What to See at NPE 2006: Thermosets and Composites
There is only a small contingent of NPE exhibitors in the thermosets and composites segment, but they will discuss several new advances, particularly in materials.
There is only a small contingent of NPE exhibitors in the thermosets and composites segment, but they will discuss several new advances, particularly in materials. IDI Composites International is introducing a polyester BMC grade for automotive headlamps that’s tailored for dimensional stability and low emissions under high heat. And BMC Inc. has a new automotive BMC grade based on soy-derived polyester plus thermoset regrind and natural fibers. Meanwhile, Wacker Silicones is launching Elastosil C150 silicone for infusion molding and prepregs.
Thermoplastic composites will be more evident than at previous NPEs. Fiberforge, PlastiComp, and Polystrand are highlighting long-fiber thermoplastic compounding and molding processes, and Krauss-Maffei is showing off a European-developed process for thermoplastic tape wrapping of high-pressure gas pipe.
In equipment, Fontijne Presses of the Netherlands and Labtech Engineering Co. Ltd. of Thailand will feature their lab-scale compression presses, while Gaiotto Automation of Italy is highlighting robotic sprayup and gelcoating. Vihan of India will present its pultrusion machines, and Scheer Bay Co. is showing its new AXP08P pultrusion cutter. Sairem of Spain is discussing thermoset preheaters.
