Lightweight means to realize a weight reduction, with sufficient rigidity, dynamic stability and strength. This is to ensure that the developed components and structures fulfill their tasks safely over the period of use.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO — 29 June 2010. Fiberforge announces today that Fraunhofer ICT and Fiberforge have started a strategic collaboration on R&D projects for various industries such as, automotive and aerospace. As part of this collaboration, Fraunhofer ICT will be installing a RELAY® Station 2000 at its state-of-the-art thermoplastics research center. This will be the first RELAY Station installation in Europe offering clients the ability to develop and demonstrate the production of thermoplastic advanced composite structures upward of 2 m x 2 m (80 in. x 80 in.) in size on a full-scale production work cell.
The FRP panel with XPS-core combines the advantages of a lightweight construction element with outstanding insulation characteristics. Its smooth surface makes it the ideal material for the high requirements of the automotive industry.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF presented a four-meter-high exhibit at the COMPOSITES EUROPE – which is equipped with sensor technology SHM-wing mock-up of a light aircraft.
Fiber composites offer special advantages because of their lightweight potential in the aviation sector. The lightweight advantages may be more complex because of the damage behavior in comparison with metallic materials therefore they are not always fully exploit. In the airline for example, the impact is from foreign bodies in composite structures is a particular risk factor, limits the applications and often leads to large safety factors that require a certain amount of oversizing. Sensors which recognize, for example in the wing not externally visible structural damage at an early stage can reduce the inspection effort. The operational safety of the structure is ensured by the design and inspections at regular intervals manually. Through automated monitoring with additional structure integrated sensors can be saved in future costs and weight.
The Bodensee Racing Team, or in short BRT, is sponsored amongst others by Harke Chemicals this year. It is one of the teams that takes part in this year’s Formula Student, a competition where students from all over the world compete against each other in self-constructed racing cars. “The contact to the Bodensee Racing Team was established during a booth conversation at the Composites Europe 2009 in Stuttgart, on which we presented epoxy resin systems. After the students from Konstanz had introduced us to the project we immediately decided to sponsor the team with our epoxy resins”, says Dirk Forler, Managing
Director of Harke Chemicals GmbH.
Every movement must be just right when the blade and rotor hub of a wind turbine are married together at a dizzy height. Because screwing the rotor blade onto the rotor hub 100 metres above the ground represents a major bonding technology challenge. Heavy-duty threaded bushes are bonded into the fibre-reinforced flange on the blade holder of each blade – and the bond must be absolutely rock solid.
Neumayer Station III, shortly Neumayer III, named after the geophysicist Georg von Neumayer, is a German polar research station of the Alfred Wegener Institute in the Antarctic. It is located on the Atka Bay on the 200-meter-thick Ekström Ice Shelf.
Sustainability and energy efficiency: What does the future look like for international freight traffic? What new approach can freight forwarders and logistics specialists adopt, so that they are able to transport their clients’ large loads under favorable conditions? How can such an approach ensure high environmental standards? The solution lies in lightweight design for trucks and freight containers, where fuel consumption and transport costs are reduced, CO2 emissions are lowered and climate friendliness is increased.
The 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver consisted not only of a fight between athletes but also a contest between materials.
Light, strong, flexible – these are the requirements that must be provided by sports equipment.
Dear reader, sympathizer and friends,
an eventful year is drawing to its end.
We would like to thank you very much for reading our blogpost, visiting our show or telling us what is going wrong or fine.
The year 2009 has the sub-title “year of the crisis”. But we never gave up. We always tried to find a solution – pretty often a creative solution. Our shoulders were closed against the vortex downward.
What will be in 2010 ? – Outlook.
Few days ago we saw that the first plane with extra-easy carbon fibers for Engine tail, Thrust reversing housing etc. is able to fly – and will save 20% of fuel.
In Copenhagen the world discusses over reduction of Co2 – We need stronger energy sources apart from the atoms energy – wind mills with especially long reinforced carbon fibres wings will play a serious role.
My last point: The weight of the battery in electric vehicles must become balanced somehow to protect the positive effects.
Fiber reinforcements are able to change characteristics of plastics. With reinforced plastics designers are able to design more beautiful things and it makes our life lighter. Who would like me a contradicting, if I said that: We improve the world with Composites!
We wish you and your familiy happy holidays as well as a healthy, peaceful and successful new year 2010!
Best regards,
Frank Mertz
Sales Manager COMPOSITES EUROPE
Looking forward to your comment:
Frank.Mertz@reedexpo.de
+49 (0) 211 90191 227
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