Gurit Composite Materials Play Central Role in Latest Shearwater Racing Catamaran Design
Gurit’s Ampreg epoxy, Spabond adhesive and Corecell M foam are at the heart of Zest Boatworks’ newest Shearwater catamaran, a 100% carbon‑fiber, foam‑cored racer celebrating the class’s 70‑year legacy. The vessel replaces the historic timber construction with a high‑stiffness, low‑weight composite hull that meets the class’s performance and durability standards. Builder Pete Jary, a long‑time Gurit user, highlights the materials’ predictable processing and repairability. The launch underscores the ongoing shift toward advanced composites in elite sailing classes.
Direct Stamping, Infrared Welding Enables 64-Ply Thermoplastic Composite Rib
Daher and partners unveiled a 64‑ply carbon‑fiber‑reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) wing rib that weighs 22% less than aluminum and eliminates rivets through patented infrared welding. The rib’s 12 mm thickness meets high‑load requirements while cutting assembly cost by 15% and shortening production...
Smart & Sustainable RTM 4.0 Project Advances High-Rate Production for Large Composite Structures
The SAUBER 4.0 project, a collaboration led by CTC Stade and Airbus, has demonstrated a fully digitalized, high‑rate resin transfer molding (RTM) production line for large composite structures. By embedding high‑tech sensors and using induction heating, the team achieved real‑time...
Mastering the Master Plug: A Brief Overview
Master plugs are critical tooling components for large composite structures such as marine hulls, decks, and wind turbine nacelles. The article outlines a multi‑stage production workflow—from CAD file to high‑gloss physical plug—highlighting CNC machining, fiberglass reinforcement, epoxy paste application, precision...
Pultron Composites Wins $1 Million Australian Ultimate HQ Competition for High-Potential Scale-Ups
Pultron Composites, a New Zealand‑based maker of corrosion‑resistant composite rebar, secured the City of Moreton Bay’s $1 million Ultimate HQ headquarters package after a live pitch at an Investor Safari. The award provides five years of rent‑free space at Moreton Bay Central,...
McNAIR Center Unveils Roctool Induction-Heated Platen Press Installation
The McNAIR Center at the University of South Carolina has installed a Roctool induction‑heated platen press, integrating a 400‑ton hydraulic press with 150‑kW induction platens. The system can heat to 427 °C, enabling rapid cure of thermoset and thermoplastic composites and...
RVmagnetics, Airbus Collaborate on Sensing Mat for OOA Composite Aircraft Repair
RVmagnetics and Airbus are co‑developing an ultra‑thin sensing mat that replaces conventional thermocouples in out‑of‑autoclave (OOA) composite aircraft repairs. The mat uses RVmagnetics’ patented MicroWire technology, delivering real‑time, multi‑point temperature data up to 200 °C with a single connection. Tested through...
Syensqo Advances Circular Carbon Fiber Composite Recycling Partnership with Fairmat
Syensqo and Fairmat have signed a multiyear industrial partnership to recycle carbon‑fiber composite waste from Syensqo’s Östringen plant in Germany. The recycled fibers will be re‑introduced into Fairmat’s markets, including sports, mobility, construction and energy, while preserving high technical performance....
FLASH-COMP Project Validates Integration Readiness for More Intelligent, Defect-Free LRI Approach
Three years after launch, the FLASH-COMP project has completed and validated a physical test bed for large composite liquid resin infusion (LRI) processes. The modular rig proved seamless integration of optical, thermal and process sensors with real‑time data acquisition, simulation...
Sky Advanced Materials Appoints Matrix Composite Materials as U.K. Distributor
Sky Advanced Materials has named Matrix Composite Materials as its exclusive UK distributor, bringing its high‑performance multiaxial carbon‑fiber fabrics to the British market. Sky’s tow‑spreading technology can spin 50,000 industrial fibers into lightweight reinforcements as thin as 75 g·m⁻², giving UK...
American Magic Uses Phased Array NDT to Safeguard Composite Boat Performance
American Magic, the elite sailing team, has brought nondestructive testing in‑house by deploying Evident’s phased array ultrasonic testing (PAUT) system. The OmniScan X4 flaw detector, paired with phased array probes and a RollerFORM XL scanner, now inspects large carbon‑fiber hull...
SPE Automotive Opens Nominations for Hall of Fame, Most Innovative Use of Plastics Awards
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Division has opened nominations for its 55th Automotive Innovation Awards Gala, scheduled for November 4, 2026 in Livonia, Michigan. Two flagship recognitions are offered: the Most Innovative Use of Plastics award, with a...
The Technical Edge Behind One-Piece Carbon Fiber Wheels
One‑piece carbon‑fiber wheels deliver a distinct performance edge by marrying high lateral stiffness with dramatically reduced gyroscopic torque, resulting in sharper steering response. Weighing roughly 40% less than conventional aluminum alloys, they lower unsprung mass and rotational inertia, which translates...
Gitana 18 Maxi Trimaran Pushes Boundaries of Fully Airborne Offshoring Maritime Racing
The Gitana 18 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild trimaran was unveiled in Lorient on Feb. 14, marking the latest Ultim‑class vessel from the Gitana Team. At 32 meters long with a 23‑meter beam, the boat is engineered for sustained full‑flight foiling, allowing all three...
Switch Maritime, Incat Crowther Hydrogen Fuel Cell-Electric Ferry Hits Design Stage
Switch Maritime and Incat Crowther have entered the detailed design phase for New York’s first hydrogen fuel‑cell‑electric ferry. The 28‑meter vessel will carry 150 passengers at 25 knots, powered by 720 kg of compressed hydrogen, offering a full‑day range without shore‑side charging....
German-Norwegian Partnership Launches Dedicated Offshore Wind Working Group
Norwegian Offshore Wind and the German‑Norwegian Chamber of Commerce have launched a dedicated offshore wind working group to deepen cross‑border collaboration in the North Sea. The initiative follows the Hamburg North Sea Summit where energy ministers pledged 300 GW of offshore...
FACC Achieves Highest-Ever Annual Revenue, Significant EBIT Increase in 2025 Review
FACC reported record 2025 revenue of €984.4 million, an 11.3% increase over the prior year, while EBIT surged 49.4% to €42.3 million, lifting the margin to 4.3%. The gains stem from the CORE efficiency program and the newly operational Croatia plant, which...
Tratos Group Signs Agreement with Exel Composites to Support Grid Modernization
Tratos Group of Italy has signed a four‑year, £22 million framework agreement with Finland’s Exel Composites to supply carbon‑fiber composite conductor cores for grid modernization projects through 2029. The partnership gives Tratos secure access to high‑performance, corrosion‑resistant cores that enable higher...
SolidSail Mast Factory Starts Production of CFRP Masts for Wind Propulsion
SolidSail Mast Factory (SMAF) in Lanester, France, launched full‑scale production of carbon‑fiber‑reinforced polymer (CFRP) masts on 12 February 2026. The plant, a joint venture between Chantiers de l’Atlantique and five regional composite specialists, will fabricate masts up to 70 metres long, supporting sails...
CompositesWorld Presents JEC World 2026 Exhibitor Lineup
JEC World 2026, the flagship international composites trade show, returns to France in mid‑March, gathering manufacturers, suppliers, researchers and industry bodies across aerospace, automotive, construction and energy. Dozens of exhibitors have released pre‑show previews, highlighting new tape variants, advanced automation,...
AGY, JPS Composite Materials Launch Domestic Production of Low-CTE Glass Fiber Fabrics
AGY and JPS Composite Materials have launched a North American supply chain to produce low‑coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) glass‑fiber fabric for advanced semiconductor substrates. The partnership pairs AGY’s ultra‑low‑CTE L‑HDI fibers made in Aiken, South Carolina, with JPS’s weaving...
White Paper Introduces Mechanical Sail Taxonomy to Set Wind Propulsion Standards
A new white paper by Norsepower and Kongsberg Maritime proposes a five‑generation taxonomy for mechanical sails, standardising terminology as wind propulsion shifts from isolated devices to integrated ship‑wide systems. The model spans from manual 1920s rotors (Gen 1) through data‑driven, multi‑sail...
ZAG UBAC 95 Touring Ski Goes Bio-Based with Sicomin SR GreenPoxy80
French ski maker ZAG Skis unveiled a pre‑production UBAC 95 touring ski built with Sicomin’s SR GreenPoxy80 bio‑epoxy, which contains 80% renewable content. The resin meets the demanding mechanical and temperature requirements of high‑performance skis while fitting existing molding lines. The...
Saertex Expands Distribution Network in Turkey with Neva Composites
Saertex has partnered with Neva Composites to expand its Turkish distribution network, giving local customers direct access to high‑quality multiaxial glass, carbon and natural‑fiber fabrics. The move strengthens Saertex’s presence in marine, aerospace and automotive sectors across Turkey. In parallel,...
Belotti, Moi Composites Launch Hybrid Additive/Subtractive Manufacturing Centers for Thermoset Composites
Belotti SpA and Moi Composites have announced a strategic partnership that embeds Moi’s short‑fiber additive manufacturing (SFM) technology into Belotti’s gantry CNC machining centers, creating a hybrid platform for thermoset composites. The solution deposits photopolymerizable, short‑fiber‑reinforced material at up to...
Composites Sustainability Wins: CDP Recognition, EcoVadis Gold, Site Decarbonization
The composites sector saw multiple sustainability milestones in February. Gurit secured its third consecutive EcoVadis Gold Medal, placing it in the global 96th percentile for environmental performance. Shawmut Corp. joined the DOE Better Buildings & Better Plants program, committing to...
Orbex Releases Prime Rocket Assembly Images as Business Faces Closure
Orbex released previously unseen photographs of its Prime microlauncher being assembled, showcasing the vehicle’s carbon‑fiber and aluminum composite structures. Prime is marketed as an environmentally sustainable launch system that is roughly 30% lighter than comparable small‑sat rockets. The company announced...
Climate Impulse Project Reaches Milestone Success with Main Wing Spar Testing
The Climate Impulse team successfully completed a full‑scale main‑wing spar test, proving the hydrogen‑powered aircraft’s composite structure can endure worst‑case flight loads and clearing the path for final wing production. In parallel, the VIBRIO consortium demonstrated that a vibration‑enhanced double‑belt press...
Röchling Automotive to Supply TPC Intrusion Protection Plates for European EV OEM
Röchling Automotive announced an expanded partnership with a major European electric‑vehicle OEM to supply composite intrusion‑protection plates across an entire platform beginning in 2027. The plates use a sandwich structure of unidirectional glass‑fiber‑reinforced thermoplastic tapes, delivering high impact resistance while...
Made Smarter Funding Supports AFD Systems Digital Enhancements for Expertise Growth
AFD Systems secured a £20,000 Made Smarter grant to acquire a high‑precision 3D laser scanner, launching a dedicated metrology and reverse‑engineering team. The new capability integrates scanning data into design, simulation and additive‑manufacturing workflows, enabling faster part development. AFD aims...
Cannon Group R&D Improves Precise Composite Mold Temperature Control
The Cannon Group unveiled its Nexus composite mold system, which integrates heating elements directly into the mold structure, delivering 25% more precise temperature regulation than conventional fluid‑based tools. Field tests on polyurethane reaction injection molding showed energy consumption slashed by...
China Tests S2000 Grid-Connected High-Altitude Wind Turbine
Chinese startup Lin Yi Yuan Chuan Energy Technology successfully tested its S2000 airborne wind power system, a megawatt‑class platform that ascended to roughly 2,000 meters and fed electricity into the local grid. The maiden grid test produced 385 kWh, marking the first...
SHD Composites Commissions Wide-Format UD Prepreg, Film Coating Lines
SHD Composites has commissioned a 1,500‑mm wide‑format unidirectional prepreg line and an advanced film‑coating line, expanding its capacity to supply large‑scale, high‑performance composites for automotive, aerospace, marine and defence sectors. The new equipment, based on internal designs, enables rapid‑turn development...
Uavos Completes High-Efficiency Aerocomposite Curing Oven
Uavos Inc. has completed validation of a top‑loaded aerocomposite curing oven that delivers ±1.7 °C temperature uniformity, 2 kW heating and up to 200 °C operation while cutting energy use by 15‑25 %. The system’s dual‑fan airflow architecture promises lower scrap rates and higher...
Five Things You Get With Your CW Subscription
CompositesWorld (CW) offers a free subscription that delivers curated composites news, original reporting, and multimedia content to industry professionals. Subscribers receive the CW Today newsletter three times a week, covering aerospace, automotive, marine, and wind‑energy markets. The package also includes...
On the Radar: The Role of T-Glass in AI
T‑glass, an ultra‑thin glass fiber fabric with low thermal expansion, is becoming essential for AI chips in smartphones and data‑center servers. Its high tensile strength and heat‑dissipating properties stabilize substrates as chips grow larger and more power‑dense. Nitto Boseki dominates...
SMC BMC Design Award 2026 Finalists Target Quality of Life Improvements
The European Alliance has announced the three finalists for the 2026 SMC BMC Design Award, a competition that celebrates sustainable design using composite materials. The nominees are Dave Rook’s Domum Shelter, Lucía Bonmatí and Bernat Rucabado’s Hedera vertical garden, and...
Safran Releases Robust 2025 Financial Results, Advances LEAP Production Ramp
Safran posted a strong 2025 performance, reporting €31.33 billion in revenue, €5.197 billion recurring operating income and a 16.6% operating margin, while raising its 2028 free‑cash‑flow target to €21 billion. The company delivered more than 1,800 LEAP engines—a 28% year‑over‑year increase—supporting Airbus’s plan...
Natilus Raises $28 Million to Commercialize Family of BWB Composite Aircraft, Evolves Horizon Evo
Natilus secured a $28 million Series A round led by Draper Associates, bringing strategic aerospace and logistics investors on board. The funding will finance the first full‑scale prototype of its regional cargo aircraft Kona, slated to fly within 24 months, and further development...
FiberJoint Reinforcement Patch Improves Through-the-Thickness Insert Designs for Sandwich Composites
Aalborg University researchers demonstrated that FiberJoint’s wedge‑shaped reinforcement patch boosts pull‑out strength of sandwich‑composite inserts by 38%, promising more durable marine structures. Meanwhile, Gurit is expanding its Corecell SAN‑foam structural core production in Dallas, Texas, with a new facility slated...
RECREATE Project Conference Connects Industry to Viable Circular Composites
The EU‑funded RECREATE project will host a free conference on April 23, 2026 in Brussels, bringing together industry, policymakers, and investors to showcase circular‑composite technologies. RECREATE aims to transform end‑of‑life carbon and glass‑fiber composites into profitable feedstock through AI‑driven sorting,...
MTorres, Airbus Enable Next-Gen Composites via Thin-Ply AFP
MTorres has redesigned its automated fiber placement (AFP) heads to reliably handle ultra‑thin, low‑weight composite tapes, addressing twisting, wrinkling and misalignment issues. The company also upgraded its TorFiber CAM software—integrated with Dassault Systemes’ CATIA—to generate closed‑geometry and self‑intersecting tow paths automatically....
Karman Space & Defense Completes Seeman Composites, MSC LLC Acquisitions
Karman Space & Defense closed its previously announced purchase of Seeman Composites and MSC LLC, adding advanced acoustic‑coating, propulsion and composite capabilities. The deal creates a fourth end market—maritime defense systems—expanding Karman’s portfolio beyond hypersonics, missile defense, and space launch....
SPE Opens Thermoset TopCon Student Poster Competition
The Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Thermoset Division is hosting its fifth annual TopCon student poster competition at the Thermoset TopCon Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, on May 12‑13, 2026. Graduate and undergraduate students must submit abstracts by April 10, 2026,...
North Aircraft Industries Is Manufacturing the Cavorite X7 VTOL Composite Wings
North Aircraft Industries (NAI) has secured a partnership with New Horizon Aircraft to manufacture and test the composite wings for the Cavorite X7 VTOL, a novel aircraft whose wings open to expose twelve electric lift fans for vertical take‑off. The wing’s...
Nova-Institut Reports Global Bio-Based Polymer Market to Rise 11% Annually Until 2030
The nova‑Institut report shows bio‑based polymers reached 4.5 million tonnes in 2025, representing about 1 % of total polymer output. Production is projected to grow at an 11 % compound annual growth rate through 2030, potentially doubling the market share to 2 %. Capacity...
Continuous Composites Awarded $1.25 Million to Advance Joining Methods with CF3D
Continuous Composites secured a $1.25 million AFWERX Manufacturing Challenge contract to advance CF3D joining and stiffening techniques for aerospace structures. CF3D merges precise fiber steering, rapid UV curing, and computational design into a digitally driven, scalable production process. The 15‑month project...
Walter Pritzkow OCMC Becomes Key Lightweight Enabler for Jetoptera Drone
Jetoptera is partnering with Walter E.C. Pritzkow Spezialkeramik (WPS) to integrate lightweight oxide ceramic matrix composite (OCMC) thrusters into its DARPA LIFT Challenge aircraft. The OCMC thrusters deliver 90 pound‑force of thrust while keeping the propulsion system light enough to meet...
Fenix Composites CFRTP Road Bike Featuring Lugged Frame Resolves Repairability Challenges
Fenix Composites unveiled a carbon‑fiber‑reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) road‑bike frame that uses titanium lugs joined by induction heating, eliminating adhesives and fasteners. The reversible joint design allows defective components to be removed and replaced, extending the frame’s service life. Joint strength...
POSSIBLE Project Finds Success in Mechanical Recycling of Rigid PU, GFRP
The Cannon Group, together with MAP S.p.A. and the University of Bergamo, has proved that rigid polyurethane (PU) foam and glass‑fiber‑reinforced PU (GFRP) can be mechanically recycled within existing high‑pressure mixing lines. Two complementary routes were demonstrated: micron‑sized PU powders...
