Composites

The latest news and developments in regards to composites production and manufacturing.

Composites

Steel coil, Tata Port Talbot

After tailpipes, auto industry ponders CO2 purge from its materials

2022-05-27T12:57:00+01:00By Peter Murphy

Volvo, Polestar and SSAB ponder how to wring out CO2 from materials now that the internal combustion engine’s fate is virtually sealed.

The company says this material range is suitable as substitute for metal, and engineered plastics

Polypropylene materials technology for the automotive market

2020-10-03T17:37:00+01:00By AMS

Carbon and glass fibre-reinforced polypropylene (PP) technology offers alternative to engineering plastics and metal parts

It’s claimed this technique can cut the lead time to develop such components by half, and cycle time for moulding by about 80%, compared with conventional methods

Nissan’s new process to mass-produce CFRP parts

2020-09-08T09:09:00+01:00By AMS

Nissan aims to use the new process to mass-produce CFRP parts and introduce them in more cars for customers

Corvette Rear Bumper 2020 IMG_20191218_173426

Composite case study: curved rear bumper beam of the Corvette Stingray

2020-07-06T16:36:00+01:00By Gareth Price

Performance vehicle structures have long made extensive use of composite materials and the new generation of GM’s flagship sportscar, the Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, continues the push. A key composite component of the new Corvette Stingray is a curved carbon fibre rear bumper beam, created through a bespoke application of radius pultrusion…

Ultima-Supplier-pressure-BI-flash-3

Suppliers will face squeeze as OEMs push to meet EU CO2 targets

2019-10-02T09:58:00+01:00By Automotive from Ultima Media

As carmakers strive to reach the more stringent CO2 emissions targets being phased in across the EU next year, we predict that many are likely to put more pressure on their supply base to help reduce emissions

BMWiNext

Carbon composite footprint

2019-09-16T15:01:00+01:00By James Bakewell

EV development has made lightweighting vehicle structures a priority. James Bakewell reports on the increased role for carbon fibre-reinforced plastics

Roechling Automotive Slovakia

Röchling Automotive opens new Slovakia plant

2019-07-24T10:00:00+01:00By AMS

Slovakia - The new plant will be used to make a variety of different components for Daimler, JLR and PSA. 

Carbon 3D printing

Suppliers partner to enable high-volume 3D printing

2019-07-17T13:47:00+01:00By AMS

Germany - Covestro and Carbon are hoping to make 3D printing applicable for mass volume applications

BMW 7 Series final inspection Dingolfing

A blaze in Bavaria

2019-07-09T10:58:00+01:00By Michael Nash

The foundations have been laid at BMW’s Dingolfing plant to make more electrified models and components, but more is yet to come. Michael Nash reports

GKN opening headquarters Michigan

GKN opens 3D printing customer centre

2019-05-28T14:55:00+01:00By AMS

US - GKN Powder Metallurgy has opened its new headquarters in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The 38,260sq.ft facility also includes an additive manufacturing customer centre.

BMW_AM__mini-yours-customise

Customising production

2019-04-10T13:30:00+01:00By James Bakewell

James Bakewell reports on BMW’s growing use of additively produced parts in both vehicle personalising and series production applications

Perceptron-Helix-evo

Access to accuracy

2019-01-08T11:14:00+00:00By Perceptron

Böllinger Höfe

A high-performance build

2019-01-04T12:10:00+00:00By Mike Farish

The Audi R8 series of sports cars is described as being closer to motor racing than any other on-the-road vehicles. Mike Farish takes a closer look at the manufacturing operation

Audi_crossbrace copy

A focus on fibres

2018-11-27T15:21:00+00:00By James Bakewell

Lightweight, high-strength benefits are being offset by materials and process costs. James Bakewell looks at the challenges of making carbon fibre cost effective

BMW Dingolfing

Sticking together

2018-11-27T15:07:00+00:00By James Bakewell

The use of a wide variety of materials throws-up significant production challenges and chief among those is joining. How can this plethora of materials be fixed together without affecting their structural integrity or their individual characteristics?

Screen Shot 2018-11-12 at 08.50.11

Raising the roof

2018-11-19T10:51:00+00:00By Inos Automation

Alpine A110 Dieppe

Alpine scales new heights

2018-10-26T16:19:36+01:00By Nick Gibbs

One of the most interesting plant revivals in the last 12 months has been Renault’s overhaul of its factory in Dieppe, which now builds the A110 sports car. Nick Gibbs reports

Williams platform

Grid reference

2018-10-22T14:28:10+01:00By Mike Farish

Mike Farish visits Williams Advanced Engineering to see how the company delivers a distinctive F1 take on an innovative electric vehicle platform

Chiron brake caliper

Making metal add up

2018-09-13T12:30:55+01:00By Mike Farish

Additively manufactured metal parts present a challenge for high-volume production but at the other end of the scale, engineers are successfully developing the process for specialist, low volume parts. Mike Farish reports

Volvo Cars recycled plastics

Waste not…

2018-09-13T12:03:00+01:00By Karen McCandless

Karen McCandless reports on vehicle-maker recycling projects ranging from plastic bottles to electric vehicle batteries