RUAG International Sets Strategic Course for Space-Focused Future Amid Short-Term Earnings Impact
RUAG International’s 2025 fiscal year saw net sales dip to CHF 412 million (~$521 million) while earnings before interest and taxes fell to a loss of CHF 114 million (~$145 million) due to high engineering costs in its Launchers division and one‑off transformation expenses. The company completed the divestiture of its aerostructures business, sharpening its focus on the Beyond Gravity space segment. A federal decision to keep Beyond Gravity under Swiss government ownership reshaped the strategic roadmap, prompting an organizational merge of Satellites and Launchers and a leadership transition to Dr. Barbara Frei‑Spreiter in 2026. The firm aims to improve profitability from 2027 onward by scaling production, expanding commercial product lines, and deepening digitalization.
GE Aerospace Commits $1 Billion to U.S. Manufacturing Growth for Second Consecutive Year
GE Aerospace announced a second consecutive $1 billion investment in U.S. manufacturing for 2026, targeting both commercial and defense engine production. The plan includes hiring 5,000 additional workers, bringing total new hires to 10,000 since 2025. Over $275 million will upgrade defense...
Sallea Extends Salt-Based Templating Technology to Advanced Composites Manufacturing
Swiss spin‑off Sallea is extending its proprietary salt‑based templating platform from biomanufacturing to advanced composites and high‑performance materials. The process creates water‑soluble salt cores that act as temporary molds, allowing intricate internal geometries that are later dissolved away. It works...
Umoe Starts Large-Scale Type 4 Cylinder Production in China, First Global H2 Project Deliveries
Umoe Advanced Composites has launched industrial‑scale production of Type 4 composite cylinders at its new 12,000‑sqm Jiaxing plant in China, the company’s largest global manufacturing base. The facility can produce up to 20,000 cylinders a year, effectively tripling UAC’s worldwide capacity...
Vericut CNC Software Powers Formula 1 Component Precision
Vericut’s CNC simulation software is now a core tool for Formula 1 teams, enabling engineers to verify and optimize complex composite and metal parts before they hit the shop floor. The platform creates digital twins of machines, detects collisions, and validates...
Submit to CW Top Shops 2026 Before March 31
CompositesWorld is launching its 2026 Top Shops Benchmarking Survey, requiring participants to complete a core set of questions by March 31, 2026. Respondents will receive a customized benchmarking report, qualify for Top Shops status, and gain honoree recognition. After the core survey,...
ATC Manufacturing, U.S. Air Force Contract Grows Larger-Scale, High-Rate TPC Capabilities
ATC Manufacturing secured a U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory contract to develop a large‑format hydraulic press capable of high‑rate thermoplastic composite (TPC) processing for parts up to 10 ft × 5 ft. The program, partnered with Anduril Industries and Toray Advanced Composites, aims to...
Joby 2025 Financial Results Show Strong Liquidity, Supporting Near-Term eVTOL Launch Plans
Joby Aviation posted FY 2025 results showing $53.4 million revenue and a $929.8 million net loss, but retained roughly $1.41 billion in cash and short‑term investments. The company logged an 18‑point jump in FAA certification progress and announced its first passenger flights will occur...
Laser Tech Investment Builds up Web Industries’ Denton Production Capacity
Web Industries Inc. is installing high‑precision laser cutting equipment at its Denton, Texas plant, dramatically increasing throughput for flexible composite materials. The upgrade targets fast‑paced markets such as consumer goods, technical textiles, aeronautics and space, delivering Tier 1 quality and reduced...
Composites Sustainability Wins: ISO 14001 Certification, Platinum EcoVadis Rating, Emissions Reports
Exel Composites earned ISO 14001 certification for its Erlanger, Kentucky plant, cementing its environmental management system across waste and energy initiatives. Polestar disclosed the full cradle‑to‑gate carbon footprint of the Polestar 5, highlighting recycled aluminum and renewable‑powered production that cut emissions...
Factory III Moves iCOMAT Capabilities Into the U.S.
iCOMAT has opened a 41,000‑square‑foot Factory III in Dayton, Ohio, bringing its patented Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS) technology and end‑to‑end composites capabilities to the U.S. defense and aerospace market. At the same time, Austrian aerospace supplier FACC is investing £120 million in...
Coexpair to Fabricate, Demonstrate and Test Lockheed F-35 Composite Parts Using SQRTM 4.0
Coexpair and Lockheed Martin have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop, demonstrate, and test composite parts for the F‑35 using Coexpair’s SQRTM 4.0 technology. The partnership will follow a phased approach, with Lockheed providing process‑qualification support while Coexpair builds and...
UkieCarbon Completes One-Off Carbon Fiber Interior Project for 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500
UkieCarbon finished a four‑month, one‑off interior overhaul for a 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Track Pack, replacing exposed factory plastics with premium Alcantara panels, red‑leather Recaro seats, and extensive forged carbon‑fiber trim. The project rebuilt door panels, pillars, roof liner,...
Bell Completes Critical Design Review on DARPA SPRINT X-Plane Program
Bell Textron announced the successful completion of the Critical Design Review for DARPA’s SPRINT X‑plane program on March 9, clearing the path to build the X‑76 demonstrator. The milestone follows Bell’s Phase 2 down‑selection and integrates Swift Engineering’s composite‑fuselage expertise. The X‑76...
Archer Aviation Q4, Fiscal Year 2025 Results Confirm On-Track U.S., UAE Midnight Pilot Programs for 2026
Archer Aviation reported a Q4 2025 net loss of $188.9 million and a full‑year loss of $618.2 million, while ending the year with a record $2 billion liquidity cushion. The company confirmed its Midnight eVTOL fleet is on schedule for piloted flights in...
EHang Posts Record Q4 Revenue, First GAAP Profit as EH216-S Commercial Launch Nears
Chinese advanced‑air‑mobility firm EHang posted record Q4 revenue and its first GAAP profit, driven by 100 eVTOL deliveries—including 95 EH216 units and five VT35s. Total Q4 revenue rose 48% year‑over‑year to RMB 243.8 million, while net income turned positive at RMB 10.5 million. The...
EU Innovation Fund Scales PaperShell Biocomposite Industrial Capacity
PaperShell, a Swedish biocomposite maker, secured a €40.3 million grant from the EU Innovation Fund to expand its production capacity. The €83 million project will enlarge its Tibro factory to 15,600 m², targeting an annual output of roughly 23,000 tonnes by 2030. Using kraft‑paper...
AFD Systems Explores AM Polymer Options for ORCA Subsea Cabin Fit-Outs
AFD Systems has teamed with marine specialist ORCA to design advanced subsea cabin fit‑outs using additive‑manufactured polymer components. The joint venture will conduct rigorous material‑processing tests, focusing on carbon‑fiber‑reinforced polymers, to prove durability in harsh underwater conditions. Successful validation will...
Chemical Concepts Expands U.S. Reach, Composite-Adjacent Portfolio with Perigee Direct Acquisition
Chemical Concepts, a Pennsylvania‑based supplier for composite‑heavy industries, has completed the acquisition of Texas‑based Perigee Direct. The deal adds Perigee’s 19‑year specialty consumables portfolio—including marine resins, honeycomb epoxies, and precision dispensing equipment—to Chemical Concepts’ adhesive and bonding solutions. It also...
CW Issues Call for Speakers for Carbon Fiber 2026
CompositesWorld and Gardner Business Media have opened abstract submissions for the Carbon Fiber 2026 conference, scheduled for November 10‑12 in Huntsville, Alabama. The call seeks presentations covering aerospace, defense, hypersonics, space, advanced air mobility, as well as industrial sectors such...
America Makes Awards UDRI $450K for AACAMS Project Call
America Makes and the National Center for Defense Manufacturing and Machining selected the University of Dayton Research Institute to receive a $450,000 award from the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate. The funding supports the Affordable and Agile...
ICOMAT Establishes Factory II to Grow Composites Processing Capacity
Daher announced the launch of Factory II to scale up its up‑cycling of thermoplastic composite (TPC) materials. The new line will convert 100 % of pure carbon polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) scrap into semi‑finished pellets containing 56 % carbon fiber, achieving a capacity of...
Southern Spars Five-Axis Investment Accelerates Composites Manufacturing Capabilities
Southern Spars has installed a five‑axis CNC machining center at its Auckland plant, complemented by a custom mast feeding system that can handle components up to 50 meters long. The new equipment cuts machining cycles from weeks to days, enabling faster...
Takase Kanageta Selects Plataine to Scale Production Scheduling Across Multi-Plant Operations
Takase Kanagata, a Japanese precision‑manufacturing firm, has chosen Plataine’s AI‑powered Production Scheduler, delivered with Argosy Japan Aerospace Materials, to support its 2030 Digital Factory and Industry 4.0 roadmap. The solution will enable Takase to scale production scheduling across multiple plants while...
Ampelmann Pioneers Composite Telescopic Boom for Offshore Access Systems
Amsterdam‑based Ampelmann has unveiled the industry’s first composite telescopic boom for offshore gangways, developed with Solico, Rondal and Vuyk. The CFRP‑sandwich boom, produced via a one‑shot cure, is 30 % lighter than a comparable steel boom while meeting Lloyd’s Register certification....
Anemoi White Paper Calls for Greater Alignment in Wind Propulsion Performance Verification
Anemoi Marine Technologies and Lloyd’s Register released a white paper urging alignment of three performance verification methodologies for wind‑assisted propulsion systems (WAPS). The study shows that ITTC sea‑trial guidelines, DNV’s in‑service testing practice, and Anemoi’s LR‑verified calibration model are complementary...
Reinforce3D Partners with Impac Systems Engineering to Accelerate CFIP Adoption in North America
Reinforce3D has teamed up with Impac Systems Engineering to fast‑track the rollout of its continuous‑fiber injection process (CFIP) across the United States, Canada and Mexico, promising internal reinforcement without part redesign or extra material. The partnership targets high‑performance sectors such...
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...
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...