Archived General News - 2012

Editors - please refer to the Notes to Editors for background information on Umeco plc and its operating divisions.

Umeco has been awarded certification to AS9100 Rev C - 15 May 2012

Umeco exhibits and promotes rebranding at SAMPE Baltimore 2012

Umeco collaborates with Derbyshire children to manufacture an ‘Olympic-inspired’ torch

Umeco was lead partner in a project receiving recognition at JEC Innovations Award Programme 2012

Umeco aids compilation of the Materials & Structures National Technology Committee’s Military Aircraft Materials & Structures Technology Review

Umeco’s MTM®44-1 Out-of-Autoclave prepregs used by GE Aviation on the Airbus A350 XWB

Umeco businesses launch rebranding at JEC Europe 2012

Umeco’s businesses rebrand and focus on delivering innovation and real advantage to their customers

Umeco Showcases Advanced Composites Group’s Out-of-Autoclave Prepregs at the 2012 SAMPE Asia Conference

Umeco Showcases its Structural and Process Materials at Seatec/Compotec 2012

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General

Umeco has been awarded certification to AS9100 Rev C - 15 May 2012

David Bernard, Managing Director Umeco Structural Materials – Europe, said: “The overall objective of AS9100C, the aerospace best practice standard, is to maintain and improve product quality and on-time delivery, and recommends following the quality tools routinely used for the automotive standard ISO TS 16949.”

Compliance to AS9100 Rev C confirms strong management and commitment to quality improvement within Umeco while serving its Aviation, Space and Defence customers. Customers in other sectors are guaranteed comparable quality assurance through accreditation to associated standards and certification. AS9100 Rev C introduces additional requirements, including: addressing project management; ensuring the product realisation process is planned and managed in a structured and controlled way; formally addressing risk management process; documenting process control to identify and address special requirements, critical items, and key characteristics; measuring on-time delivery and product quality; and ensuring appropriate actions are taken if the planned objectives are not achieved.

For a copy of the certificate please visit our ‘Quality Systems’ web page.

To discover what the one name in composites brings to the industry, please visit our website.

Note to editors
Umeco is a name synonymous with innovation and service. As an international provider of advanced composite and process materials, we work primarily with organisations and individuals across aerospace, defence, wind energy, recreation, automotive and marine.

For further information, please contact:

Umeco
Structural materials

Richard Perrett – Quality Manager
E-mail: richardperrett@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 76620

Umeco exhibits and promotes rebranding at SAMPE Baltimore 2012 - 8 May 2012

Umeco Structural materials and Umeco Process materials will be exhibiting on Stand 217 at the 2012 SAMPE Baltimore Conference, which is being held in the Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201 between the 21 and 24 May.

These business streams, previously known as Advanced Composites Group, JD Lincoln and Richmond Aerovac, have been rebranded under one name, Umeco. SAMPE Baltimore is the perfect opportunity to showcase exciting new structural, process and tooling technologies, and promote our new branding to the industry, which was officially launched at JEC Europe in April 2012.

Our activities are truly global and focused on delivering advanced composites innovation and a range of services, including structural and process materials, and tooling solutions to our customers.

We will be exhibiting a number of projects on our stand. Our main exhibit will be one of Multimatic Motorsports’ Aston Martin Vantage V8 race cars, two of which are competing in the 2012 Grand-Am Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (CTSCC). We are sponsoring these race cars for the duration of the 2012 Grand-Am CTSCC season and welcome visitors to see the car on the stand, and experience the application of Umeco’s composite materials.

Stuart Lowndes - Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing - Umeco Structural materials, said: “2012 is a milestone for Umeco. We have united all our businesses under one global brand, Umeco, and we see SAMPE Baltimore as a key opportunity to continue our campaign to promote the group’s new identity to the composites industry, and showcase our latest product developments. We look forward to yet another successful event.”

To discover what the one name in composites brings to the industry, please visit us on stand 217 SAMPE Baltimore - 21 to 24 May 2012.

Image: © Multimatic Motorsports

Note to editors
Umeco is a name synonymous with innovation and service. As an international provider of advanced composite and process materials, we work primarily with organisations and individuals across aerospace, defence, wind energy, recreation, automotive and marine.

For further information, please contact:

Umeco
Structural materials

Stuart Lowndes - Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing
Huntington Beach, CA

E-mail: stuartlowndes@umeco.com
Telephone: +1 714 899 0400

Umeco
Process materials

Steve DuBois - Vice President, Sales
Santa Fe Springs, CA

E-mail: SteveDuBois@umeco.com
Telephone: +1 562 906 3300

Umeco collaborates with Derbyshire children to manufacture an ‘Olympic-inspired’ torch - 18 April 2012

Umeco has been actively engaged in a project organised by the Amber Valley School Sport Partnership (SSP) to promote physical education and sport during the 2012 Olympic year and beyond. To do so, they have organised a three-day bike relay, beginning 18 April, where an ‘Olympic-inspired' torch will be carried by cyclists to a number of venues around Derbyshire. This date was chosen to mark ‘100 days to go’ before the opening of the 2012 Olympic Games.

Umeco designed, developed and manufactured the carbon fibre torch based on drawings selected from primary and secondary schools in Derbyshire, UK.

Umeco invited the children to visit its facilities for an introduction to composite materials and a site tour. Umeco’s design engineers worked with the children to develop computer-added design versions of their drawings, which then enabled the company to produce the mould and torches. Indeed, as well as the torch used in the relay, Umeco manufactured another nine torches, one for each school to retain as a project legacy.

Umeco was keen to support the project as the company’s products have played a significant contribution to past Olympic Games, and will, we hope, play a vital role in the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. Indeed, Umeco has a long history in the production of carbon and glass-fibre reinforced plastic materials used to manufacture a wide range of sporting equipment. The strength, lightness and performance characteristics offered by the appropriate application of Umeco’s advanced composite materials have enabled the design of sporting equipment to move forward at a record-breaking pace.

Umeco is also committed to developing close relationships with the local community and children of all ages, and educating them in the advantages and application of advanced materials. This project was ideal for this purpose.

Phil Basterfield, Partnership Development Manager, Amber Valley School Sport Partnership said: “It has been fantastic working with Umeco. They provided this memorable experience to the students whose designs were selected from the secondary schools in Amber Valley. To have a local company supporting the event and providing these children with something like this has been superb. The creation of these torches will provide an Olympic legacy for each secondary school to use a reminder of London 2012 and we can’t thank Umeco enough for its support.”

For further information, please contact:

Umeco
Structural materials

Claire Michel
Communications Manager
E-mail: clairemichel@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

Notes to editors
Umeco is a leading, global provider of advanced composite materials and processes for high growth segments of the aerospace, defence, renewable energy, recreation and automotive industries. We serve customers who demand lighter weight and stronger materials to meet structural demands, environmental regulation, fuel efficiency and safety considerations. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Umeco (LSE:UMC) has manufacturing and distribution operations across the UK, Europe, the USA and China.

Umeco was lead partner in a project receiving recognition at JEC Innovations Award Programme 2012 - 27 March 2012

Umeco’s Structural materials business, previously known as Advanced Composites Group (ACG), is pleased to announce that it was Lead Partner in the multi-partner UK project ‘FibreCycle’ which has received a JEC Innovations Award.

The award, which comes under the ‘materials’ category, has been presented to Sigmatex Ltd. (UK) for work resulting from the FibreCycle programme.

FibreCycle was a £1.5m UK funded research project part-funded by the Technology Strategy Board, an executive body established by the UK Government. It ran for approximately four years and was composed of six partners: Umeco (Lead Partner), Tilsatec, Sigmatex, Exel Composites, NetComposites and the University of Leeds. The aim of this project was to develop materials based on carbon fibres recovered from waste streams to allow manufacturing of technical fabric for thermoplastic and thermoset applications in the composites industry.

FibreCycle successfully demonstrated ground-breaking technology to recover carbon fibres. The project showcased that high-value products based on recovered/recycled carbon fibres could offer commercial potential. These materials, which have significantly lower environmental impact than virgin carbon fibre-based materials, are suitable for many applications, especially in the automotive, aerospace, sports & leisure, medical and energy sectors.

Dr Sophie Cozien-Cazuc, Umeco, FibreCycle project manager, said: “Umeco is mindful of the impact that its operations have on the environment and is keen to promote the application of recycled composites and sustainable bio-composites. Accordingly, we actively engage with organisations seeking to develop cost-effective solutions aimed at reclaiming raw materials from our prepregs."

Umeco’s activities are truly global and focused on delivering advanced composites innovation and a range of services, from structural and process materials to tooling and distribution solutions to its customers. FibreCycle is just one of the many Collaborative Research and Development projects that the company is involved in.

Image: Non-crimp fabric based on recovered carbon fibre/PET sliver.

For further information, please contact:

Umeco
Structural materials

Dr Sophie Cozien-Cazuc, Collaborative R&T Project Manager
E-mail: sophiecazuc@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

Website:

www.fibrecycleproject.org.uk

Note to editors

About Umeco

Umeco is a name synonymous with innovation and service. As an international provider of advanced composite and process materials, we work primarily with organisations and individuals across aerospace, defence, wind energy, recreation, automotive and marine.

About the Technology Strategy Board

This project is co-funded by the Technology Strategy Board's Collaborative Research and Development programme, following an open competition. The Technology Strategy Board is an executive body established by the Government to drive innovation. It promotes and invests in research, development and the exploitation of science, technology and new ideas for the benefit of business - increasing sustainable economic growth in the UK and improving quality of life.

Website:

www.innovateuk.org

Umeco aids compilation of the Materials & Structures National Technology Committee’s Military Aircraft Materials & Structures Technology Review - 19 March 2012

As a member of the National Technology Committee (NTC), Umeco, represented by CR&T Manager, Ian Gurnell, has been actively involved in the compilation of their 2012 Military Aircraft Materials Technology review.

The review begins by looking at the trends and drivers of the current market, and then expanding that over 5 and 20 year horizons to predicate what technologies will be critically and strategically important for the development, manufacture and maintenance of military air vehicles.

A copy of this publication can be downloaded using the following this link.

Umeco
Structural materials

Ian Gurnell – CR&T Manager
E-mail: iangurnell@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

Umeco’s MTM®44-1 Out-of-Autoclave prepregs used by GE Aviation on the Airbus A350 XWB - 16 March 2012

Umeco is proud to announce that its ground-breaking MTM®44-1 Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) prepregs are being used by GE Aviation to manufacture the outer and mid-section fixed trailing edge panels for the Airbus A350 XWB wing.

Following close collaboration over an 18-month process development phase to ensure a smooth introduction of this novel technology, GE Aviation placed an order for the production of the first 18 shipsets which will be used to manufacture honeycomb sandwich structures using OoA processing.

The first milestone for MTM®44-1, Umeco’s toughened, structural, OoA prepreg resin system was in 2008 when the first sub-scale wing box demonstrator was produced for the collaborative research programme ‘ALCAS’ (Advanced Low Cost Aircraft Structures). The successful use of MTM®44-1 on the wing box demonstrator further validated the capability of this next-generation OoA material. This was achieved as part of an Airbus and Dassault Aviation led programme aimed at validating the designs and technologies for lower cost aircraft structures.

Airbus and Umeco underpinned the qualification of MTM®44-1 by signing a framework contract which provided commercial and technical stability to Airbus sub-contractors adopting this new technology.

Umeco’s MTM®44-1 has been optimised for low pressure vacuum-bag processing to provide low internal void content, with the resulting composites performances being comparable to those of standard autoclave cured systems. OoA moulding offers benefits such as reduced capital equipment outlay and savings on certain associated processing costs. This technology may also facilitate the manufacture of larger and more integrated structures that would otherwise be excluded by their size and the prohibitive significant investment required for in-autoclave processing.

Come and see us at JEC Europe, Paris, 27 to 29 March 2012 to find out more about Umeco’s product range.

For further information, please contact:

Umeco
Structural materials

Jon Stowell – Sales and Marketing Director
E-mail: jonstowell@umeco.com

Roger Francombe – UK Aerospace Market Sector Manager
Email: structural@umeco.com

Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

Note to editors

Umeco is a leading global provider of advanced composite materials and processes for high growth segments of the aerospace and defence, renewable energy, recreation and automotive industries. We serve customers who demand lighter weight and stronger materials to meet the structural demands of environmental regulation, fuel efficiency and safety considerations. Listed on the London Stock Exchange Umeco (LSE:UMC) has manufacturing and distribution operations across the UK, Europe, the USA and China.

Umeco businesses launch rebranding at JEC Europe 2012 - 14 March 2012

Umeco’s current businesses, known as Advanced Composites Group, GRPMS, JD Lincoln and Richmond Aerovac, are all being rebranded under one name, Umeco. JEC Europe 2012 Paris is the perfect opportunity for the company to communicate its new branding to the industry, as well as showcase exciting new products and technologies.

Umeco’s activities are truly global and focused on delivering advanced composites innovation and a range of services, from structural and process materials to tooling and distribution solutions to its customers.
Umeco will be exhibiting a number of key projects on stand T50, including:

• Sahara Force India Formula One Team’s 2011 (VJM04) race car illustrating the widespread application of Umeco’s advanced prepregs for structural and bodywork applications in this high performance sector.
• A staggered sandwich panel demonstrating how Umeco’s Structural & Process materials’ products work harmoniously in the production of large Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) structures.
• An Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd (SSTL) modular, small scale satellite structure demonstrator manufactured from Umeco’s MTM®44-1 unidirectional and woven prepregs. The combination of intelligent design and low density of MTM®44-1 produces a lightweight, integrated component.
• A prototype of the ‘TEMA’ staircase, manufactured by LoSon s.r.l., depicting the application of Umeco’s LTM®12 tooling prepregs, MTM®57 OoA structural prepregs and vacuum bagging materials to manufacture a bespoke, elegant five-metre high staircase as a masterpiece for an Italian aerospace company.

Nigel Blatherwick, Strategic Marketing Director - Umeco, said: “2012 is milestone for Umeco, uniting all its businesses under one global brand. JEC is the ideal exhibition to unveil the group’s new identity to the composites industry and to our customers, and to showcase our latest products developments. We look forward to another successful event.”

Upper image: Staggered sandwich panel © Umeco

Lower image: Courtesy and © Agile S.r.l.

To discover what the one name in composites brings to the industry, please visit us on stand T50 at JEC Europe, Paris - 27 to 29 March 2012.

For further information, please contact:

Umeco
Structural materials
Jon Stowell – Sales and Marketing Director
E-mail: jonstowell@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

Umeco
Process materials
Jonathan Jaggar - Commercial Director
E-mail: jonathanjaggar@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1274 550 532

Umeco
Tooling
UK
Jon Stowell – Sales and Marketing Director
E-mail: jonstowell@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

France
Olivier Billast - Production Director
E-mail: olivierbillast@umeco.com
Telephone: +33 (0)5 61 37 89 89

Umeco
Distribution
Brian Harpur – Commercial Director
E-mail: brianharpur@umeco.com
Telephone: +44 (0)1329 225200

Note to editors

Umeco is a name synonymous with innovation and service. As an international provider of advanced composite and process materials, we work primarily with organisations and individuals across aerospace, defence, wind energy, recreation, automotive and marine.

Umeco’s businesses rebrand and focus on delivering innovation and real advantage to their customers - 23 February 2012

As of Monday 2 April 2012, Advanced Composites Group, GRPMS, JD Lincoln and Richmond Aerovac will be rebranded under one name: Umeco. Our customers can still look forward to the same world-leading innovation and personalised service they have come to expect.

Umeco’s operation is truly global, delivering advanced composites innovation and a range of services, from structural and process materials to tooling and distribution solutions. Everything Umeco does is born from a passion for composites, service and the constant search for new technologies that benefit our customers.

The fundamentals of each individual business have not, and will not change. There are no alterations in management, staff or structure associated with the renaming, and our primary focus remains to deliver the same high level of customer support.

Andrew Moss, Chief Executive of Umeco, said: “As a unified global brand, Umeco remains fully committed to delivering world-class technology, know-how and service to our customers around the world.”

To discover what the one name in composites brings to the industry, please visit us on stand T50 at JEC Europe, Paris - 27 to 29 March 2012.

For enquiries regarding this press release, please e-mail:

Nigel Blatherwick
Umeco
Structural materials
Strategic Marketing Director
Telephone: +44 (0) 1773 766200
E-mail: nblatherwick@umeco.com

Notes to editors:
Umeco is a leading, global provider of advanced composite materials and processes for high growth segments of the aerospace, defence, renewable energy, recreation and automotive industries. We serve customers who demand lighter weight and stronger materials to meet structural demands, environmental regulation, fuel efficiency and safety considerations. Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Umeco (LSE:UMC) has manufacturing and distribution operations across the UK, Europe, the USA and China.

Umeco Showcases Advanced Composites Group’s Out-of-Autoclave Prepregs at the 2012 SAMPE Asia Conference - 7th February 2012

Advanced Composites Group (ACG) Ltd, a member of Umeco Composites Structural Materials – a division of Umeco plc, manufacturer of structural and mould tooling prepreg materials, will be presenting its Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) prepreg technologies on Stand 10 at the 2012 SAMPE Asia Conference, which is being held in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia from the 21st to the 23rd February.

The rapid uptake of composite materials is driving the demand to reduce manufacturing costs and increase production output rates. Allied with the fact that part sizes are rapidly increasing, especially in the aerospace sector, autoclave processing is fast becoming prohibitively capital intensive and impractical. ACG’s next-generation of OoA prepregs address these issues and have opened the way for low-cost integrated manufacturing routes.

ACG’s sustained programme of development has lead to the formulation of new medium temperature moulding (MTM®) aerospace OoA resin systems. To meet the stringent requirements of the aerospace industry, the low-cost process capability associated with these prepregs had to be allied with specific high-temperature performance and enhanced toughness requirements. ACG’s MTM®44-1 prepreg, which has achieved Airbus qualification, has addressed these issues, and will be of particular interest to those manufacturing primary and secondary structures and engine nacelles. Other major manufacturers and their OEMs are currently investigating other ACG MTM® OoA prepregs for a variety of civil and military applications.

Correspondingly, the automotive industry is under social, environmental and economic pressures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, improve fuel economy and decrease manufacturing costs. ACG’s extensive range of medium temperature moulding (MTM®) and structural prepregs, and low and medium temperature moulding (LTM® and MTM®) cosmetic prepregs bear witness to the group’s commitment to providing composite materials to the automotive market. ACG also manufactures two rapid laminating technology body panel systems to provide cost-effective OoA and in-autoclave solutions. These provide excellent, stable surface quality and significant cost savings over traditional prepreg technologies.

ACG is proud of its ability to predict trends, drive materials and process development, and will continue to develop its prepreg portfolio for future applications across all sectors.

ACG has a wide range of established clients in the region and, with sales offices and dedicated technical representation across Asia, is strategically placed to serve the burgeoning aerospace and automotive sectors. Come and see us on our stand to find out more about our range of products.

- Ends -

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group

Bernard Twist – Export Sales Manager
E-mail: btwist @ acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 76620

Umeco Showcases its Structural and Process Materials at Seatec/Compotec 2012 - 19th January 2012

Advanced Composites Group (ACG) Ltd. and Richmond Aerovac will be co-exhibiting under the Umeco banner on Pavilion E Aisle 36 Lot Z at Seatec/Compotec 2012, which is being held at the CarraraFiere Exhibition Centre, Marina di Carrara, Italy from the 7th to the 9th February 2012.

Representatives from ACG will highlight the Group’s structural materials solutions across key market sectors, and will demonstrate the latest component and tooling prepreg materials developments:

• Marine: ACG leads the way with its VTM®260 and MTM®57 Series prepreg systems, both of which have an excellent track record of high-performance yacht racing.
• Motorsport: LTM®, MTM® and HTM® prepreg systems are used widely in the industry, including Formula One.
• Sports & Leisure: ACG’s materials give the edge for improved performance in activities such as cycling, sailing, kayaking, racquet sports and fishing.
• Automotive: From prototypes to super cars, ACG’s proven materials are supplied to OEMS across the automotive industry.
• Aerospace: ACG’s MTM®44-1 and MTM®45-1 structural prepreg resin systems, specifically developed for Out-of-Autoclave (OoA) curing, are used to manufacture primary and secondary aircraft structures.
• Transport: ACG’s phenolic and epoxy systems meet rigorous European Fire and Smoke standards.

Representatives from Richmond Aerovac will be on hand to discuss the Group’s process material solutions, including a wide range of unique products and innovative services:

• Infusion: As pioneers in technology transfer, our resin infusion experts can support any project from start to finish, and improve the process and final laminate quality with unique products, such as VMS2 and Infuply.
• Kitting: With our structured approach to kitting, we can help reduce both labour time and cost. The use of kitted materials increases productivity and reduces the margin for error.
• Reusable vacuum systems: Our engineers can design and manufacture Reusable Vacuum Bags (RVB) to suit our client’s tooling. Our RVB can withstand numerous cure cycles.
• Vacuum bagging consumables: With an established reputation in this sector spanning more than 30 years, Richmond Aerovac continues to be a leading supplier of high-performance vacuum bagging consumables to the composites industry.

Personnel from both companies will be available to demonstrate a range of tooling and structural prepreg solutions, and to discuss your specific requirements.

- Ends -

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group Ltd.

Dr. Jon Stowell – Sales and Marketing Director
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200
Website: www.acg.co.uk

Richmond Aerovac (Italy)

Ferruccio Bareggi – Director/Direttore Generale
Telephone: +39 (0) 689 2987
Website: www.aerovac.com

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