Composites Manufacturing

13/01/2025

What challenges lie ahead for in ? John Schweitzer shares his perspective in Composites Manufacturing:

Composites manufacturers are better prepared to address customer demands for information on the climate and other environmental impacts associated with production and use of their products. Many have attended ACMA-sponsored tutorials on sustainability, lifecycle assessment (LCA) and related topics.....

09/01/2025

Caltrans is building a greener future with sustainable infrastructure and innovative applications. Find out how they’re making an impact:

The Tower Bridge, a vertical lift bridge over the Sacramento River, was retrofitted with an FRP cantilevered pedestrian walkway.

06/01/2025

Class 8 trucks haul 80% of U.S. goods, using 28 billion gallons of fuel annually. As the trucking industry works to boost fuel efficiency and cut emissions, composites like GFRP are stepping up. In the International® SuperTruck II project, components improved aerodynamic efficiency by 58% and fuel efficiency by 20%. Learn how are transforming the freight sector in Composites Manufacturing:

The International® SuperTruck II features more the 45 composite parts.

03/01/2025

Could Long Fiber Injection revolutionize production? Find out how researchers are tackling this challenge in Composites Manufacturing:

Researchers hope to adapt low-cost technology for production of high-performance CFRP composites.

19/12/2024

With a new president and Congress taking office, now is the perfect time for composites professionals to strengthen connections with lawmakers. Congressional visits to manufacturing facilities can spotlight your innovations, address policy challenges, and build relationships that support the growth of our industry. ACMA’s government relations team is here to help you prepare and navigate these opportunities. Learn more about setting up a visit in the latest CM magazaine article by ACMA's Dan Neumann:

Congressman Jim Himes, second from left, toured Axel Plastics and met with employees and three generations of the Axel family.

02/12/2024

A research laboratory at Purdue University is making big advances in large-scale additive manufacturing. Check out the details in the latest issue of CM Magazine:

A research laboratory at Purdue University is making big advances in large-scale additive manufacturing.

27/11/2024

The composites industry is evolving, and so is its workforce. In her latest message for Composites Manufacturing, ACMA Board Chair Megan Multanen reflects on the diversity and innovation showcased at CAMX 2024 and shares strategies for attracting and supporting the next generation of professionals. From expanding technical training to offering forward-thinking benefits, explore her insights on building a stronger, more inclusive workforce:

As I walked around the CAMX Exhibit Hall in San Diego in September, I was intrigued by all the new materials and processing technologies. But something else also stood out – the diversity of people in the composites and advanced materials industry. Nearly 18% of conference attendees were from outs...

20/11/2024

The newest issue of Composites Manufacturing Magazine is here! Explore advancements in large-scale additive manufacturing, sustainability, and transportation and infrastructure applications. Read the digital version now:

07/10/2024

V Frames in Germany is taking e-bike innovation to the next level with carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) frames. By using water-assisted injection molding (WAIM), they're cutting the by 68% compared to traditional aluminum frames. Ready to see how they're redefining the ride? Read more about the technology here: https://hubs.la/Q02Sl7DD0

As the market for environmentally friendly electric bikes grows, V Frames of Saalfeld, Germany, is using water-assisted injection molding (WAIM) to produce carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) e-bike frames that break from the usual aluminum frames made in Asia and provide a 68% smaller car...

27/09/2024

State DOTs are fully committed to reducing the climate impact of , investing in staff and tools to evaluate emissions. As the industry gears up to meet sustainability goals, ACMA's upcoming + Generator will play a crucial role in ensuring high-quality data and transparent methods for EPDs in construction projects.

Read more in this column by ACMA's VP, EH&S and Sustainability, John Schweitzer: https://hubs.ly/Q02Rm5Q80

This summer, I’ve spent several days with groups of state DOT engineers, university faculty, trade association staff and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) program managers, watching as they presented and discussed ideas for quantifying and redu...

19/09/2024

ACMA has launched the Data Clarity Task Force to improve how the industry is tracked in U.S. trade statistics and Census data. This initiative aims to create new 10-digit statistical reporting codes to better quantify our industry's impact and enhance visibility. Learn more in the latest from CM Magazine: https://hubs.la/Q02Qsdx20

ACMA has launched a new initiative to update how the composites industry is counted. If successful, this initiative will help members quantify our benefit to the country and better track international supply chains. The ACMA government relations team, which is developing this program, is looking at....

10/07/2024

Explore how GFRP brings Isamu Noguchi's iconic Octetras to life at Hong Kong's M+ Museum. These lightweight recreations, part of the M+ Playscape, invite visitors to touch and interact, connecting body and imagination. 🎨

https://hubs.la/Q02F_FkC0

M+ Museum in Hong Kong features several configurations of Octetra, a GFRP play pyramid recreated from a playground in Yokohama, Japan, designed and built by sculptor Isamu Noguchi in 1965-1966.

08/07/2024

🏗️ The EPA is launching a new program to rate construction materials by their climate impacts. This initiative aims to label products with low embodied carbon, directing federally funded projects to use these sustainable materials. The outcome for composite manufacturers depends on how the EPA implements the program.

Read the latest CM magazine article to see how this could benefit the composites industry by promoting lifecycle impact comparisons of materials like composite rebar: https://hubs.la/Q02FHBx00

A study conducted by researchers from West Virginia University concluded that over the 100-year design lifespan of a bridge, use of a steel beam, such as the one shown here, would result in the emission of seven times more climate warming gases than a composite beam.

26/06/2024

🛥️ Learn about ECO Yachts in Monfalcone, Italy, and their groundbreaking carbon-neutral sailboat, the ecoracer30. This 30-foot sailboat, featuring a recyclable hull and deck along with other green technologies, marks the end of a four-year journey by three longtime friends and sailing teammates committed to solving the boat industry’s recycling problem.

https://hubs.la/Q02DptLC0

The ecoracer30 sailboat features a recyclable thermoplastic hull and deck and other green technologies.

17/06/2024

During ACMA’s Composites 2024 Washington Fly-In, industry leaders lobbied for legislation to make worker training more affordable. Highlights include advocating for the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act and meeting with over 60 congressional offices, including senior staff of Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Get the full story here:

https://hubs.la/Q02C6c0b0

Participants in ACMA’s Composites 2024 Washington Fly-In visited more than 60 congressional offices on Capitol Hill.

14/06/2024

ACMA is launching new tools and resources to catapult to the top of the list of materials. Learn more about our efforts in the new issue of CM magazine:

https://hubs.la/Q02BLyk80

ACMA is launching tools and resources to catapult composites to the top of the list of sustainable materials.

13/06/2024

📢 The Spring '24 issue of CM Magazine is now available online!

Explore how training programs are shaping the composites workforce and addressing the skilled labor gap in the U.S. Plus, catch up on the latest in composites sustainability, marine applications, automotive technology, and more!

https://hubs.la/Q02BKnqZ0

05/03/2024

In this year’s State of the Industry report, four experts provide insight on markets and materials to help guide composites companies through uncertainty amid rising interest rates, sluggish global supply chain restructuring, and geopolitical unrest. Read the report:

The U.S. economy did better than expected in 2023, avoiding a recession that many experts predicted. Inflation fell, jobs increased and manufacturing investments spiked. But if there’s a theme for 2024 it might be uncertainty due to several factors, including higher interest rates, sluggish global...