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Composite bow proves to be a winner
Applications news
Hobas pipes lower installation costs A HYDRO-electric plant in Schwarzach, Austria, has been equipped with 3550 m of Hobas centrifugally cast glass reinforced plastic (GRP) pipe. The plant has a capacity of 9.9 MW. In the first phase of the project, about 4.3 km of pressure pipe, with a 1600 mm diameter, transports water at a maximum of 4.6 m³/s through-put to the Pelton turbine. This will later be upgraded to 9.2 m³/s. The 3550 m line leading from the catchment to the steep slope is the Hobas pipeline. Hobas says that the contractor chose GRP pipe because the line could be installed without the usual anchor points. HOBAS® Sealtight® Couplings enable this
cost efficient installation since they tolerate a longitudinal movement of the pipes as well as an angular deflection while maintaining absolute leak tightness. Only a few bends are utilised, for most changes of direction in the routing are realised within the couplings. Shorter pipe sections of 3 m instead of the standard length of 6 m are used where the curve radius is smaller. In addition to this, some pipes have a 2.2° diagonal cut for even smaller radii. The line can therefore follow the terrain, which is reported to reduce installation costs considerably. HOBAS Engineering GmbH; www.hobas.com
Comtek and Res Precast announce agreement COMPOSITES specialist Comtek Advanced Structures has announced an agreement with Res Precast for the development and commercialisation of a high strength composite insulated panel for the construction industry. Under the agreement, Comtek, which has offices in Burlington, Canada, and Phoenix, Arizona, USA, will license its resin infusion technology to Res Precast, a Canadian company specialising in architectural precast concrete products, and produce demonstration panels for market development.
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REINFORCEDplastics
Full-scale testing is expected to start soon. Once compliance to applicable building codes has been demonstrated Res will begin work on the design and construction of a new plant to manufacture the panels. Comtek will be involved in the preproduction plant set-up, including tooling and equipment design and layout, training, quality procedures and the continued development of the new technology. Comtek Advanced Structures; www.comtekadvanced.com
Res Precast; www.resprecast.com
June 2006
Hobas pipes can be installed in the mountainous and rough terrain present where hydroelectric power plants are built.
Composite bow proves to be a winner SWISS archery bow maker Willi Heuberger makes composite bows for competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships. One of his models, the ‘Olympic Bow’, is made using Huntsman Advanced Materials RenLam® laminating system. A wet-lay up laminating technique with carbon fibre and RenLam LY 113 laminating resin and Ren® HY 97-1 hardener is used to make the limbs of the bow. The bow limbs it produced are reported to exhibit excellent strength and flexibility and a smooth
surface finish. The flexibility of the material also gives it the high energy storage and release abilities needed in a bow. After passing a series of load tests, the Heuberger composite bow is being used as a high performance sports bow by top level competitors, including Olymics teams. At the Swiss National Championships in March 2006 nine medals were won by archers using Heuberger composite bows. Huntsman; www.huntsman.com Heuberger Bows; www.heubibow.com
Hobas pipes lower installation costs A HYDRO-electric plant in Schwarzach, Austria, has been equipped with 3550 m of Hobas centrifugally cast glass reinforced plastic (GRP) pipe. The plant has a capacity of 9.9 MW. In the first phase of the project, about 4.3 km of pressure pipe, with a 1600 mm diameter, transports water at a maximum of 4.6 m³/s through-put to the Pelton turbine. This will later be upgraded to 9.2 m³/s. The 3550 m line leading from the catchment to the steep slope is the Hobas pipeline. Hobas says that the contractor chose GRP pipe because the line could be installed without the usual anchor points. HOBAS® Sealtight® Couplings enable this
cost efficient installation since they tolerate a longitudinal movement of the pipes as well as an angular deflection while maintaining absolute leak tightness. Only a few bends are utilised, for most changes of direction in the routing are realised within the couplings. Shorter pipe sections of 3 m instead of the standard length of 6 m are used where the curve radius is smaller. In addition to this, some pipes have a 2.2° diagonal cut for even smaller radii. The line can therefore follow the terrain, which is reported to reduce installation costs considerably. HOBAS Engineering GmbH; www.hobas.com
Comtek and Res Precast announce agreement COMPOSITES specialist Comtek Advanced Structures has announced an agreement with Res Precast for the development and commercialisation of a high strength composite insulated panel for the construction industry. Under the agreement, Comtek, which has offices in Burlington, Canada, and Phoenix, Arizona, USA, will license its resin infusion technology to Res Precast, a Canadian company specialising in architectural precast concrete products, and produce demonstration panels for market development.
6
REINFORCEDplastics
Full-scale testing is expected to start soon. Once compliance to applicable building codes has been demonstrated Res will begin work on the design and construction of a new plant to manufacture the panels. Comtek will be involved in the preproduction plant set-up, including tooling and equipment design and layout, training, quality procedures and the continued development of the new technology. Comtek Advanced Structures; www.comtekadvanced.com
Res Precast; www.resprecast.com
June 2006
Hobas pipes can be installed in the mountainous and rough terrain present where hydroelectric power plants are built.
Composite bow proves to be a winner SWISS archery bow maker Willi Heuberger makes composite bows for competitions such as the Olympics and World Championships. One of his models, the ‘Olympic Bow’, is made using Huntsman Advanced Materials RenLam® laminating system. A wet-lay up laminating technique with carbon fibre and RenLam LY 113 laminating resin and Ren® HY 97-1 hardener is used to make the limbs of the bow. The bow limbs it produced are reported to exhibit excellent strength and flexibility and a smooth
surface finish. The flexibility of the material also gives it the high energy storage and release abilities needed in a bow. After passing a series of load tests, the Heuberger composite bow is being used as a high performance sports bow by top level competitors, including Olymics teams. At the Swiss National Championships in March 2006 nine medals were won by archers using Heuberger composite bows. Huntsman; www.huntsman.com Heuberger Bows; www.heubibow.com