Europe's composites industry still growing

industry

Europe’s composites industry still growing AFTER A weak start in the first half of 1999, the European glass

reinforced

industry

plastic

saw greatly

(GRP)

increased

demand in the third and fourth quarters, with the market finally reaching

946 000 tonnes,

5.9%

the

over

previous

up year.

pound growth mainly

surfaces the

virtually

figures released by the German composites association AVK-TV at its annual in

Frankfurt

August. In terms trusion

press at

end

of processes,

of pul-

did not see any growth

during winding

1999, and was up only

filament 1.7%. An

unusually

high increase

was seen

for centrifugally

of 20% cast

pipes as a result of increased demand for sewage pipes. There jump

has given

was also a significant in demand (8.2%) for

a boost

(LFT), which

tc3 S

in th e experiences Fl

automotive sector, a growth of 8.8%. decrease

are usec rl

exclusively

On the other

conference the

of

142

hand,

with

000

tonnes

materials

1999 was a poor year for othe thermoset moulding corn pounds. The AVK-TV predict an improvement in 200C although

at a predicted

will be behind

that

3% i

ester materials. The year 2000 promises be extraordinarily

successful

GRP, announced rentraut, AVK-TV

tc3 fo r

Peter Eh vice chair ‘_

man. The association that SMCIBMC and

industry.

will maintain their growtl 1 rates. The growth rates fo r

Almost

80%

of the

market growth of more than 50% a year primarily benefits the

West

market. The

European

electrical

sector

GRP still

accounts for the greatest volume of sheet moulding com-

forecast GMT/LF

(RTM)

process

is

becomin;

more popular for the construe tion of wind power plants. AVK-TV

s ‘_

euse

Systems Inc (RSI) has been recruiting composites personnel. Gary Steadman joins the

David Moody takes the newly created position of manager, engineering and maintenance. UK moulder Mitras Composites has appointed Liz Raine as commercial manager, while Stewart Dean heads up the design department.

Maintenance

contact

tel: +49-69-25092L

fax: +49-69-250919.

Plasticolors Inc has combined its Engineering and

company as vice president, market development, and Michael Marten takes the position of manager, engineering services.

S r

spray-up and hand lay-up wil I1 probably be more moderate, aS the resin transfer mouldin~ g

for the launch ‘environmentalresins, Resin

In preparation of its Version ly friendly’

Weproduceglass$&re reinforcements with the most advanced technoloB to provide our customers b&b peformance products. Ahlstrom Glassjbre Oy is among the top European manufacturers of glassjbre reinforcements,glassjibre tissues, woven glass$bre and special0 reinforcements.

I

for poly

hand lay-up laminates because of growth in the wind power world’s wind power plants are produced in Denmark and the

Advanced

mat thermoplastics (GMT) ant 3 long fibre reinforced therm0 ,plastics

to

6.59 /o

the

use of SMC in cars. Glas

tonnes

year, according

but

in the SMC market i S attributable to the auto I-

motive industry. The mass prc ,duction of parts with Class 11

For the first time, total production will be well over 1 million this

(SMC),

Ahlstrom Glassfibre

departments

and

FINLAND

Glassfibre reinforcements PO. Box 18 FIN- 48601 KARHULA FINLAND

Tel. C358 15 3550 1 Fax. +358 15 3550 290

Tel. +358 5 224 2444 Fox. +358 5 226 1387

www.ahlstrompapergroup.com e-mail: [email protected]

PAPER GROUP THE ENQUIRY NUMBER FOR THIS ADVERTISEMENT October

2000

REINFORCEDplastics

IS 332 15