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Core launches new business
BUSINESS US awards $175m for advanced vehicle R&D THE US Department of Energy (DOE) will spend more than US$175 million over the next three-five years to accelerate the development and deployment of advanced vehicle technologies, including lightweight materials. The DOE has awarded funds to 40 projects targeting areas including better fuels and lubricants, lighter weight materials, longer-lasting and cheaper electric vehicle batteries and components, and more efficient engine technologies. Five projects have been selected to accelerate commercial availability of lighter weight vehicles using advanced lightweight materials to reduce vehicle weight while maintaining the highest safety standards. Three of these projects are related to composites: • Zoltek Companies Inc: a novel low cost route to carbon fibre using a lignin/PAN hybrid precursor; • United States Automotive Materials Partnership LLC: crash models for carbon fibre
composites for use in primary structural automotive crash and energy management applications; and • Plasan Carbon Composites: models for predicting the crash behaviour of carbon fibre composites by building and testing subcomponent structures. The other two projects focus on magnesium. Two more projects (Vehma International of America Inc and Chrysler Group LLC) are being funded to design, build and test a lightweight vehicle that is 50% lighter than a baseline light-duty vehicle. Last month, President Obama announced new standards for cars and light trucks which will bring fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon by Model Year 2025. Fuel-efficiency standards for work trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles have also been unveiled. DOE; http://energy.gov/ energygov
Core launches new business CORE MOLDING Technologies Inc, a US moulder of glass reinforced plastics and compounder of sheet moulding compound (SMC), has established a new subsidiary and manufacturing site to support a new business venture outside its traditional heavy truck market. The new subsidiary, Core Specialty Composites LLC, will operate out of a manufacturing site located in Warsaw, Kentucky. The facility includes 62 000 ft2 of leased manufacturing space. Core’s existing plant in Batavia, Ohio, will
REINFORCEDplastics
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
provide management support to the Warsaw site. Core says operations will initially include production of large parts using a customised hand lamination process. Development and staffing activities are underway. Production is planned to begin early in 2012. The Warsaw operation is expected to employ approximately 40 people. Revenue for the new business is projected to be US$5-8 million annually. Core Molding Technologies; www.coremt.com
www.reinforcedplastics.com
composites for use in primary structural automotive crash and energy management applications; and • Plasan Carbon Composites: models for predicting the crash behaviour of carbon fibre composites by building and testing subcomponent structures. The other two projects focus on magnesium. Two more projects (Vehma International of America Inc and Chrysler Group LLC) are being funded to design, build and test a lightweight vehicle that is 50% lighter than a baseline light-duty vehicle. Last month, President Obama announced new standards for cars and light trucks which will bring fuel efficiency to 54.5 miles per gallon by Model Year 2025. Fuel-efficiency standards for work trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles have also been unveiled. DOE; http://energy.gov/ energygov
Core launches new business CORE MOLDING Technologies Inc, a US moulder of glass reinforced plastics and compounder of sheet moulding compound (SMC), has established a new subsidiary and manufacturing site to support a new business venture outside its traditional heavy truck market. The new subsidiary, Core Specialty Composites LLC, will operate out of a manufacturing site located in Warsaw, Kentucky. The facility includes 62 000 ft2 of leased manufacturing space. Core’s existing plant in Batavia, Ohio, will
REINFORCEDplastics
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2011
provide management support to the Warsaw site. Core says operations will initially include production of large parts using a customised hand lamination process. Development and staffing activities are underway. Production is planned to begin early in 2012. The Warsaw operation is expected to employ approximately 40 people. Revenue for the new business is projected to be US$5-8 million annually. Core Molding Technologies; www.coremt.com
www.reinforcedplastics.com