Archived Tooling Sector News - 2011

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

Advanced Composite Group Ltd. and Integran Technologies Win JEC 2011 Composite Innovation Award – Equipment Category

Further Developments in ACG’s Cost Effective Tooling Range

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Advanced Composite Group Ltd. and Integran Technologies Win JEC 2011 Composite Innovation Award – Equipment Category - 16th February 2011

Advanced Composites Group Ltd. (ACG), part of Umeco Composites Structural Materials (UCSM) – a Division of Umeco plc, along with Integran Technologies Inc., a world leader in “Nanovate” nanometal materials, have won the JEC 2011 Composite Innovation Award - Equipment Category for Carbovar - Nanovate -NV surface composite tooling.

The innovation combines the hardness, durability and damage tolerance of the nanometal coating with the lightweight, low thermal mass of a carbon fibre composite mould tool to deliver a durable and cost effective solution. The Nanovate surface is an ultra-hard, nanocrystalline nickel/iron alloy coating that has a low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) matching the CTE of the composite mould tool.

The Nanovate surface increases the longevity of the mould, becoming comparable to that of a conventional metallic mould tool. Composite tooling saves the energy required for the heat-up and cool-down phases, and the energy required to lift, rotate and manoeuvre them within the working environment, and during the lay-up process (faster material deposition rates).

The successful development of this metal/composite hybrid mould technology is the result of a 5-year joint collaborative research and development programme between ACG and Integran Technologies Inc. The technology was recently presented during a number of top-level visits to major European and US aerospace composite companies. Both partners are eager to develop this technology further and would welcome enquiries from interested parties.

At an average cost of £250,000 per tool for the Dreamliner alone, the potential market value for tooling over a 4-year period is in the region of £250 million. Converting just 10% of these “safe” metallic mould tools to a Nanovate surfaced composite mould tools could equate to a possible saving of over £5 million.

Photograph: ©ACG Ltd 2011 - Carbovar - Nanovate - NV Surface Composite Tooling

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For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group Ltd.

Clive Bennett - Tooling Technology Manager
E-mail: cbennett @ acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

Integran Technologies Inc.

1 Meridian Rd., Toronto, Ontario, M9W 4Z6
Telephone: +1 (416) 675-6266
E-mail: crm @ integran.com
Website: www.integran.com

Additional Notes to Editors:

Integran Technologies Inc. - is a world leader in the development and commercialization of advanced metallurgical nano-technologies. Integran’s affiliated companies includes: Powermetal Technologies (Carlsbad, CA) which develops and manufactures products for the sports equipment and consumer product sectors; and Integran Technologies USA Inc. (Pittsburgh, PA) which develops leading-edge materials technologies for aerospace and defense applications.    www.integran.com

Further Developments in ACG’s Cost Effective Tooling Range - 5th January 2011

Advanced Composites Group Ltd (ACG), part of Umeco Composites Structural Materials (UCSM) – a Division of Umeco plc, announces the launch of LTM®202, an autoclave tooling prepreg system offering thermal cycling capability up to 200ºC.

As part of ACG’s growing range of next generation tooling systems, LTM202 offers low temperature initial curing options from 45°C, but with optimised tack levels and general handling characteristics which overcome many of the criticisms levelled at existing tooling prepregs. LTM202 is easier and cleaner to handle and does not suffer from problems, such as transfer to gloves, knife blades, etc., that can hinder progress when working with other systems.

Developments in base resin technology allow ACG to offer LTM202 as a highly cost effective tooling package, and it is expected that it will be readily accepted across many market sectors, becoming the benchmark tooling system for the workshop.

LTM202 complements ACG’s innovative, labour saving DForm® tooling technology. Launched two years ago, DForm offers up to a 50% saving in tool lay-up time and is setting new standards in surface flatness and tooling quality.

LTM202 is one of a series of key developments to be announced in 2011, thus demonstrating ACG’s continued commitment to the composites tooling market.

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For further information, please contact:

Advanced Composites Group

Dr. John Nixon –Technical Marketing Manager. E-mail: jnixon @ acg.co.uk
Clive Bennett – Tooling Technology Manager. E-mail: cbennett @ acg.co.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)1773 766200

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Other News	2009	2008
Tooling