Composites Weekly: Recent Episodes
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On this episode, Dr. Yasmeen S. Alfaraj discusses the next generation of thermoset composites. She is the founder and CEO of NextSet Materials, a company developing a new generation of reprocessable thermoset materials.
Yasmeen earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, before completing her Ph.D. in chemistry at MIT, specializing in polymers and soft matter. She is also an Activate and Department of Energy Cyclotron Road Fellow and was named to the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Manufacturing and Industry category.
Through NextSet Materials, Yasmeen is addressing one of the composites industry’s most persistent challenges: how to recover valuable fibers and other materials from durable thermoset structures that were never designed to be taken apart. The company’s technology incorporates cleavable additives into existing resin formulations, creating a controlled pathway for deconstructing the cured polymer and recovering materials for reuse—without requiring manufacturers to completely replace their established processes.
We’ll be discussing the chemistry behind this technology, its potential applications in aerospace, wind energy, automotive manufacturing and electronics, and what it could mean for the future of truly circular composite materials.
You can learn more about the company at https://nextset.net.
The post The Chemistry That Could Transform Thermoset Composites – Interview with Yasmeen S. Alfaraj, PhD first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post The Chemistry That Could Transform Thermoset Composites – Interview with Yasmeen S. Alfaraj, PhD appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Martin McLaughlin joins the show to discuss his 39-year career at Northrop Grumman during the development of the B-2 bomber, the F-20 and F/A-18 fighters, and the YF-23 fighter. Martin also managed the DARPA experimental spaceplane XS-1 program and numerous internal Northrop Grumman studies for air-launched to orbit rocketplanes.
He continues his work in the growing space economy at McLaughlin Aerospace LLC.
The post From Stealth Aircraft to Space Transportation: The Evolution of Aerospace Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post From Stealth Aircraft to Space Transportation: The Evolution of Aerospace Composites appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Lucas Dillingham of Brighton Science joins the podcast to discuss the science behind surface readiness. Brighton Science helps manufacturers understand and control one of the most important, and often overlooked parts of composite production: the surface.
Lucas works at the intersection of surface science, manufacturing, and quality control, helping companies replace subjective tests and operator guesswork with measurable data that can improve bonding, coating, cleaning, and mold-release performance.
In our conversation, Lucas will explain how technologies such as water contact-angle measurement allow manufacturers to evaluate surface conditions at the molecular level. We’ll also discuss how surface intelligence can help reduce scrap, prevent adhesion and mold-release failures, and turn surface preparation from what has traditionally been considered an art into a repeatable and controlled science.
You can learn more about Brighton Science at https://www.brighton-science.com.
The post The Hidden Science Behind Surface Readiness: Interview with Lucas Dillingham first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post The Hidden Science Behind Surface Readiness: Interview with Lucas Dillingham appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Phillip Hover-Smoot, CEO of Atlas Cup, joins the show to discuss satellite racing. Atlas Cup introduces orbital sport by leveraging the heritage of classic racing competitions like America’s Cup and Formula One to delight sports fans and bring competitive sport firmly into the 21st century.
The post Orbital Racing: The Ultimate Proving Ground for Next-Generation Composites? first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Orbital Racing: The Ultimate Proving Ground for Next-Generation Composites? appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Yatine Boodhoo, founder of ThermoForged, joins the podcast. As an engineer, Yatine has built his career around advanced composites, developing a deep, hands-on expertise in thermoplastic materials as they’ve gained momentum. Along the way, he discovered that the most groundbreaking technologies rarely fail due to lack of performance. They fail because people don’t understand them.
That realization led him to launch ThermoForged, a platform dedicated to telling the stories behind the innovations shaping the future of composites. Through technical storytelling and high-quality video, Yatine helps engineers, manufacturers, and technology leaders communicate complex ideas in ways that are engaging and compelling.
Today, his work sits at the intersection of engineering, storytelling, and public speaking, helping companies translate sophisticated technologies into messages that resonate with customers, investors, and industry leaders alike.
You can check out his work at https://www.thermoforged.com.
The post Why Every Composite Innovation Needs a Better Story: Interview with Yatine Boodhoo of Thermoforged first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Why Every Composite Innovation Needs a Better Story: Interview with Yatine Boodhoo of Thermoforged appeared first on Composites Weekly.
When the Titan submersible imploded during its descent to the wreck of the Titanic in June 2023, the tragedy captured the world’s attention. It raised difficult questions about engineering, innovation, and safety. Now, following the release of the Transportation Safety Board of Canada’s final investigation, we have a much clearer picture of what went wrong.
In light of these new findings, we’re revisiting one of our most insightful conversations on the topic with Martin McLaughlin, founder of McLaughlin Aerospace. Martin is a veteran aerospace engineer with more than 40 years of experience, including 22 years developing tactical aircraft and the B-2 bomber, and 17 years working on space transportation systems. Martin has extensive expertise in advanced composite structures and composite cryogenic propellant tanks, and has participated in accident investigations throughout his career.
In this episode, he explains how aerospace engineers validate high-risk composite structures, what warning signs OceanGate might have missed, and why rigorous engineering processes are essential when lives are on the line.
The post Most Replayed Episode: Revisiting the Titan Submersible Disaster – Design Flaws, Composite Failure, and Aerospace Certification first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Most Replayed Episode: Revisiting the Titan Submersible Disaster – Design Flaws, Composite Failure, and Aerospace Certification appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Donald Paquet and Joe Stanish of L&L Products join the show to highlight T-Link®, a thermoplastic adhesive technology that combines the processing advantages of thermoplastics with superior adhesion.
T-Link® can be used to create lightweight, highly customizable composite structures that enhance performance through processability across a wide range of markets and potential applications.
It’s available in a range of melt viscosities, enabling a tailor-made solution in multiple forms*, including pellets, films, yarns and monofilaments, and micropellets. T-Link® yarn and monofilaments can be co-woven or sewn into textile applications to form a dry thermoplastic composite with precise control of resin content.
You can learn more about this technology and read some of their case studies at https://tlink.llproducts.com.
The post Beyond Epoxy: Inside L&L Products’T-Link® Thermoplastic Adhesive first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Beyond Epoxy: Inside L&L Products’T-Link® Thermoplastic Adhesive appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Dan Neumann, VP of Government Affairs for the ACMA, joins the podcast to recap the ACMA Composites Fly-In in Washington, D.C.
Each year, industry leaders travel to Capitol Hill to meet directly with lawmakers and policymakers, ensuring the industry’s voice is heard on issues ranging from infrastructure and defense to manufacturing regulations and workforce development.
The post Recapping the ACMA’s Composites 2026 Fly-In: Interview with Daniel Neumann first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Recapping the ACMA’s Composites 2026 Fly-In: Interview with Daniel Neumann appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Will Tashman, Co-Founder of Uncountable, joins the podcast. Their AI-powered platform helps industries capture, structure, and connect complex formulation and experimental data throughout the full product lifecycle.
Before launching Uncountable with his cofounders, Will was a product design engineer at Apple Inc. He’ll share how chemical and advanced materials companies are now using their software to centralize formulation data, design smarter experiments, and uncover insights hidden within years of research and testing.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.uncountable.com.
The post The AI Platform Transforming Product Development—From Lab to Launch first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post The AI Platform Transforming Product Development—From Lab to Launch appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Kerry McCormick, CEO of PolyC Plastics and Composites, and co-founder Dr. Greg Sotzing join the podcast. PolyC Plastics and Composites is a company dedicated to developing cleaner, safer polymer technologies to replace legacy materials that contain substances such as PFAS, BPA, phthalates, and VOCs. They were recently featured in an article by Forbes magazine titled, Tackling Plastic Pollution With A Hemp-Based Alternative.
Greg is a professor of chemistry and materials science at the University of Connecticut and a leading researcher in sustainable polymer technology. He is the author of a groundbreaking study exploring hemp-derived alternatives to conventional plastics, focusing on creating high-performance materials from renewable resources.
On this episode, we’ll discuss the future of sustainable polymers, hemp-derived materials, and what these innovations could mean for the composites industry.
The post Hemp-Based Thermoplastics: The Future of Sustainable Polymers? first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Hemp-Based Thermoplastics: The Future of Sustainable Polymers? appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Steve Starner, CEO of Continuous Composites, joins the show to discuss how their company is scaling its CF3D technology for aerospace, defense, hypersonics, UAVs, and other mission-critical applications. CF3D is a next-generation manufacturing technology that combines continuous fiber composites, automation, and software into a single digital manufacturing process.
Before joining Continuous Composites, Steve spent years working in advanced manufacturing and metal additive manufacturing, including leadership roles involving laser powder bed fusion technology at Velo3D. That experience gave him a firsthand look at how additive manufacturing technologies evolve from emerging concepts into production-ready tools for industry.
You can learn more by visiting https://continuouscomposites.com.
The post CF3D: The Next Generation of Composites for Mission-Critical Performance – Interview with Steve Starner of Continuous Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post CF3D: The Next Generation of Composites for Mission-Critical Performance – Interview with Steve Starner of Continuous Composites appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Trevor Smith, founder and CEO of Atomic-6, joins the podcast. Atomic-6 is an advanced composite solutions manufacturer revolutionizing mobility in extreme environments. They’re creating everything from impact-resistant spacecraft shielding and deployable solar arrays to thermal management systems that help spacecraft survive in some of the harshest environments imaginable.
Atomic-6 also just launched ODC.space, the world’s first marketplace that allows customers to spec, price, and order orbital data center capacity without building their own satellite systems.
Learn more about them at https://atomic-6.com.
The post From Composite Space Armor™ to Orbital Data Centers: Interview with Trevor Smith, founder of Atomic-6 first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post From Composite Space Armor™ to Orbital Data Centers: Interview with Trevor Smith, founder of Atomic-6 appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Cindy Squires joins me to highlight Composites Evolution taking place October 22-23 in Knoxville, TN. This event brings together leading manufacturers, suppliers, and technical experts to explore practical, profitable solutions to the EPA’s new styrene regulations.
This focused, forward-looking conference will show you how to turn compliance into a competitive advantage – boosting efficiency, improving processes, and unlocking new market opportunities.
You can learn more by visiting https://acmanet.org/event/composites-evolution.
The post The Future of Open Molding and Filament Winding – Highlighting Composites Evolution 2025 first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post The Future of Open Molding and Filament Winding – Highlighting Composites Evolution 2025 appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we’ll be featuring several interviews from day two at CAMX 2025, including:
- Max Thouin of Fairmat discussing FairPly Recycled Technology. 0:21
- Mike Siwajek, VP of R&D at CSP discussing their ultra-lightweight TCA Float: 5:47
- Yannick Willemin, founder of Catalysium: 10:39
- Imad Atallah, VP of Product Management at Hexcel Corporation: 19:31
- David Leach, SAMPE Fellow & Co-chair of the CAMX Conference: 35:34
- Jacob Clark of ReForm Composites Engineering: 43:38
The post CAMX 2025 Interviews – Part 2 first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post CAMX 2025 Interviews – Part 2 appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we’ll be featuring several interviews from CAMX 2025, including:
- John Kehoe of Boaz Partners: 2:24
- Paul Salach discussing SUSTAINA® Loop by Owens Corning: 12:04
- Gary Owen, CEO of Lineat Composites Limited: 18:54
- Russell Gentry, Professor of Architecture and Civil Engineering at GA Tech, discussing the Monogirder BladeBridge: 23:39
- Matthew Hardman discussing Loop Technology’s FibreLINE system: 30:45
- Mark Adams of Polynt Group and Wayne Huberty from Mississippi State University discussing accelerated composite manufacturing using CRTM and 3D-printed thermoset tooling: 38:45
- Bryan Beimel of Pulflex Technologies: 51:52
- Dr. Moutushi Dey discussing AI in Manufacturing: 58:46
- Monica Rommel of Specialty Materials and Chantel Camardese of Toray Advanced Composites discussing the Hy-Bor® technology: 1:07
The post CAMX 2025 Interviews – Part 1 first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post CAMX 2025 Interviews – Part 1 appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Cindy Squires and Rebekah Stacha join the podcast to discuss CAMX 2025, taking place in just over a week in sunny Orlando, FL (September 8-11). CAMX is the largest, most comprehensive composites and advanced materials event in North America.
It offers a robust education program and an expansive exhibit hall with hundreds of manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers. You can still register by visiting https://www.thecamx.org.
The post Highlighting CAMX 2025 with Cindy Squires & Rebekah Stacha first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Highlighting CAMX 2025 with Cindy Squires & Rebekah Stacha appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Jamey Embree and Ken Biscorner from L&L Products join us to discuss their work in bringing L&L’s extensive expertise to solutions for the aerospace, construction, sporting goods, and emerging mobility industries.
L&L Products is well-known in the automotive space for developing innovative solutions that help OEMs create lighter, stronger, and quieter vehicles, but they also provide high-performance solutions for aircraft interiors, electric vertical take-off, landing vehicles (eVTOL), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), including drones.
On this episode, we’ll be discussing three products L&L will be highlighting at CAMX in Orlando next month. They will be located at booth Q45 on the exhibit hall at CAMX.
These new products include:
PHASTER® : A proprietary two-component ambient temperature curing technology with superior adhesion performance and processing ease, in various indoor or outdoor application conditions. https://phaster.llproducts.com/
Continuous Composite Systems (CCS): Continuous fiber-reinforced composite materials that can be used as a carrier when combined with our highly engineered sealants and/or structural adhesives. The system is designed to provide strength, stiffness, and rigidity to a lightweight structure. https://ccs.llproducts.com/
InsituCore®: a family of one-component, heat-activated foaming materials that can be used to create composites with a foam core. Placed in a heated tool, the material foams to fill the mold cavity and form net-shape parts, eliminating the need for time-consuming machining processes or energy-intensive autoclave operations. https://insitucore.llproducts.com/
The post Bonding, Reinforcement & Beyond: L&L Products’ Role in Advanced Aerospace, Transportation and Construction first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Bonding, Reinforcement & Beyond: L&L Products’ Role in Advanced Aerospace, Transportation and Construction appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Brian Fitzgerald joins the podcast to discuss how artificial intelligence is transforming the factory floor by predicting machine and equipment failures before they occur—boosting efficiency, increasing production uptime, and cutting downtime costs.
Brian is the Chief Growth Strategist at Augury, a manufacturing technology leader valued at over $1 billion. Their platform is helping manufacturers unlock greater production capacity, improve operational predictability, and advance sustainability, reshaping the way manufacturing teams operate. More information is available at www.augury.com.
The post AI in Manufacturing: Predicting Failures, Preventing Downtime first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post AI in Manufacturing: Predicting Failures, Preventing Downtime appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Edward Crawford and Rick Armstrong of Coltala Aerospace join me to discuss Evans Composites’ accelerated growth in aircraft repair operations under Coltala Aerospace.
Evans Composites has experienced transformative growth this past year, powered by Coltala Aerospace’s precision integration strategy. Evans Composites’ workforce has doubled in size. This momentum has brought alignment and strength to Evans, driving significant gains in operational performance, scalability, and customer experience.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.coltalaaerospace.com.
The post How Coltala Aerospace Turned Evans Composites Into a Mission-Critical Force first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post How Coltala Aerospace Turned Evans Composites Into a Mission-Critical Force appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Dr. Michael Ponting joins the podcast to talk about his work on nanolayered metamaterials and polymer nanocomposites. Dr. Ponting is the Chief Science Officer at Peak with over 20 years of experience in micro and nanolayered polymer materials.
His work has enabled breakthroughs in everything from high-temperature capacitors and night vision optics to sustainable packaging and ballistic materials.
You can learn more about their technology at https://www.peaknano.com.
The post Discussing Nanolayered Materials and Their Macro-Scale Benefits with Dr. Michael Ponting first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing Nanolayered Materials and Their Macro-Scale Benefits with Dr. Michael Ponting appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Derek DeGeest discusses Nitrotherm Spray– a patented spray technology system that replaces conventional compressed air with heated, ionized nitrogen as the spray carrier.
Nitrogen is cleaner and atomizes more effectively,
Reducing spray pressures by approximately 20% and allowing more precisely controlled spray patterns.
The post Nitrotherm Spray: A Breakthrough in Gelcoat Application Technology -Interview with Derek DeGeest first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Nitrotherm Spray: A Breakthrough in Gelcoat Application Technology -Interview with Derek DeGeest appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Harrison Langley, CEO of Modular Brands, joins the podcast to discuss their core technology: LiteSIP®, a proprietary, ultra-lightweight panel system made from fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) skins bonded to high-performance foam cores.
Their panels deliver unmatched strength, insulation, and resilience, outperforming traditional SIPs, wood framing, and metal panels.
You can learn more at https://www.litesip.com.
The post Building Stronger, Energy Efficient Homes with LiteSIP Composite Technology – Interview with Harrison Langley first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Building Stronger, Energy Efficient Homes with LiteSIP Composite Technology – Interview with Harrison Langley appeared first on Composites Weekly.
IACMI CEO Chad Duty joins the podcast to discuss their big event next week in Dayton, OH.
The IACMI Members Meeting will celebrate a decade of innovation and a future of impact as it brings together top leaders in composites, manufacturing, and workforce development. Attendees will dive into groundbreaking research, discover the latest DOE-funded technical projects, and see how IACMI workforce programs are scaling up to meet industry needs.
You can learn more by visiting https://iacmi.org/event/2025-members-meeting.
The post IACMI at 10: Discussing Next Week’s Members Meeting with IACMI CEO Chad Duty first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post IACMI at 10: Discussing Next Week’s Members Meeting with IACMI CEO Chad Duty appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Dan Neumann joins the podcast to discuss last week’s Composites Fly-In in Washington, DC.
This event provided a unique setting for members of our industry to meet with Members of Congress and agency leadership and educate them on the capabilities of composite materials.
The post Recapping the ACMA’s Composites Fly-In with Dan Neumann first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Recapping the ACMA’s Composites Fly-In with Dan Neumann appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, David Leach joins us again to share his thoughts on another successful CAMX show. David was awarded the SAMPE “Distinguished Service Award” this year – given to individuals who have significantly contributed to the betterment of society and have made a lasting impact on the organization’s mission.
David will share some highlights of this year’s event that stood out to him.
The post Discussing CAMX 2024 with Industry Leader and SAMPE Distinguished Service Award Recipient David Leach first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing CAMX 2024 with Industry Leader and SAMPE Distinguished Service Award Recipient David Leach appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we’ll feature part 2 of our interviews at CAMX 2024 last week in San Diego.
These interviews include:
- Marcy Offner, of Women in the Composites Industry (WIC): 2:28
- Kevin Keith of MITO Materials : 12:57
- Matthius Mayer of ENGEL discussing their tape sandwich technology: 21:39
- Chris Hurdleston and Kay Reyburg of ACS International: 36:52
- Ira Miller and Jason Walker of L&L Products : 39:13
- Dan Neuman, VP of Government Relations with the ACMA – 48:44
The post Interviews from CAMX 2024 – Part 2 first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Interviews from CAMX 2024 – Part 2 appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we’ll feature part 1 of some great interviews at CAMX 2024 last week in San Diego.
These interviews include:
- Nikita Wood, ACE Award Winner: 2:46
- Hugh Davis of Revolin Sports & Lorenzo Mencattelli of Helicoid Industries discussing their new pickleball paddle technology: 11:03
- Drew Simmons of Magnum Venus Products (MVP) discussing their new automated technology: 27:06
- Yannick Willemin of 9T Labs: 36:52
- David Whitinger of Applied Molecules discussing their new UV curable putty: 46:42
- John Kehoe of Boaz Partners discussing their unique approach to finding top talent in the advanced materials industry: 52:02
The post Interviews from CAMX 2024 – Part 1 first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Interviews from CAMX 2024 – Part 1 appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Chris Oberste, Ph.D. joins the podcast to discuss their work in winning the 2024 Altair Future of Lightweighting Award. This achievement was possible through their partnership with Braskem and Clemson Composites Center.
Their patented WEAV3D® process is based on a woven composite lattice reinforcement called Rebar For Plastics®. Their lattice-forming machines produce custom lattice structures from unidirectional, fiber-reinforced composite tapes.
You can learn more about their technology by visiting https://weav3d.com.
The post New Thermoplastic Composite Wins “Future of Lightweighting Award” – Interview with Chris Oberste of WEAV3D first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post New Thermoplastic Composite Wins “Future of Lightweighting Award” – Interview with Chris Oberste of WEAV3D appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Mirko Mondan, CEO of Dorfner joins the podcast to discuss some significant developments taking place within their company.
ACS International Products, a leading supplier of raw materials for the cast polymer, solid surface composites, epoxy flooring, and building materials industries, will officially transition to Dorfner USA by the end of this year. This transition marks an important milestone for the company, as Dorfner USA will further expand its’ operations across North America.
The rebranding will enhance the company’s visibility and streamline service offerings to better meet customer needs globally. Key initiatives accompanying this change include:
- Significant Expansion of Business Activities
- Investments for Optimized Supply Chain
- Customer-centric approach and Enhanced Logistics
- Expanded Service Activities with AI-Driven Product Development
We’ll be covering each of these with Mirko, and discussing in detail how AI is playing a huge part in product development and expansion.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.dorfner.com/en.
The post Discussing Dorfner’s Future Expansion with CEO Mirko Mondan first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing Dorfner’s Future Expansion with CEO Mirko Mondan appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Mark Davidson joins me to talk about RAMPF’s Close Contour Technology.
Their system uses epoxy and polyurethane pastes and castings to create high-quality models and molds close to the final part’s shape. The technology has several benefits, including:
- Minimal material usage
- Minimal production waste
- Fast milling
- Seamless, fine surfaces
- No bonding lines
Applications include design and styling models, molds, large-scale modeling, rotor blades, wind turbines, and boat models. You can learn more by visiting www.rampf-group.com.
Also, if you’re attending CAMX next week, you can find them at booth L31.
The post Discussing Close Contour Technology with Mark Davidson of RAMPF first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing Close Contour Technology with Mark Davidson of RAMPF appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Markus Zetterström joins us to discuss their research in developing a multipurpose lightweight material that can carry load, and store electrical energy, all in one. Imagine a carbon fiber composite that doubles as a battery.
Their team at Sinonus has achieved this by utilizing the structural strengths of carbon fibers while simultaneously letting them serve as electrodes in a battery cell. This in combination with a specially developed electrolyte, makes it possible to build lightweight and structurally strong constructions with an integrated electrical storage
capacity.
You can learn more about their work by visiting www.sinonus.com.
The post Adding Electrical Storage to Carbon Fiber – Interview with Markus Zetterström first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Adding Electrical Storage to Carbon Fiber – Interview with Markus Zetterström appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Kyle Jordan and Rob Germann join me to discuss the ACMA’s recent work with the US Army Corps of Engineers on a personalized training program located at Creative Composites Group’s facility in Dayton, OH.
The training is based on the CCT VIP program, and they’ll discuss how the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is leveraging composite materials and the CCT program in future projects.
You can learn more about the ACMA’s CCT training program by visiting https://acmanet.org/education/certified-composites-technician-program.
The post Discussing the ACMA’s Specialized CCT Training with the US Army Corps of Engineers first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing the ACMA’s Specialized CCT Training with the US Army Corps of Engineers appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Cindy Squires and Rebekah Stacha join me to talk about CAMX 2024, taking place in just 3 weeks out in San Diego, CA (Sep. 9-12). You can still register by visiting https://www.thecamx.org.
The post Discussing CAMX 2024 with Cindy Squires and Rebekah Stacha first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing CAMX 2024 with Cindy Squires and Rebekah Stacha appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week, Garrett Bernard joins the show. Garret is the director of business development at Specialty Materials, the world’s leading supplier of the highest-quality Boron fiber products.
Garrett has spent his career in marketing and business development roles, growing specialty chemical and advanced manufacturing companies. He has a background in materials science and is an instrument-rated pilot.
You can learn more about them by visiting https://www.specmaterials.com.
The post Pioneering New Frontiers with Boron Fiber Technology- Interview with Garrett Bernard of Specialty Materials first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Pioneering New Frontiers with Boron Fiber Technology- Interview with Garrett Bernard of Specialty Materials appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Dr. Yasmin Abdin joins me to discuss her research work innovating a method to transform asphaltene, a byproduct of bitumen processing, into carbon fibers. Bitumen which is typically restricted for use as fuel or asphalt, could now be transformed into more useful and valuable carbon nanofibres.
Dr. Abdin and her colleagues have now turned their research into a startup, Fibernx Technologies, to commercialize their innovation by the end of 2024. You can learn more by visiting www.fibernxtech.com.
The post Transforming Petroleum Byproducts Into Carbon Fibers – Interview with Dr. Yasmine Abdin first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Transforming Petroleum Byproducts Into Carbon Fibers – Interview with Dr. Yasmine Abdin appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Josh Shires, CEO of Fyous joins me to discuss their latest technology for tooling. It’s called Polymorphic Moulding, an automated rapid shapeshifting molding technology that allows users to create accurate molds for tooling and will reduce time to market for a huge array of products.
Their technology uses 28,000 digitally controlled pins to create a shape from a 3D CAD shape in less than 20 minutes, achieving zero waste and enabling parts production 14 times faster than 3D printing.
It can be applied to a limitless number of products and sectors – including composites. Polymorphic Moulding is a zero-waste technology where raw materials are conserved and the molds can be used over and over.
Josh will be sharing the background of this technology on the show. You can learn more by visiting their website at https://fyous.com.
The post What is Polymorphic Moulding Technology? Interview with Josh Shires of Fyous first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post What is Polymorphic Moulding Technology? Interview with Josh Shires of Fyous appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we welcome Dustin Davis to the podcast. He is the director of business development at Norplex-Micarta, one of North America’s leading producers of thermoset composite pre-pregs, sheets, and shapes. They have a long history of more than 100 years, of serving their customers.
Dustin has more than two decades of composite materials industry experience, with roots in manufacturing and engineering.
You can learn more about their company by visiting www.norplex-micarta.com.
The post Interview with Dustin Davis of Norplex-Micarta, a Global Leader in Thermoset Composite Solutions first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Interview with Dustin Davis of Norplex-Micarta, a Global Leader in Thermoset Composite Solutions appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, David Leach joins me to discuss the transition from thermoset to thermoplastic composites. David has been the director of business development at ATC Manufacturing, and a thermoplastic composites materials technology leader for over three decades.
ATC pioneers the adoption of continuous fiber thermoplastic composites in aero-structures. They supply more than a million parts per year, operating in a state-of-the-art facility in the eastern Washington, Northern Idaho region.
David will be presenting at ECCM21 next week on the topic of transitioning from thermoset composites to TPCs. ECCM21 (European Conference on Composite Materials) is Europe’s leading conference on composite materials and will provide a forum for access to the latest knowledge from both industry and academia in all areas of composite materials.
You can learn more about ECCM21 by visiting https://eccm21.org.
The post Discussing the Transition from Thermoset to Thermoplastic Composites with David Leach first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing the Transition from Thermoset to Thermoplastic Composites with David Leach appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we feature a leadership segment with Vanessa Bohns, author of the bestselling book You Have More Influence Than You Think. Her book was named Best Book for Ethical Leaders by Notre Dame’s Deloitte Center for Ethical Leadership, and a Top Business Title of the Month by the Financial Times.
In the book, Vanessa draws from her original research to illustrate why we fail to recognize the influence we have, and how that lack of awareness can lead us to miss opportunities or accidentally misuse our power.
You can learn more about her by visiting https://www.vanessabohns.com.
The post You Have More Influence Than You Think: Science-Based Strategies for Observing the Effect We Have on Others- Interview with Vanessa Bohns first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post You Have More Influence Than You Think: Science-Based Strategies for Observing the Effect We Have on Others- Interview with Vanessa Bohns appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Pravin Luthada, CEO of Addcomposites joins me to discuss the new age of AFP (automated fiber placement) technology. Addcomposites aims to become the go-to provider of advanced manufacturing solutions that enable the widespread adoption of composites.
Traditional AFP systems are expensive and difficult to verify at the production floor, but their new technology (AFP-XS) is a plug-and-play system that converts any robot into an AFP system.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.addcomposites.com.
The post Developing the Latest Innovation in AFP Technology – Interview with Pravin Luthada of Addcomposites first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Developing the Latest Innovation in AFP Technology – Interview with Pravin Luthada of Addcomposites appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, ACMA consultant Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me to discuss technologies that are driving Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 is often referred to as the fourth industrial revolution and it represents a seismic shift in the way manufacturing and production processes are managed.
With the advent of smart factories, the integration of cyber-physical systems, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and artificial intelligence, we are witnessing unprecedented levels of automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies.
We’ll also be featuring a previous interview with Brian Fitzgerald of Augury discussing how A.I. is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry with its ability to predict machine and equipment failure, enhancing efficiency and reducing downtime costs.
The post Discussing Industry 4.0 with Andrew Pokelwaldt first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing Industry 4.0 with Andrew Pokelwaldt appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Xuan Song, PhD joins me to discuss his research in additive manufacturing. Dr. Song is an Associate Professor and James A. Chisman Faculty Fellow in the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Iowa.
His research focuses on studying how material forming processes found in nature can be leveraged to enable sustainable, ultra-low-temperature additive manufacturing (AM) of novel ceramics and composites.
He is a recipient of multiple awards including the NSF CAREER award in 2023, the AFOSR Young Investigator award in 2024, the SME Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer award in 2022, and the College of Engineering Early Career Faculty Excellence award at UIowa in 2023.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Wuhan University, master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Zhejiang University, and PhD degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Southern California.
The post Developing Novel 3D Printing Approaches For Complex Ceramic Components – Interview with Xuan Song, PhD first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Developing Novel 3D Printing Approaches For Complex Ceramic Components – Interview with Xuan Song, PhD appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Jesse Henry, CEO of Heartland joins us to share some recent news. Chemovator, the business incubator of BASF, has successfully finalized an investment in their company.
Heartland is a material science company that provides manufacturers with a sustainable source of additives like fillers, reinforcements, & mineral extenders to enhance products they already make. They work with local farmers to produce natural fiber materials, enabling manufacturers to create more sustainable products. With this investment funding, Heartland becomes Chemovator’s first portfolio company in North America. Jesse will be sharing an update on Heartland, and what this investment means for their company moving forward.
You can learn more about Heartland by visiting https://www.heartland.io.
The post Chemovator Invests in Heartland’s Natural Fiber Additives – Interview with Jesse Henry first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Chemovator Invests in Heartland’s Natural Fiber Additives – Interview with Jesse Henry appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Tom Barnes joins me to discuss how their company is redefining the way the world views pickleball. Selkirk was founded in 2014 and is the leading manufacturer of pickleball paddles and equipment.
To help drive innovation, Selkirk Sport created Selkirk Labs, a first-of-its-kind program, that invites players to be part of the innovation process. Members of Selkirk Labs get first access to test paddle prototypes. Using their feedback and A.I. programming, their engineers tweak the prototypes to better suit players’ needs before adding the paddles to their main line, which is made entirely in the U.S.
Tom is a co-owner and the director of research and development for Selkirk Sport. The company was founded while Tom was serving in the Marine Corps and after transitioning into the USMC Reserves, Tom was excited to join his brothers.
Now, Tom infuses his passion for technology and advanced manufacturing into developing new materials, equipment and manufacturing approaches for pickleball. Tom is dedicated to developing a world-class R&D ecosystem,coupled with a lean manufacturing approach to elevate Selkirk’s innovation and production standards.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://www.selkirk.com.
The post How Selkirk Labs is Pioneering the Future of Pickleball with Cutting-Edge Composite Paddles first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post How Selkirk Labs is Pioneering the Future of Pickleball with Cutting-Edge Composite Paddles appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, John Schweitzer and Kyle Jordan of the ACMA join me to discuss a couple of topics. John will be discussing the ACMA’s Composites Sustainability Conference coming up June 4-6 in Denver, CO. You can learn more about this event by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/csft24.
Kyle will be giving an update on the CCT Instructor Course that took place earlier this month in Kansas City, and explain what new instructors can do with the designation.
The post Discussing the ACMA’s Composites Sustainability Conference with John Schweitzer & Kyle Jordan first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing the ACMA’s Composites Sustainability Conference with John Schweitzer & Kyle Jordan appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Markus Beuler, McAfee Professor of Engineering at MIT joins me to discuss how they are using machine learning to create stronger materials.
For engineers developing new materials, there are billions of different possibilities to sort through. Lab tests & detailed computer simulations to determine their exact properties can take hours, and even days for each variation.
Now, a new artificial intelligence-based approach developed at MIT could reduce that to milliseconds.
Markus discusses their new course on Predictive Multiscale Materials Design. In this course, you will enhance your ability to leverage materials design, machine learning, and additive manufacturing to create better materials.
This course will take place June 3-7 at MIT. You can register at: https://professional.mit.edu/course-catalog/predictive-multiscale-materials-design
The post How A.I. is Being Used to Develop Tougher Composite Materials first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post How A.I. is Being Used to Develop Tougher Composite Materials appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Mark Scott and Jake Rowen of Resodyn join me to discuss their RAM acoustic mixing technology. They are a global leader in mixing and processing solutions.
Mixing is a key processing step in nearly every industry from lubricants to ceramics. Traditionally, mixing has been accomplished using motor-driven impellers, blades, and other engineered devices that rotate or agitate the ingredients.
These methods, however, present several challenges including degradation of particles during mixing, non-uniform and inconsistent mix quality, and extended mixing times.
Fortunately, a new and innovative technology solves many of the problems that plague traditional mixers.
RAM combines the efficient power generation of resonance and the effects of sound energy to facilitate mixing – without the use of mechanical means within a mixing vessel.
Since 1994, Resodyn Corporation has built a legacy of facing tough global problems with disciplined science and engineering, spanning numerous fields of study.
Their innovative process and product design approach have turned many of those discoveries into commercial product successes.
You can learn more about their technology by visiting https://resodynmixers.com.
The post Harnessing the Power of Sound Energy For the Most Complex of Mixing Needs – Interview with Mark Scott and Jake Rowen of Resodyn first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Harnessing the Power of Sound Energy For the Most Complex of Mixing Needs – Interview with Mark Scott and Jake Rowen of Resodyn appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week Sebastian Pohlmann of UP Catalyst joins the podcast to discuss the world’s first scalable technology for utilizing industrial CO₂ emissions. Their Carbon Nanotubes are directly produced from CO₂ emissions via molten-salt carbon capture and electrochemical transformation.
Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) can enhance the mechanical properties of composite materials – improving the tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, and impact resistance.
You can learn more about UP Catalyst by visiting https://upcatalyst.com.
The post Transforming CO₂ into Carbon Nanotubes – Discussing UP Catalyst’s Scalable Technology for Utilizing Greenhouse Gases first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Transforming CO₂ into Carbon Nanotubes – Discussing UP Catalyst’s Scalable Technology for Utilizing Greenhouse Gases appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Blair Robbins joins me on the show to discuss the closure of the Port of Baltimore, and how it might impact supply chains for our industry.
Blair is a partner in the Transportation and Logistics Group at EisnerAmper, and has nearly 30 years of experience helping companies cope with supply chain issues, and challenges in inventory management due to disruptions from the pandemic to infrastructure damage and natural, disasters, labor shortages, and terrorism.
You can learn more by visiting https://www.eisneramper.com/transportation-and-logistics.
The post How Will the Port of Baltimore Closure Affect Industry Supply Chains? first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post How Will the Port of Baltimore Closure Affect Industry Supply Chains? appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Paul Gloyer, the president of GTL, (Gloyer-Taylor Laboratories, Inc.) joins me to discuss recent news involving validation test results from their LH2 Liquid Hydrogen Composite Dewar-Tanks for Aviation Applications.
With the GTL hydrogen storage technology, hydrogen aircraft can exceed the performance of kerosene-fueled aircraft, to the point where clean, fuel-cell airliners could fly up to four times farther than comparable planes running on today’s dirty jet fuel.
GTL is an aerospace engineering research and development company headquartered in Tullahoma, TN with a second office in California. They specialize in providing transformational technologies to the aerospace and defense industry.
They’ve won numerous development contracts with NASA, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Space Force, U.S. Navy, and others.
Paul has 25 years of experience delivering technical solutions to solve the aerospace industry’s most challenging problems. He has led efforts to develop a wide variety of aerospace systems including the PA-X suborbital rocket, the SPORT orbit transfer vehicle, and the Encounter solar-sail craft.
You can learn more about GTL by visiting https://www.gtlcompany.com.
The post Discussing GTL’s Latest Composite Hydrogen Storage Technology for Aviation- Interview with Paul Gloyer first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing GTL’s Latest Composite Hydrogen Storage Technology for Aviation- Interview with Paul Gloyer appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Florence Moreau of TeXtreme joins me to discuss their new TeXtreme 360°. It belongs to a new class of composite materials called tape-based Discontinuous Fiber Composites (DFCs), combining in-plane isotropy, high strength and stiffness, and enhanced manufacturability.
This new class of composite materials is an alternative to traditional metal alloys and continuous fiber composites, unlocking new possibilities across a wide range of applications.
Textreme has established itself as the market leader in spread tow thin-ply carbon reinforcements. Introduced to the market in 2005, it was quickly recognized in high-performance sports applications where customers valued its low weight and high performance.
You can learn more about the TeXtreme 360° by visiting https://www.textreme.com/product/45/360.
The post Discontinuous Fiber Composites – Discussing TeXtreme’s Revolutionary Advancement in Composite Materials first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discontinuous Fiber Composites – Discussing TeXtreme’s Revolutionary Advancement in Composite Materials appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me as we discuss A.I. and technology advances in the manufacturing sector.
The global marketplace is changing at an unprecedented pace, and technology is poised to play a significant role in supporting manufacturers to take on the challenges they may face in 2024 and beyond.
Andrew Pokelwaldt is a regular guest on the show. He’s a manufacturing consultant, with a focus on training, and workforce development. He’s an industry leader, experienced in the composites fabrication and manufacturing process, and a military veteran.
The post Discussing A.I. and the Technology Outlook in Manufacturing with Andrew Pokelwaldt first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing A.I. and the Technology Outlook in Manufacturing with Andrew Pokelwaldt appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Thomas Lepretre joins me again on the show to highlight JEC World 2024 coming up in less than two weeks.
This huge event brings together not only all major global companies but also innovative startups in the field of composites and advanced materials.
Thomas will be highlighting what attendees can expect on the show floor during the week of March 5-7, as well as some areas of focus at this year’s event.
The post Discussing JEC World 2024 with Thomas Lepretre first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing JEC World 2024 with Thomas Lepretre appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week, Alex Blum, CEO of Applied Bioplastics joins me on the podcast to discuss bio-based thermoplastic composites. Applied Bioplastics has developed a unique technology that permanently bonds natural cellulose fibers and polymer to produce durable plastic for manufacturers.
It is the first alternative to be cost-competitive with commodity feedstocks and requires no changes to standard injection molding equipment. In addition, it utilizes the most available bio-polymer on the planet – cellulose. About 1.5 trillion tons of cellulose is produced annually.
You can learn more by visiting https://appliedbioplastics.com.
Applied Bioplastics was also recently featured in Fast Company magazine. The article highlights their inexpensive and durable roofing and siding product line, BTTR Board.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90852484/these-plant-based-refugee-shelters-were-made-to-survive-typhoons
The post Supplying Sustainable Plant-Based Thermoplastic Alternatives – Interview with Alex Blum first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Supplying Sustainable Plant-Based Thermoplastic Alternatives – Interview with Alex Blum appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode Dan Neumann joins us again to talk about the Composites 2024 Fly-In taking place next week (Feb 26-28) in Washington DC.
This event will provide a unique setting to meet with members of Congress and agency leadership to educate them on the valuable capabilities of composite materials.
You can learn more by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/flyin2024.
The post Discussing the Composites 2024 Fly-In with Dan Neumann of the ACMA first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing the Composites 2024 Fly-In with Dan Neumann of the ACMA appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Dr. Rigoberto Advincula joins me on the podcast to discuss some of their work research on using image-driven machine learning (ML) to optimize the thermo-mechanical properties of 3D Printed Composites. Dr. Advincula is a Governor’s Chair Professor at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the University of Tennessee. He is the Group Leader of […]
The post Interview with Dr. Rigoberto Advincula – Discussing The Use of Machine Learning to Optimize the Properties of 3D Printed Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Interview with Dr. Rigoberto Advincula – Discussing The Use of Machine Learning to Optimize the Properties of 3D Printed Composites appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Wagner Paglia of BlueWind Technology joins me to discuss their company and one of the recent milestones they achieved – manufacturing 1,500 nacelle covers in 40 months with just one set of molds. Based in Pensacola, FL, BlueWind is a fast-growing company that specializes in manufacturing composite materials for applications with high technical requirements, such as those […]
The post Discussing BlueWind’s Recent Milestone – 1,500 Composite Nacelle Covers in Just 40 Months first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing BlueWind’s Recent Milestone – 1,500 Composite Nacelle Covers in Just 40 Months appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Zach Sinz of Stoner Molding Solutions joins me. Known for superior performance and consistent quality, Stoner has been helping manufacturers mold more parts in less time since 1942. Every Stoner formulation is designed to optimize your production process and significantly improve your bottom line. Stoner’s brand portfolio offers solutions for any molding […]
The post Redefining Mold Release Since 1942 – Interview with Zach Sinz of Stoner Molding Solutions first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Redefining Mold Release Since 1942 – Interview with Zach Sinz of Stoner Molding Solutions appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, I share an interview with Nick Santhanam, author of the best-selling book, The Titanium Economy. While silicon valley tech companies tend to dominate today’s news headlines, many of the fastest-growing, most profitable companies in the United States are firms you’ve likely never heard of. These booming companies belong to a burgeoning sector—industrial tech. […]
The post How Industrial Technology Is Creating a Stronger Economic Future – Discussion with Nick Santhanam first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post How Industrial Technology Is Creating a Stronger Economic Future – Discussion with Nick Santhanam appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, I welcome Kyle Jordan to the show. Kyle is the new director of certifications with the ACMA. Their CCT program supports professional development and facilitates uniform training and technical skills. It’s the only certification program of its kind in the industry. This program is completed online and provides enrollees with all the resources […]
The post Talking with Kyle Jordan, The ACMA’s New Director of Certifications first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Talking with Kyle Jordan, The ACMA’s New Director of Certifications appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Alvin Ericson joins me to discuss GFRP rebar technology and the growing advantage in the infrastructure market. With a long and costly history of corrosion worldwide, steel is no longer viewed as a cost-effective option in aggressive environments. Many governments and businesses can no longer afford the short or long-term costs associated […]
The post GFRP Technology and the Growing Advantage over Black Steel Rebar in the Infrastructure Market first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post GFRP Technology and the Growing Advantage over Black Steel Rebar in the Infrastructure Market appeared first on Composites Weekly.
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 post Discussing Carbon Fiber, Aerospace Certification Methods, and The Tragic Loss of OceanGate’s Submersible first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing Carbon Fiber, Aerospace Certification Methods, and The Tragic Loss of OceanGate’s Submersible appeared first on Composites Weekly.
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: Nick has s super interesting story to share of how he got into the world of advanced materials and composites.
The post Talking Advanced Materials and Composites with Nick Ciparro, Chief R&D Scientist at Carbon Rivers first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Talking Advanced Materials and Composites with Nick Ciparro, Chief R&D Scientist at Carbon Rivers appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we feature an interview with Joannie Harmon at IACMI’s annual member meeting discussing workforce education. IACMI has made workforce education and development a pillar of its mission, along with composites R&D and commercialization. You can learn more by visiting https://iacmi.org/workforce.
The post Helping to Revitalize American Manufacturing -Interview with Joannie Harmon IACMI VP of Workforce Development first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Helping to Revitalize American Manufacturing -Interview with Joannie Harmon IACMI VP of Workforce Development appeared first on Composites Weekly.
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 […]
The post Scott Lewitt of Structural Composites Discusses FRP Bridges & Composites Use for Rural Infrastructure first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Scott Lewitt of Structural Composites Discusses FRP Bridges & Composites Use for Rural Infrastructure appeared first on Composites Weekly.
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 […]
The post Tobi Ferguson, CEO of MVP Discusses Their New $20 Million Expansion first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Tobi Ferguson, CEO of MVP Discusses Their New $20 Million Expansion appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, Haley Marie Keith, the CEO of Mito Material Solutions 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 […]
The post Creating Graphene Additives That Enhance Fiber Reinforced Composites and Thermoplastics – Interview with Haley Keith of MITO Materials first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Creating Graphene Additives That Enhance Fiber Reinforced Composites and Thermoplastics – Interview with Haley Keith of MITO Materials appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week Andrew Polkewaldt joins me again along with Dustin Troutman, the corporate director of marketing and product development at Creative Pultrusions, Inc.
Creative Pultrusions, Inc. (CPI) is the worldwide leader in pultrusion manufacturing with a commitment to continuous process improvement. They specialize in pultruding large custom pultrusion profiles, while utilizing high-performance resins in combination with our proprietary high-pressure injection process.
We’ll be highlighting the Creative Composites Group of companies as well as some of the work the team at CPI has been involved with.
Dustin will also be presenting at this year’s North American Pultrusion Conference in Chicago, IL May 16-18. This conference will bring together 200+ industry leaders, customers, OEMs, and suppliers from around the world for an unparalleled, three-day education and networking event in the heart of downtown Chicago.
You can learn more about the conference and register by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/pultrusion2023.
This week Cary Martin, VP of research & technology with Hexcel for global fibers joins me to discuss Hexcel’s new Center of Research & Technology Excellence in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The 100,000-square-foot building is home to a state-of-the-art laboratory where company scientists and researchers collaborate with customers on the latest composite technology developments for aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications.
This new center is the company’s largest center for innovation and product development in North America. It showcases the company’s advanced composites technology, providing space for future growth and expansion in the years ahead.
On this episode, Cary will be highlighting some of the capabilities of this new facility that include a general lab, a prepreg lab, a chemical lab, an analytical lab, and a microscopy lab. You can more at https://www.hexcel.com.
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.
To see some of the events at this year’s show visit https://www.jec-world.events/program. You can make the most of your experience with the new JEC World Mobile App.
On this episode, Scott Stephenson joins me to discuss SAMPE 2023 taking place next week (April 17-20) in Seattle, WA. Scott is the director of strategic initiatives and events at CompositesWorld, and also president & acting CEO of SAMPE North America.
This show is where the advanced materials community comes together for face-to-face meetings, top-level education sessions, and panels led by the industry’s leaders and innovators. Scott will be sharing some of the events happening at this year’s event.
https://www.sampeamerica.orgIt’s never too late to register. You can do so by visiting https://www.sampeamerica.org.
This week, I welcome Adam Harms to the show. Adam is the managing director at Ruhl Strategic Partners and one of the founders of Modulus, a new Social Community that is 100% dedicated to the Materials Industry.
This new platform will offer a more focused materials network experience away from LinkedIn that allows deeper engagement, and industry advancement.
Adam explains that one of the reasons for the developing Modulus was to cut through the networking noise and provide access to a more focused audience year-round within a dedicated community and connect with industry leaders, access curated content, and collaborate in focused industry groups.
If you are a composites and advanced materials professional and just want to stay better connected, you can join Modulus by visiting https://www.onmodulus.com.
This week I welcome Fadi Abro, the global director of transportation at Stratasys.
Stratasys provides complete polymer 3D printing solutions for every stage of the product life cycle, across design, manufacturing, and healthcare.
Fadi is responsible for leading the Automotive Vertical for Stratasys in North and South America. His focus is on providing 3D printing solutions to customers throughout this segment.
With the world increasingly turning to EV’s for transportation, 3D printing has become an attractive solution for manufacturers.
Fadi will be discussing one of the key advantages their technology is offering to automotive manufacturing today, particularly the EV market – the ability to produce complex, custom parts quickly and cost-effectively. This can be useful for low-volume production runs or for creating one-off prototypes and new concept models.
Last year, Stratasys Partnered With Radford to Produce 500 3D-printed Parts for the Lotus Type 62-2 Coachbuilt Sports Car. We’ll be discussing this along with some other projects they’ve been involved with.
You can learn more about Stratasys, particularly their focus in the automotive sector by visiting https://www.stratasys.com/en/industries-and-applications/3d-printing-industries/automotive.
This week Peter Hedger of Composite Applications Group and Anthony Vicari of Cleantech Group join me on the show to discuss the role of composite materials in the EV market.
On this episode, we’ll have an in-depth discussion of the future of electric vehicles and battery technology and where the opportunities are with composite materials.
Peter is vice president of business development at Composite Applications Group, a company that has an extensive network of Composite technologies and materials and works to connect manufacturing companies to the necessary supply chain to bring their innovation dream into reality.
Anthony is a Consultant Manager at Cleantech Group. He has completed projects for global corporations across geographies and industries to understand the details, implications, and trends in emerging technologies, and to develop adoption and investment strategies, in order to grow their businesses while achieving their sustainability and emissions reduction goals.
https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/Discussion_with_Johanna_Reiland_on_Composites_and_the_Circular-Economy.mp3Not all materials are equal when it comes to recycling. End-of-life composites are landfilled or incinerated. It is estimated that Europe will generate 683,000 tons of composite waste in 2025. At the same time, the global recycling capacity is currently under 100,000 tons.
Developing sustainable circular approaches for composite materials remains challenging, but there are hidden opportunities for innovative companies.
My guest this week is Johanna Reiland. She is a textile engineer, innovation consultant, and circular economy expert based out of Barcelona, where she works for Bax & Company, a leading European sustainable innovation agency.
Johanna has published several thought pieces on the future of lightweight materials as well as the circularity of composites. Most recently, she co-authored the Circular Economy Blueprint alongside aerospace giant Leonardo.
You can access the digital blueprint Composite Materials: A Hidden Opportunity for the Circular Economy by visiting https://www.csreurope.org/download-blueprint-composite-materials.
The post Composites and the Hidden Opportunities in a Circular Economy – Interview with Johanna Reiland first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Composites and the Hidden Opportunities in a Circular Economy – Interview with Johanna Reiland appeared first on Composites Weekly.
https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/Biobased-Additive-Manufacturing.mp3On this episode, Dr. Susan MacKay joins me to discuss her work at the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center and their ongoing research around bio-based materials in additive manufacturing as well as ASCC’s BioHome3D – the first 3D-printed house made entirely with bio-based materials.
Her responsibilities include managing operations and R&D programs with a particular focus on Additive Manufacturing programs.
She has 25 years of experience in materials chemistry, product development, and manufacturing at both large corporations and early-stage companies.
Prior to joining UMaine, she was the founder and CEO of Cerahelix, Inc. where she led the commercialization of their ceramic nanofiltration technology based on a patented DNA ceramic nanotechnology coating.
The work with bio-based materials in additive manufacturing continues to present new opportunities as well as challenges, with the increasing diversity of materials being one of the biggest. A larger range of materials specifically optimized for additive manufacturing also increases the number of fields of application for the technology.
We’ll be discussing some of the most recent projects which include 3D-printed formwork for offshore wind components and a home printed of bio-based materials.
The BioHome3D was developed with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Hub and Spoke program between the UMaine and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The 600-square-foot prototype featured 3D-printed floors, walls, and roof made of wood fibers and bio-resins. This house is fully recyclable and highly insulated with 100% wood insulation and customizable R-values.
Construction waste was nearly eliminated due to the precision of the printing process.
UMaine is a world leader in forest-derived cellulose nanofiber (CNF) technology, including nano- and micro-cellulose reinforced thermoplastic composites through its Advanced Structures and Composites Center.
You can learn more about their work in bio-based additive manufacturing by visiting https://umaine.edu/biomaterials.
The post Discussing Large-Scale & Bio-Based Additive Manufacturing with Dr. Susan MacKay of ASCC first appeared on Composites Weekly.
The post Discussing Large-Scale & Bio-Based Additive Manufacturing with Dr. Susan MacKay of ASCC appeared first on Composites Weekly.
On this episode, we’ll be discussing employee retention and recruiting in the composites industry. Manufacturing employers are fighting a competitive war for talent, and keeping their valued employees at home is critical in today’s market.
Industry expert and technical trainer Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me for the 1st part of the podcast show to discuss how some companies are incentivizing employees.
On the 2nd part of the show, I interview Lisa Ryan, author of the book Thank You Very Much: Gratitude Strategies to Create a Workplace That ROCKS!
The post Employee Retention Trends and Strategies for the Composites Industry in 2023 appeared first on Composites Weekly.
https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/DanNeumann.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssOn this episode, Dan Neumann joins me to discuss the ACMA’s Infrastructure & Sustainability Fly-In that’s taking place in Washington DC this week(Feb 15-16). Dan is the Vice President of Government Relations with The ACMA, and he’ll be filling us in on some of the activities and meetings from day one.
The composites manufacturing industry has a compelling sustainability story to tell, and this week the ACMA’s Infrastructure & Sustainability Fly-In provides a unique setting to meet with Members of Congress and agency leadership to educate them on the valuable capabilities of composites and further open markets.
The post Discussing the ACMA’s Infrastructure & Sustainability Fly-In with Dan Neumann appeared first on Composites Weekly.
https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/realcarbon-interview.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssThis week, I welcome Mike Graham on the show. Mike is the founder and president of Real Carbon, a composite engineering company with a long history of high-quality work.
Through 35 years of industry experience, they’ve helped their clients design custom carbon fiber products for all types of applications.
These include the consumer, industrial, marine, medical, military, musical, recreational, and UAV industries.
Mike Graham is a chemist with a passion for all things composites related. He is originally from St. Andrews in Scotland and moved to the US in 1987.
On this interview, Mike will be sharing the history of the company and share some of their latest developments which include upcycling carbon fiber pre-preg table scraps into finished products.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://realcarbon.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/circular11-interview.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssOn this episode, Ben Gibbons of Circular 11 joins me to share how their startup company is turning plastic waste into low-carbon building products that can outlast and outperform traditional building materials.
In the UK, 75% of plastic goes to waste, and a significant reason for this is the cross-polymer contamination that is an inseparable part of the recycling system.
The mixture of plastics, and the range of chemicals in them, means that manufacturers can’t achieve consistent product characteristics, and therefore don’t buy the waste streams.
The team at Circular 11 has developed a process control system that dynamically adjusts our own sets of composite formulations to achieve a consistent, high-quality output from low-grade variable inputs.
They currently manufacture and sell products to validate the technology, and will then license the process control system to other manufacturers, enabling the wider polymer processing sector to use low-grade plastic as a functional feedstock.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://circular11.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/prodigm.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssThis week Jeff Bassler, founder of Prodigm joins me on the podcast. Prodigm is a premier maker of production-focused filament winding controls and software solutions.
On this episode, Jeff will share some background of their company and a recent case study of helping Duoline Technologies improve their process. Duoline produces RICEWRAP®, a protective wrap of fiberglass epoxy externally applied and bonded to steel pipe for external corrosion protection on downhole tubing.
The team at Duoline had challenges with the current filament winding equipment used to produce this product line. Using Prodigm’s open platform CNC controls and software installed on their filament winding fiberglass tubular product line greatly improved the quality of their parts.
Jeff started Prodigm back in 2008. Having over 13 years of experience in controls and software engineering already, Jeff was completely intrigued by the possibilities offered by filament winding different laminate structures and started developing the first algorithms.
Now, 13 years later, having customers across the continental US, Prodigm’s primary focus has not changed. Getting a machine running is one thing; tailoring it to run for their customer’s specific wants is the most rewarding part.
They’ve contributed to the manufacturing of light poles, composite rifle barrels, ductwork, rocket fuselages, rocket fuel tanks, oil well-lining systems, and lightweight robotic arms—just to name a few! You can learn more about their company by visiting www.prodigm.net?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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This week Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me on the show as we discuss some of the expanded applications for ceramic matrix composites (CMCs). CMCs are widely used in the aerospace and energy sectors but their ability to be used in extreme conditions makes them attractive for other industries as well.
Like ceramics, they are hard and stable at higher temperatures, but also extremely lightweight and possess significantly higher fracture toughness & thermal shock resistance.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/Imperium.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssOn this episode, I welcome Lucas Grimes and Arthur Kaplan to the show. Their company Imperium was born out of the desire to optimize the way energy is purchased. This start-up company promises to help manufacturers—including composites companies —better navigate the volatile energy market and significantly slash their bills.
Using the power of AI and automation, they help industrial companies cut out the hidden fees and tell you the best time to buy.
The energy that fuels the composites industry and mfg operations throughout the US is a significant cost. Their new predictive artificial intelligence (AI) platform helps manufacturers lock in the lowest energy rates at just the right time.
On this episode, we’ll be discussing how their technology is helping companies in our industry.
You can learn more by visiting https://thisisimperium.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/Escapod-interview-final.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssOn this episode, we feature an interview with Jen and Chris Hudak. They are the founders of Escapod, a fabricator of lightweight teardrop camper trailers and one of the fastest-growing manufacturing companies in the US.
This company started back in 2016 out of a garage and now has over 70 employees. Their mission is simple: build the best damn camper known to man – a teardrop trailer that’s gentle on the eyes, rugged enough for the craziest adventures, and suitable for year-round fun.
For their fabrication process, they have transitioned from an open mold layup to a resin infusion process that is environmentally friendly and produces consistent, high-quality parts.
You can learn more by visiting their website at www.escapod.us?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/Andrew-Pokelwaldt-2022-Innovations.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssThis week Andrew Pokelwaldt, a consultant for the ACMA joins me for the final podcast episode of 2022. We’ll be discussing some of the Best Innovations in Composites for 2022. In our discussion, we’ll reference some of the 2022 JEC Composites Innovations Awards finalists.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/BoazPartners.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssOn this episode, Weslee Washington and John Kehoe of Boaz Partners join me to discuss some of the work they do for their business partners in the composites industry.
Boaz Partners is an executive recruitment firm providing companies with custom recruiting solutions in the specialty chemicals and advanced materials markets.
Their expertise is the result of a niche-specific approach which allows them to be specialists in this industry.
Their name “Boaz Partners” refers to Ruth’s husband Boaz in the Old Testament who was known for his swiftness, integrity, and transparency. These characteristics provide the pillars of their firm’s service.
Weslee John will be discussing the history of the company as well as the unique approach they take in finding the top industry talent for their clients.
To learn more about their company visit https://boazpartners.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/StructuralThermoplastics.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssThis week Dr. Roberto Lopez-Anido joins me on the show to discuss their research in structural thermoplastics and smart materials.
Dr. Lopez-Anido has more than 22 years of experience in the areas of mechanics of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for construction, durability analysis of composite materials, advanced experimental methods for composites, composites manufacturing, rehabilitation of civil infrastructure, design of composite structures, and structural health monitoring.
He is a research leader in FRP composites at UMaine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center and has produced 60 journal publications, 89 conference publications, one book, and six patents.
On this episode, we’ll be discussing the next generation of environmentally sustainable structural thermoplastic composites that save energy, reduce waste, and allow for making parts faster, cheaper, and more reliably.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/CelluloseNanocomposites.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rssThis week I welcome Douglas Gardner, Ph.D. on the show. He’s the professor and program leader of sustainable materials technology in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine, and a member of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center and Forest Bioproducts Research Institute.
His research, teaching, and service activities focus on polymer and interfacial science aspects of wood-polymer composite materials.
He is also involved in research in the areas of adhesion and surface science, cellulose nanocomposites and extruded wood plastic composites, and additive manufacturing.
You can learn more about their research by visiting https://composites.umaine.edu/cellulosenanocomposites?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
You can also check out one of the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center’s (ASCC) most recent projects – the BioHome3D 3D Printed House.
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This week, Bryce Anzelmo, Ph.D joins me on the show. Bryce is the director of product development for Lyten, an advanced materials company that invented Lyten 3D Graphene™. 3D Graphene™ is a platform of materials that has the potential to enable breakthroughs in energy storage, composite systems, and chemical & passive sensors. Composite system improvements...
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On this episode, Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me again to discuss ways to improve quality control. Andrew is an ACMA consultant and works as a manufacturing training consultant as well. It’s always great to catch up with Andrew each month as he shares process improvement takeaways from his time spent in manufacturing plants.
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On this episode, we feature some interviews from day 2 at CAMX 2022 last week. We start off the show with interviews from Scott Lewitt and his team at Structural Composites. We’ll also be talking with Anvesh Gurijala, CEO of Boston Materials, Witt Doolittle of Stoner Inc., Anoosheh M. Oskouian of Ship & Shore Environmental,...
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CAMX 2022 is a wrap, and on this episode, we share some interviews from last week’s show on the exhibit hall floor. The turnout at this year’s event was incredible, and we had the opportunity to speak with several individuals who are helping to expand our industry’s footprint into new applications. Some of our interviews...
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This week I welcome Nick Santhanam to the show. Nick is the CEO of Fernweh Group, and the co-author of a brand new book The Titanium Economy coming out October 25th in book stores and available for pre-order on Amazon. While Silicon Valley titans dominate the headlines nowadays, many of the fastest-growing, most profitable companies in the US are...
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This week I welcome Vishnu Marla, a scientist at W. L. Gore & Associates, a company with an amazing history of innovation. Gore is a materials science company focused on creating solutions for the most challenging environments — from implants in the human body to clothing worn on expeditions to Mt. Everest, to electronic cables...
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This week, Andrew Pokelwaldt of the ACMA joins me on the podcast as we discuss ways composite fabricators can create new market opportunities while serving their existing customers. We’ll be referencing one of my favorite business books Blue Ocean Strategy. It has been recognized as one of the most impactful strategy books ever written. It argues that...
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On this episode, Byron Kennedy joins me on the show to discuss SPEE3D, a company that has developed the fastest most affordable metal additive manufacturing process in the world. Their printer technology enables the most affordable metal additive manufacturing process in the world. They make parts the fastest way possible, leveraging metal cold spray technology to produce...
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This week, I share an interview I did with Dr. Francesco Fornasiero of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory discussing some of their work in developing a material that could protect soldiers from biological and chemical agents. The work includes fabricating flexible polymeric membranes with aligned carbon nanotube channels as moisture conductive pores. The size of these pores...
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This week we’re happy to welcome Cindy Squires, president of ACMA, and Zane Clark, president of SAMPE to the podcast. We’ll be discussing details of CAMX 2022 coming up October 17-20th in Anaheim, CA. It’s the largest, most comprehensive event for products, solutions, education & networking in the composites and advanced materials industry. This collaborative...
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This week Pat Carey, the senior vice president of strategic growth at Stratasys joins me on the podcast to discuss their recent acquisition of Covestro’s additive manufacturing materials business. The acquisition will include R&D facilities and activities, a sales and development team across the US & Europe, and a portfolio of approximately 60 additive manufacturing...
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This week, Andrew Pokelwaldt, the director of certifications & training with the ACMA joins me to discuss what procurement managers need to know when making the best decisions on material substitutions.
The post Discussing Material Substitutions During Supply Shortages With Andrew Andrew Pokelwaldt appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week Jake Fallon, product development manager at Braskem joins me on the podcast to discuss some of the newest filament products they’ve developed for the additive manufacturing industry – these include polyethylene and glass fiber reinforced 3D printing filaments. Created in August 2002 by the merger of six companies, today Braskem is the largest...
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On this episode, I welcome Andrew Pokewaldt of the ACMA back on the show as we discuss the rise of thermoplastic materials in the composites industry. Thermoplastics are a growing segment in the composites market, with their unique benefits of reusability and sustainability. Reports from Marketsandmarkets show that the global thermoplastic composites market size is...
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On this episode, we’ll be discussing the topic of branding based on a legendary icon in the recreation world. I welcome Robert Grede to the show to talk about a book he wrote a few years back called Rebuilding the Brand: How Harley-Davidson Became King of the Road. In the early 1980s, Harley-Davidson was on...
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This week I welcome Megan Multanen, one of the founders of Women in the Composites Industry. Megan is the co-CEO at Bestbath based in Caldwell, Idaho, and a member of the Board of Directors for the ACMA. On this episode, we’ll be discussing this organization (WCI) and its mission of helping women succeed in the...
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This week I welcome Dennis Fink of Akpa Chemical to the show to discuss organic peroxides and choosing the right initiator for your process. Dennis is a veteran with over 40 years in the polymer industry. He is the president of Resin Research & Recovery and a consultant for Akpa Chemical. AKPA Chemical was established in 1997 and specializes...
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This week Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me on the show to discuss the Composites Certification Training programs that are offered to help improve quality production and boost employee development at every level of an organization. The ACMA’s standardized composite process training with CCT Certifications are designed for technicians, engineers, quality, safety and technical sales personnel. Nine...
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This week I welcome Dan Cohen, CEO of FLITE on the show to discuss their surface engineering technology that uses laser and plasma energy to make permanent changes to surfaces reducing the need for chemicals. The company was created in 2018 to develop the emerging science of surface functionalization into commercial use at industrial scale. ...
The post Developing New Surface Technologies That Lead to Safer Products & Cleaner Environment – Interview with Dan Cohen of FLITE appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week I welcome Dr. David Hicks and Dr. James Chen to the podcast show. We’ll be discussing LIFT, a Detroit-based national manufacturing innovation institute, and its recent partnership with the University of Buffalo on a project to accelerate the development of materials for hypersonic systems. LIFT, which is operated by the American Lightweight Materials...
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This week Andrew Pokelwaldt joins me again on the show to discuss the ACMA’s CCT Certification and Training Content resource center that is available to ACMA members as well as non-members. This Education Hub is the only destination for composites resources for CCT training & testing, recorded webinars, conference proceedings, ANSI standards, regulatory information, customized manufacturing training,...
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This week, I welcome Ivan Madera to the podcast show. Ivan is the CEO and founder of Nikon-backed Morf3D, a trusted leader in metal additive manufacturing (AM) that specializes in AM optimization and engineering for the aerospace, defense, and space industries. With billions of dollars pouring into new innovations aiming at space, there has been...
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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. Graphene is an ultra-strong, lightweight, flexible, and superconductive two-dimensional nanomaterial formed by carbon atoms in a...
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This week Kelsey Britton joins both Andrew Pokelwaldt and myself on the podcast to talk about her background in composites, and the work they are doing at IYRS School of Technology & Trades – a non-profit, post-secondary experiential learning institution in Newport, Rhode Island. It is the premier marine trades and modern manufacturing school in...
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This week, Monica Rommel president of Specialty Materials Inc (SMI) joins me on the podcast show. SMI is the world’s leading supplier of the highest quality Boron and silicon carbide fiber products, and advanced composite materials. Monica is life long learner who has worked at two aerospace prime contractors as a materials engineer supporting the development...
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This week, I welcome Pierre-Yves Lavertu of Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence Division on the podcast to discuss how engineers can investigate and predict the behavior of a large mix of composite materials, and how to minimize weight, cost, and time-to-market for composite industrial parts. We’ll also be discussing how to improve the prediction of structural FEA...
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This week I’m pleased to have Doug Griffin of Carbon Fiber Recycling back on the show. This company is a sustainable materials company, developing and operating technologies for the recovery of resources from difficult to recycle polymer composites. Their special focus is on the extraction of carbon fibers from finished composites, including laminates, trimmings, tooling,...
The post A Unique Technology for Extracting Carbon Fibers from Finished Composites appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week, Andrew Pokelwaldt, director of certifications for the ACMA joins me to discuss mold and tool care, prep, and set up for FRP composite production. Andrew will be joining me each month on the show to discuss different topics related to composites training and education. The ACMA’s education hub can be accessed at http://www.acmaeducationhub.org....
The post Discussing Mold and Tool Care, Prep and Setup for FRP Composite Production appeared first on Composites Weekly.
This week, I welcome two supply chain experts on the podcast to discuss how the Russia-Ukraine Conflict will impact supply chains for our industry as well as many other manufacturing sectors. My first guest is Dr. Ednilson Bernardes. He is a global supply chain management professor and program coordinator at West Virginia University’s John Chambers...
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This week Kelly Debusk joins me on the podcast to discuss some basics for resolving ventilation issues. In today’s environment, manufacturers face growing regulations from the EPA and OSHA; regulations that have the potential to hinder the operations of companies in our industry. Understanding the basics of the systems affected is critical. Kelly wrote a great...
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/Sustainable-Composites.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss This week Frank Fox and Tom Tymon of Sustainable Composites LLC join me on the podcast this week to discuss how they are using their backgrounds in chemistry and textile engineering to do something good for the planet and developed a process to recycle scrap leather.
The global fashion leather goods market is estimated to be a multibillion-dollar industry — but it’s also highly inefficient. The United Nations Industrial Development Organization estimated that some 3.5 billion pounds of leather waste is sent to landfills or incinerators every year, and between 25% and 60% of leather used to make small leather goods is discarded as scrap.
To tackle this problem, their Pennsylvania-based firm developed Enspire Leather, a recycled leather product that replicates the look, feel, smell, and performance of tanned hide at half the cost.
Just recently, they partnered with manufacturers like Timberland and others to improve sustainability and reduce costs along the way. You can learn more about their company by visiting https://www.sustainablecompositesllc.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/compositesweeklypodcast/ASCC-UMaine.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss This week I’m joined by Dr. Habib Dagher of the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at the University of Maine and Tim Kenerson of AIT Bridges to discuss The GBeam Composite Bridge System, a long-life solution to traditional steel and concrete medium-span deck bridges at a low cost.
The GBeam Composite Bridge System was developed in conjunction with the University of Maine’s Advanced Structure and Composite Center. The Grist Mill Bridge in Hampden, Maine is the first in the nation to use composite GBeam technology.
The post The Future of Infrastructure Technology- Discussing the GBeam Composite Bridge System appeared first on Composites Weekly.
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/X-Mat.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss This week I welcome Bill Easter, the Founder & CEO of X-MAT® on the show to discuss a revolutionary, high-performance material that combines some of the best properties of metals (electrical conductivity), engineering plastics (lightweight), and ceramics (high operating temperature).
In 2013, X-MAT®, the Advanced Materials Division of Semplastics, began the development of an all-new high-performance material. The X-MAT® material was created.
Semplastics has been supplying precision plastic engineered components to a broad range of industries since 2000, including the semiconductor, medical, aerospace, and energy industries.
Recently, X-MAT® was awarded a $1.5 million grant from the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to continue the research and development of its coal roof tile X-TILES.
“X-TILES are coal reimagined,” said Bill Easter. They are lightweight, fireproof, and can withstand extreme temperatures. Not only is this coal-derived roof tile stronger than its traditional counterparts, it’s also eco-friendly.
Their X-MAT® technology has the power to disrupt many industries and we’ll be discussing some of the latest projects they are involved in on today’s episode.
You can learn more by visiting their website at https://x-materials.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/INDHemp.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss This week, Trey Riddle the chief strategy officer at IND HEMP joined me on the podcast. IND HEMP is a family-owned, Industrial Hemp oilseed, and fiber company providing new opportunities for farmers in Montana and across the American West growing hemp.
Their team is building the supply chain relationships and processing infrastructure necessary to support the growth of a stable supply chain using American Grown hemp fiber at scale in the industry domestically and around the world.
Hemp fibers are found in the stem of the cannabis plant and act as strong reinforcement in composite materials. Hemp fiber is known for its high strength, and it is also cost-effective as well as a renewable resource meaning less of an environmental impact compared to synthetic fibers.
You can learn more about their company and mission by visiting https://www.indhemp.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/Arevo.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss This week, I welcome Sonny Vu to the show. Sonny is a serial entrepreneur and CEO of Arevo, an advanced manufacturing technology company that automates the design and production of large, complex continuous carbon fiber reinforced polymer (“CFRP”) composite structures.
Their technology has the ability to build complex-geometry parts using chopped carbon fiber or, more importantly, continuous fiber reinforcement and high-performance polymers. However, the real innovation is combining digital technology with a six-axis robot to enable 3D parts with 3D fiber orientation.
On this episode, Sonny will discuss his background as a serial entrepreneur and what drew his interest to Arevo’s technology and market potential. You can learn more about Arevo by visiting https://arevo.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/GEN-Z-Tallo.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss This week I welcome Casey Welch to the show. Casey is the co-founder and president of Tallo, a company that connects the next generation of talent with opportunities in the workplace.
On this episode, we’ll be discussing the worker shortage for many industries including manufacturing and trucking. Casey will be sharing some interesting data from their survey of over 29,000 Gen Z high school and college students on their choice of careers and the industries they are most interested in.
Casey will also share some important strategies for attracting this next generation of talent.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://tallo.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/Current-Composites-final.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss This week Meredith Glasgow of Current Inc. joins me on the show to discuss their company’s story. They’re a leading manufacturer of laminated plastics & thermoset composite materials.
Current has been a family-owned and operated business since 1962 serving industries such as aerospace, automotive, electrical, marine, oil & gas, and sports.
They specialize in industrial laminates and copper-clad laminates. Their copper-clad laminates are applicable to circuit board assemblies and can withstand high pressures and high temperatures.
The facility in Warren, OH manufactures these highly specialized copper-clad laminates and is one of the few electrical grade laminate manufacturers to still operate and maintain a manufacturing facility in the U.S.
Their G-10 product is a thermosetting industrial laminated plastic consisting of a woven glass cloth material and an epoxy resin matrix. You can see some of the beautiful knife handles designed with G-10 at this year’s Blade Show.
You can learn more about Current and their product line by visiting https://currentcomposites.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/Electroninks.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss On this episode, I welcome Brett Walker, CEO of Electroninks on the show to discuss how their company is working towards being the leading worldwide brand of particle-free metal complex inks for printed electronics and semiconductor applications.
Electroninks was founded in 2013 with a deep knowledge base in materials science, chemistry, and design.
Since its founding, Electroninks has been adopted into the consumer electronics supply chain and developed its own entire consumer product line, Circuit Scribe.
Currently, Electroninks develops high-performance solutions for many markets including display, plating, interconnects, and wearables, as well as consumer devices.
On today’s episode, Brett will be sharing the history and background of the company as well as some of the advantages their material technologies offer to the market.
Brett will also talk about their work in the education market with Circuit Scribe. In 2013, Electroninks launched a line of educational kits designed to help kids learn about electronics. Based around a pen that draws with conductive silver ink, the kits are now used in schools and households around the world.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://electroninks.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/Gelcoat-Troubleshooting.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss On this episode, I share a recent interview I did with Andrew Pokelwaldt, of the ACMA, and Brannon Pittman of HK Research discussing Gelcoat issues.
Gel coating is typically a common problem area when working with composites, especially in the colder months, and can be a struggle for even experienced fabricators.
On this episode, Andrew and Brannon will be walking us through application steps and procedures for avoiding many problems that can arise during the gel coating process.
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https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/compositesweeklypodcast/CII-Solutions.mp3?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss Nearly $130 billion dollars is needed to repair deteriorating infrastructures throughout North America.
And while steel and concrete may be the most popular methods for reinforcing structures, they are labor-intensive and time-consuming.
CIISolutions was formed in 2018 by Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam to provide a better solution through composite materials.
They specialize in the repair and strengthening of structures like bridges, parking structures, and seawalls with Fiber Reinforced Polymers (FRP).
CII Solutions is an engineering and manufacturing company based in Canada, and they provide advanced, sustainable, and cost-efficient solutions for the civil engineering sector.
This week, Dr. Abdulsalam joins me on the show to talk about the work they are doing at CII Solutions.
Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam has a Masters’s Degree in structural strengthening using composites, a Pd.D. in FRP internal reinforcement, and a Post-doctorate Industrial Fellowship in composite manufacturing.
You can learn more about their company by visiting https://compositeinfrastructure.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss.
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