COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Blog

Airbus is outstripping Boeing. At the world’s largest aviation trade show held recently at Le Bourget near to Paris, the competition between the two largest aircraft makers for the custom of the airlines dominated the news coverage. The Europeans attracted 730 orders (418 of which were binding) to a total value of roughly EUR 50 billion whereas the Americans “merely” posted 142 orders (58 of which binding) worth EUR 15 billion.

The Airbus A320 NEO is to be launched in 2015 and consumes 15 percent less fuel than the current model (photo: Airbus/Fixion).

Read Full Post

Fantastic news for Composites Industry. VDMA “Composites Technology Forum” is now an institutional patron of COMPOSITES EUROPE. This helps to create the leading platform for serially produced composites parts. Composite Technology Forum counts on serial production

The VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau) is the largest engineering industry network in Europe. It represents 3000 mainly small- to medium-sized member companies in the engineering industry.
Accounting for sales of roughly € 173 billion in 2010, mechanical engineering is one of the largest industrial sectors and employers in Germany. Roughly two thirds of German production is exported.
VDMA has recently formed a Composite Technology Forum, a new network for machinery manufacturers engaged in the development and production of technologies for the manufacture and quality control of composite materials.

What are your thoughts about Composites and Automation?

“Form follows function” doesn’t always apply when it comes to consumer products. Because modern sports, household or electronic equipment has to be both functionally effective and also exhibit superior design and surface quality. Which is why plastics processors are investing so much time and effort into researching how to manufacture components which look and feel good.

With ColorForm, multiple-component parts - including those made from fibre-reinforced plastics - can be coated in a single process to give them a high-quality surface - as seen in this tool case.

Read Full Post

I just got information that in 2011 AVK-conference set up a new new concept.

Compressed into two lecture series high-level speakers inform about various applications of fiber reinforced plastics. Thematically, the two series be divided into decision-makers and technicians blocks. In this way the needs of stakeholders are met even more.

• Structural lightweight applications of thermoplastic composites by Joachim Graefe, Quadrant Plastic Composites AG
• Carbon-thermoplastic manufacturing for the A350 XWB – From Idea to Series Production by Dr. Klaus Edelmann, Airbus Operations Ltd.
• SMC tailgate, which are used in automotive premium segment by Dr. Walter Aichholzer, Mercedes-Benz.

These are just some Topics for 2011 convention. As I am a big supporter of panel discussions I am looking forward to this: “Future prospects of fiber reinforced plastics in the automotive”.
Stuttgart is well known for Automotive so I guess there will be some interesting heads discussing this.

See you there!

More Information:
International AVK-Conference
26. bis 27. September 2011
ICS Internationalen Congresscenter, Stuttgart
http://www.avk-tv.de/

When I first met Arwed on our Composites Show in Stuttgart 2007 we had some nice chat about his new developments about car rims made of carbon.

A few weeks ago we met each other again and he told me that development went well but he had some challenges regarding german law for using rims on
german streets. Although there are no thermal problems by heating the discs i.e. government gave him note that these kind of rims are not desired. Read Full Post

Dear Sympathizers,

today was the third and final day of COMPOSITES EUROPE 2010.
We say “thank you” to our visitors and exhibitors who have used this years platform.
I think it was a good opportunity to make new leads, to retain customers and deepen partnerships.

Read Full Post

Today was the first day of the COMPOSITES EUROEP in Essen.
I think it’s not an exaggeration to say that this is the largest and most beautiful CE, we have ever had. There are very nice booths, the exhibitors focusing more and more beautiful and higher stands to be found by visitors.
Read Full Post

Today the whole COMPOSITES EUROPE Team moved to the Essen exhibition center.

 Setup our office during the show and care about exhbitors starting build up their boothes.

I have a good feeling for the next two days. I think we are good organised and exhbitors welcome!

Cheers,
Frank

In addition to a lottery, which is going to reward a lucky participant with tickets for stand and paddock at the DTM race at the Hockenheimring race course, Harke Chemicals will be exhibiting a genuine racer as headturner on their booth this year.

Read Full Post

Functional and safety components of thermoplastic composites are being used more and more. It is therefore very important to have an understanding of the material behaviour and to develop adapted design methods.

Read Full Post