SPIRIT AEROSYSTEMS

Boeing and Airbus split up loss-making supplier among themselves

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

Composites: Tokyo air crash saviour?

ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

3D printing with increased focus on sustainability / Parts optimisation applications on the rise / Healthcare sector offers large market potential – Sculpteo, Wohlers reports

BCOMP

BMW, Porsche, Volvo acquire stake in natural fibre composites specialist / Expansion of production and sales activities

PLASTIC FANTASTIC

The kite that can tow a cargo ship…

DIGITALISATION UK

Government investment initiative boosts plastics firms / Funding allows companies to invest in new technologies

AIRBUS

Suppliers Premium Aerotec and Stelia to return to group / CFRP hub in Augsburg to be split up / Break-up feared

PVC

EU imposes punative tariffs on PVC from the US

AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING

Existential threat to aerospace suppliers / Decline in production makes itself felt

MITSUBISHI CHEMICAL ADVANCED MATERIALS

Semi-finished products manufacturer buys into European carbon fibre recycling

SOLVAY

Sales drop at chemicals and plastics group / Composites plant closures in UK and US

WOODWARD / HEXCEL

Aircraft suppliers pool competencies / Group sales would reach USD 5 bn

POLYMER PRICES

North America September 2019: Only polyolefins show small increases / PVC, PS and engineering plastics move predominantly sideways / Automotive slump and trade war have an impact / Storm and drone attacks hold up prices in the short term

SGL CARBON

Carbon fibre producer revises forecast / CEO to resign and restructuring expected

TRADE FAIRS

"Composites Europe 2019" in Germany / Partner country is the UK / "Foam Expo Europe" running in parallel

EURO-COMPOSITES

Investment of EUR 160m at site in Luxembourg / Composites panels for aerospace

BOMBARDIER

Sale of aircraft wing production plants in UK and Morocco / Resin injection process for composite parts

WORLD TRADE

Trade war leads to plummeting US polymer exports to China / Imports to Europe continue to grow / EU considers imposing punitive tariffs on US plastics

BREXIT

Companies withdrawing operations from UK / CEO Tom Enders warns that Airbus could make a “very harmful decision for the UK” / Dyson, Philips and Sony in the process of relocating

FACC

Austrian composites specialist expands production plant and signs another Airbus contract / Aircraft interior unit bundled in Chinese holding

VELOCITY COMPOSITES

UK firm signs long-term deal to supply composite materials for Boeing's “737 Max” aircraft

EVENTS

EPDA annual conference to take place in Edinburgh in June

FACC

Airbus order worth over half a billion euros / Interior fittings for the "A320" aircraft

STRATASYS

3D-printed parts for Airbus / Fused deposition modelling technology to enhance competitiveness and cut costs

FAURECIA

Entry into the manufacture of CRP hydrogen tanks / Know-how acquired from Stelia Aerospace