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Shimtech strengthens position in US composites
BUSINESS
Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 5 September/October 2015
Report predicts strong growth in carbon fiber consumption
BUSINESS
The consumption of carbon fiber is expected to grow at a more rapid pace during the coming decade, according to a new report from Visiongain. It forecasts the global CFRP composites market in 2015 to be worth US$29.08bn with the global consumption of CFRP to reach 78.39 million tonnes this year. While the CFRP composites market has been dominated by North America, accounting for over a third of the global market, the researchers expect the European and Asian regions to expand more rapidly, where growth rates perform above the
global trend. ‘Moreover, we predict strong growth of CFRP consumption in automotive, energy and aerospace applications as a result of the higher demand for fuel efficient vehicles and aircrafts,’ the report said. The amount of electric and hybrid vehicles manufactured has also increased considerably in recent years and this has led to higher usage of CFRP composites in the automotive and fuel cells sectors. Moreover, the development of the wind power market, offshore drilling and deeper oil gas exploration have contributed to the growth of the CFRP market in energy sector.
Cost decline The report says that in the long-term the costs of carbon fiber materials and production will decline, which will see increases in the number of new applications and production volume that will help drive the market through to 2025. ‘Additionally, we predict the superior performance per weight of CFRP and environmental regulations to lower CO2 emissions in the EU and the US will continue driving the demand for CFRP composites in the coming years,’ it said. Visiongain; www.visiongainglobal.com
Shimtech strengthens position in US composites International aerospace components supplier, Shimtech Industries has acquired US-based Angeles Composites Technologies Inc (ACTI). This follows the company’s 2013 acquisition and subsequent expansion of Performance Plastics Inc, based in San Diego, California. ACTI is a supplier of advanced structural composite assemblies. Its capabilities include the design and manufacture of autoclave and oven-cured composite components and structures, including high temperature materials, CNC machining, tooling and final assembly of primary and secondary airframe substructures.
Typical products manufactured by ACTI include aircraft flight control surfaces, nacelles, fairings, cowls, panels, doors and brackets as well as a variety of other reinforced thermoset components and structures.
Broad capability ‘ACTI has a very broad capability base and a reputation for providing high quality, cost-effective, build-to-print solutions for composite parts as well as large, complex structural sub-assemblies,’ said Howard Kimberley, Shimtech CEO. ‘As well as more than doubling our current autoclave and lay-up capacity, the
acquisition of ACTI provides a significant up-shift in the size, scale and complexity of Shimtech’s capability. ‘With the integration of ACTI, we can now fabricate much larger composite structures of up to 40 ft (12 m) in length with a cross section of up to 10 ft (3 m). This now establishes Shimtech as a cost effective source for larger fuselage, wing and empennage structure. ‘We also now join a small group of specialist suppliers worldwide with the capability to cure at the highest possible temperatures required by higher performance thermoset materials and resin systems.’ Shimtech; www.shimtechgroup.com
Composites expert awarded Oak Ridge Chair The University of Tennessee (UT)’s College of Engineering and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has appointed Uday Vaidya to the Governor’s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing. Vaidya becomes the fourteenth UTORNL Governor’s Chair and the seventh devoted to some aspect of advanced manufacturing. ‘We are pleased to welcome Uday and the leadership he brings in the growing area of advanced composites manufacturing,’ said UT Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. ‘His research will contribute to the vital building blocks we have with ORNL and our momentum as leaders in the field.’ ‘This is a significant opportunity to provide leadership and serve as a bridge between UT, ORNL, industry, and academic partners,’ said Vaidya, who also will serve as
214
a professor in UT’s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering. ‘The industry is in urgent need of trained engineers with comprehensive knowledge in the design, modeling, and manufacturing of advanced materials – including composites – and many of those innovations are possible through a comprehensive ecosystem such as the one our institutions provide,’ he said.
Lightweight and durable
Uday Vaidya, newly appointed Governor’s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing.
Vaidya, who comes from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, added that those innovations will help keep UT and ORNL at the forefront of research. The automotive, energy, and aerospace industries are trending toward the use of lightweight, durable carbon fiber construction.
Reinforced Plastics Volume 59, Number 5 September/October 2015
Report predicts strong growth in carbon fiber consumption
BUSINESS
The consumption of carbon fiber is expected to grow at a more rapid pace during the coming decade, according to a new report from Visiongain. It forecasts the global CFRP composites market in 2015 to be worth US$29.08bn with the global consumption of CFRP to reach 78.39 million tonnes this year. While the CFRP composites market has been dominated by North America, accounting for over a third of the global market, the researchers expect the European and Asian regions to expand more rapidly, where growth rates perform above the
global trend. ‘Moreover, we predict strong growth of CFRP consumption in automotive, energy and aerospace applications as a result of the higher demand for fuel efficient vehicles and aircrafts,’ the report said. The amount of electric and hybrid vehicles manufactured has also increased considerably in recent years and this has led to higher usage of CFRP composites in the automotive and fuel cells sectors. Moreover, the development of the wind power market, offshore drilling and deeper oil gas exploration have contributed to the growth of the CFRP market in energy sector.
Cost decline The report says that in the long-term the costs of carbon fiber materials and production will decline, which will see increases in the number of new applications and production volume that will help drive the market through to 2025. ‘Additionally, we predict the superior performance per weight of CFRP and environmental regulations to lower CO2 emissions in the EU and the US will continue driving the demand for CFRP composites in the coming years,’ it said. Visiongain; www.visiongainglobal.com
Shimtech strengthens position in US composites International aerospace components supplier, Shimtech Industries has acquired US-based Angeles Composites Technologies Inc (ACTI). This follows the company’s 2013 acquisition and subsequent expansion of Performance Plastics Inc, based in San Diego, California. ACTI is a supplier of advanced structural composite assemblies. Its capabilities include the design and manufacture of autoclave and oven-cured composite components and structures, including high temperature materials, CNC machining, tooling and final assembly of primary and secondary airframe substructures.
Typical products manufactured by ACTI include aircraft flight control surfaces, nacelles, fairings, cowls, panels, doors and brackets as well as a variety of other reinforced thermoset components and structures.
Broad capability ‘ACTI has a very broad capability base and a reputation for providing high quality, cost-effective, build-to-print solutions for composite parts as well as large, complex structural sub-assemblies,’ said Howard Kimberley, Shimtech CEO. ‘As well as more than doubling our current autoclave and lay-up capacity, the
acquisition of ACTI provides a significant up-shift in the size, scale and complexity of Shimtech’s capability. ‘With the integration of ACTI, we can now fabricate much larger composite structures of up to 40 ft (12 m) in length with a cross section of up to 10 ft (3 m). This now establishes Shimtech as a cost effective source for larger fuselage, wing and empennage structure. ‘We also now join a small group of specialist suppliers worldwide with the capability to cure at the highest possible temperatures required by higher performance thermoset materials and resin systems.’ Shimtech; www.shimtechgroup.com
Composites expert awarded Oak Ridge Chair The University of Tennessee (UT)’s College of Engineering and Oak Ridge National Laboratory has appointed Uday Vaidya to the Governor’s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing. Vaidya becomes the fourteenth UTORNL Governor’s Chair and the seventh devoted to some aspect of advanced manufacturing. ‘We are pleased to welcome Uday and the leadership he brings in the growing area of advanced composites manufacturing,’ said UT Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek. ‘His research will contribute to the vital building blocks we have with ORNL and our momentum as leaders in the field.’ ‘This is a significant opportunity to provide leadership and serve as a bridge between UT, ORNL, industry, and academic partners,’ said Vaidya, who also will serve as
214
a professor in UT’s Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Biomedical Engineering. ‘The industry is in urgent need of trained engineers with comprehensive knowledge in the design, modeling, and manufacturing of advanced materials – including composites – and many of those innovations are possible through a comprehensive ecosystem such as the one our institutions provide,’ he said.
Lightweight and durable
Uday Vaidya, newly appointed Governor’s Chair in Advanced Composites Manufacturing.
Vaidya, who comes from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, added that those innovations will help keep UT and ORNL at the forefront of research. The automotive, energy, and aerospace industries are trending toward the use of lightweight, durable carbon fiber construction.