Scott Francis

Scott Francis Editor-In-Chief

Defense

From prototypes to performance: Composites company makes inroads into new markets

Top Shops 2024 honoree Calian’s composites division blends R&D, rapid prototyping and scalable production with deep engineering integration and corporate synergy.

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Editorial

There's a lot up in the air

Trade tensions and supply chain shifts — what the U.S.-China dispute means for aerospace and composites suppliers.

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Defense

A return to the Space Symposium: Charting the next frontier

Since 2019 the space sector has been on a rapid upward trajectory. This year’s Space Symposium delivered that same optimism, celebrating the community’s continued proliferation, even as political and financial uncertainty raise new questions.

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Defense

Call for abstracts: CW Tech Days to explore high-temperature composite solutions

The fall 2025 installment of CW’s Tech Days online event series will cover high-temperature composite solutions for defense and space applications.

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Aerospace

Aerospace prepregs with braided reinforcement demonstrate improved production rates, cost

A recent time study compares the layup of a wing spar using prepreg with A&P’s TX-45 continuous braided reinforcement versus traditional twill woven prepreg.

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JEC World 2025 highlights: Trends in aerospace, new space and defense

CW editor-in-chief Scott Francis discusses trends in aerospace on display at JEC World — as the composites industry awaits a new single aisle aircraft program, the industry puts continued focus on new space, defense, UAM.

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Carbon Fibers

CW calls for speakers at Carbon Fiber 2025

ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ is soliciting presentation proposals for Carbon Fiber 2025 — and what better location to discuss carbon fiber’s role in the key market of aerospace than Wichita, Kansas, the Air Capital of the world?

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JEC

A reflection on industrial tourism

Composites industry insights gleaned from spending time on the road. 

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Aerospace

Inside the MFFD — CW's coverage of the Clean Aviation multifunctional fuselage demonstrator

ÂÌñÏ×ÆÞ rounds up coverage of the MFFD project over the past decade. Now complete, the MFFD illustrates numerous processes and technologies for manufacturing primary aerospace structures using thermoplastic composites. 

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Feature

Composites end markets: Electronics (2025)

Electronic and smart device innovations achieved through the use of advanced materials ranging from thermoplastic composites to biomaterials emphasize high-volume production and sustainability.

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Editorial

What’s top of mind in composites?

As the composites industry gathers for its largest international trade show, CW’s editorial team shares the key trends and challenges they’re tracking — from aerospace innovations and recycling advancements to economic shifts and the future of eVTOL.

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Core

Composites end markets: New space (2025)

Composite materials — with their unmatched strength-to-weight ratio, durability in extreme environments and design versatility — are at the heart of innovations in satellites, propulsion systems and lunar exploration vehicles, propelling the space economy toward a $1.8 trillion future.

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