carry an expressway, regular road and intercity railway, all on the same structure.
One of the structure’s most distinctive features is its asymmetrical lower deck, with a 200 km/h (124 mph) railway on one side and a regular road on the other – the first time a side-by-side traffic layout has been used in a large-span bridge.
China’s carbon fiber producer Zhongfu Shenying is the only carbon fiber supplier for this major project. The core material it provides to solve the difficult TARS system is T700-grade high-performance carbon fiber SYT49S-24K, which has properties such as high elongation percentage, low discreteness, low hairiness, and high winding efficiency, ensuring the safety and service life of the bridge, according to the company.
Adaptive release of deformation
To span the Yangtze River, the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge uses 28 horizontal cables made of Zhongfu Shenying carbon fiber with a tensile strength of up to 2600 MPa and a single length of 559 meters. They constitute the world’s first “temperature-adaptive longitudinal restraint system (TARS)”, which realizes the longitudinal restraint of the main beam and the low-level transmission of longitudinal force, significantly reducing the longitudinal load effect of the tower-beam structure, setting a global record for the longest carbon fiber cable and the largest-scale engineering application, marking a breakthrough in China in the field of large-span bridge structural materials. CFRP (carbon fiber composite material) can not only effectively limit the longitudinal displacement of the main beam, but also achieve adaptive release of deformation when the temperature changes, significantly reducing structural stress and improving bridge safety and durability.
The successful application of carbon fiber cables in this major project not only demonstrates the strength of domestic high-performance carbon fiber technology, but also marks a milestone in the field of civil engineering, says Zhongfu Shenying opening up new prospects for the widespread application of carbon fiber composite materials in bridges, buildings and other infrastructure.
Speaking to Chinese media mentioned by South China Morning Post, project leader Zhong Aixiu, from state-owned China Communications Construction Company, said the bridge’s challenges pushed engineers to invent their own tools. The team developed a satellite-guided tower crane to lift materials precisely onto the bridge towers, Zhong Aixiu said. The engineers also built the world’s largest bridge-deck crane to roll along the span and position massive segments with millimetre-level accuracy.
In recent years, carbon fiber cables have been used in the Tuhai river bridge in Shandong province and in another bridge in Jiangsu province. According to CCTV, there are around 150 bridges along the 3,000km main stretch of the Yangtze River. China aimed to increase that number to 240 by 2035 – averaging one bridge every dozen kilometres, it said.
#composites #airspace #сarbonfibre
> source
Composites
Photo
DLR rocket flight in ATHEAt program demonstrates CMC nose, movable body flaps
Successful flight tests heat-resistant components and innovative sensor technologies.
On Oct. 6, the German Aerospace Center (DLR, Braunschweig) launched a 13.5-meter-long research rocket for the Advanced Technologies for High Energetic Atmospheric Flight of Launcher Stages (ATHEAt) program from the Andøya launch site in northern Norway.
The experiment flew for ≈4 minutes, including 2 minutes of high-speed flight with the peak speed exceeding Mach 9, exposing the vehicle to gas temperatures exceeding 2000°C and extreme aerothermal loads on its structures and materials — similar to those encountered by spacecraft re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. During the flight, the research rocket reached a maximum altitude of more than 30 kilometers.
The shimmering gray nose cone of the rocket was made largely from a fiber- reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) manufactured entirely at DLR using specially developed in-house processes.
This high-performance material not only withstands very high temperatures but is also strong and relatively lightweight. The scientific payload onboard the ATHEAt flight included two cooling experiments which researchers used to investigate how the extreme high temperatures at the nose of the rocket can be managed through active cooling.
The ATHEAt flight experiment’s front body also included four movable flaps made of DLR’s CMC which were successfully deployed during the flight and experienced very high temperatures. In the future, such flaps could be used to make space transportation vehicles more controllable.
To achieve the highest possible temperatures, the research rocket flew along a specially planned, shallower trajectory, enabling it to fly at high Mach numbers for an extended period at relatively low altitudes. A newly developed DLR sensor network provided essential data to determine the precise moment of ignition for the second stage. This “sensor cube” uses a defined starting position and measures the acceleration and rotation rates in flight to calculate the position of the rocket in space. At the end of its flight, it splashed down safely in a designated and secure area of the Norwegian Sea.
Successful first flight
“With the ATHEAt flight experiment, we have succeeded in flying at high Mach numbers for much longer than in our previous projects,” says Ali Gülhan, ATHEAt project manager and head of the Supersonic and Hypersonic Technologies Department at the DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology. “We have now reached a new milestone and collected data for further R&D.”
This data harvest was made possible by the more than 300 sensors installed by the DLR team into the flight experiment. Also on board were miniaturized, noncontact sensors such as infrared cameras, laser scanners and radiation thermometers. A modular data acquisition system developed by DLR recorded the measurements and transmitted the processed data by radio to ground stations below.
“The conditions simulated in the ATHEAt flight experiment are comparable to those that thermal protection systems on future reusable space transport systems will have to reliably withstand during reentry into Earth’s atmosphere,” explains Gülhan. The reentry phase, with its extreme aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic conditions, is also a crucial point of development for the space industry. “With projects like ATHEAt, we are specifically working on closing this global technology gap.”
DLR combines flight experiments like ATHEAt and its predecessor projects, supported and continuously refined with sophisticated simulations, design processes and component testing on the ground.
ATHEAt program
Initiated in January 2022, the ATHEAt program seeks to test key technologies aimed to make future reusable space vehicles more reliable and cost-efficient, with an emphasis on reentry performance. The program is also developing a hybrid rocket booster for use as a future sounding rocket upper stage.
Successful flight tests heat-resistant components and innovative sensor technologies.
On Oct. 6, the German Aerospace Center (DLR, Braunschweig) launched a 13.5-meter-long research rocket for the Advanced Technologies for High Energetic Atmospheric Flight of Launcher Stages (ATHEAt) program from the Andøya launch site in northern Norway.
The experiment flew for ≈4 minutes, including 2 minutes of high-speed flight with the peak speed exceeding Mach 9, exposing the vehicle to gas temperatures exceeding 2000°C and extreme aerothermal loads on its structures and materials — similar to those encountered by spacecraft re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. During the flight, the research rocket reached a maximum altitude of more than 30 kilometers.
The shimmering gray nose cone of the rocket was made largely from a fiber- reinforced ceramic matrix composite (CMC) manufactured entirely at DLR using specially developed in-house processes.
This high-performance material not only withstands very high temperatures but is also strong and relatively lightweight. The scientific payload onboard the ATHEAt flight included two cooling experiments which researchers used to investigate how the extreme high temperatures at the nose of the rocket can be managed through active cooling.
The ATHEAt flight experiment’s front body also included four movable flaps made of DLR’s CMC which were successfully deployed during the flight and experienced very high temperatures. In the future, such flaps could be used to make space transportation vehicles more controllable.
To achieve the highest possible temperatures, the research rocket flew along a specially planned, shallower trajectory, enabling it to fly at high Mach numbers for an extended period at relatively low altitudes. A newly developed DLR sensor network provided essential data to determine the precise moment of ignition for the second stage. This “sensor cube” uses a defined starting position and measures the acceleration and rotation rates in flight to calculate the position of the rocket in space. At the end of its flight, it splashed down safely in a designated and secure area of the Norwegian Sea.
Successful first flight
“With the ATHEAt flight experiment, we have succeeded in flying at high Mach numbers for much longer than in our previous projects,” says Ali Gülhan, ATHEAt project manager and head of the Supersonic and Hypersonic Technologies Department at the DLR Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology. “We have now reached a new milestone and collected data for further R&D.”
This data harvest was made possible by the more than 300 sensors installed by the DLR team into the flight experiment. Also on board were miniaturized, noncontact sensors such as infrared cameras, laser scanners and radiation thermometers. A modular data acquisition system developed by DLR recorded the measurements and transmitted the processed data by radio to ground stations below.
“The conditions simulated in the ATHEAt flight experiment are comparable to those that thermal protection systems on future reusable space transport systems will have to reliably withstand during reentry into Earth’s atmosphere,” explains Gülhan. The reentry phase, with its extreme aerodynamic and aerothermodynamic conditions, is also a crucial point of development for the space industry. “With projects like ATHEAt, we are specifically working on closing this global technology gap.”
DLR combines flight experiments like ATHEAt and its predecessor projects, supported and continuously refined with sophisticated simulations, design processes and component testing on the ground.
ATHEAt program
Initiated in January 2022, the ATHEAt program seeks to test key technologies aimed to make future reusable space vehicles more reliable and cost-efficient, with an emphasis on reentry performance. The program is also developing a hybrid rocket booster for use as a future sounding rocket upper stage.
Composites
Photo
The technologies developed are being tested in ground tests and two space flights. This first flight was structured to test materials, cooling techniques, miniaturized nonintrusive sensors and the aerodynamic properties of the two-stage sounding rocket. The first stage was powered by a Red Kite booster developed by DLR in partnership with Bayern-Chemie, while the second stage was powered by a Canadian-built Black Brant Mark 4 booster.
A second launch, scheduled for 2026 from Esrange Space Center in Sweden, will mark the inaugural flight of the Alduina hybrid rocket booster. Powered by hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), the booster is designed to enable throttleability and reignition while maintaining low system complexity.
#composites #ceramic #CeramicMatrixComposites #space
> source
A second launch, scheduled for 2026 from Esrange Space Center in Sweden, will mark the inaugural flight of the Alduina hybrid rocket booster. Powered by hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), the booster is designed to enable throttleability and reignition while maintaining low system complexity.
#composites #ceramic #CeramicMatrixComposites #space
> source
Composites
Photo
OCSiAl to develop Luxembourg graphene nanotube hub
Aiming to make it the largest in the world, the $300 million flagship facility will serve as a scalable, energy-efficient manufacturing center for European advanced materials.
Deep-tech company OCSiAl LCC (Leudelange, Luxembourg) has signed a land lease launching the development of its flagship graphene nanotube production center in Differdange, Luxembourg, which will become what the company plans to be the “world’s largest” graphene nanotube production facility.
This official announcement is a culmination of a years-long effort by the company and the Luxembourg government, including an investment round raised from a “club” of Luxembourg-based investors and the signing with the state of Luxembourg of a long-term land lease for a 3.63-hectare site in Differdange.
Founded in 2010, OCSiAl is a large producer of graphene nanotubes, ideal for enhancing the mechanical, electrical, optical and thermal properties of fiber-reinforced composites. OCSiAl’s nanotubes, currently produced only in Serbia, where the company is increasing production capacity fourfold, are already used in more than 10% of smartphones sold today and in more than one million electric vehicles worldwide.
“Graphene nanotubes can improve over half of the materials we use every day, from safer batteries to longer-lasting tires and ultralight protective equipment,” says Alain Kinsch, a member of the OCSiAl board of directors. “We thank the Luxembourg government for enabling this project through the land lease and for fostering an environment where innovation and industrial ambition can thrive.”
With a planned investment of $300 million and creation of more than 300 new jobs, the facility, to be launched in stages from 2028-2030, will strengthen Europe’s role in the global advanced materials value chain and serve as a development hub for engineers and scientists.
#composites #OCSiAl #GrapheneNanotube #Nanomaterials
> source
Aiming to make it the largest in the world, the $300 million flagship facility will serve as a scalable, energy-efficient manufacturing center for European advanced materials.
Deep-tech company OCSiAl LCC (Leudelange, Luxembourg) has signed a land lease launching the development of its flagship graphene nanotube production center in Differdange, Luxembourg, which will become what the company plans to be the “world’s largest” graphene nanotube production facility.
This official announcement is a culmination of a years-long effort by the company and the Luxembourg government, including an investment round raised from a “club” of Luxembourg-based investors and the signing with the state of Luxembourg of a long-term land lease for a 3.63-hectare site in Differdange.
Founded in 2010, OCSiAl is a large producer of graphene nanotubes, ideal for enhancing the mechanical, electrical, optical and thermal properties of fiber-reinforced composites. OCSiAl’s nanotubes, currently produced only in Serbia, where the company is increasing production capacity fourfold, are already used in more than 10% of smartphones sold today and in more than one million electric vehicles worldwide.
“Graphene nanotubes can improve over half of the materials we use every day, from safer batteries to longer-lasting tires and ultralight protective equipment,” says Alain Kinsch, a member of the OCSiAl board of directors. “We thank the Luxembourg government for enabling this project through the land lease and for fostering an environment where innovation and industrial ambition can thrive.”
With a planned investment of $300 million and creation of more than 300 new jobs, the facility, to be launched in stages from 2028-2030, will strengthen Europe’s role in the global advanced materials value chain and serve as a development hub for engineers and scientists.
#composites #OCSiAl #GrapheneNanotube #Nanomaterials
> source
Composites
Photo
Airbus Helicopters aims to adopt Airborne’s composite automation technologies
At the headquarters in Toulouse, Airbus Helicopters signed on 1 October 2025 a Letter of Intent to adopt Airborne’s digital automation technologies for its factory in Le Bourget (Paris), France. The goal is to optimise manufacturing efficiency and output of composite rotor hubs and helicopter blades. The intent is to implement both Airborne’s main software and automation systems: automated ply placement and kit by light.
The focus will be on new automation and software to boost productivity and efficiency at Airbus’s Le Bourget factory in France. This factory makes all composite helicopter blades and hub structures for all Airbus helicopter models, both military and civil. “It’s a high-mix production environment, ramping up to meet increasing demand, and Airborne’s industrialisation technologies are an excellent fit,” says Marcus Kremers, CTO of Airborne.
Two automation systems
The project covers two of Airborne’s main automation systems, Kit by Light (KBL) and Automated Ply Placement (APP).
APP is already used by Airbus Commercial for the A350 programme. It automates the layup process from cutter to laminate and can be used for both prepreg and dry fibre, both of which are processed in Le Bourget. In this project, new features regarding part size, layup and quality inspection are planned to be added.
KBL is already in use at Airbus Helicopters’ sister plant in Donauwörth (Germany), where it supports operators in the cutting room with software that significantly accelerates kitting. Building on that experience, plans are to implement the system in the Le Bourget factory to reduce material waste and increase output.
About Airborne
Airborne is a technology leader in advanced composites and digital automation. Headquartered in The Hague, Airborne delivers innovative manufacturing solutions that help customers scale production, reduce costs and increase productivity. With a focus on the aerospace, space, defence and marine markets, Airborne combines deep materials knowledge with cutting-edge automation and digital systems to bring new solutions to automate advanced composites manufacturing.
#composites #AirbusHelicopters #Airborne
> source
At the headquarters in Toulouse, Airbus Helicopters signed on 1 October 2025 a Letter of Intent to adopt Airborne’s digital automation technologies for its factory in Le Bourget (Paris), France. The goal is to optimise manufacturing efficiency and output of composite rotor hubs and helicopter blades. The intent is to implement both Airborne’s main software and automation systems: automated ply placement and kit by light.
The focus will be on new automation and software to boost productivity and efficiency at Airbus’s Le Bourget factory in France. This factory makes all composite helicopter blades and hub structures for all Airbus helicopter models, both military and civil. “It’s a high-mix production environment, ramping up to meet increasing demand, and Airborne’s industrialisation technologies are an excellent fit,” says Marcus Kremers, CTO of Airborne.
Two automation systems
The project covers two of Airborne’s main automation systems, Kit by Light (KBL) and Automated Ply Placement (APP).
APP is already used by Airbus Commercial for the A350 programme. It automates the layup process from cutter to laminate and can be used for both prepreg and dry fibre, both of which are processed in Le Bourget. In this project, new features regarding part size, layup and quality inspection are planned to be added.
KBL is already in use at Airbus Helicopters’ sister plant in Donauwörth (Germany), where it supports operators in the cutting room with software that significantly accelerates kitting. Building on that experience, plans are to implement the system in the Le Bourget factory to reduce material waste and increase output.
About Airborne
Airborne is a technology leader in advanced composites and digital automation. Headquartered in The Hague, Airborne delivers innovative manufacturing solutions that help customers scale production, reduce costs and increase productivity. With a focus on the aerospace, space, defence and marine markets, Airborne combines deep materials knowledge with cutting-edge automation and digital systems to bring new solutions to automate advanced composites manufacturing.
#composites #AirbusHelicopters #Airborne
> source
Composites
Photo
A badminton racket made of recycled carbon fibre
National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) used Swancor’s “microwave pyrolysis technology” to recycle carbon fibre extracted from retired wind turbine blades and create the first badminton racket made of recycled carbon fibre”, becoming a landmark example of the high-value application of composite materials, according to Swancor.
In the past, retired wind turbine blades were mostly disposed of by incineration or burial, which not only put pressure on the environment but also wasted valuable carbon fibre resources. National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), in collaboration with Swancor Holding, has put the concept of a circular economy into practice. Using Swancor’s “microwave pyrolysis technology,” they recycled carbon fibre extracted from retired wind turbine blades. Combined with technologies from NCHU’s Institute of Circular Economy Research, they created “the world’s first badminton racket made of recycled carbon fibre.” Swancor considers that this makes it “a landmark example of the high-value application of composite materials.”
Wind turbine blades are made of robust composite materials, but recycling them presents a significant challenge. Swancor’s proprietary “microwave pyrolysis technology” can precisely process the carbon fibre pultruded carbon plates in the blades. “Compared to traditional pyrolysis methods, it processes the material faster and consumes less energy, achieving breakthroughs in both recycling efficiency and carbon reduction benefits, laying the groundwork for the reuse of used blade,” Swancor said.
Shen Ming-yuan, associate professor at the NCHU’s Institute of Circular Economy Research, pointed out that traditional badminton rackets use thermosetting materials made of carbon fibre and epoxy resin. Although these materials are strong, they cannot be recycled, limiting the application of recycled carbon fibre. Shen Ming-yuan explained that the team broke through the previous framework of “hot pressing” and developed the world’s first “injection-moulded” professional-grade badminton racket using two patented technologies: “recycled carbon fibre modification technology” and “reinforcing thermoplastic composite mixing and granulation technology.” All materials in this racket are recyclable, possessing not only excellent mechanical properties but also truly embodying environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and possessing a complete “green DNA.”
Towards mass market
Swancor Holding general manager Tsai Hsiao-te stated that the company has long invested in the research and development of wind power materials and green technologies, and this achievement demonstrates the enormous potential of waste composite materials to be transformed into high-value-added products. Although large-scale commercialisation still faces challenges in terms of equipment and cost, Swancor is actively seeking partnerships with like-minded brands and companies, hoping to promote the widespread application of recycled composite materials.
At the results release conference, Tsai Hsiao-te, representing the Swancor Group, donated 100 recycled carbon fibre badminton rackets to National Chung Hsing University, symbolising the deepening of the concept of sustainability and its roots in education, and marking an important milestone in the development of green technology.
In the field of recycling, Swancor is already known for having recently developed recyclable thermosetting epoxy resin, EzCiclo, that addresses the historical challenge of non-degradable recycling in thermoset composite materials. A few months ago, Swancor announced with partner Ama Tech the launch of recyclable composite ceiling fan blades.
Cover photo: “The world’s first recycled carbon fibre badminton racket,” co-developed by National Chung Hsing University and Swancor Holding with microwave pyrolysis technology to recover carbon fibre from wind turbine blades (source: Swancor)
#composites #SwancorHolding #NCHU #BadmintonRacket #RecycledCarbonFibre
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National Chung Hsing University (NCHU) used Swancor’s “microwave pyrolysis technology” to recycle carbon fibre extracted from retired wind turbine blades and create the first badminton racket made of recycled carbon fibre”, becoming a landmark example of the high-value application of composite materials, according to Swancor.
In the past, retired wind turbine blades were mostly disposed of by incineration or burial, which not only put pressure on the environment but also wasted valuable carbon fibre resources. National Chung Hsing University (NCHU), in collaboration with Swancor Holding, has put the concept of a circular economy into practice. Using Swancor’s “microwave pyrolysis technology,” they recycled carbon fibre extracted from retired wind turbine blades. Combined with technologies from NCHU’s Institute of Circular Economy Research, they created “the world’s first badminton racket made of recycled carbon fibre.” Swancor considers that this makes it “a landmark example of the high-value application of composite materials.”
Wind turbine blades are made of robust composite materials, but recycling them presents a significant challenge. Swancor’s proprietary “microwave pyrolysis technology” can precisely process the carbon fibre pultruded carbon plates in the blades. “Compared to traditional pyrolysis methods, it processes the material faster and consumes less energy, achieving breakthroughs in both recycling efficiency and carbon reduction benefits, laying the groundwork for the reuse of used blade,” Swancor said.
Shen Ming-yuan, associate professor at the NCHU’s Institute of Circular Economy Research, pointed out that traditional badminton rackets use thermosetting materials made of carbon fibre and epoxy resin. Although these materials are strong, they cannot be recycled, limiting the application of recycled carbon fibre. Shen Ming-yuan explained that the team broke through the previous framework of “hot pressing” and developed the world’s first “injection-moulded” professional-grade badminton racket using two patented technologies: “recycled carbon fibre modification technology” and “reinforcing thermoplastic composite mixing and granulation technology.” All materials in this racket are recyclable, possessing not only excellent mechanical properties but also truly embodying environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles and possessing a complete “green DNA.”
Towards mass market
Swancor Holding general manager Tsai Hsiao-te stated that the company has long invested in the research and development of wind power materials and green technologies, and this achievement demonstrates the enormous potential of waste composite materials to be transformed into high-value-added products. Although large-scale commercialisation still faces challenges in terms of equipment and cost, Swancor is actively seeking partnerships with like-minded brands and companies, hoping to promote the widespread application of recycled composite materials.
At the results release conference, Tsai Hsiao-te, representing the Swancor Group, donated 100 recycled carbon fibre badminton rackets to National Chung Hsing University, symbolising the deepening of the concept of sustainability and its roots in education, and marking an important milestone in the development of green technology.
In the field of recycling, Swancor is already known for having recently developed recyclable thermosetting epoxy resin, EzCiclo, that addresses the historical challenge of non-degradable recycling in thermoset composite materials. A few months ago, Swancor announced with partner Ama Tech the launch of recyclable composite ceiling fan blades.
Cover photo: “The world’s first recycled carbon fibre badminton racket,” co-developed by National Chung Hsing University and Swancor Holding with microwave pyrolysis technology to recover carbon fibre from wind turbine blades (source: Swancor)
#composites #SwancorHolding #NCHU #BadmintonRacket #RecycledCarbonFibre
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