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Composites Weekly

Composites Weekly is an online podcast published each week by industry expert Jonathan Taylor. Jonathan has served as consultant in the composites industry for over 12 years. He brings you the latest news and information in the world of composites and provides interviews of leading manufacturers and distributors in the industry.
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Now displaying: June, 2023
Jun 30, 2023

On this episode, Scott Lewitt of Structural Composites Inc. joins me to discuss a newly installed composite bridge in Tennessee that they've developed, and how this structure is being used to showcase sustainable solutions for aging infrastructure.

This FRP bridge replaces a decades-old concrete crossing which, like many rural bridges across the nation, was rated structurally deficient and outdated. 

The University of Tennessee and the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI) partnered with Morgan County, TN, and Morgan County Highway Superintendent Joe Miller to create an affordable bridge that can be installed quickly and will safely meet transportation needs

You can see this bridge by visiting https://compositebridge.org

Jun 28, 2023

On this episode, Tobi Ferguson, CEO of Magnum Venus Products, joins me at the IACMI Member Meeting to discuss their new $20 million expansion. 

Magnum Venus Products (MVP), a global manufacturer of fluid movement and production solutions for industrial applications, is expanding its footprint and capabilities with the purchase of this new facility and land in East Tennessee. 

This expansion will enable MVP to increase its manufacturing velocity and meet customer demand.

Tobi will be sharing the details of this new facility as well as MVP's mission moving forward as a solutions provider for the composites industry. 

You can learn more about MVP by visiting https://www.mvpind.com

Jun 26, 2023

On this episode, Haley Marie Keith, the CEO of Mito Materials joins me during IACMI's annual member meeting. MITO’s technology is the “first and only” process to functionalize substances like graphene oxide and biomaterials—creating hybrid additives that give fiber-reinforced composites and thermoplastics lab-verified improvements in strength, durability, flexibility, and sustainability.

Their technology can be integrated into a variety of production processes, including:

  • Pultrusion
  • Injection molding and extrusion
  • Vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding
  • Pre-preg
  • Additive manufacturing

You can learn more by visiting https://mitomaterials.com

Jun 22, 2023

On this episode, regular guest Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me to discuss the topic of industry consolidation. We explore the impact of mergers & acquisitions on the future of composites. 

Over the past year, we have seen monumental shifts and transformations, with particular emphasis on the flurry of mergers and acquisitions that have created a seismic shift in our industry's landscape.

The composites industry has been, for decades, a critical player in driving technological advancements and sustainable solutions across multiple sectors, from aerospace to automotive, construction to wind energy. It has been the unsung hero behind numerous innovations, providing the raw materials that enable us to push the boundaries of what's possible.

But, like any sector in the global market, the composites industry isn't immune to the forces of change. In an era defined by digital disruption, geopolitical tensions, and environmental challenges, businesses have had to adapt and reinvent themselves. The rapid rate of consolidation through mergers and acquisitions is a testament to these forces at play.

But what does this mean for the future of our industry?

Today we’ll try and dissect the nuances of these mergers and acquisitions, and assess their potential impact on our industry's future. 

Some sources we'll refer to are below: 

https://www.accenture.com/us-en/insightsnew/chemicals/changing-face-ma

https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/de/Documents/energy-resources/gx-global-chemicals-ma-outlook-2023.pdf

https://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com/2022/02/84417/

 

 

Jun 16, 2023

On this episode, Brian Fitzgerald, the CRO at Augury joins me to discuss how A.I. is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry with its ability to predict machine and equipment failure, enhancing efficiency and reducing downtime costs. 

Augury is a Billion manufacturing tech company that is unlocking production capacity, predictability, and sustainability while transforming how manufacturing teams work. 

You can learn more about Augury by visiting https://www.augury.com

 

Jun 13, 2023

This week, Jesus Zozaya and James Pickard of Voltera join me on the show to discuss the future of additive electronics and how it is revolutionizing so many industries - including composites. 

Votera, is a company that makes rapid prototyping platforms for printed electronics — from traditional circuit boards to the flexible, stretchable, conformable, and biocompatible electronics of tomorrow. The best and brightest minds are using Voltera's NOVA platform to push the boundaries of innovation - boundaries that are only limited by your imagination. 

On this episode, they’ll be sharing some of the applications their printing technology is being used for – from simple solutions like an induction coffee mug heater to self-heating carbon fiber composites for UAV Wings

You can learn more about their technology, as well as connect with their experts for questions by visiting https://voltera.io/cw

 

Jun 6, 2023

On this episode, Alex Corrêa, CEO of Gerdau Graphene joins me to discuss some of the exciting work their company is doing with graphene to revolutionize industries such as coatings, concrete, elastomers, polymers, and lubricants to name a few. 

This Brazilian nanotechnology company Gerdau Graphene, specializes in advanced graphene-enhanced materials for industrial applications.

They have recently announced the commercial availability of two new additives specifically formulated for waterborne paints and coatings. The two new additives also deliver excellent coverage, durability, and washability while also minimizing the overall environmental impact, reducing or eliminating the need for some traditional manufacturing inputs, additives, and processes, thus also lowering production costs.

We'll be discussing these latest developments and some of their applications. 

You can learn more by visiting https://www.gerdaugraphene.com/en.html

 

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