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.
Woking-based start-up Only Boards has invested in a full lineup of print and finishing equipment from CMYUK, including Mimaki JFX 200-2513 EX UV LED flatbed printer, Mimaki UCJV330-160 roll-to-roll printer and cutter, Mimaki CG-160FXII Plus cutting plotter, Neolt laminator, and JWEI JCUT Pro1625 digital cutting table.
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.
Manufacturing & Process Note: The shift toward thermoplastic pultrusion and reactive processing requires careful management of resin viscosity and cure kinetics to avoid scrap and ensure consistent line yield. Supply chain planning must account for the higher cost and limited availability of carbon fiber and natural fiber reinforcements compared to established glass/polyester systems.
Extec Corp.@ExtecCorpPulse Score1515Thermo Fisher Scientific has demonstrated that in-line Raman spectroscopy, combined with rheology, can monitor polymer identity and physical transformations during extrusion in real time.
FESPA has published "The 2026 Textile Printing Playbook," covering digital workflows, AI and on-demand growth in textile printing. The playbook is available via fespa.com.
Printweek Jobs has posted a night shift opening for a die cutting machine operator covering cut and crease work. The listing names the role and shift directly; no employer, equipment specifications, pay rates, or location details are stated in the source text.
Skandacor is highlighting digital die-cutting systems that automate sheet feeding, registration, and cutting to reduce manual handling in print, packaging, and signage workflows.
SinoPlastix produces Calypto cast acrylic sheet by filling filtered MMA syrup between sealed glass plates, curing in a warm water bath and oven, then filming, inspecting, and trimming on a single line with 135 tonnes monthly output in 1–30 mm. The process controls bubbles, internal stress, thickness evenness, and residual monomer, with thicker sheet requiring longer cure times. AcrylicFabWorks fabricates the same sheet at the Suzhou plant under ISO 9001 since 2020, offering full sheets from 10 pieces and cut panels from 20 pieces per design.
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 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.
Manufacturing & Process Note: Thermoplastic pultrusion using pre-impregnated tapes eliminates in-line impregnation, but the higher melt viscosity of thermoplastics still constrains line speed and achievable profile thickness compared with thermoset systems. Commercial viability in cost-sensitive construction depends on tape supply pricing and demonstrated joint-deflection performance against steel dowels.
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.
Manufacturing & Process Note: Color consistency in polycarbonate compounding hinges on tight control of melt temperature, screw speed, and feed rate; processors should establish a validated operating window rather than chase formulation adjustments, as excessive thermal exposure can degrade the polymer and pigment system, increasing scrap and rework.
Siegwerk India will present its ink, coating, digital colour management and technical service portfolio at LOUPE India 2026, held 29 October to 1 November 2026 at India Expo Centre & Mart, Greater Noida, at Stand C44, Hall 9.
Soyang Europe has invested in a Vivid Veloblade Nexus 3016 digital die-cutting system for its new showroom in Altham, Lancashire, finalised at The Print Show 2026.
Orbis is looking to expand its thermoforming capacity following rapid growth, according to Plastics News. The report does not specify the size of the capacity addition, investment figures, or a timeline for the expansion.
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.
Manufacturing & Process Note: The thermoformable epoxy system enables repair and reshaping of cured composite parts at 180°C, reducing scrap and extending service life; however, solvolysis-based chemical recycling requires dedicated infrastructure and partner coordination, which may limit near-term adoption for cost-sensitive programs.
Pinnacle Custom Signs@PinnacleCstmSgnPulse Score3838
Elite Sign Solutions has invested in finishing equipment to reduce production bottlenecks at its signage operations. The investment targets finishing capacity, the stage where the company identified constrained throughput. No equipment specifications, investment figures, or capacity metrics were disclosed in the source.
Duplo has expanded its showroom and launched a new cutting table, as reported by Printweek. The announcement combines a facility expansion with the introduction of the new cutting table. No further technical specifications, dimensions, or performance metrics were disclosed in the source text.
Craftsmen Industries, Inc.@craftsmenindustPulse Score1515UltraFlex Systems released a specification guide detailing three blockout banner constructions: black-back, greyback, and double-sided builds, across 23 products from 7 oz to 20 oz. The guide advises selecting construction by number of printed faces and viewing distance, noting that full opacity starts at 7 oz while weight determines structural performance. It also flags that 6 of 23 products lack Latex compatibility and that flame listings vary, with only UltraBlockout Banner Pro grades carrying five certifications.
Craftsmen Industries, Inc.@craftsmenindustPulse Score1515UltraFlex Systems released a material guide for silicone edge graphics (SEG) that specifies VorTex textiles by lighting condition, print process, and flame-resistance listing.
UltraFlex Systems released a guide detailing its VorTex printable fabric lines—D Line for direct dye-sublimation, T Line for transfer, and S Line for UV, latex, and solvent—for applications including SEG, backlit boxes, flags, and wallcoverings.
UltraFlex Systems released a specification guide for tension fabric displays, detailing how fabric weight, opacity, and knit construction determine image quality and frame concealment.
Katherine Soucie has tested Cheekyarn's Loop8 recycled yarn as a structural component in upcycled textiles built from recycled wool-blend sock waste sourced from J Alex Swift. In her trials, Loop8 remained visible and structurally present through wet and dry felting, unlike wool yarns that merged into the sock material. The 8-ply yarn proved slightly too large for the needle eye of her Merrow Crochet Purl Edge machine, so she adapted with hand stitching.
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.
Manufacturing & Process Note: Mold-in-color PMMA eliminates coating energy and VOC emissions, but the EU End-of-Life Vehicles Directive entering into force in 2026 will require a documented recycling route for every plastic component, so material selection must now be paired with end-of-life planning.
Clear Design has outlined its acrylic fabrication process, covering design, cutting, bending, gluing, UV digital printing, and logistics, backed by more than 30 years of expertise. The company produces premium acrylic displays, podiums, retail solutions, and custom fabricated products, with quality embedded throughout each stage rather than inspected at the end.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 concluded with over 36,000 visitors and 1,700 exhibitors from 112 countries, reporting 95% visitor satisfaction and 86% exhibitor satisfaction.
Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 opened with 1,700 exhibitors from 54 countries, featuring a doubled Performance Apparel Textiles segment and a new Textile Chemicals & Dyes area. The show highlights three examples: a Molotov Cocktail Protective Suit for ten-hour deployments, a warp-knitted UV protection jacket achieving 50+ without chemical finishing, and GRS multi-norm PPE fabrics retaining flame retardancy after 100 industrial washes. Live demonstrations run from 21 to 24 April.
Messe Frankfurt announced 17 international winners of the Techtextil and Texprocess Innovation Awards 2026 across ten categories, recognizing developments in PFAS-free textile finishing, bio-based polymers, and automated fabric handling.
Manufacturing & Process Note: The 2026 awards highlight a clear shift toward PFAS-free finishing and bio-based polymers, which will require finishers to validate new chemistries on existing Foulard and Stenter lines and reassess wastewater treatment. For plant managers, the practical near-term impact is supplier qualification lead time and the need to update material compliance documentation ahead of EU restrictions.
Katherine Soucie of Sans Soucie adapted a three-thread Union Special coverstitch machine to develop the Collage Technique, a zero-waste textile reassembly method for accessories that uses two- and three-thread layering to stitch and join sock waste.
Techtextil 2026 will host the Performance Apparel Textiles area in Hall 9.0 with around 130 exhibitors from 13 countries, including Concordia Textiles, Getzner, Kermel, Klopman International and YKK Europe.
Messe Frankfurt has curated the Techtextil and Texprocess 2026 forums to cover AI-supported production optimisation, digital manufacturing, circular technologies, and bio-based high-performance materials.
RACE Composite Repair@RACECompRepairPulse Score1818
