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Filament winding is a specialized technique used in composite manufacturing, involving the precise and automated winding of continuous fibers onto a rotating mandrel or mold. This method allows for the creation of strong and seamless structures, optimizing the alignment and orientation of the fibers to meet specific design requirements. Filament winding is employed in producing cylindrical or conical composite parts, such as pipes, pressure vessels, and aerospace components, enabling engineers to tailor the strength, stiffness, and performance characteristics of the final product.

Processes in composites manufacturing encompass a diverse array of techniques employed to fabricate composite materials. These processes include methods like hand layup, where layers of resin and reinforcement materials are manually placed, and vacuum infusion, where a vacuum draws resin into a preform. Other techniques like compression molding, filament winding, and automated methods such as 3D printing are utilized to create intricate and specialized composite structures. Each process offers unique advantages in terms of precision, scalability, and efficiency, catering to diverse industry needs. As technology advances, newer methods are emerging, promising faster production cycles, reduced waste, and increased customization, driving the evolution of composite manufacturing towards more sophisticated and versatile methodologies.

The wind energy market has long been considered the world’s largest market, by volume, for glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites — and increasingly, carbon fiber composites — as larger turbines and longer wind blades are developed, requiring higher performance, lighter weight materials. The outer skins of wind and tidal turbine blades generally comprise infused, GFRP laminates sandwiching foam core. Inside the blade, rib-like shear webs bonded to spar caps reinforce the structure. Spar caps are often made from GFRP or, as blade lengths lengthen, pultruded carbon fiber for additional strength.

Norwegian Offshore Wind is launching a new two-year program in August to foster growth of startups and scale-ups and address pressing issues in offshore wind.

Wind energy is gaining momentum in the United States, back by six installation orders received by Vestas this past summer.

CAMX 2023: Acrolab features its Isomandrel technology, which redistributes high thermal energy uniformly over the entire filament winding mandrel surface, providing predictable and consistent energy input into the part and removing the need for oven cure.

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.

Targeting U.S. wind energy, the program backs Purdue’s CMSC center and industry partners to develop the foundation for automated tooling manufacture, supporting new innovations in composite materials, other technology elements.

CAMX 2024: Century Design Inc. highlights its OnDemand towpreg systems, designed to provide differentiation and cost efficiency in-house while maintaining high quality.

New aircraft is expected to deliver wind turbine blades from 105 meters up to expand the reach of wind energy and achieve global climate goals.

Working with Boeing Australia, Memko and Dassault Systèmes, the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) has developed a digital twin via the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, digitizing processes that could lead toward more efficient and effective maintenance, repair and operations of future fleets.

Research enables successful automation in post-molding manufacturing operations, which could lead to more competitive U.S.-based blade manufacturing.

Belzona highlights the use of Belzona 5711 and 5721 to extend the lifespan of 42 wind turbine blades in Denmark facing severe erosion.