COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Blog

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.

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Following double-figure annual growth rates posted in recent years, the global economic crisis put the brakes on the rapid growth of wood-plastics-composites (WPCs) in 2009. But only temporarily as, according to the AVK (Federation of Reinforced Plastics) experts, these materials have the potential to act as substitutes for glass fibres and, thanks to their specific areas of application, can help open up entirely new markets.  In 2007 the WPC market volume for Europe as a whole was 120,000 tonnes. In contrast to many markets which are already saturated, there is potential for strong growth here.

Experts are predicting that biopolymers (polymers based on starch, cellulose and PLA) will Read Full Post

When the new Airbus A350 XWB (XWB stands for eXtra Wide Body) takes off on its maiden flight in two years time, this will also represent a milestone for the composites industry. 50% of the fuselage of the wide-bodied aircraft, which is being developed as a competitor to the Boeing 787, is made of composite materials. Last summer, Airbus purchased Read Full Post

The significance of wind energy is increasing throughout Europe.

A study carried out by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) shows that capacity increased by just under 20% to almost 65,000 megawatts in 2008. The possibility for growth is Read Full Post

The first is 2.59 meters long with an efficient electric motor designed for nipping round towns and cities (top speed 120 km/h).

The second is a luxury sports car delivering Read Full Post

The latest innovation from Huntsman Advanced Materials GmbH of Basle is a one-piece hockey stick.  It is manufactured from a new ductile modified highly modern artificial resin system, known as Read Full Post

Fibre composites for the sports and leisure sectors are also one of the main features from 14 to 16 September 2010 at the COMPOSITES EUROPE trade fair, at which numerous exhibitors will also present solutions for sporting applications.  

One of these is Saertex GmbH & Co. KG from Saerbeck.  The company produces so-called non-crimp multi-ply fabrics.  These are characterized by Read Full Post

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. 

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Während des Dritten Deutschen WPC-Kongresses war ein besonderer Höhepunkt die Vergabe des WPC-Innovationspreises, der weitere neue Anwendungen offenbarte.

Um den WPC-Innovationspreis 2009, der von der Firma Reifenhäuser GmbH & Co. KG (Troisdorf) gesponsert wurde, hatten sich 15 Unternehmen beworben, die im Jahr 2009 ein neues WPC-Produkt auf den Markt gebracht hatten. Eine Jury aus Sponsoren, Partnern des Kongresses und Mitarbeitern des nova-Instituts nominierte drei Unternehmen für den Preis. Auf dem Kongress stellte jedes Unternehmen sein Produkt in einem Kurzvortrag vor, anschließend wählte das Publikum den Sieger:

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Bender Consulting shows at COMPOSITES EUROPE 2009 additives which are developed for bio materials, as well as their applications like odorous substances, which are on the one hand anti bacterial and on the other hand dyeing. Materials should smell in several ways. They smell either pleasant for human beings or off odours for animals. Urns out of BC´s (=biodegradable bio materials) are unfortunately diged up by wild pigs at cemeteries. The question is therefor: What does the animal dislike and is harmless and biodegradable as well?

Bender Consulting is working on questions like what is the nature doing for protection for example against bacterials since many years. Which pericarp is protecting more, which less? Silver is the common anti bacterial material. But also redwood, logwood and yellowwood are used to dye leather since millenniums. Please find here an articel about the impact of flavanoids which are prepared by network partners to finish processing.

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