CW Blog
SAMPE 2009 Product Showcase
Showgoers at the SAMPE 2009 Conference and Exhibiton in Baltimore, Md. found many suppliers undeterred by poor economic news.
Read MoreSolvent-free release a good match for wind blade molding
Wind power’s reputation as a “green” technology belies the fact that production of turbine components requires many materials and products that aren’t green.
Read MoreWinds of change
It’s not hard, in this down economy, to get excited about the wind energy industry.
Read MoreJEC Composites 2009 showcase
Despite the doleful state of the global economy, the turnout in Paris — exhibitors and visitors — proved surprisingly strong.
Read MoreWindpower 2009 highlights
 The show confirmed wind energy’s status as a recession-proof market for composites, but blade manufacturers were put on notice about the need to automate.
Read MoreOffshore wind: How big will blades get?
Explosive growth in offshore wind farms will push the limits of blade engineering as manufacturers pursue massive designs that will harvest more megawatts.
Read MoreSAMPE Europe/JEC highlights
The global economy might be on the wane, but there was little evidence of it at the annual SAMPE Europe conference and nearby JEC Composites Show in Paris.
Read MoreThe half-full glass
During a recession — and I’ve only known relatively mild downturns until now — an editor always heads off to a trade show with, at best, some hesitancy and, at worst, gloomy pessimism.
Read MoreLightweight, stable large-tool concept requires no master model
After two years of testing, partners Advanced Composites Group (ACG, Tulsa, Okla.) and GrafTech (Parma, Ohio) are commercializing the ACG GRAFOAM FPA-20 tooling system, a new concept in dimensionally stable, low-mass, high-temperature-compatible composite tooling. The system’s foundation is carbon foam.
Read MoreC-Scan inspection facility cuts cost for commercial copter
Bell Helicopter Textron’s (Ft. Worth, Texas) 429 helicopter, first revealed in 2008, is targeted to individual, corporate and emergency-services customers.
Read MoreSAMPE 2009 Preview
 The Society takes its U.S. trade show back to Baltimore, expecting to prepare advanced materials professionals for uncertain economic times.
Read MoreAFP/ATL design-to-manufacture: Bridging the gap
Managing production of a structure made via fiber or tape placement often requires software-aided manipulation of the subtle differences between that which is designed and that which can be manufactured.
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