CompositesWorld

FEB 2018

CompositesWorld

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COLUMNS 6 From the Editor CW editor-in-chief Jeff Sloan sheds light on the emergence and importance of mathematical data and its systematic use. 8 Past, Present and Future Future Materials Group's David Schofield explains why M&A; activity remained unexpectedly high during 2017. 12 Perspectives & Provocations CW columnist Dale Brosius reminds us of how important inventors are to the composites industry and its future. 14 Gardner Business Index Gardner Intelligence chief economist Michael Guckes says December 2017's GBI: Composites Fabricating Index hit 55.8. » DEPARTMENTS 16 Trends 50 Calendar 52 Applications 54 New Products 58 Marketplace 59 Ad Index 59 Showcase » ON THE COVER CNC equipment supplier Electroimpact's (Mukilteo, WA, US) automated fiber place- ment (AFP) head is shown here during pro- duction trials for The Boeing Co.'s (Chicago, IL, US) 777X commercial passenger plane's carbon fiber composite wing spar. An onboard, on-the-fly, automated inspection system is expected to help ensure Boeing's production processes produce much more cost-effective finished parts. Source / Electroimpact FOCUS ON DESIGN 60 Hybrid Composite Struts Reduce Vehicle Weight, Improve Handling Pultruded carbon/glass fiber composite underbody stiffeners move into medium- volume Mercedes-AMG production vehicles. By Peggy Malnati CompositesWorld (ISSN 2376-5232) is published monthly and copyright © 2018 by Gardner Business Media Inc. 6915 Valley Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45244- 3029. Telephone: (513) 527-8800. Printed in U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Cincinnati, OH and additional mailing offices. All rights reserved. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to CompositesWorld Magazine, 6915 MEMBERSHIPS: Valley Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45244-3029. If undeliverable, send Form 3579. CANADA POST: Canada Returns to be sent to IMEX Global Solutions, PO Box 25542, London, ON N6C 6B2 Canada. Publications Mail Agreement #40612608. The information presented in this edition of CompositesWorld is believed to be accurate. In applying recommendations, however, you should exercise care and normal precautions to prevent personal injury and damage to facilities or products. In no case can the authors or the publisher accept responsibility for personal injury or damages which may occur in working with methods and/or materials presented herein, nor can the publisher assume responsibility for the validity of claims or performance of items appearing in editorial presentations or advertisements in this publication. Contact information is provided to enable interested parties to conduct further inquiry into specific products or services. FE ATURES 32 Work in Progress: Carbon/Glass Spar Cap Enables World's Longest Wind Blade Other wind blade manufacturers have leveraged the benefits of carbon fiber primarily through pultruded or carbon/epoxy prepreg spar caps. LM Wind Power, however, has taken a different approach, with a hybrid carbon/glass fiber spar cap made via resin infusion. By Donna Dawson 38 Work in Progress: Improving Composites Processing with Automated Inspection Much R&D; has been devoted to finding a path to automated inspection using digital methods, to permit the overall aircraft production process to keep pace with the efficiency of today's AFP and ATL processes. This first in a series looks at work done by Electroimpact (Mukilteo, WA, US). By Sara Black 42 I Want to Say Two Words to You: "Thermoplastic Tapes" Thermoplastic tapes are not new to the composites industry, but they soon will join the primary aerostructures material palette and could be their future. That's the word as major aircraft OEMs consider their materials options for the next wave of aircraft on the horizon. By Jeff Sloan 38 32 42 CompositesWorld.com 3 FEBRUARY 2018 / Vol: 4 N o – : 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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