This week, John Melilli of Composite Automation LLC joins me on our last podcast episode of 2023. John has over 30 years of experience in the application of mechanical, electrical & industrial automation components and systems for manufacturing. He's been working with composite part manufacturers since 2004.
Composite Automation is the only manufacturer’s representative firm in North America that focuses on providing innovative composites manufacturing solutions to companies manufacturing various types of composite structures.
On this episode, we'll be discussing Fiber Patch Placement (FPP) technology by Cevotec. This system enables manufacturers to build complex fiber composites in high volume. This process has the potential to revolutionize the production of complex lightweight parts in several industries.
You can learn more about Composite Automation by visiting https://www.compositeautomation.com.
This week Stephen Nolet, senior director, innovation & technology for TPI joins me on the podcast. TPI was founded in 1968 and since 2001, has manufactured over 90,000 wind blades.
They are a global company focused on innovative and sustainable solutions to decarbonize and electrify the world. They accounted for approximately 38% of all onshore wind blades on a megawatt basis globally, excluding China, in 2022.
TPI is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, and they've expanded their global footprint to include domestic facilities in Newton, Iowa; Warren, Rhode Island; and Santa Teresa, New Mexico and international facilities in Kolding, Denmark; Chennai, India; Juarez, Mexico; Matamoros, Mexico; and Izmir, Turkey.
Their mission is to deliver innovative and sustainable solutions to decarbonize and electrify the world by expanding the adoption of renewable energy.
On this episode, Steve will be sharing the background of TPI and the incredible opportunities ahead in the wind energy market. Wind energy is expected to make up over 30% of electricity generation in 2050 with close to 8,000 gigawatts installed. Compare this to approximately 830 gigawatts generated in 2021!
You can learn more about TPI by visiting https://tpicomposites.com.
Manufacturers in every sector are incorporating promising new processes and materials into product development and production—which often involve coating, sealing, and bonding.
Because these molecular interactions are invisible, a host of unseen environmental conditions can compromise surface integrity during production, leading to costly flaws and breakdowns.
On this episode, Lucas Dillingham of Brighton Science joins the podcast to highlight their company’s technology – a system that allows manufacturers to confidently assess surface readiness for bonding, coating, or sealing at the point of preparation.
More than 20 years ago, Brighton Science began as a development lab for plasma polymerized coatings.
Through research and development work led by their Chief Scientist and founder Dr. Giles Dillingham, Brighton Science made great strides in the field of material science and adhesives in manufacturing.
It was during this time that Brighton Science developed the Surface Analyst, the first hand-held contact angle measurement device used in the development of adhesive bonding for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
You can learn more about their technology by visiting https://www.brighton-science.com.