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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.

CW Top Shops honoree Cobra International reflects on its growth over 45+ years, as well as current work expanding its automotive and UAV capabilities, increasing energy efficiency and new SMC production lines.

Rock West Composites is expanding its space-grade Strato product line, including products appropriate for geosynchronous equatorial orbit and deep space applications.

U.S. installs 2,824 MW of new wind capacity in the second quarter of 2021, a 10% increase compared to Q2 2020, with 16 newly commissioned wind projects.

Using long-term client Holland Composites’ 100% bio-based composite solution, Solico optimized the engineering of the new building’s approximately 1,100 composite elements.

The European Space Module (ESM) will power NASA’s Orion spacecraft to and from its lunar orbit as part of the Artemis missions, featuring a web assembly of carbon fiber sheets and deployable CFRP rigid panels.

With innovation at its heart, the new R&D hub is set to be a catalyst for economic growth, home to a collaboration hub, full connected Digital Factory, materials division, Lightweight Manufacture Centre and more.

The carbon fiber stratospheric UAV continues to demonstrate its capabilities for commercial and military customers, adding an additional 887 flight hours to the 2,435 stratospheric flight hours for Zephyr to date.

In addition to the Industry 4.0 and eco-friendly facility being built at Leipzig/Halle Airport, the composite D328eco, said to be leading the turboprop resurgence, will be built with sustainability in mind.

The agency’s Orion spacecraft — showcasing an abundance of composite components and structures — launched 1:47 a.m. on Nov. 16, and is on its way to the moon as part of the Artemis program.

The New York-based startup recently partnered with a wind blade recycling company and plans to produce its first full-scale prototypes this year.