Piper Aircraft Introduces Composite Seven-Blade MT-Propeller as Factory Option for M700 Fury
Piper Aircraft announced that the seven‑blade composite MT‑Propeller from MT‑Propeller Entwicklung has earned an EASA supplemental type certificate for the M700 Fury, with FAA approval expected soon. The new propeller promises shorter take‑off runs, higher climb rates and a quieter cabin thanks to its aerodynamic design and lightweight composite construction. In parallel, France‑based SMM Composites delivered 54 high‑performance carbon‑fiber parts for Computed Wing Sail’s folding rigid wing sails, completing three wings in just weeks by using six‑cavity molds and 3D‑printed machining fixtures. Both developments showcase rapid advances in composite technology across aviation and marine sectors.
REGENT Seaglider Autonomous Drone, Squire, Completes First Ground-Effect Test Flight
REGENT Defense successfully flew its autonomous Seaglider drone Squire in a ground‑effect test, marking the first U.S. defense‑specific wing‑in‑ground‑effect (WIG) flight. The craft can travel up to 70 knots, cover more than 100 nautical miles and carry a 50‑pound payload for ISR,...
Reinforce3D, 3Dees Industries Opens Gateway to Industrial CFIP Adoption
Reinforce3D and Czech additive‑manufacturing firm 3Dees have signed a partnership to bring the continuous‑fiber injection process (CFIP) into existing 3‑D printing workflows across Central and Eastern Europe. The deal makes 3Dees the exclusive sales and technical partner for the Czech...
Lack Enterprises Acquires Equity Stake in IGCS International
Family‑owned Lacks Enterprises has purchased an equity stake in Dallas‑based IGCS International, a veteran‑owned MRO supplier to the Department of Defense. The deal merges IGCS’s extensive government contract portfolio—including multi‑million‑dollar BPAs and IDIQs—with Lacks’s advanced polymer chemistry, carbon‑fiber wheel production,...
Eve Advances eVTOL Flight Testing with Prototype Demo
Eve Air Mobility announced that its full‑scale eVTOL engineering prototype has completed 35 test flights, accumulating roughly 1.5 hours of flight time since its debut in December 2025. The aircraft reached 140 feet AGL, demonstrating stable three‑axis control and low‑speed performance...
Caracol Partners with CNC Robotics to Support U.K. Customers
Caracol of Italy has teamed with UK‑based CNC Robotics to locally assemble and service its large‑format Heron and Vipra additive‑manufacturing systems, creating a full‑cycle support network with reseller AM Futures. The partnership supports the UK’s reshoring agenda, faster delivery and...
AGY, Saertex Collaborate on High-Performance Glass Fiber Noncrimp Fabrics
AGY and Saertex announced a joint development that integrates AGY’s high‑strength S‑2 glass fiber into Saertex’s engineered multiaxial noncrimp fabrics (NCFs). The partnership targets lightweight, high‑performance composite solutions for aerospace, defense, pressure vessels, industrial and advanced‑mobility applications. By combining precise...
DLR Publishes Findings From CMC Forebody for Hypersonic Sounding Rocket STORT
The German Aerospace Center (DLR) has released a paper detailing its thermal‑protection design for the STORT hypersonic sounding‑rocket forebody. The study focuses on a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) system that endured the extreme aerothermal loads of a 9,000 km/h, 38 km‑altitude flight...
Engel Develops Automated High-Rate Process for TPC Drone Blades
ENGEL of Austria unveiled a fully automated, high‑rate production line that places unidirectional carbon‑fiber tapes along load paths and over‑molds them in a single injection‑molding cycle, creating lightweight, recyclable drone propeller blades ready for mass production. In parallel, Italy’s Wemech...
BLADE2CIRC Project Advances Reversible Polymers, Bio-Based Fibers and Enzymatic Recycling
The EU‑funded BLADE2CIRC project has reached the midway point of its 42‑month program, delivering the first batch of high‑performance, circular wind turbine blades. The consortium has advanced reversible polymer chemistry, scaled lignin‑based reinforcement fibers, and piloted enzymatic recycling methods. Regulatory...
Norco Supports XOCEAN Production of Uncrewed Surface Vessels
Swiss ETH‑Zurich spin‑off Sallea is extending its proprietary salt‑based templating platform from biomanufacturing to advanced composite and high‑performance material production. The sacrificial 3D‑printed salt cores act as temporary molds, enabling intricate internal geometries without permanent tooling. The process works with...
Largest Chinese Composite Module Developed for Reusable Launch Vehicles
The China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology (CALT) has delivered a 5‑meter‑diameter composite propulsion cabin, the largest single‑piece composite structure in China for reusable launch vehicles, featuring over 60 % composite material and completing development in just seven months. In Italy,...
AI-Powered Surrogate Models Advance Real-Time Simulation for Composites Manufacturing
Researchers at IMDEA Materials and the Technical University of Madrid have unveiled a deep learning‑based surrogate model that simulates liquid composite molding (LCM) processes on unstructured 3D grids in milliseconds. The multi‑branch encoder‑decoder architecture overcomes traditional bottlenecks by delivering high...
Greene Tweed Names HEICO Subsidiary as Distribution Partner in Asia and Brazil
Greene Tweed, a leading high‑performance materials maker, has appointed Seal Dynamics, a HEICO subsidiary, as its exclusive sales and distribution partner for aerospace OEM products in Asia and Brazil. The agreement builds on a decades‑long relationship and gives Greene Tweed...
Plyable Partners with Corebon and Synthesites to Advance Composite Tooling Integration
UK‑based Plyable Ltd., an AI‑powered composite tooling platform, announced strategic partnerships with Sweden’s Corebon and Belgium’s Synthesites. The collaborations will co‑develop and co‑market integrated solutions that combine induction heating, process monitoring, and Plyable’s digital workflow to streamline tooling design, manufacturing,...
Coexpair Will Deliver Advanced Hot Press for Safran New Composites Development Lab
Safran Aircraft Engine has contracted Belgian equipment maker Coexpair to supply and install an advanced pneumatic heated press for its new Composite Development Laboratory in Villaroche, France. The press supports thermoset and thermoplastic processes such as RTM, SQRTM, compression molding...
Slack & Parr High-Precision Metering Pumps Commissioned for New Carbon Fiber Plant in India
Slack & Parr is delivering 21 high‑precision acrylic metering pumps to a new carbon‑fiber plant in India, featuring three size options (1,000‑, 1,500‑, and 2,000‑cc/rev) mounted on custom drive units. The pumps will feed polyacrylonitrile (PAN) precursor fibers that underpin aerospace, defense...
Carbon Revolution Enters Voluntary Administration
Carbon Revolution’s Australian subsidiaries entered voluntary administration on March 26, 2026 and signed a Restructuring Support Agreement with most secured lenders. The agreement will wipe out senior secured debt and other legacy obligations, allowing the units to emerge as a privately‑held business...
IACMI Accepting Nominations for Rising Star Award
The Institute for Advanced Composite Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) has opened nominations for its 2026 Rising Stars Awards, a national honor aimed at early‑to‑mid‑career innovators, machinists and engineers in U.S. composite manufacturing. Nominations run from April 2 to April 29, with winners announced...
Call for Abstracts for ITHEC 2026 Ends April 19
The International Conference on Thermoplastic Composites (ITHEC) 2026 will be held in Bremen, Germany on Oct. 28‑29, with abstract submissions closing on Apr. 19. The event invites researchers and industry leaders to showcase advances in materials, processes, design, and recycling for thermoplastic...
Penn State Uses iVABS Framework to Advance Real-World Composite Rotorcraft Blades
Penn State’s Vertical Lift Research Center is using the iVABS design framework, powered by VABS and SwiftComp software, to create manufacturing‑aware composite rotor blades for helicopters and VTOL aircraft. The effort is part of AnalySwift’s Academic Partner Program, which provides...
Engel Strengthens Customer Proximity, Service and Access with Engel Spain
Engel has rebranded its former Spanish sales partner Roegele as Engel Spain, giving the injection‑molding machine maker a direct foothold in the country. The transition preserves decades‑long customer relationships while granting immediate access to Engel’s full technology suite, from machines...
Axalp Technologies Advances iSurface Composites Impact Monitoring Technology
Axalp Technologies has finished the main R&D phase of its iSurface composite health‑monitoring project, collaborating with Munro Technology, Z Prime and FHNW. The iSurface system embeds a conductive fiber interleaf and AI‑driven analytics to spot barely visible impact damage (BVID) in...
TheSaKo Project Considers SME-Volume Thermoplastic Sandwich Structure Joining, Repair Methods
The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS, together with the SKZ Plastics Center and industry partners, launched the TheSaKo project to develop scalable joining and repair technologies for thermoplastic sandwich components. The initiative focuses on forming deformable...
Airbus Pushes A350 Freighter Toward Final Validation
Airbus has launched a comprehensive ground‑test campaign for the A350F freighter, moving the program from final assembly toward flight‑test and certification. The tests validate new cargo‑specific systems such as the main‑deck loading mechanism, door cycling, anti‑tail‑tipping warnings and advanced connectivity....
Pen Aviation, Nandina REM Pave the Way for rCF in Flight in UAV/UAS Platforms
Pen Aviation and Singapore‑based Nandina REM are accelerating the use of recycled carbon fiber (rCF) in UAV and UAS platforms. By leveraging risk‑proportionate certification frameworks such as SORA, Pen can integrate rCF without the full data set required for type‑certified...
AIM3D GmbH Brings Pellet 3D Printing to North America
AIM3D GmbH is expanding pellet‑based 3D printing to North America with a U.S. application center slated for summer 2026, partnering with Schaeffler Special Machinery. The company’s ExAM 255 and ExAM 510 printers can process plastics, metals, ceramics and short‑fiber composites,...
Call for Abstracts: CW Tech Days to Explore Thermoplastic Composites in High-Rate Aerospace Manufacturing
CompositesWorld announced its next CW Tech Days will focus on thermoplastic composite solutions for aerospace structures, scheduled for June 24, 2026 at 11 a.m. ET. The virtual event will explore high‑rate manufacturing technologies such as oversized presses, in‑situ AFP, injection overmolding,...
Composites Innovation Event Spotlights Composites for Challenging Environments
The Composites Innovation Event returns to the Netherlands on May 20‑21, 2026, showcasing aerospace‑derived composite solutions for demanding sectors such as space launchers, hydrogen storage, and safety‑critical structures. The program includes keynotes, technical sessions, and tours at the Royal NLR aerospace...
Haddy Demonstrates Agile LFAM Production with LPUSV Maritime Project
Haddy Manufacturing used its large‑format additive manufacturing (LFAM) process to 3D‑print the hull of HavocAI’s low‑profile unmanned surface vehicle (LPUSV) in just nine days, moving the vessel from concept to sea trial at unprecedented speed. The hull combines recycled polycarbonate...
Swiss Researchers Develop Matrix First Concept for 3D Printed Continuous Fiber Ceramic Structures
Swiss researchers at SUPSI and Spain’s Reinforce3D have unveiled "Matrix First," a manufacturing method that designs internal channels within 3D‑printed ceramic parts for continuous carbon‑fiber reinforcement. The workflow combines laser powder‑bed fusion of a polyamide precursor, ceramic conversion, and simultaneous...
Advanced Carbons Council 2026 Report Maps Global Graphene Industry
The Advanced Carbons Council (ACC) has published its 2026 Graphene Report, mapping the global graphene industry with 194 verified company profiles and strategic market analysis. The report covers production methods, pricing dynamics, applications across all graphene forms, and standards such...
Beyond Gravity Composites Expertise Aid NASA Artemis II Mission
Beyond Gravity, a Swiss carbon‑fiber specialist, is supplying critical hardware for NASA’s Artemis II mission. The firm will deliver the universal stage adapter that connects the Space Launch System to the European Service Module, a 9.9‑meter‑tall structure slated for first use...
Airbus Doubles Down in India with Bengaluru Technology Center
Airbus inaugurated an 880,000‑square‑foot technology centre in Bengaluru on March 6, creating a new hub for engineering, digital transformation, customer services and procurement that can accommodate roughly 5,000 staff. The centre reinforces Airbus’s “Make in India” strategy and expands its role...
Avel Robotics Accelerates Aerospace Development with Bordeaux Location, Ongoing Activity Diversification
Avel Robotics, a French specialist in automated fiber placement, opened a commercial office in Bordeaux in January 2026 to sit closer to key aerospace and space players. The move follows the signing of new aerospace contracts, notably a development deal...
NETZSCH Launches AI-Powered Polymer Qualification Tool for Recyclate Quality Control
NETZSCH Analyzing & Testing has launched Proteus Now Quantify, an AI‑driven software that turns a single differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) run into a quantitative polymer composition report. Trained on calibrated polyolefin blends, the tool can identify PP, HDPE, LDPE and LLDPE and...
Wemech BladeScanner Concept Shifts Composites NDT Toward Standardized, Data-Supported Workflows
Wemech S.r.l., the Italian robotics and engineering spin‑off of Meccanica Besnatese, has kicked off an experimental program to apply acoustic analysis for nondestructive testing of composite airfoil components. The initiative leverages the BladeScanner platform, protected by U.S. Patent 12,391,407 and...
RDW Approves PAL-V as Certified Automotive Manufacturer
The Dutch vehicle authority RDW granted PAL‑V an Initial Assessment, officially recognizing it as a certified automotive manufacturer and clearing the way for type‑certified, road‑legal production of its FlyDrive flying‑car platform. The approval satisfies European Conformity of Production requirements and...
GT Wings Secures Momentum Across Maritime Sector
GT Wings is moving its AirWing Jet Sail wind‑assisted propulsion from demo to commercial deployment. The company secured Lloyd’s Register verification of its performance methodology, announced a strategic manufacturing partnership with China’s Zunsion Technology, joined the INTERCARGO association, and landed...
Wind Builds Clean Energy Potential Across Asia’s Economic Landscape
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) reports that Asia’s offshore wind sector is accelerating toward parity with Europe by 2030. Japan commissioned its largest offshore wind farm, Hibikinada, in March 2026 and deepened industry coordination through a new MOU with...
GE Carbon Fiber Composites Are Ready for the GEX9 Aeroengine
GE Aerospace announced that its next‑generation GE9X engine, destined for Boeing's 777X, is ready to move from testing to operational service. The engine relies on carbon‑fiber composite fan blades and a composite containment case, technologies refined over 300 million flight hours...
Vulcan Shield Global Partners with Nanyang Technological University to Advance FRP, MMC Materials
Vulcan Shield Global (VSG) has teamed up with Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University to co‑develop high‑performance alumina‑fiber reinforced polymers and metal matrix composites for aerospace, electronics and industrial uses. The partnership will pursue new processing methods, extensive testing and joint IP...
2026 Top Shops Deadline Extended Until April 10
CompositesWorld has extended the deadline for its 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey to April 10, giving participants an extra two weeks to complete the core questionnaire by March 31. Respondents who finish the core survey receive a customized benchmarking report, earn Top...
MC Tech Days: Materials and Processes for High-Rate Aerospace Manufacturing
The MC Tech Days virtual workshop on April 22 will showcase high‑rate aerospace manufacturing tools and processes, featuring sponsors Toray Group and Composites One and presenters from leading material and aerospace firms. Meanwhile, Avel Robotics of France signed a development contract...
Hedera Vertical Garden System Wins 2026 SMC BMC Design Award
The Hedera vertical garden system, created by Lucía Bonmatí and Bernat Rucabado of Elisava, captured the Gold award at the fifth‑edition SMC BMC Design Awards during JEC World 2026. Hedera is a lightweight, modular façade solution designed for industrial-scale production...
Arceon Materials Demonstrate Near-Zero Structural Degradation in AFRL High-Heat Torch Testing
Arceon B.V. successfully completed AFRL oxyacetylene torch testing of three Carbeon carbon ceramic composite samples, in partnership with Moog Inc. The materials endured sustained heat flux above 1200 °C in steady‑state and cyclic loading without meaningful structural degradation. Post‑test measurements showed...
Vertical Aerospace Launches Valo Battery Pilot Production Line, Positive Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Results
Vertical Aerospace has put into operation a 15,000‑square‑foot battery pilot production line at its Vertical Energy Centre (VEC), featuring automated aerospace‑grade manufacturing that delivered up to 1.4 MW of peak power during flight tests. The line will assemble battery packs for...
Swancor, Ban Mao Green Coating Turn Composites Waste Into Lightweight Construction Materials
Swancor Regener teamed with Taiwan’s Ban Mao Green Coating to launch Eco‑Stone, a construction‑grade panel made from recycled wind‑turbine carbon‑fiber prepreg waste. The product uses Swancor’s CleaVER chemical recycling process to convert degraded fibers into high‑purity oligomers, achieving an 11%...
EuCIA Welcomes Latvian Composite Materials Association as New Member
The European Composites Industry Association (EuCIA) announced that the Latvian Composite Materials Association (LKMA) has become its newest member, extending EuCIA’s representation to 85% of the European composites market. LKMA, founded in 2024, aims to boost Latvia’s export capacity and...
3M Supports JetZero with Funding, Materials Expertise for Z4 Blended Wing Body Aircraft
3M announced a strategic investment and material‑science partnership with JetZero as the startup advances its Z4 blended‑wing‑body (BWB) commercial aircraft. The Z4 promises up to a 50% reduction in fuel burn by integrating wing and fuselage into a single aerodynamic...