Composites Experts to Meet at Delcam

Companies wishing to benefit from the current boom in composites manufacturing can learn more about industry opportunities at a free half-day seminar being hosted by Delcam plc at its Birmingham headquarters on Tuesday, October 11. Supported by the National Composites Network, the seminar will bring those new to composite materials and those hoping to win more business in the field in touch with experts from both the commercial and technical sides of the industry.

The presentations will begin with a market overview by Mike Turner of materials supplier Hexcel. Next, Mary Goertz of Boeing will discuss specific opportunities within her company, which will be using a high proportion of composite materials in its new Dreamliner aircraft.

Other presentations will cover marine applications, low-cost manufacturing techniques, and advances in liquid moulding techniques. In addition, Lee Scott from Unimerco will describe his company’s latest cutting tools for composites machining, and Delcam will show how its range of Power Solution software can help designers and manufacturers of composite components to increase productivity, maximize quality, and shorten delivery times.

Following the presentations, delegates will enjoy a buffet lunch and then have opportunities to hold informal discussions with the speakers and tour Delcam’s toolroom.

The composites industry is growing. These materials are used increasingly to replace metals and wood, and new applications are found, especially in the aerospace, automotive, and marine industries, as their properties are developed.

The host company believes that the toolmakers that support component manufacturers and have suffered from the recent decline in UK toolmaking can find new opportunities in the composites area. Skills employed in producing complex injection moulds could be transferred relatively easily to the manufacture of tooling for the compression moulding and reaction injection moulding of composites. Similarly, firms that have been making models and patterns for the metals industry could turn to producing similar items for composites manufacture.