Sheet Molding Compound
Lower cost, less waste: Inline prepreg production
New technologies move direct (fabricator-based) prepregging closer to reality.
Read More
2016 JEC World in Paris (Day 2): Composites in transition
The JEC Europe show has evolved over the past two decades into a very large and very busy convention, with a grown-up feel.
Read More
Natural fiber composites: Market share, one part at a time
Suppliers and adventurous composites fabricators put the “feel good” aspect in the rearview mirror, winning customers by competing on price and performance.
Read More
Low-density SMC: Better living through chemistry
Proprietary sizing, special glass roving and microspheres strip 9 kilos of weight from Corvette body panels.
Read More
Wet compression molding
Automated process cuts cycle time and cost for CFRP parts with potential for 65% fiber volume via Dynamic Fluid Compression Molding variant.
Read More
Turnkey manufacturing systems: Simplifying automated HP-RTM
Having offered turnkey systems for composites since the 1990s for sheet molding compound (SMC), long fiber thermoplastic (LFT) and glass mat thermoplastic (GMT), Dieffenbacher (Eppingen, Germany) now has automated systems for high-pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM).
Read More
Turnkey manufacturing systems: Materials, markets and maturation
Automated production cells promise affordability and less risk in scaling up composites production, but are they really the path forward?
Read More
Green resins: Closer to maturity
As more players approach the market, R&D expands, but overall market growth in the composites arena is still slow but steady.
Read More
Structural adhesives: Plus ça change ….
A CW columnist and the chief commercialization officer for the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI, Knoxville, TN, US), Dale Brosius makes the case that, in both the aerospace and automotive sectors, it’s time to develop robust adhesive alternatives to fasteners.
Read More
SPE names winners of 2015 Automotive Innovation Awards Competition
Continental Structural Plastics' TCA Ultra Lite sheet molding compound (SMC) for composite body panels was the Materials category and Grand Award winner.
Read More