Archived Marine Sector News - 2009
ACG Congratulates the Winning Team in the Volvo Ocean Race - 1st July 2009
Ericsson Team wins the 08-09 Volvo Ocean Race
Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG), part of the Composites Division of Umeco plc, congratulates the skipper, Torben Grael, and the International crew of Ericsson 4 on their outstanding victory in the 08-09 Volvo Ocean Race (VOR), and extends this to the skipper, Magnus Olsson, and the Nordic crew of Ericsson 3 for their impressive 4th place.
Having amassed an impressive total of 108 points, giving a 13-point cushion over second place, Ericsson 4 had already clinched victory when it finished Leg 9 of the VOR in Stockholm on 15th June.
Ericsson Racing Team chose ACG as its ‘Official Supplier’ for composite materials for Ericsson 4 and Ericsson 3 way back in late 2007, when the planning stages commenced. Both boats use a range of ACG’s ocean racing pedigree advanced carbon fibre marine products for their hull and decks.
The skippers, crews and the boats have withstood everything that nearly 37,000 nautical miles of the world’s oceans could throw at them, and have come out at the end as conquerors in their own right.
The boats, designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian and built by Killian Bushe, have travelled the world’s oceans at a remarkable pace in indescribable conditions, with Ericsson 4 breaking the 24 hour record on route. Both Kouyoumdjian and Bushe were familiar with ACG’s materials from the onset, having had a close association with the Group for many years. ACG’s Technology Centre and its highly skilled formulators and marine experts have shown their dedication to providing the best materials and build techniques for past and present builds, something that was also apparent in the 06-07 Volvo Ocean Race.
Killian Bushe has been at the forefront of composite boatbuilding technology since the early eighties and has produced many high quality lightweight racing, race yachts. Indeed, Bushe now has the enviable reputation of having built the winning boats for the last three Volvo Ocean Races - Illbruck, ABN 1, and now Ericsson 4. And it doesn’t stop there; Bushe also built the Swedish Americas Cup yacht for Victory Challenge, which was manufactured in Gothenburg.
The proven pedigrees of the skippers, crews and support personnel for Ericsson 4 and Ericsson 3 have coalesced with the skills of the Kouyoumdjian and Bushe, proving that experience goes a long way when looking for the recipe to success.
Image: Copyright Oskar Kihlborg/Ericsson Racing Team
For further information, please contact:
Advanced Composites Group Ltd
Henry Nicholson-Cole. E-mail: hnicholson-cole@acg.co.uk
ACG Secures 3-Year Supply Agreement with Southern Spars - 10th March 2009
ACG, part of the Composites Division of Umeco plc, is proud to announce the signing of a 3-year supply agreement with Southern Spars, the world renowned manufacturer of award-winning carbon fibre spars.
With manufacturing facilities in New Zealand, South Africa and the USA, Southern Spars is the world leader in carbon spar design and engineering. Employing more than 300 staff worldwide, in an operation that spans the globe, Southern Spars has notched up an outstanding record of success in grand prix yacht racing, America’s Cup campaigns, Round the World races, Fastnet races, Sydney-Hobart races, Ton Cups, Olympic campaigns and World Championships. ACG is pleased to have been selected as Southern Spars’ supplier and enter into an agreement that represents a significant achievement for ACG in the competitive global marine industry.
ACG’s success in supplying prepregs into Formula One racing, the America’s Cup, and other prestigious Round the World racing campaigns, were significant factors in Southern Spars’ decision to select ACG as its preferred supplier. David Glen, Southern’s Group General Manager, noted that, “ACG’s commitment to the manufacture and supply of high quality prepregs, developed specifically for optimum mechanical performance and ease of processing, was a highly attractive proposition for Southern Spars.”
ACG’s celebrated range of structural resin systems and customer specific prepreg formatting, allied to the Group’s continued leading edge developments, will ensure Southern Spars maintain their position as the world’s principal spar manufacturer. ACG‘s close working relationship with leading carbon fibre manufacturers will ensure that the exacting standards Southern Spars demands for its structural materials are met in full and, working together, these companies will forge relationships that will bring about the development of new and innovative rigs for the future.
Bernard Twist, ACG’s Export Sales Manager, said, “It was clear from the outset that there was a very good fit between the capabilities of ACG, as a global prepreg supplier, and the objectives of Southern Spars, the world’s leading designer and supplier of carbon spars.”
Initial deliveries of prepregs have already been made and both ACG and Southern Spars now anticipate a busy period of close co-operation as manufacture of the first rigs made with ACG’s MTM® prepregs gets under way.