Flashback

30 years ago

40 years ago In February reported

1958 that

plastics

sales

in the

76 204

Reinforced

tonnes

of reinforced

USA

had

in 1957

a study conducted

Plastics reached

according

to

by the Society

of

the Plastics

Industry

represented

a 20%

1956

(At the end of last year

level.

Inc (SPI). increase

This

over the

the SPI estimated that 1997 composite shipments

will

reach

1.5

million

tonnes, up just over 6% on 1996.) The

major

transport, boats,

markets

aircraft

in 1957 and

construction,

In 1968,

South

Coast

Catamaran

decided to make its 9 m Oceanic ing

out

catamaran

polyester/glass sheathed (GRP)

instead

of

mainly

of marine

with glass reinforced as before.

The

enabled the company per year, meaning

Co cruisply

plastic

changeover

to build more hulls

it was able to make a

substantial price reduction.

was laid down, followed

by layers of fibreglass

chopped

mat and clear polyester

resin. The hulls

were tied together

also made of GRP. A blue and

strand

by five box girders,

made of marine ply and spruce, similar to the main spar of a wooden The

ends

between

of the girders flanges

which

the hull mouldings

The twin hulls were laid-up in a split mould,

white gel-coat

structure

aircraft.

were bolted

formed

part of

so that the whole

formed an egg crate or honey-

comb structure.

were

missiles,

and consumer

products.

20 years ago In 1978 Technical

Panel Industries Ltd

won a major contract Post Office

from the (UK)

to supply

reinforced

Glasonit

plywood

panels

glass

(GRP)-faced

plastic for

vehicle

body

construction. Made

from

plywood

faced

with

laminates of BP Chemicals’

Cellobond

polyester

with glass

resins reinforced

fibre, the brilliant

red panels were cut

to size ready for assembly before delivery to the nominated According February

body builders.

to

the

report

in

1978’s Reinforced Plastics, the

10 years ago In February announced

1988

Reinforced

advantages of polyester panels for com-

of the Hunt Class minehunters

mercial

Royal

transport

increasingly of

apparent

and

the excellent

colour

Cellobond siderable

retention

gel-coat

becoming

in terms of ease

maintenance

Additionally and

were

repair. weathering of

new

resins created con-

savings where

traditionally

Navy.

HMS

Quorn

With

a length

ment

of 625

by Vosper Thornycroft

(UK) Ltd (VT).

The Hunt Class was said to represent the culmination research

of over 20 years of

and development

in close collaboration

carried out

with the Ministry

of Defence

on the applications

reinforced

plastics

of glass

to shipbuilding.

of 60 m and displacetonnes

the minehunters

were the largest glass reinforced

plastic

(GRP) vessels afloat. (In this months

eleventh of the Hunt Class to be built

these self-coloured

Reinforced Plastics February 1998

for the was the

painted livery had been replaced with panels.

Plastics

the launch of the thirteenth

section latest the

we report single

Royal

which the

features Seemann

Infusion SCRIMP)

role

Navy,

applications the launch

news

of VT’s

minehunter HMS

increased Composites

Manufacturing

for

Pembroke, use

of

Resin Process/