News

Huntsman bio-based materials help to take sustainable mobility to the next level

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:23:36 +0000

Huntsman Advanced Materials has developed bio-sourced composite materials that have been used in the latest version of the BioMobile; a prototype vehicle designed to achieve minimal reliance on the use of fossil fuel resources in its design and construction, while offering very low energy consumption in use.

The BioMobile.ch project was founded in 2004 to look at ideas for promoting sustainable mobility, focusing on ‘individual mobility’ at a project level in an attempt to lower fossil energy consumption. Since its inception, the vehicle has gone through three development stages and the latest adaptation sees the replacement of the remaining non-renewable structural components with renewable materials.

Company:

HUNTSMAN ADVANCED MATERIALS

Milling and drilling the tough materials

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 10:23:50 +0000

The goal of aircraft weight reduction is driving the current increased use of advanced exotic materials such as composites, titaniums and Inconels in the aerospace industry. While materials such as these are lighter, yet stronger than those typically used, they each present their own sets of challenges when it comes to machining, more specifically milling and drilling.

For milling and drilling operations, aerospace manufacturers often use solid carbide and/or solid high-speed-steel tools. During those machining operations, these manufacturers must achieve the highest levels of quality possible, often accomplished through carefully monitored and maintained process security. There are concerns about cost per part, but in most instances, producing perfect parts is a much higher priority, and increasing productivity tends to be secondary.

Solar Impulse leaves Phoenix to Dallas as part of historic flight across America

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 08:26:07 +0000

Solar Impulse, the solar-powered airplane of Swiss pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, will depart from Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport on Wednesday, May 22nd for Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport to complete the second leg of its historic, cross-country journey.

After a successful first leg on May 3, where Bertrand Piccard flew Solar Impulse from the San Francisco Bay Area to Phoenix, André Borschberg will attempt to set an absolute distance world record in solar aviation. The Phoenix-to-Dallas trip should be over 830 miles (~ 1’337 km). The previous distance record already belongs to Solar Impulse when André flew 693 miles (1’116 km) from Switzerland to Spain in May, 2012.

The third leg of the Across America journey, from Dallas to St-Louis, will be flown by Bertrand Piccard.

Minister marks start of NCC expansion work

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 07:59:28 +0000

Construction on the second phase of the NCC got underway with a turf cutting ceremony attended by the Business Minister Michael Fallon. He was joined by a group of major business leaders and academics who are part of this collaborative project.

The doubling in size of the NCC, which is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, is being supported by Government funding of £28 million. The expansion will allow the NCC to extend its capabilities to develop composite technology for the aerospace, automotive, renewable energy and rail sectors. This will bring an additional 50 NCC jobs, 30-50 jobs within the member organisations and 80-150 construction jobs during the build phase.

Bayer opens innovation hub for Asia Pacific

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 06:00:15 +0000

Bayer MaterialScience has inaugurated a regional innovation hub for Asia Pacific in Shanghai, China. More than 200 experts will develop novel ideas for the use of high-performance plastics, foams and coatings in key sectors such as mobility, construction, IT and renewable energy.

They will work in close cooperation with external scientists, suppliers and customers. The new hub, which is located at the company’s existing Polymer Research & Development Center (PRDC), will provide support to other innovation facilities across the region.

AutoX 750 automatic contacting extensometer

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:29:05 +0000

Instron’s AutoX 750 automatic contacting extensometer supports the execution of testing routines including tension, bending and compression, and delivers more reliable and more accurate materials data in shorter time.

Instron’s AutoX 750 high accuracy of +/-1 µm, along with a maximum travel of 750 mm and multiple knife edge options make it an ideal extensometer for tensile, flexure and compression testing of various materials including highly rigid composites, metals, and plastics.

Company:

INSTRON

Caterham & MGI launch sailing campaign

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 10:11:21 +0000

Mike Gascoyne, CEO of Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI), Caterham Composites and MGI, and Sailing Director Brian Thompson have launched 'Caterham Challenge', an innovative Class 40 offshore racing campaign that will revolutionise offshore racing, using Formula One technology and logistics to encourage a greener, more sustainable future for offshore racing.

Under Mike and Brian's leadership, the two arms of Caterham Group will act as consultancies to MGI which will lead the project, providing engineering and technology support for the campaign, which will start with the Transat Jacques Vabre race, from France to Brazil in November 2013.

China ordered 60 Airbus aircrafts from France

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:11:44 +0000

China Aviation Supplies Holding Company (CASC) and Airbus signed an agreement of 60 AIRBUS aircrafts intentional order. This agreement included 42 single-aisle A320 series aircrafts and 18 A330 series aircrafts.

The agreement was signed by CASC general manager Li Hai and AIRBUS president and CEO Fabrice Brégier in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. The agreement is part of a series of Sino-French cooperation agreements signed during the French President Francois Orand recent state visit to China.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has also attended the ceremony with the French President. Together they have witnessed the signing of the agreement.