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15 Sep 2009  - 

JEC CCE INNOVATION AWARDS PROGRAMME 2009

TEN COMPANIES REWARDED FOR THEIR COMPOSITE INNOVATIONS

For several years now, JEC Group has been forming alliances with the Chinese composite associations, notably the China FRP Institute, which organizes the China Composites Expo trade show.

According to JEC President & CEO Frédérique Mutel: "The Chinese composite market is already one of the largest worldwide, ranking 3rd after the United States (2.8 M metric tons) and Europe (1.9 M metric tons). The Chinese composite market should record strong growth over the next 5 years (an estimated 8-9%/year), given China’s overall economic growth, the increasing use of composites there, and the way the general development curve for composite materials is rising. Since JEC has the expertise needed for technological intelligence on innovation, we suggested to the China FRP Institute that a competition and award process could be useful in assessing Chinese innovation. This got under way in 2005. Now, this year, not only are the 2009 Innovation projects of outstanding quality, but they also reflect the Chinese composite industry’s level of maturity and industrialization.”

For the 5th year in a row, this programme was a huge success. Ten Chinese composites solutions were rewarded for their innovation, in three categories: Raw Materials, Applications and Process.

UMECO Composites, Official Partner of the competition, has been actively supporting the JEC CCE Innovation Awards:
Andrew MOSS, Chief Executive, Advanced Composites Group, commented: “Umeco Composites is an international business servicing the world's composites industry. It includes recognised brands via structural materials providers such as Advanced Composites Group, J.D. Lincoln and GRP Material Supplies, and process material providers Aerovac Systems and Richmond Aircraft Products. Umeco Composites is once again proud to sponsor the JEC Innovation Awards at China Composites 2009.
This is indeed the second year we have stood here to present the awards, which is indicative of our ongoing commitment to encourage innovation within our industry.

Each Umeco Composites business sees the ability to look differently at technical problems, to question and then to challenge the accepted status quo as fundamental to continued success. Innovation brings fresh energy to markets and stimulates growth. It is the life-blood of our industry.

Within Umeco Composites, our commitment to innovation is unrelenting. So we sincerely offer encouragement and congratulations to all our composites colleagues in China who, through their own endeavours and innovations, continue to stimulate and drive our industry forwards”.

Category: Raw Materials
Winner: Wuxi Anfei Advanced Fiber Materials Technologies, Ltd.

Han-3D fabrics and composites

Most composite laminates are made by stacking fibre sheets layer by layer and bonding the sheets with plastics. Therefore, the low interlamination strength of composites often leads to out-of-plane failures such as delamination under various loads, especially under impact and compression fatigue loads on an aircraft composite structure.

The new patent-pending approach from Wuxi Anfei Advanced Fiber Materials Technologies, Ltd. uses Velcro (hook, loop and mushroom fasteners) on both sides of fibre sheets or around barbed threads to produce 3D composites with increased interlaminate and inter-strand strength without disturbing the 2D laying processes of today’s main composite production technologies.

As a low-cost 3D fabric, this material can be used in the energy, aerospace, automotive, chemical and construction industries. It will significantly increase the interlaminate strength, impact resistance, compression strength, fatigue strength, bolt hole strength, bonding/connection strength and quality of composites, while greatly increasing the efficiency and consistency of the lay-up process by enabling automation.

Category: Raw Materials
Winner: Chongqing International Composites Co., Ltd.

High-strength, high-modulus TM glass fibre

Compared with E-glass fibre, TM fibre has higher tensile strength, modulus, fatigue resistance, thermal resistance and chemical corrosion resistance. This product contains no boron or fluorine and is environmentally-friendly. It can be used for making wind blades, high-pressure pipes and high-performance profiles.

Glass fibre TM glass fibre E-glass fibre
Density (g/cm3) 2.59-2.63 2.54-2.60
Tensile strength (MPa) 3000-3200 2600-2800
Modulus (GPa) 84-86 72-73

Category: Applications/Wind Energy
Winner: Lianyungang Zhongfu Lianzhong Composites Group Co., Ltd.

3MW offshore wind turbine blade

The 3MW wind turbine blade is the first offshore wind turbine blade with independent intellectual property. It is also the first mass-produced offshore wind turbine blade in the domestic market. It has established a basis for the development of the offshore wind power industry in China.

The blade’s aerodynamic shape was designed to optimize the structure, maximize annual power output, minimize vibrations, avoid resonance, and lower material consumption. It ensures the local and overall stability of the blade structure, meeting the appropriate strength and rigidity requirements.

The shell of the 3MW turbine blade (44 m) is made by advanced international RTM technology to improve the overall performance. The blades have already been supplied to Hua-Rui Wind Energy for offshore wind generators.

Category: Applications/Wind Energy
Shanghai FRP Research Institute Co., Ltd.

3MW composite wind turbine blade

The 3 MW pitch-regulated composite blade is 48.3 m in length. It was designed for wind turbines with a 3 MW rated power running at a speed of 14.25 RPM for the GL/IEC II wind class. The root is connected by means of studs and bushings. The guaranteed connection strength between the composite and the bushings is a key advantage of this technology. This product is now the longest domestic composite blade with the highest power output.

Category: Applications/Automotive
Winner: Shanghai FRP Research Institute Co., Ltd.

High-performance “Communication in Moving” vehicle radome with a wide range of incidence angles

This composite-based vehicle radome provides high specific strength and stiffness, good vibration and impact resistance, excellent weather resistance, and blends in well with the exterior body of the “Communication in moving” vehicle. Compared with ordinary vehicle radomes, it offers higher working frequencies, a wider range of incidence angles, a lower transmission loss and a lower sight error, while meeting higher exterior streamlining requirements.

This new composite-based vehicle radome can be used under severe working conditions such as fire-fighting, rescuing, oil drilling and geologic exploration. In conferences and events, it can provide efficient auxiliary assistance for safety protection. This product was used successfully in the Olympics 2008, the Olympic torch relay and other international events.

Category: Applications/Aerospace
Winner: Harbin FRP Institute

Carbon fibre composite grid lattice structures

Compared with similar-weight structures, these Advanced composite Grid lattice Structures (AGS) have good flexural and bending properties. Their inherent rigidity is improved by ribs with high normal height. The inside and outside skins apply a certain constraint on the high ribs, which provide higher overall efficiency than traditional single-skin or skinless composites with transverse and longitudinal ribs. These structures can be widely used in complex aircraft fuel tank or fuselage parts such as interstages, loading-effective adaptors, spacecraft cowlings, plane fuselage sections, wing boxes, helicopter vertical tail spars, space telescope tubes, etc. Researchers at the NASA’s Langley Centre have listed the advanced composite grid lattice structure (AGS) as a cost-effective structure technology and as one of six orientations for future aerospace technologies.


Category: Applications/Railways
Winner: Beijing FRP Auto Part Corp. Ltd.

Grab handle (LH/RH), grab handle centre, centre shroud assembly, upper/lower armrest cover

Using advanced SMC moulding and painting technologies, these underground train parts have highly accurate shapes with no defects and high surface quality. Not only are they are self-coloured, but their quality and appearance comply with high international standards. They also feature excellent fire retardant properties and low smoke emissions.


Category: Applications/Aerospace
Winner: Xi’an Aerospace Composite Materials Research Institute

Carbon brake discs for A318/A319/A320 aircraft

These carbon brake discs for A318/A319/A320 aircraft feature 10 technical innovations and resulted in the registration of about 22 patents.
Compared with the C-C brake discs used on B757-200 aircraft, the C-C brake discs for the A320 series need to cope with a 26% additional landing load, a 60% higher average moment, 100-200°C higher braking temperatures and 3% less friction area. These Chinese-made carbon brake discs exhibit significantly improved performance levels (enhanced by 20%-30%) in terms of frictional coefficient during rejected take-off (RTO), braking performance in wet conditions and anti-oxidation coating, thus meeting high international standards.


Category: Applications/Consumer Goods
Winner: Shenzhen Tiger Composite tech Company Ltd.

Carbon fibre watchband

Not only has this carbon fibre watchband a beautiful appearance, but it is also lighter and more resistant to corrosion than metal and ceramics, which ensures a longer working life.


Category: Process
Winner: Qingdao Longtech Machinery Co., Ltd.

Continuous winding line for GRP pipe production

Discontinuous winding proves difficult to use when producing GRP pipes.
Qingdao Longtech Machinery Co., Ltd. designed and developed a continuous winding line for GRP pipe production by self-renovation. The technical core is applied to a continuous winding steel band to reform a moving mandrel driven by special-structured winding rollers fixed onto the front and back turn plates. Due to continuous production and easier process control, labour intensity is reduced and working conditions are improved. Moreover, the quality of the GRP pipe is consistent, with its diameter and length being easier to adjust. The larger the pipe diameter, the more advantages there are! This production line is easy to operate and it provides a high level of automation at reasonable price.