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Solico Engineering Uses Full-Structure FEA to Cut 12% Weight from ISO-Optimized Composite Hull

Solico Engineering applied full-structure FEA in FEMAP with Nastran to a 12.7-meter glass fiber/vinyl ester foam-cored hull already optimized to ISO 12215-5, achieving an additional 12% structural weight reduction (roughly 337 kilograms).

James G. Wilson: Operator Compensation Can Mask Weak Process Capability in Extrusion

Industry veteran James G. Wilson warns that compensating for weak extrusion processes through skilled operator intervention can hide underlying capability gaps. He shares methods for detecting when operator effort has quietly become essential to production.

nlcomp Launches rTurbine Project to Validate Recyclable Thermoplastic Composite in Vertical-Axis Wind Turbines

Northern Light Composites (nlcomp) has launched the rTurbine project to design, build and install a demonstration vertical-axis wind turbine using its proprietary recyclable thermoplastic composite, rComposite, and photovoltaic panels.

AVK Innovation Awards 2026 Recognise Thermoplastic Composite Drill, Robotic Mould-Free Forming and Prestressed Mineral Castings

AVK, the German Federation of Reinforced Plastics, awarded first prizes in three categories at the 2026 AVK Innovation Awards, presented at JEC Composites Talks DACH in Cologne on October 20th.

Project OPTIMA Launches Two-Year Initiative to Accelerate Thermoplastic Composite Production for Aerospace

CCP Gransden leads Project OPTIMA, a two-year UK composites supply chain initiative supported by the ATI SME Programme, to accelerate industrial adoption of thermoplastic materials in aerospace.

AVK Innovation Awards 2026: Anybrid's PP-CF Drill Bit and Renewpoly's Bio-Based FlexFuran Resin Take Top Prizes

AVK announced the 2026 Innovation Awards on 20 October at JEC Composites Talks DACH in Cologne, recognizing Anybrid's thermoplastic PP-CF drill bit with a 70% weight reduction versus steel and Renewpoly's bio-based FlexFuran fire-retardant resin system.

JEC Report: Taiwan Leverages Semiconductor and AI Expertise to Advance Composite Manufacturing

JEC Group reports that Taiwan is integrating its semiconductor fabrication and AI capabilities with polymer composites expertise to compress R&D lifecycles for advanced materials.

Moldex3D Integrates DOE and Machine Data to Systematize Injection Molding Optimization

Moldex3D has introduced a workflow that combines virtual Design of Experiments (DOE), machine characterization, and production data feedback to reduce trial-and-error in injection molding process optimization.

ST Composites Develops Flax-Fibre Bicycle Frames Under France 2030 LINNOV Project

ST Composites launched the LINNOV project to industrialise flax-fibre bicycle frame production at around 5,000 units per year, targeting prototypes by summer 2027. The frames use 100% flax reinforcement and epoxy resins with 30–50% bio-based content from European suppliers, with the company investigating a 100% biomass-based and recyclable resin. The project aims to replace imported aluminium frames and reduce frame weight by almost half while supporting French flax supply chains.

Beaumont Technologies Highlights Limits of MFI and Capillary Rheometry for Predicting Injection Molding Behavior

Eric Bowersox, Director of Beaumont Advanced Processing, presented at the 2026 SPE Injection Molding Innovation Summit on how MFI and capillary rheometry fail to characterize polymer behavior under injection molding conditions.

Bipolar Electrode Electrical Treatment Enables Wireless Carbon Fiber Recovery from CFRP Waste

Researchers investigated a bipolar electrode electrical treatment (BPE-ET) system that separates resin from CFRP without direct wiring, allowing entire batches of irregularly shaped waste to be submerged at once.

Fraunhofer IWU Expands Industrial Pultrusion Platform to Curved, Multimaterial and Sensor-Integrated Profiles

Fraunhofer IWU has advanced its industrial-scale pultrusion line to process thermosets, thermoplastics, glass, carbon and natural fibers, producing profiles from less than 1 to 5,800 square millimeters in cross-section.

Extec Corp.@ExtecCorp· 00:00Pulse Score1515

Extec marks Navy Day by honoring U.S. Navy personnel and families. For aerospace and defense materials labs, the post points to the Extec Labcut RTR CNC system for composite test specimens, with a link to the product page.

How Cooling Design Prevents Warpage in Injection Molding

Laura Florez explains that warpage in injection-molded parts originates from unbalanced in-mold stresses caused by uneven cooling rates across the mold halves. The article details how differential heat removal shifts the neutral stress axis, causing parts to bend toward the hotter side, and how semi-crystalline materials intensify shrinkage through crystallization. Conformal cooling channels that closely follow the mold wall are presented as a method to achieve homogeneous heat transfer, shorten cycle time, and improve dimensional stability.

ReForm Composites Commercializes Thermoplastic Pultrusion for Continuous Fiber TPC Profiles

ReForm Composites has commercialized a thermoplastic pultrusion process that uses off-the-shelf thermoplastic prepreg tapes instead of dry rovings, eliminating in-line impregnation and enabling continuous fiber TPC profiles to be produced many times faster than traditional thermoset pultrusion for simple sections.

Study Links Polycarbonate Color Consistency to Extrusion Processing Window

A recent study using a transparent polycarbonate blend and red letdown pigment found that processing temperature, screw speed, and feed rate significantly affect final color consistency by altering melt viscosity and pigment dispersion.

Aditya Birla Introduces Thermoformable Recyclable Epoxy System for Composites

Aditya Birla has launched a thermoformable and recyclable epoxy system based on its Recyclamine platform, enabling cured composites to be reshaped and repaired under heat while retaining mechanical performance.

Extec Corp.@ExtecCorp· 03:16Pulse Score3838

Extec highlights that repeatable prepreg preparation depends on tooling and fixturing as much as the machine itself. The post references enclosed CNC routing and milling performed on the Extec Labcut RTR, with a link to the product page.

Extec Corp.@ExtecCorp· 02:36Pulse Score3434

Extec introduces the Labcut® RTR Hybrid CNC Composite Router, designed for surface finish and dimensional control. The system prepares highly accurate composite specimens, including dog bones and open-hole compression samples.

Volkswagen Uses Röhm PLEXIGLAS® Mold-in-Color PMMA for ID. Buzz Rear Spoilers, Eliminating Coating

Volkswagen and supplier Magna are producing rear spoilers, wingflaps and pillar trims for the ID. Buzz using Röhm's PLEXIGLAS® PMMA molding compound in Piano Black via a mold-in-color process that removes the need for coating.

RACE Composite Repair@RACECompRepair· 04:36Pulse Score1818

RACE Composite Repair shared a before-and-after transformation of the Bullrider Quarter Midget for C.A.M. Racing. The raw chassis was fitted with the company's custom carbon fiber body panels, described as lightweight, strong, and finished with a deep glossy weave.