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Composite trench panels an alternative to metal
APPLICATIONS
Kayak paddles contain carbon fibre reclaimed from B787 production
Composite trench panels an alternative to metal FIBRELITE HAS launched a range of composite trench access panels with load ratings from A15 to E600 (EN 124) which provide an alternative to metal and concrete access covers. The composite trench panels can be used to provide access to sewage systems, underground pipework, drainage networks, electrical junction boxes, water treatment plants and commercial fuel storage.
The kayak paddle featuring reclaimed carbon fibre looks good and performs well.
WERNER PADDLES is using a carbon fibre reinforced plastic compound featuring carbon fibre reclaimed from Boeing 787 aircraft manufacture to manufacture kayak paddles. The Sultan, Washington, USA based manufacturer of handmade boating paddles, needs its products to look as good as they perform, but it began having aesthetic issues with its carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic kayak paddle blades. “The carbon fibre compound Werner used for the blades is more commonly found in the manufacture of structural components where surface quality is not a priority,” explains Tim Bailey, engineering manager of Werner’s new injection moulder, KASO Werner Paddles of Plastics of Vancouver, Washington. “For Werner, the cosmetics of the material were as important as the strength, rigidity, and other physical properties.” The challenge was to find a way to deliver both performance and aesthetics. Bailey’s engineering team tried numerous materials from several suppliers without success until they
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REINFORCEDplastics
connected with thermoplastics compounder RTP Company, Winona, Minnesota, which recommended a compound with recycled carbon fibre content. This was developed by RTP Company with help from aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which introduced the company to the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association, a composites recycling network that Boeing helped establish. All the carbon fibre in the compound supplied for the Werner kayak paddle application is post-industrial recycled from production scrap from the manufacture of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The thermoplastic base resin, and fibre loading, in the RTP Compound have not been disclosed. “We looked to RTP Company for high-end applications to use carbon fibre reclaimed from manufacturing scrap from our 787 Dreamliner airplane production,” says Pete George, Boeing’s Aircraft Composites Recycling Principal Investigator. The premium, aircraft-grade carbon fibre delivered the physical characteristics Werner
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
required for the kayak blades at a lower fibre loading, allowing KASO to meet aesthetic requirements, something none of the virgin materials were able to do. “In addition, the material is actually a little bit easier to process, and the system cost between the recycled content carbon fibre compound and virgin alternatives is insignificant,” notes Bailey. Werner also knows that using recycled carbon fibre content in the kayak blades will be attractive to its environmentally conscious customers. “Werner’s kayak paddle is a great example of Boeing’s sustainable manufacturing strategy at work, where postindustrial scrap from aircraft production provides a highperformance solution for a consumer product”, concludes Bill Carberry, Boeing’s Aircraft Recycling Project Manager. RTP Company; www.rtpcompany.com Werner Paddles; www.wernerpaddles.com KASO Plastics; www.kaso.com Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association; www.afraassociation.org
The lightweight, corrosion resistant composite covers are manufactured using a resin transfer moulding process (RTM). Fibrelite, headquartered in the UK, has also adapted its existing manufacturing process to utilise recycled glass fibres, enabling it to produce its most cost-effective trench panel to date. Composite trench panels are also less likely to be stolen! Increased metal costs have led to thefts of metal manhole, trench and gully covers, but Fibrelite’s composite covers have zero re-sale value in the scrap market. Fibrelite; www.fibrelite.com
Fibrelite covers have a minimum guaranteed lifespan of 15 maintenancefree years.
www.reinforcedplastics.com
Kayak paddles contain carbon fibre reclaimed from B787 production
Composite trench panels an alternative to metal FIBRELITE HAS launched a range of composite trench access panels with load ratings from A15 to E600 (EN 124) which provide an alternative to metal and concrete access covers. The composite trench panels can be used to provide access to sewage systems, underground pipework, drainage networks, electrical junction boxes, water treatment plants and commercial fuel storage.
The kayak paddle featuring reclaimed carbon fibre looks good and performs well.
WERNER PADDLES is using a carbon fibre reinforced plastic compound featuring carbon fibre reclaimed from Boeing 787 aircraft manufacture to manufacture kayak paddles. The Sultan, Washington, USA based manufacturer of handmade boating paddles, needs its products to look as good as they perform, but it began having aesthetic issues with its carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic kayak paddle blades. “The carbon fibre compound Werner used for the blades is more commonly found in the manufacture of structural components where surface quality is not a priority,” explains Tim Bailey, engineering manager of Werner’s new injection moulder, KASO Werner Paddles of Plastics of Vancouver, Washington. “For Werner, the cosmetics of the material were as important as the strength, rigidity, and other physical properties.” The challenge was to find a way to deliver both performance and aesthetics. Bailey’s engineering team tried numerous materials from several suppliers without success until they
6
REINFORCEDplastics
connected with thermoplastics compounder RTP Company, Winona, Minnesota, which recommended a compound with recycled carbon fibre content. This was developed by RTP Company with help from aircraft manufacturer Boeing, which introduced the company to the Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association, a composites recycling network that Boeing helped establish. All the carbon fibre in the compound supplied for the Werner kayak paddle application is post-industrial recycled from production scrap from the manufacture of Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The thermoplastic base resin, and fibre loading, in the RTP Compound have not been disclosed. “We looked to RTP Company for high-end applications to use carbon fibre reclaimed from manufacturing scrap from our 787 Dreamliner airplane production,” says Pete George, Boeing’s Aircraft Composites Recycling Principal Investigator. The premium, aircraft-grade carbon fibre delivered the physical characteristics Werner
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
required for the kayak blades at a lower fibre loading, allowing KASO to meet aesthetic requirements, something none of the virgin materials were able to do. “In addition, the material is actually a little bit easier to process, and the system cost between the recycled content carbon fibre compound and virgin alternatives is insignificant,” notes Bailey. Werner also knows that using recycled carbon fibre content in the kayak blades will be attractive to its environmentally conscious customers. “Werner’s kayak paddle is a great example of Boeing’s sustainable manufacturing strategy at work, where postindustrial scrap from aircraft production provides a highperformance solution for a consumer product”, concludes Bill Carberry, Boeing’s Aircraft Recycling Project Manager. RTP Company; www.rtpcompany.com Werner Paddles; www.wernerpaddles.com KASO Plastics; www.kaso.com Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association; www.afraassociation.org
The lightweight, corrosion resistant composite covers are manufactured using a resin transfer moulding process (RTM). Fibrelite, headquartered in the UK, has also adapted its existing manufacturing process to utilise recycled glass fibres, enabling it to produce its most cost-effective trench panel to date. Composite trench panels are also less likely to be stolen! Increased metal costs have led to thefts of metal manhole, trench and gully covers, but Fibrelite’s composite covers have zero re-sale value in the scrap market. Fibrelite; www.fibrelite.com
Fibrelite covers have a minimum guaranteed lifespan of 15 maintenancefree years.
www.reinforcedplastics.com