COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Blog

Mit 313 Ausstellern hat am Dienstag in Stuttgart die COMPOSITES EUROPE begonnen. Drei Tage lang zeigt die Fachmesse die neuesten Technologien und Produkte rund um die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette der faserverstärkten Kunststoffe.

COMPOSITES EUROPE ist die größte Messe im größten europäischen Markt für Verbundwerkstoffe. Mehr als 300 Aussteller präsentieren Innovationen und Neuheiten rund um die Herstellung, Verarbeitung und Anwendungen von innovativen Werkstoffen: u.a. Verbundwerkstoffe für Leichtbau in Automotive, Aerospace, Bau und Konstruktion. Die Messe zeigt die gesamte Wertschöpfungskette für verstärkte Kunststoffe vom Rohmaterial bis zum Fertigprodukt sowie die neuesten Technologien in Verarbeitung und Fertigung von Verbundwerkstoffen.

Öffnungszeiten
27. & 28. Oktober: 9.00 – 18.00 Uhr
29. Oktober: 9.00 – 17.00 Uhr

Adresse
Neue Messe Stuttgart; Messepiazza 1; 70629 Stuttgart

Eingabe Navigationssystem
Flughafenrandstraße/Flughafen
70629 Stuttgart (bei älteren Systemen: 70629 Leinfelden-Echterdingen)

Technical principles, trends and innovations – in an international lecture forum, the COMPOSITES EUROPE trade fair will again present specialist lectures on current topics relevant to the industry in 2009. The COMPOSITES Forum will focus on all areas of composite applications. Topics range from crash-safe materials in the automotive field to sandwich panels in aircraft construction, from growth potential in the construction of wind energy parks to production and machining processes for composites. The programme features a total of 26 lectures and presentations in English and German.

From damage simulation to serial production
New technologies for the serial production of carbon-reinforced plastics (CRP) will be demonstrated by the IKV - Institut für Kunststoffverarbeitung of RWTH Aachen. The IKV scientists developed three new process chains enabling the production of materials with a fibre content exceeding 50 percent in less than ten minutes.

The mechanical behaviour of CRP sandwich panels in practical tests is explained by the speakers from Fraunhofer IWM for CRP foam core sandwich panels. In its lecture, the Fraunhofer Entwicklungszentrum für Röntgentechnik (EZRT) presents non-invasive test procedures, from 3D computer tomography to radioscopy to thermography and ultrasonic techniques.

Dassault Systemes Simulia provides information on possibilities for FEM analysis of lightweight fibre composite structures. The use of the finite element method allows predictions on processes of damage and failure in supercritical load conditions.

The combination of highly elastic composites and aesthetically pleasing design is demonstrated by Huntsman and D3 who cooperated closely in designing a sophisticated carbon fibre chair moulded in four parts. Products from Huntsman’s Araldite series were used in the project. The two companies show how complex parts can be produced simply and cost-effectively using simple tooling technology.

The COMPOSITES Forum is located in Hall 4 and designed as an open lecture area. Admission is free for all trade fair visitors.

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With new themes, new special forums and a 15-percent increase in exhibitor numbers, the COMPOSITES EUROPE 2009 specialist fair is gaining momentum. At its fourth edition to be held from 27 to 29 October in Stuttgart, more than 300 exhibitors will present technologies and products covering the entire value creation chain of fibre-reinforced plastics. The spotlight will be on innovative solutions for important application industries such as vehicle construction, aircraft construction and aerospace as well as the building and construction sector.

Key players of the industry such as AOC Resins, Exel Composites and Huntsman will once again be present in Stuttgart. In Krauss-Maffei, RAMPF Tooling, Henkel, DSM Composites Resins, Carbon Composites e.V., Zoltek and Cam Elyaf, however, COMPOSITES EUROPE could also win major new exhibitors this year. The organisers succeeded in bringing almost the entire sector of automated cutting to Stuttgart with Gerber Technology, Lectra, Expert Systemtechnik, Topcut-Bullmer and Zünd Systemtechnik AG.

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To ensure their suitability when used in wind energy systems, the epoxy resin adhesives used must be suitably certified by Germanischer Lloyd (GL). This is because rotor blades must withstand extreme stresses. The larger the unit, the higher the demands on the fatigue strength of the rotor blades manufactured from composites. In the near future, experts predict 10 megawatt systems with 80 metre long wind vanes.

The enormous rotor blades consist of two half shells, that are produced in suitable moulds from cross-linked hard foams and inserted balsa woods, which are subsequently stuck together. The balsa wood is cultivated in plantations in Ecuador and is harvested after six years. From a one metre long tree trunk, rectangular timber sections are cut and stuck together to make 1.22 metre long and five centimetre wide ashlars. These blocks are then cut into boards against the grain and finely sprayed with a resin solution to protect them against moisture.

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The wind energy industry is one of the most important customers for composites; at the same time the greatest challenges are made here on the load-bearing capability of the fibre reinforced plastics. Consequently, not only the right raw materials but also their specific blend is a major precondition for use in wind energy.

The industrial production of the enormous blades would be impossible to achieve without the use of technical plastics. Production of the models or the moulds for constructing the rotor shells or the rotor blades as such would be impossible. Even the adhesion of the upper and lower shell would be virtually impossible to achieve.

Two-component metering and mixing systems are required so that the right mixture of epoxy and polyurethane resins as well as modelling and adhesive pastes can be used. A reputable manufacturer of this processing technique is Tartler GmbH from Lützelbach, which will demonstrate its competencies at the COMPOSITES EUROPE trade fair, which will take place from 27 to 29 October 2009 in Stuttgart.

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