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UK invests in Airbus A350 XWB
BUSINESS
Lectra and Zoltek and GBT in AB-Inventech cooperate wind energy alliance on wind energy LECTRA AND AB-Inventech have signed a cooperation agreement to promote automated production solutions for the wind energy and aerospace markets. Danish company AB-Inventech specialises in equipment for automating production processes in various industries. Its expertise in handling of composite materials and production of wind turbine blades, including systems for loading material and off-loading cut pieces, complement French company Lectra’s range of cutters and software for
the industrial fabrics and composite materials markets. (Ealier this year, Lectra introduced a cutter designed for producing the long pieces of composite material used in turbine blade production: Reinforced Plastics, June/July 2009, page 16.) Through this agreement, Lectra and AB-Inventech intend to offer their joint customers an optimised production process, yielding the best productivity. AB-Inventech; www.ab-inventech.dk Lectra; www.lectra.com
US-BASED carbon fibre supplier Zoltek and turbine blade designer Global Blade Technology (GBT) of the Netherlands are joining forces to promote the design and manufacture of wind turbine blades using Zoltek’s carbon fibres.
Under the technology and marketing agreement, GBT will promote Zoltek carbon fibres in the development of blade designs when the performance parameters require the superior properties of carbon fibres. Zoltek has agreed to
offer a low-cost supply of high-performance carbon fibres to GBT’s clients which seek design assistance or other technical support in the development and production of long blades. GBT, based in Utrecht, offers design, engineering, prototype development, testing and manufacturing assistance to wind turbine and wind turbine blade manufacturers. GBT; www.gbtholding.com Zoltek; www.zoltek.com
UK invests in Airbus A350 XWB THE UK government has agreed to support Airbus with up to £340 million repayable launch investment for the development of the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. The airframe of the A350 XWB will be over 50% composite materials. The investment, drawn partially from the government’s £750 million Strategic Investment Fund, will enable Airbus in the UK to strengthen its position in wing, landing gear and fuel integration systems technologies and ensure that the UK plays a leading role in the development of the A350 XWB. This support will create and sustain more than 1200 jobs within Airbus across its Filton and Broughton sites in the UK, as well over 5000 jobs within the supply chain across the UK.
REINFORCEDplastics
OCTOBER 2009
Airbus employs 10 500 people in the UK at Filton, near Bristol, and Broughton, North Wales. According to the UK government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the UK aerospace industry is the second largest in the world behind the USA. It employs more than 100 000 people with a turnover of more than £20 billion annually. The UK accounts for over 13% of the total turnover in the world aerospace market. Aerospace is one the UK’s biggest exporting industries and the sector invested £1.8 billion in R&D in 2008. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS); www.berr.gov.uk Airbus; www.airbus.com
www.reinforcedplastics.com
Lectra and Zoltek and GBT in AB-Inventech cooperate wind energy alliance on wind energy LECTRA AND AB-Inventech have signed a cooperation agreement to promote automated production solutions for the wind energy and aerospace markets. Danish company AB-Inventech specialises in equipment for automating production processes in various industries. Its expertise in handling of composite materials and production of wind turbine blades, including systems for loading material and off-loading cut pieces, complement French company Lectra’s range of cutters and software for
the industrial fabrics and composite materials markets. (Ealier this year, Lectra introduced a cutter designed for producing the long pieces of composite material used in turbine blade production: Reinforced Plastics, June/July 2009, page 16.) Through this agreement, Lectra and AB-Inventech intend to offer their joint customers an optimised production process, yielding the best productivity. AB-Inventech; www.ab-inventech.dk Lectra; www.lectra.com
US-BASED carbon fibre supplier Zoltek and turbine blade designer Global Blade Technology (GBT) of the Netherlands are joining forces to promote the design and manufacture of wind turbine blades using Zoltek’s carbon fibres.
Under the technology and marketing agreement, GBT will promote Zoltek carbon fibres in the development of blade designs when the performance parameters require the superior properties of carbon fibres. Zoltek has agreed to
offer a low-cost supply of high-performance carbon fibres to GBT’s clients which seek design assistance or other technical support in the development and production of long blades. GBT, based in Utrecht, offers design, engineering, prototype development, testing and manufacturing assistance to wind turbine and wind turbine blade manufacturers. GBT; www.gbtholding.com Zoltek; www.zoltek.com
UK invests in Airbus A350 XWB THE UK government has agreed to support Airbus with up to £340 million repayable launch investment for the development of the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. The airframe of the A350 XWB will be over 50% composite materials. The investment, drawn partially from the government’s £750 million Strategic Investment Fund, will enable Airbus in the UK to strengthen its position in wing, landing gear and fuel integration systems technologies and ensure that the UK plays a leading role in the development of the A350 XWB. This support will create and sustain more than 1200 jobs within Airbus across its Filton and Broughton sites in the UK, as well over 5000 jobs within the supply chain across the UK.
REINFORCEDplastics
OCTOBER 2009
Airbus employs 10 500 people in the UK at Filton, near Bristol, and Broughton, North Wales. According to the UK government’s Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the UK aerospace industry is the second largest in the world behind the USA. It employs more than 100 000 people with a turnover of more than £20 billion annually. The UK accounts for over 13% of the total turnover in the world aerospace market. Aerospace is one the UK’s biggest exporting industries and the sector invested £1.8 billion in R&D in 2008. Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS); www.berr.gov.uk Airbus; www.airbus.com
www.reinforcedplastics.com