JEC Innovation Awards winners show best in composites design
THE JEC Innovation Awards winners announced in May were selected from 33 finalists. “Innovation is an essential part of this industry – it’s how we invest in our future. The top priorities for players in the composites value chain include product solidity, safety and durability. That is why the JEC Composites Innovation Awards are more than just an awards ceremony. They are meant to inspire all participants, the whole industry and shed light on the excellent work carried out by the prize winners,” said Franck Glowacz, innovation content leader at JEC Group.
SPORTS: FUTURE OF SPRINTS: SPIKE-LESS CFRTP SPRINTING SHOE
ASICS Corporation (Japan), Associated partners: Innovative Composite Center of Kanazawa Institute of Technology (Japan), Nagase ChemteX Corporation (Japan) & Suncorona Oda Co Ltd. (Japan).
A breakthrough shaping methodology using pre-formed randomly oriented ultra-thin CFRTP tapes. The finest detail moulding is now possible with CFRTP as accomplished in this spike-less sprinting shoe.
Key benefits:
- Revolutionary spike-less structure was designed for efficient power transmission.
- Ultra-thin CFRTP tapes were developed by industry’s first manufacturing systems.
- New CFRTP provides the finest detailed mouldability and material waste reduction.
- New CFRTP reduces production cost without sacrificing any mechanical property.
- Well-balanced combination between lightweight and bending stiffness
SPACE: LIGHTWEIGHT & LINER-LESS CARBON SUBSCALE CRYOTANK
Hankuk carbon (South Korea)
Achieved 30% of the space launch vehicle weight reduction by replacing the current fuel tank to renewal liner-less carbon composites cryotank.
Key benefits:
- Lightweight
- Manufacturing technology without liner for Korean satellite launch vehicle type
- 8-10 times higher impact resistance than steel tank
- Lower weight
PUBLIC VOTE: DESTINY THERMOPLASTIC RESIN TRAIN FRONT END
Stratiforme Industries (France), Associated partners: Arkema (France), ASMA (France), Plateforme Canoe (France), Crepim (France), Imt Lille – Douai / Armines (France) and Stelia Composites / Airbus (France)
The DESTINY project aims to launch a new range of components for commercial aircraft interior fittings and rail applications based on thermoplastic composites.
Key benefits:
- Parts lightening: 15% weight reduction for equivalent mechanical properties
- Possibility of end-of-life resin recovery
- Use of resin respectful with latest health and safety standards
- Compliance with the regulatory and normative standards for aeronautics and rail
- Common resin system applicable for external and internal fittings
PROCESS: LINE FOR TAILORED THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE BLANKS
Engel Austria GmbH (Austria), Associated partner: FILL GmbH (Austria)
The line, consisting of a pick-and-place stacking cell and a heating- and-cooling consolidation unit, is capable producing a tailored thermoplastic blank within a cycle time of one to three minutes.
Key benefits:
- Highly efficient production of thermoplastic tailored composite blanks
- Tape orientation and thickness variation in the blank for best weight saving
- Precise control of gap and overlap between tapes using a vision system
- Base layer and combination of different tape materials are possible
- The materials and the processing lead to components that are fully recyclable
RAILWAY VEHICLES & INFRASTRUCTURE: PROJECT BRAINSTORM
Far-UK Ltd (UK), Associated partners: Composite Braiding Ltd (UK), Transport Design International Ltd (UK) and the Warwick Manufacturing Group – University of Warwick( UK)
Light rail getting lighter! Very lightweight composite tubes in a novel design for light railcar structures produce lower investment and manufacturing costs, as well as reducing carbon emissions.
Key benefits:
- Significantly lighter than its metallic equivalent
- Cost competitive in full production to a metallic equivalent
- Modular design assists repair and all inherently recyclable at end of life
- Reduction in carbon emissions and infrastructure wear
- World-leading technology from a British Consortium
RECYCLING: CLOSED LOOP RECYCLING OF EPOXY COMPOSITES
Cobra international (Thailand), Associated partners: Aditya Birla Chemicals Limited – Advanced Materials (Thailand), Starboard Co. Ltd (Thailand), The Maui Fin Company – MFC (USA)
Cobra and Aditya Birla Chemicals present a sustainable solution for closed loop recycling of infused epoxy mould tools and thermoset epoxy RTM water sports fins for Starboard and MFC.
Key benefits:
- Contributes to circular economy and a sustainable world
- Ground-breaking thermoset composite recycling
- End of life recycling and recovery of composite components
- Closed loop recycling process enabled
- Production tooling recycled in house
DESIGN & FURNITURE: MASS-PRODUCED FLAX FIBRE ROOFS
Mecelec (France), Associated partners : IDI (France), IMU (France), JC DECAUX (France), MGI, Polyprocess (France), SF Composites (France), Terre de Lin (France)
The first application of flax fibre BMC for mass production. The Morris column dome, was designed, tested and launched in under a year.
Key benefits:
- Controlled environmental footprint
- Use of a bio-sourced flax mat
- Compromise between mechanical properties and optimised costs
- Rapid market launch
- Easier mechanical assembly
MARITIME TRANSPORTATION & SHIPBUILDING: NORSEPOWER ROTOR SAIL LIGHTWEIGHT SOLUTION
Gurit UK Ltd (UK), Associated partners: Comaxel Sp. z o.o. (POLAND), Gurit (Switzerland) & Norsepower Oy Ltd. (FINLAND)
Norsepower Rotor Sail Solution helps freight and passenger vessels to reduce fuel costs by 5-30%, by enhancing the propulsion system of a vessel by using wind as an auxiliary propulsion measure.
Key benefits:
- Reducing fuel costs
- Reducing emissions
- Compatibility with environmental regulations
- Short payback time compared to alternatives
- Sustainability image benefits
Other winners, featured in our April/May 2020 issue, were:
ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING: CFIP TECHNOLOGY
design – JEC Awards (Eurecat1, 2)
Eurecat (Spain), Associated partners: AIRBUS (Germany), ASICS (Spain), HP (Spain)
AERONAUTICS: INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR WELDING OF TP COMPOSITES
design – JEC Awards (Institut de Soudure Groupe)
Institut de Soudure Groupe (France), Associated partners: Arkema (France), Hexcel (France), Latecoere (France), and Stelia Aerospace (France)
www.isgroupe.com/en/Pages/default.aspx
CONSTRUCTION, INFRASTRUCTURES & CIVIL ENGINEERING: CL RESTRAP
design – JEC Awards (Carbo-link1, 2, 3)
CARBO-LINK AG (Switzerland)
