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SABIC boosts STAMAX capacity
BUSINESS
Dow Automotive opens two composites centres DOW AUTOMOTIVE Systems has opened two composites development facilities in Switzerland and the US to support its automotive and commercial transportation customers. The centres will have a focus on carbon fibre composites. The 200 m² Composite Technology Centre in Freienbach, Switzerland, is equipped with a large high pressure resin transfer moulding (RTM) machine for prototype production. It also includes an Adhesives Training Centre where customers and distributors can learn about the benefits of using adhesives with composites. The 465 m² centre in Midland, Michigan, USA, houses technologies associated with direct long fibre processing, prepreg, preforming, compression moulding and laminating. This site is co-located with key Dow corporate R&D capabilities and is close to the Dow Automotive Centre of Competence for Adhesive Technology Development in North America. Dow is actively increasing its presence in the carbon fibre
composites industry. It is currently forming a joint venture with Turkish carbon fibre producer Aksa to manufacture carbon fibre for the composites industry. Earlier this year, Dow Automotive also announced a partnership with Ford to research the use of carbon fibre composites in high-volume vehicles. The companies said that if development work is successful, carbon fibre components could start appearing on new Ford vehicles “in the latter part of this decade.” Cutting the weight of new cars and trucks by up to 750 lbs by the end of the decade is a key component of Ford’s strategy to improve fuel efficiency. Dow Automotive Systems; www.dowautomotive.com
The RTM machine in Dow Automotive Systems’ composites centre in Freienbach, Switzerland.
In brief The UK-headquartered Network Group for Composites in Construction (NGCC) is opening up its membership to companies worldwide. The NGCC was founded in 2000 to promote the best practice use of FRP in construction applications. It currently has 70 members. Scott Bader and Satyen Polymers Pvt Ltd are forming a joint venture in India to manufacture unsaturated polyester resin gel-coats at Satyen Polymer’s plant
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REINFORCEDplastics
in Silvassa, 175 km north of Mumbai. This move is part of Scott Bader’s strategic plan to develop its gel-coat business in regions of the world where it does not have its own manufacturing facilities. AGY, a US-headquartered producer of glass fibre yarns and reinforcements for composites, has announced plans to sell its continuous filament mat (CFM) business. The sale of this business will allow it to focus on its core yarn and speciality roving business.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
ITT Exelis opens composite aerostructures centre ITT EXELIS has opened its composite design and manufacturing centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. This is designed to provide increased capacity and enhanced automation capability for commercial and military composite aircraft structures. Exelis has more than 40 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of composite structures and assemblies in Utah. Along with producing parts for military applications, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Marine Corps’ heavy lift helicopter, the CH-53K, Exelis provides engines to GE for a wide variety of aircraft and vacuum tanks for several of the Boeing 7-series jets. With its new Salt Lake City facility, Exelis will be better positioned to meet customers’ growing needs for composites, which are used increasingly by airframers as an alternative to metal structural parts on commercial and military aircraft, as well as on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“With the addition of automated fibre placement and tape laying capability combined with high speed machining, inspection and assembly, Exelis is positioned to provide optimal composite solutions more efficiently,” reports Jim Barber, vice president and general manager of the Exelis Electronic Systems Integrated Structures business. The expansion aligns with the company’s strategy to invest strategically in broad-based government and commercial solutions, such as aerostructures and air traffic management. It has added 250 000 ft2 to its Salt Lake City footprint and hired 100 employees during the past year. ITT Exelis, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, USA, is a diversified, top-tier global aerospace, defence and information solutions company. The company employs about 20 500 people and generated 2011 sales of $5.8 billion. Exelis; www.exelisinc.com
SABIC boosts STAMAX capacity SABIC’s INNOVATIVE Plastics is “significantly boosting” capacity for its STAMAX long glass reinforced polypropylene composite at its Genk, Belgium, site to meet demand from automotive customers. The new production line is scheduled to open in the second half of 2013. STAMAX is used in automotive front-end modules, door modules and seating structures. It is now also used on tailgate structures and is making inroads in under-the-hood applications where heat resistance is not critical. According to SABIC,
STAMAX delivers similar stiffness performance to polyamide-steel hybrid (PA hybrid) systems, yet eliminates the steel beam reinforcement. SABIC’s Sustainable Product Scorecard, verified by GreenOrder, reports that an automotive front-end module made from STAMAX composite can result in up to 44% lower energy footprint compared to a PA hybrid alternative from material sourcing through the end of product life. SABIC; www.sabic-ip.com
www.reinforcedplastics.com
Dow Automotive opens two composites centres DOW AUTOMOTIVE Systems has opened two composites development facilities in Switzerland and the US to support its automotive and commercial transportation customers. The centres will have a focus on carbon fibre composites. The 200 m² Composite Technology Centre in Freienbach, Switzerland, is equipped with a large high pressure resin transfer moulding (RTM) machine for prototype production. It also includes an Adhesives Training Centre where customers and distributors can learn about the benefits of using adhesives with composites. The 465 m² centre in Midland, Michigan, USA, houses technologies associated with direct long fibre processing, prepreg, preforming, compression moulding and laminating. This site is co-located with key Dow corporate R&D capabilities and is close to the Dow Automotive Centre of Competence for Adhesive Technology Development in North America. Dow is actively increasing its presence in the carbon fibre
composites industry. It is currently forming a joint venture with Turkish carbon fibre producer Aksa to manufacture carbon fibre for the composites industry. Earlier this year, Dow Automotive also announced a partnership with Ford to research the use of carbon fibre composites in high-volume vehicles. The companies said that if development work is successful, carbon fibre components could start appearing on new Ford vehicles “in the latter part of this decade.” Cutting the weight of new cars and trucks by up to 750 lbs by the end of the decade is a key component of Ford’s strategy to improve fuel efficiency. Dow Automotive Systems; www.dowautomotive.com
The RTM machine in Dow Automotive Systems’ composites centre in Freienbach, Switzerland.
In brief The UK-headquartered Network Group for Composites in Construction (NGCC) is opening up its membership to companies worldwide. The NGCC was founded in 2000 to promote the best practice use of FRP in construction applications. It currently has 70 members. Scott Bader and Satyen Polymers Pvt Ltd are forming a joint venture in India to manufacture unsaturated polyester resin gel-coats at Satyen Polymer’s plant
14
REINFORCEDplastics
in Silvassa, 175 km north of Mumbai. This move is part of Scott Bader’s strategic plan to develop its gel-coat business in regions of the world where it does not have its own manufacturing facilities. AGY, a US-headquartered producer of glass fibre yarns and reinforcements for composites, has announced plans to sell its continuous filament mat (CFM) business. The sale of this business will allow it to focus on its core yarn and speciality roving business.
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012
ITT Exelis opens composite aerostructures centre ITT EXELIS has opened its composite design and manufacturing centre in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. This is designed to provide increased capacity and enhanced automation capability for commercial and military composite aircraft structures. Exelis has more than 40 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of composite structures and assemblies in Utah. Along with producing parts for military applications, such as the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Marine Corps’ heavy lift helicopter, the CH-53K, Exelis provides engines to GE for a wide variety of aircraft and vacuum tanks for several of the Boeing 7-series jets. With its new Salt Lake City facility, Exelis will be better positioned to meet customers’ growing needs for composites, which are used increasingly by airframers as an alternative to metal structural parts on commercial and military aircraft, as well as on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
“With the addition of automated fibre placement and tape laying capability combined with high speed machining, inspection and assembly, Exelis is positioned to provide optimal composite solutions more efficiently,” reports Jim Barber, vice president and general manager of the Exelis Electronic Systems Integrated Structures business. The expansion aligns with the company’s strategy to invest strategically in broad-based government and commercial solutions, such as aerostructures and air traffic management. It has added 250 000 ft2 to its Salt Lake City footprint and hired 100 employees during the past year. ITT Exelis, headquartered in McLean, Virginia, USA, is a diversified, top-tier global aerospace, defence and information solutions company. The company employs about 20 500 people and generated 2011 sales of $5.8 billion. Exelis; www.exelisinc.com
SABIC boosts STAMAX capacity SABIC’s INNOVATIVE Plastics is “significantly boosting” capacity for its STAMAX long glass reinforced polypropylene composite at its Genk, Belgium, site to meet demand from automotive customers. The new production line is scheduled to open in the second half of 2013. STAMAX is used in automotive front-end modules, door modules and seating structures. It is now also used on tailgate structures and is making inroads in under-the-hood applications where heat resistance is not critical. According to SABIC,
STAMAX delivers similar stiffness performance to polyamide-steel hybrid (PA hybrid) systems, yet eliminates the steel beam reinforcement. SABIC’s Sustainable Product Scorecard, verified by GreenOrder, reports that an automotive front-end module made from STAMAX composite can result in up to 44% lower energy footprint compared to a PA hybrid alternative from material sourcing through the end of product life. SABIC; www.sabic-ip.com
www.reinforcedplastics.com