Composites – Page 4
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ArticleMaking light work
Strong, stiff and light, these properties make composites a compelling proposition for the manufacture of tooling and production aidsIn sheet metal forming, epoxy resin dies were first used in the 1950s. These thermosets were often filled with steel powder or sand to increase their wear resistance and mechanical properties. Filled ...
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ArticleRecycle route for carbon fibre
The use of carbon fibre in automotive manufacturing is in its infancy but with £316m worth of the material sent to landfill in 2015 it is imperative the industry explores more ways of recycling European Union (EU) end-of-life vehicle directives prescribe that 85% of the materials used in a new ...
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ArticleFord extends GT supercar production
US – The OEM has announced that the carbon fibre vehicle will be manufactured for another two years. Year three of production will support customers already on the waiting list, while previously deferred applicants and others who missed the application window will be served by year four. The application process ...
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ArticleKeeping finishes up to scratch
As vehicle-makers add more innovative materials in body construction and change their production processes to meet new environmental regulations, paint suppliers are striving to match their requirementsThe majority of consumers take them for granted, but exterior coatings have to cover a lot of ground. Ray Schappert, global director of product ...
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ArticleAchieving Acura-cy
As production of the 2017 Acura NSX ramps up at the dedicated Performance Manufacturing Center in Ohio, AMS investigates what technologies and processes are required to generate a finish fit for a supercarA Japanese supercar is being manufactured in rural America. The first-generation Honda NSX, which is sold under the ...
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ArticleInterview: Klemens Bartmann, Axalta
As the coatings company turns 150 years old, its global technology director reflects on the sector’s trends, challenges and opportunities – including new materials, environmental concerns and multi-functionality Klemens Bartmann, Axalta Coating SystemsJoanne Perry (JP): Can you briefly outline the differences in requirements between coatings for light vehicles and those ...
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ArticleMixing together at PaintExpo
At the latest coatings show, held in Karlsruhe, Germany, in April, companies from a range of industries converged to share ideas and innovations. AMS went to see what might be of interest to automotive playersOther shows have come and gone, but PaintExpo continues to develop as a forum for companies ...
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ArticleSteel’s in motion
By producing stronger and more versatile materials, steel-makers are helping OEMs to do more with lessThe steel industry is innovating at a furious pace – and it needs to. Its long-standing dominance in the automotive industry is coming under threat from a variety of lightweight alternatives. In response to increasingly ...
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ArticleHonda PMC makes first new Acura NSX
US – The initial series production vehicle rolled off the line at the recently opened Performance Manufacturing Center (PMC) at Marysville, Ohio, which is the exclusive location for the model. VIN 001 featured interwoven wheels, carbon-ceramic brake rotors, leather and Alcantera interior trim, plus carbon-fibre upgrades such as the engine ...
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ArticleNew Ford GT offers carbon-fibre wheels
US – The GT is the second Ford Performance vehicle with carbon-fibre wheels, after the 2015 Shelby GT350R Mustang. Ford says the lightweight wheels further improve the drive and handling of the new supercar, which also has a carbon-fibre body.“Ford was the innovator as the first to offer mass-produced carbon-fibre ...
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ArticleRecycled carbon fibre
ELG Carbon Fibre claims it has developed a recycling solution that converts manufacturing waste into products that can be incorporated into vehicle design. The company says it is currently working with a number of automotive OEM’s on a range of projects from the development of end-of-use recycling solutions for carbon ...
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ArticleLotus loses weight
UK – The vehicle-maker says it has cut 207kg from its model range over the past 12 months, after following a holistic approach to weight loss. The chassis for the Elise and Exige now weigh just 68kg each, and the company’s heaviest car is only 1,395kg.“We’re not concerned with following ...
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ArticleThe case for carbon fibre
The composites industry’s flagship event, JEC World, was bigger than ever this year. The number of exhibitors showing off their automotive expertise at this month’s show and conference in Paris was particularly striking. The use of glass-fibre-reinforced composites is established for the production of non-structural internal and external parts for ...
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ArticleDetroit Electric now making SP:01
UK – The first production sports car rolled off the line at the company’s main assembly plant at Leamington Spa and was handed over to Jowett Motors (Asia), which will be shipping it to China. Detroit Electric is expanding in the region and will soon additionally announce a distributor for ...
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ArticlePremium but not perfect
As McLaren and Aston Martin both build up their production, AMS takes a magnifying glass inside their spotless factories at Woking and Gaydon respectively to see the latest in high-end carmaking in BritainMcLaren Automotive and Aston Martin are both gearing up to double their production as the two luxury companies ...
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BMW using Hexcel carbon fibre for 7 Series
Germany – The composites company is supplying BMW with preforms made of unidirectional carbon prepreg set in various orientations and combined with adhesive. The carbon-fibre reinforced plastic (CFRP) technology is used to reinforce the metal shell of the B pillar, while saving weight.In order to meet demand from the automotive ...
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ArticleCost-effective composites
As OEMs explore reinforced plastics, the composites industry is preparing to capitalise on this trendUS materials supplier Cytec Industries has done well out of the aerospace industry's switch from metal to carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP)-intensive aircraft, and the company sees the automotive industry as key to its future growth. In ...
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ArticleTomorrow's automotive world
What will vehicle manufacturing look like in a few decades' time, and how will production be controlled?An initiative called ARENA2036, which is being carried out by the Fraunhofer IPA in Stuttgart, Germany, aims to explore and shape three areas in the design and manufacture of automobiles as they develop over ...
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BMW heading for record production
Germany – The company said its international manufacturing network “has shown an excellent capacity utilisation” in 2015 due to high customer demand and the launch of multiple new models such as the BMW 7 Series. This level of production was enabled by the flexible manufacturing processes implemented at its facilities.“The ...
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ArticlePolymers with power
Composites are now being explored as alternative materials for engine-cylinder housings and may soon become mainstream – enabling the production of lighter-weight powertrains and more fuel-efficient vehiclesIn as little as three years, automotive engine housings made of polymer materials will start to enter the market as volume production items. That ...