Archived Marine Sector News - 2011

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

ACG’s Prepregs Deliver Performance Benefits to Holland Composites’ A-Class Advanced Racing Catamarans

Umeco Showcases its Integrated Marine Composite Solutions at METS 2011 Through Advanced Composites Group, GRPMS and Richmond Aerovac

ACG Congratulates Quantum Racing Team on their 2011 Audi MedCup TP52 World Title Win

ACG Congratulates Quantum Racing, the Winning Team in the 2011 Audi MedCup TP52 Circuit Series

Longitud Cero Composites Builds Winning Yachts Using ACG’s Lloyds Register Approved Prepreg

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ACG’s Prepregs Deliver Performance Benefits to Holland Composites’ A-Class Advanced Racing Catamarans - 8th November 2011

Customised MTM®57 carbon prepreg materials from Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG), a member of Umeco Composites Structural Materials (UCSM) – a division of Umeco plc, are being used by Holland Composites to manufacture the lightweight, ultra-thin laminate hulls and a variety of structural parts on its A-Class Advanced Racing Catamarans.

ACG MTM®57 Series resins are toughened, 80 to 120°C curing, epoxy matrices offering flexible processing and a wide range of handling characteristics. MTM®57 Series resins can be supplied on a variety of reinforcements and are available in ACG’s standard prepreg and ZPREG® partially impregnated formats.

ACG’s out-of-autoclave processable MTM®57 carbon prepregs and Holland Composites’ unique structural assembly techniques have combined to produce a boat that has an ultra-lightweight, honeycomb cored hull which is stiffer, stronger and more durable than previous builds. The curved carbon prepreg daggerboards and beams on these competition catamarans offer improved stiffness and reduced drag, both leading to a significant improvement in overall performance.

Pieter-Jan Dwarhuis, founder of Holland Composites, a Round Texel Race winner on two occasions, an experienced A-Class sailor, and an established composites manufacturer, said: “We needed to satisfy the demands of our highly competitive customers, and had already identified ACG as a prime candidate for materials because of the company’s international reputation in the marine industry, and outstanding ability to offer tailored solutions that satisfy its clients’ needs.”

Continuing, Pieter-Jan Dwarhuis said: “ACG was extremely flexible in its approach to providing customised prepregs to suit our particular requirements. We worked in partnership to tailor MTM®57 carbon unidirectional and fabric prepregs in application specific resin weights to provide the optimum level of performance for the parts on our A-Class Advanced Racing Catamarans.”

PieterJan Dwarhuis of Holland Composites approached ACG with this interesting marine volume production project. He was looking for a higher level of accuracy on resin content and fibre weight tolerances for the ultra-lightweight honeycomb hulls.

Tom Bernstein from ACG said: “It is always a pleasure to work with knowledgeable customers, especially those who push boat design and production methods to the next level; the Holland Composites Team excels at thinking beyond the scope of current marine prepreg application techniques and assembly.”

The DNA, the new Dutch A-Class by Advanced Racing Catamarans made his debut at Easter 2011 during the Vele di Pasqua. These catamarans, which are enormously popular with amateur sailors, have attracted professional sailors from other classes, such as the America's Cup and the F18. Various America’s Cup teams use DNA catamarans for training purposes and several syndicates have actually bought their own DNA's. Recent successes include a first and a third position in the Worlds 2011, a first position in the New Zealand Nationals 2011 and a first position in the Australian Nationals 2011.

To find out more about ACG’s marine prepregs and how we could work together, come and meet our team on Stand 11.632 at METS (Marine Equipment Trade Show) in Amsterdam between the 15th and 17th November.

IImage: ©Advanced Racing Catamarans

– Ends –

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group Ltd.:

John Howard – Marine Market Sector Manager
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200
E mail: jhoward @ acg.co.uk

Tom Bernstein – Technical Sales - Netherlands - Northern Germany - Scandinavia - Poland
Mobile: (+49) (0) 451 58532595
E-mail: tbernstein @ acg.co.uk

Umeco Showcases its Integrated Marine Composite Solutions at METS 2011 Through Advanced Composites Group, GRPMS and Richmond Aerovac - 7th November 2011

Advanced Composites Group, GRPMS and Richmond Aerovac will be co-exhibiting under the Umeco banner on Stand No: 11.632 at the METS 2011 marine show, which takes place in the Amsterdam RAI Convention Centre, The Netherlands between the 15th and 17th November.

Umeco offers integrated composite solutions and technology ranging from high-end prepreg applications for race yachts and mast/spars, through to resin infused high-performance production structures, to wet lay-up materials and consumables.

The Group focuses on delivering a world-class service for its customers. With over 30 years’ experience at the forefront of composites technology, and manufacturing facilities in Europe and the United States, Umeco offers an unparalleled custom composites capability supported by its UK-based Composites Technology Centre.

Umeco operates as two business streams:

• Structural Materials - Advanced Composites Group (ACG), GRPMS and JD Lincoln provide a range of complementary products, services, design expertise and tooling solutions to the composites industry.

• Process Materials - Richmond Aerovac, IPM and Med-Lab serve global industries by supplying a range of vacuum processing materials and protective films, consumable short shelf-life hazardous aviation goods, and electronic equipment for testing fuels and heavy oils.

ACG’s Lloyds Register approved prepregs are used by some of the world’s foremost designers of racing and cruising sailboats. ACG’s VTM®260 Series structural prepregs and compatible VTA®260 film adhesive and VTF261 surfacing film have a history of success spanning multiple America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Races victories and, more recently, in the Audi MedCup TP52 class. This success story demonstrates ACG’s expertise and commitment to the race boat market. ACG also manufactures a full range of ACG tooling materials, including prepregs, tooling block and film adhesives needed to manufacture the large structures produced by yacht and boat builders.

GRPMS, a specialist in the distribution of composite materials, sets the standard in its field by supplying customers with a wide range of quality products. The business is committed to providing premium quality products and a world-class service to its customers. GRPMS is proud to be sponsors of the 40m Sunseeker luxury yacht, reinforcing their commitment to the marine industry.

Richmond Aerovac supplies vacuum bagging consumables, ancillaries and innovative products for resin infusion, to the composite industry. With over 30 years’ experience, Richmond Aerovac has a unique understanding of the dynamic requirements of the marine industry, and our newly appointed process engineer for the marine industry, Nic Prentice, is widely recognised as an expert in resin infusion techniques. Nic has improved infusion techniques within the marine context and, with the use of Richmond Aerovac process consumables, has manufactured large and complex structures that were previously thought of as being impossible with resin infusion.

Representatives from ACG, GRPMS and Richmond Aerovac will be present on the stand to promote the complete range of products and services that Umeco offers to the marine industry and Umeco will showcase some of its recent product applications.

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group Ltd.:
Jon Stowell – Sales and Marketing Director
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200
E -mail: jstowell @ acg.co.uk

John Howard – Marine Market Sector Manager
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200
E mail: jhoward @ acg.co.uk

Advanced Composites Group Inc.:
Ed Mahoney – National Sales Manager
Telephone: +1 918 252 3922
E-mail: emahoney @ acg-us.com
Website: www.acg-us.com

Aerovac Systems Ltd.:
Nic Prentice – Process Engineer (Marine)
Telephone: +44 (0)1274 550532
E -mail: nicholasprentice @ aerovac.com
Website: www.aerovac.com

Aerovac Systems France:
Didier Gal – General Manager
Telephone: +33 561 378987
E -mail: d.gal @ aerovac.fr
Website: www.aerovac.com

GRPMS:
Tony Bibby – Managing Director
Telephone: +44 (0)1329 225201
E-mail: tony.bibby @ grpms.com
Website: www.grpms.com / www.tools4grp.com.                            

Additional Notes to Editors

GRPMS specialises in the distribution of GRP materials to the reinforced plastics market. GRPMS sets the standard in its field by putting customers in touch with a wide range of quality products. GRPMS is committed to providing premium quality products and an efficient service, delivering the right products at the right price, on time . . . every time. This extensive product range can now be accessed through the GRPMS web shop at www.tools4grp.com.

Richmond Aerovac has subsidiaries located in Europe and the US, is a world-leading supplier of vacuum bagging consumables and associated products to the composite industry. Richmond Aerovac has a unique understanding of the dynamic requirements of the industry, supplying vacuum bagging products principally for the defence, aerospace, wind energy, marine, motorsport and industrial sectors.

ACG Congratulates Quantum Racing Team on their 2011 Audi MedCup TP52 World Title Win - 21st October 2011

Advanced Composites Group Ltd. (ACG), a member of Umeco Composites Structural Materials – a division of Umeco plc, congratulates Quantum Racing Team for lifting their third Audi MedCup TP52 world title in four consecutive challenges. This victory comes just a few weeks after their outstanding triumph in the 2011 Audi MedCup TP52 Circuit Series, which ended on the 17th September.

ACG extends its congratulations to Longitud Cero, the yard which used ACG’s VTM®260 series prepregs to build this world-class yacht. Longitud can also be regarded as ‘world champions’ in their own right, having contributed – through considerable knowledge and craftsmanship – to Quantum’s back-to-back victories.

Skippered by America’s Cup winning helm Ed Baird (USA), Quantum Racing Team took a second and first on the final day of racing. Ed Baird and the crew of Quantum Racing lift their third world title since winning in 2008 in Lanzarote and last year in Valencia

John Howard, ACG Marine Market Sector Manager, said: “It is with great pleasure that we learn of Quantum Racing Team’s second success in a matter of weeks. We are proud to have supplied VTM®264 prepregs and VTA260 adhesive films to Longitud Cero.”

ACG’s VTM260 Series prepregs have a history of success spanning multiple America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Races victories; Quantum Racing Team’s successes in the TP52 class further cements ACG’s reputation as a manufacturer of world beating materials in the race boat market.

Image: ©Nico Martinez/WSM. 08-10-2011 Audi TP52 World Championship

- Ends -

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group Ltd

John Howard - Marine Market Sector Manager
E-mail: jhoward @ acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

ACG Congratulates Quantum Racing, the Winning Team in the 2011 Audi MedCup TP52 Circuit Series - 21st September 2011

Advanced Composites Group Ltd. (ACG), a member of Umeco Composites Structural Materials – a division of Umeco plc, congratulates Quantum Racing Team for their outstanding victory in the 2011 Audi MedCup TP52 Circuit Series, and also extends its congratulations to Longitud Cero, the yard which built the boat using ACG’s VTM®260 series prepregs.

Skippered by America’s Cup winning helm Ed Baird (USA), Quantum Racing Team clinched the title in a showcase race on the final day of the season, the closest finish seen since the 2007 season.

John Howard, ACG Marine Market Sector Manager, said: “We are delighted to learn of Quantum Racing Team’s success, and to have supplied VTM®264 prepregs and VTA260 adhesive films to Longitud Cero. This was our first project with the yard and the build went well. The quality and attention to detail are obvious and no small contribution to the victory. We are sure that all involved are enjoying the moment and are already planning future ventures.”

ACG’s VTM260 Series prepregs have a history of success spanning multiple America’s Cup and Volvo Ocean Races victories; Quantum Racing Team’s success in the TP52 class further cements ACG’s reputation as a manufacturer of world beating materials in the race boat market.

Image: Courtesy of Quantum Racing – © Libby Tomlinson

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group Ltd

John Howard - Marine Market Sector Manager
E-mail: jhoward @ acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

Longitud Cero Composites Builds Winning Yachts Using ACG’s Lloyds Register Approved Prepreg - 13th July 2011

Lloyds Register approved VTM®264 prepreg and complementary VTA®260 adhesive film from Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG) have been used by leading Spanish boat builder Longitud Cero Composites S.L. to build two striking TP 52 yachts currently competing in the 2011 Audi MedCup Circuit. ACG, a member of Umeco Composites Structural Materials – a division of Umeco plc, congratulates the crews of Quantum Racing (USA) and Synergy Russian Sailing Team on their achievements to date and wishes them continued success for the remainder of the Series.

Longitud Cero built the hulls of the Botin Partners-designed TP 52 yachts using ACG’s VTM264 medium out life, intermediate viscosity prepreg and complementary VTA260 adhesive film, which are ideal for the marine industry and span multiple Volvo Ocean Races and America’s Cups.

John Howard, ACG Marine Market Sector Manager, said: “We are delighted that Longitud Cero chose ACG’s marine prepregs to fabricate the hulls of these outstanding yachts. Longitud Cero has years of experience in boat building and their expertise is reflected in their choice and application of ACG’s materials. We hope that this is the beginning of a long standing business relationship between ACG and Longitud Cero”. We also wish Quantum Racing and Synergy Russian Sailing Team every success as they progress through the Series in the remaining three venues in the Mediterranean.”

The Audi MedCup Circuit Series is revered as the world's most competitive racing circuit, attracting the very best professional and amateur sailors.

After completing two of the five events in the Mediterranean-based Series, Quantum Racing is current in 1st place and Synergy Russian Sailing Team is in 4th place.

ACG will continue to follow the race series, which includes the following events:

• Cagliari, Italy - July 19-24
• Cartagena, Spain - August 23-28
• Barcelona, Spain - September 12-17

For further information and up-to-date news about the Series, please visit the official website (www.medcup.org).

Images:

• Upper image: Courtesy of Quantum Racing – © Libby Tomlinson
• Lower image: Courtesy of Synergy Russian Sailing Team – © Nico Martinez

For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group Ltd

John Howard - Marine Market Sector Manager
E-mail: jhoward @ acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

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