How AI is improving composites operations and factory sustainability
Workforce pain points and various logistical challenges are putting operations resilience and flexibility to the test, but Industry 4.0 advancements could be the key to composites manufacturers’ transformation.
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News
Horizon Aircraft provides update on technical flight testing
Positive progress during eVTOL prototype testing approaches full transition to forward flight, aids in final full-scale aircraft design for completion and testing in 2026.
WatchATA Industrial Group report evaluates the state of the global carbon fiber market
Carbon fiber composites market report provides statistics, analyses and trends regarding 2023 demand in China and around the world.
Read MoreLilium looks to France to establish high-volume eVTOL production
Lilium is keen to expand its industrial footprint through leveraging of France’s aerospace heritage and vast supplier base in aerospace and electrification, in preparation for the eVTOL aircraft market demand.
Read MoreProducts
Plataine grows facility visibility, control with 3D Live Map launch
Composites manufacturers are able to proactively track, manage and streamline production status and resources use via a holistic, real-time view of the production environment.
Read MoreAnaglyph releases Laminate Tools version 5.2
Nesting, design, GUI and viewing features have been improved or added to the composites design software tool.
Read MoreAngeloni launches non-stitched multiaxial NCF fabric option
An adhesive grants the same stability of traditionally stitched composite fabrics, making Stratos suitable for use in a range of fibers and production processes.
Read MoreTrending
JEC World 2024 highlights: Thermoplastic composites, CMC and novel processes
CW senior technical editor Ginger Gardiner discusses some of the developments and demonstrators shown at the industry’s largest composites exhibition and conference.
WatchComposites end markets: Pressure vessels (2024)
The market for pressure vessels used to store zero-emission fuels is rapidly growing, with ongoing developments and commercialization of Type 3, 4 and 5 tanks.
WatchCarbon fiber composite pallet revolutionizes freight industry
LOG Point Pallet fuses advanced materials with innovative design and manufacturing to improve supply chains worldwide.
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KNOWLEDGE CENTERS
Gain in-depth knowledge in processes, products and technology from industry experts
Features and Articles
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Looking at composites through the lens of U.S. history
When you’re a tourist with a background in writing for manufacturing it’s impossible not to notice all of the ways in which composites have resulted in significant milestones in the U.S. — historically and in the present.
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Industrializing additive manufacturing in the defense/aerospace sector
GA-ASI demonstrates a path forward for the use of additive technologies for composite tooling, flight-qualified parts.
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Designing an infused, two-piece composite baseball bat
With its Icon BBCOR bat, Rawlings leveraged its experience in braided fabrics and RTM to create an optimized, higher-performance two-piece design.
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From the CW Archives: The life and death of the BMW i3
A look back at the ambitious and impressive composites production system BMW developed for production of the all-electric i3 EV.
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Latest Issue
Composites 101
- Composites end markets: Electronics (2024)
- Celebrating 30 years of CompositesWorld, Part 1
- The basics of composite drawing interpretation
- Proper application of semi-permanent mold release systems
- Composites end markets: Aerospace (2023)
- Composites end markets: Automotive (2023)
- The state of recycled carbon fiber
- How to validate 3D-printed composite part performance
- Composites end markets: Industrial (2022)
- How ultrasonic testing can find flaws in composite materials
Industry Experts
Creating a composite battery insert-stud solution for EV trucks
Bossard worked with an OEM and Tier supplier team to meet tight electrical insulation and packaging tolerances while reducing tooling, molding and assembly costs.
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Damage tolerance testing of sandwich composites: The sandwich flexure-after-impact (FAI) test
A second new ASTM-standardized test method assesses the damage tolerance of sandwich composites under flexural loading.
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Composites industry activity meaningfully slowed contraction in March
The GBI: Composites Fabricating still contracted in March, though it landed just one point shy of 50, which could eventually lead it into expansion territory.
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Videos/Podcasts
Composites end markets: Batteries and fuel cells (2024)
As the number of battery and fuel cell electric vehicles (EVs) grows, so do the opportunities for composites in battery enclosures and components for fuel cells.
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Optimizing robotic winding of composite tanks and pipes
Pioneer in mandrel-based reinforced rubber and composite products, TANIQ offers TaniqWindPro software and robotic winding expertise for composite pressure vessels and more.
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Forvia moves toward more sustainable automotive composites manufacturing
Automotive technology supplier Forvia shares sustainability goals and recent developments aimed at bio-based and recycled materials and ramping up hydrogen tank production for clean mobility.
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Eaton developing carbon-reinforced PEKK to replace aluminum in aircraft air ducts
3D printable material will meet ESD, flammability and other requirements to allow for flexible manufacturing of ducts, without tooling needed today.
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Optimizing machining for composites: Tool designs, processes and Industry 4.0 systems
Hufschmied moves beyond optimized milling and drilling tools to develop SonicShark inline quality control system and Cutting Edge World cloud platform for optimized tool use and processes.
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Plant tour: Sekisui Aerospace, Orange City, Iowa, Renton and Sumner, Wash., U.S.
Veteran composites sites use kaizen and innovation culture to expand thermoplastic serial production, 4.0 digitization and new technology for diversified new markets.
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Episode 44: Andy West, Sonichem
CW interviews Dr. Andy West of Sonichem, about the company’s ultrasonic process for converting biomass into lignin, as well as other biomaterials of interest for composites manufacturing.
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Episode 43: Emphasizing the recycling of wind blades
CW Talks discusses Ford Motor Company’s involvement with the EMPHASIZING project, a UK consortium working to develop a material from recycled glass fiber with mechanical properties superior to virgin glass.
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Episode 42: Jeff Sloan, CompositesWorld
CW publisher and brand V.P. Jeff Sloan discusses the history of CW and the evolution of the composites industry during his time as editor.
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Episode 41: Chase Hogoboom, T.J. Perrotti, Composite Energy Technologies Inc.
Chase Hogoboom (president) and TJ Perrotti (senior Naval architect and chief design engineer), CET Photo Credit: Composite Energy Technologies Inc.
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Episode 40: Sarah Cox, NASA
Sarah Cox, materials engineer at NASA, talks about her experience at NASA working with composites in the space travel space.
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Episode 39: Joe Fox, FX Consulting
Consultant Joe Fox talks about the massive potential for composites use in infrastructure applications and what it will take to turn that potential into reality.
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