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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: Category: composites manufacturing
Dec 28, 2023

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

Dec 12, 2023

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

 

 

Nov 16, 2023

On this episode, Russell Covarrubia of Covarrubia Energy joins me to discuss how they are using pyrolysis technology to meet the demands of energy transition and electrification globally. Their goal is to produce reliable, renewable utility-scale power plants that deliver both on energy and financial output. 

Jul 24, 2023

This week Peter Hedger, of Composite Applications Group joins me as co-host as we welcome Martin Mclaughlin to discuss the Implosion of OceanGate’s Titan and Aerospace Certification Methods. 

There has been a lot of speculation that the submersible implosion was due to the composite cylinder fatigue after repeated dives. On this episode, we'll be discussing the best practices for the design, development, and certification of a modern composite shell for deep-sea applications. 

Martin has 22 years of experience in tactical aircraft and B-2 development; 17 years of space transportation systems development, with experience in advanced composite structures and composite cryogenic propellant tanks.

He's the founder of McLaughlin Aerospace LLC and has been involved in accident investigations during his career. 

 

Jul 17, 2023

On this episode, Nick Ciparro joins me on the podcast.

Nick is the Chief R&D scientist at Carbon Rivers, a company that develops and commercializes technologies such as:

  • Second Generation Polymer Composites 
  • Graphene-Based Materials (https://www.theaccr.com/)
  • Multi-Functional Nuclear Industry Materials
  • Additive Manufacturing Materials
  • Tunable Multi-Functional Composite Coatings
  • Advanced Composites

Nick has s super interesting story to share of how he got into the world of advanced materials and composites. 

Apr 17, 2023

On this episode, Eric Pierrejean and Thomas Lepretre join us to discuss JEC, and JEC World 2023. Eric is the president and CEO of JEC and Thomas is the JEC World Director. 

JEC World is the only global trade show dedicated to composite materials and applications.

It gathers the whole value chain of the composite materials industry in Paris every year and is “the place to be” for composites professionals from all over the world.

This event brings together not only all major global companies but also innovative startups in the field of composites and advanced materials. 

My guests will be sharing not only the background and mission of JEC, but some of the highlights of this year's show. 

 

May 15, 2021

This week Tato Bigio, cofounder of UBQ joins me on the show to discuss how their company helping to reduce landfills all over the world by converting everyday household waste into their patented UBQ™ Material.

UBQ™ is a thermoplastic and climate positive material, that can be used to make everyday durable end-products, more sustainable and with a reduced carbon footprint.

It can substitute plastics, minerals, and wood in thousands of different applications. 

UBQ Materials was founded in 2012 by Tato Bigio and Rabbi Yehuda Pearl. The name UBQ stands for ubiquitous. The problem of waste is ubiquitous and the solutions, therefore, need to be as well. On this episode, Tato will be sharing the background of the UBQ™, and discuss their process, as well as some of the projects they've been involved with. 

Apr 2, 2020

Today I have Greg Mark, CEO of Markforged joining me to share how their company is filling gaps in the medical supply shortage, and how 3D printing is becoming an effective option for fast production during times of crisis. 3D printing is emerging as a critical tool for preventing and flattening the curve of the coronavirus spread, arming healthcare providers with the tools they need to do their jobs. 

Mar 17, 2020

This week, Tony Uphoff joins me on the show to discuss how manufacturing supply chains have been impacted by the Coronavirus. Tony is the President and CEO of Thomas, the leader in product sourcing, supplier selection, and marketing solutions for industry. 

A recent survey showed by 750 North American manufacturing and industrial suppliers showed that 60% of US manufacturing companies are already feeling the disruptions caused by the coronavirus outbreak, with 24% of the surveyed companies having production facilities in China.

Ont this episode, we'll be discussing this survey, and Tony will shed some good news from some more recent survey numbers that indicate supply chains have adjusted their sourcing and these disruptions are being minimized by manufacturers. 

About Thomas

Thomas provides actionable information, data, analysis and tools that align with and support today’s industrial buying process. Its solutions include the Thomas Network®, industry’s largest and most active buyer/supplier network. Through Thomas Marketing Services, the company also provides full-service industrial marketing programs and website development. 

Mar 2, 2020

This week, I welcome Grant Posner on the show to discuss his company 3D Musketeers and some of the work they are doing in the field of additive manufacturing. One of the unique industries they are serving is forensics engineering. They are able to print small scale models of wrecked vehicles in order to reconstruct accident scenes for juries. 

You can learn more about 3D Musketeers by visiting them at https://3dmusketeers.com.

Jan 15, 2020

On this episode, I welcome Reza K. Amineh, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New York Institute of Technology. He and a colleague won more than $350,000 to develop new imaging techniques that will enhance testing of composite materials in oil-and-gas pipelines.  

Professor Amnieh has been working on this project since 2017 with support from internal NYIT grants, which paid for the launch of their Applied Electromagnetics Research Lab (AEMRL).

Their aim is to produce a prototype that can conduct fast and reliable tests of composite materials in various applications. If successful, this technology will significantly reduce costs and increase system safety for oil and gas extraction, urban infrastructure, and other operations that rely on pipelines.

We'll be discussing this project on this episode. 

Apr 9, 2018

This week, I welcome Douglas Griffin on the show. Doug is the co-founder and president of Modern Recovery Systems. He's also responsible with designing and manufacturing custom machinery for processing difficult to recycle materials. 

Their focus is on the extraction of carbon fibers from finished composites, including laminates, trimmings, tooling, R&D and end-of-life components. These recovered carbon fibers are made available in milled or random chopped form.

On this week's episode, Doug and I will be discussing his company's background as well as their unique approach to recovering carbon fiber. We'll be discussing their services and also the newest facility set to startup in 2019.

You can find more composites related podcast episodes by visiting http://www.compositesweekly.com

Oct 26, 2016

This week, I welcome John Cogger on Composites Weekly. John is the president of Innova Engineering. They provides engineering services to manufacturers in a variety of industries including medical, aerospace and consumer product industries.

John has over 25 years of experience in the fields of engineering and consulting and has direct experience in the application of composites materials ranging from high performance thermosets, to long and short fiber injection molded thermoplastics, in architectural applications.

On this episode, we'll continue to discuss composites in the architectural industry and the exciting possibilities that are available.

One of the main concerns in the use of these materials though is the cost, as well as perceived manufacturing complexity.

John says the keys to success in using these materials is a keen understanding of the manufacturing process, the ability to perform quick and simplified analysis of complex materials, and the use of topology optimization tools to reduce costs and provide maximal structural benefits using the least amount of material.

You can find more episodes like this by visiting our website at www.compositesweekly.com.

Oct 19, 2016

This week, we are discussing opportunities for composites in the Architecture market with William Kimmerle of Kimmerle Group.

Kimmerle Group is a multifaceted architectural design firm. With a headquarters in Harding, NJ and the Urban Studio office in NYC, the multifaceted architecture design firm has an extensive portfolio of work in corporate, commercial, healthcare, planning & urban design, education, residential and historic preservation.

William has been with Kimmerle Group for more than a decade in varying capacities ranging from senior designer to senior project manager.

On this episode, we'll be discussing a recent project in Long Island City, NY in which they are using carbon fiber structural reinforcement. We'll how they are using carbon fiber and some of the exciting opportunities that composite materials offers to the architectural industry.

You can find more weekly episodes like this by visiting http://www.compositesweekly.com

Oct 10, 2016

This past week at CAMX, I had the opportunity to interview John Schweitzer of the ACMA. John is the Vice President of Government Affairs with the American Composites Manufacturers Association.

On this episode, we'll be discussing the ACMA's political action committee (PAC) and why it is so important for today's manufacturers.

The ACMA PAC was established over a decade ago to promote:

• ACCESS: ACMA PAC is the only political organization in Washington, D.C. specifically dedicated to the composites industry. An active presence on Capitol Hill is critical to balance our competing interests from other associations that are pushing their own legislative agenda. If our interests are propelled by the weight of a robust PAC, then we have the access we need to key Members of Congress.

• ADVOCACY: Congress routinely considers legislation that will have a lasting impact on the composites industry. A robust PAC allows ACMA to provide policymakers the resources they need to make informed decisions about bills specifically affecting our industry's bottom line.

• ALLIES: ACMA has worked hard to develop strong relationships with Congressional members that have proven to be industry allies. Contributions to ACMA PAC can be used to support those Senators and Representatives that are facing challenging re-elections in competitive districts.

Oct 6, 2016

On this episode, I welcome Joshua Leath on the show to share some background on his company and the products they offer.

Joshua is the product manager for Fibre Glast Developments Corporation - a company that offers a complete line of fiberglass supplies and composite materials including fiberglass cloth, epoxy resins, carbon fabric, mold Kevlar and more.

Fibre Glast Developments has built the largest and most comprehensive catalog of top quality composite materials and supplies in the industry.

On this episode, Josh will be discussing the history of Fiberglast and the primary markets they serve. He'll also be discussing one of their biggest sales and marketing advantages - an incredible online catalogue and e-commerce site that allows customers to order what they need when they need it.

They also provide a comprehensive learning center that is designed to be a go-to educational resource to share everything you need to know about composites materials and their applications.

You can find more weekly episodes like this by visiting http://www.compositesweekly.com.

Sep 21, 2016

This week, I welcome Francesco Fornasiero on the show to discuss some his work in developing a composite material that makes military uniforms breathable and could protect soldiers from biological and chemical agents.

Dr. Fornasiero is on the research staff of the
Biosciences and Biotechnology Division at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has a mission of strengthening the United States' security through development and application of world-class science and technology to:

• Enhance the nation's defense.
• Reduce the global threat from terrorism and weapons of mass destruction.
• And respond with vision, quality, integrity and technical excellence to scientific issues of national importance.

You can find more weekly episodes like this by visiting http://www.compositesweekly.com.

Aug 9, 2016

This week, I welcome Paul Hewitt of Rocket Composites on the show to discuss one of their recent projects - the first carbon fiber backpack frame that weighs under 10 ounces.

You can find more weekly episodes like this by visiting our website at http://www.compositesweekly.com.

Jul 25, 2016

This week JB Currell joins me on the show. JB is the owner of Bio Brands and Gibco Flexmold.

Today we'll be talking about their green acetone replacement and also the Flex Mold, a great product for tooling, production and repair of non-skid deck areas of boats as well as other FRP manufactured products.

You can find our weekly podcast episodes by visiting http://www.compositesweekly.com.

May 17, 2016

This week we interview Scott Clear, the Chief Design & Innovation Officer at RKS Design. RKS, is a Los Angeles based design and innovation consultancy.
One of their recent projects consisted of creating an all new sustainable composite using excess tree pulp, something that had never been done before.

They molded the first batch of this material into guitars, to take advantage of the wood-like qualities that it offers.

On this episode, Scott joins me to talk about this project using THRIVE, a new class of thermoplastic composites. THRIVE composites use cellulose fibers to reinforce various plastics, allowing customers to bypass many of the current challenges with conventional fiber-reinforced composites like fiberglass.

You can find more episodes like this by visiting http://www.compositesweekly.com.

May 6, 2016

This week we welcome Dr. Wayne Powers, Dr. Ron Koniz and Mr. Bill O'Brien of Globe Composite Solutions to discuss their patented High Gravity Composites. 

You can find more episodes like this by visiting www.CompositesWeekly.com

Apr 26, 2016

This week, we welcome Brittany Fossier of Fibergrate Composite Products.

Fibergrate Composite Structures is the world's leader in fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) molded grating.

Founded in 1966, Fibergrate is celebrating 50 years of experience in the FRP industry.

Over that time, they've grown to be the leading global manufacturer and services provider of high performance fiberglass engineered solutions.

With worldwide sales, fabrication and distribution networks working collaboratively, Fibergrate provides product solutions for a wide range of industrial, commercial and recreational applications.

On today's episode I'll be talking with Brittany about Fibergrate's 50 years in the FRP industry, their molded and pultruded gratings, stair solutions and other unique products they offer.

You can find more episodes like this by visiting http://www.CompositesWeekly.com.

Apr 4, 2016

This week we welcome Brian Evans of Globe Composite Solutions on the show.

Originally founded in 1890 as a sheet rubber products company in downtown Boston, Globe has evolved into a full-service, leading-edge developer of specialty non-metallic materials for military, medical, material handling, industrial, oil field and marine applications.

Brian will be discussing his company's history, their unique services and the primary markets they serve.

You can find more weekly episodes like this by visiting http://www.CompositesWeekly.com.

Mar 22, 2016

This week we welcome Neil Hamlin of COMPOTOOL on the show to discuss their matched pattern mould tooling system.

COMPOTOOL tooling board has very high thermal stability and excellent machining characteristics and can be used as a high accuracy pattern material or for prototype and short run direct tooling.

You can find more weekly composite interviews like this by visiting www.CompositesWeekly.com.

Mar 18, 2016

This week we'll be discussing some of the latest technology developments in the aerospace market with Cameron Crowell and Emily Judd.

Both are students who are working and doing research in composite materials in aerospace structures.

You can find more weekly episodes like this by visiting http://www.compositesweekly.com.

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