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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.

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.

The company has manufactured 100,000 composite blades over the last couple of decades, led by efforts to enable efficient and sustainable wind energy generation.

JEC World 2025: With two decades of experience, Taniq aims to strengthen its position as a go-to-expert in robotic filament winding, feature its developed winding systems and TaniqWind Pro software.

CAMX 2025: Mikrosam’s filament winding, prepreg slitting and rewinding, towpreg, AFP/ATL and flexible double-belt press prepreg equipment meet precision and quality demands.

JEC World 2025: Six of the REFRESH project’s 11 partners are highlighting their efforts to build a circular and sustainable value chain for decommissioned GFRP wind blades.

Over the years, CIRA has demonstrated its patented CFRP parallel winding technique in a variety of ways for space applications. The lattice structure for the Vega-C launcher stage is a prime example.

Joint development of a wind farm using wind blades made from Swancor’s EzCiclo recyclable epoxy resin will further support India’s 140-gigawatt wind capacity goal for 2030.

The following job announcements and promotions have been shared by Arris Composites, Dieffenbacher, Metsä Spring, The Gill Corp., Vestas, Teijin Aramid and HydroGraph.

Turnkey winding system will support the German institute’s aerospace R&D efforts, including LATW, tape placement with in situ consolidation and a later thermoset upgrade.

Now operational, the containerized plant enables GRI to process up to 20,000 pounds of end-of-life wind blades per shift, opening the way for repurposing opportunities.