JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #121 - May 2018 - 27

"We want to bring the story of composites to the end user in a different way"

applications for composites in
general, using about one million
metric tons per year.
In less than three decades, the
demand for composites grew
with the size of the blades. In the
early 90's, the maximum length
of a wind blade was about 20m,
developing rapidly to a standard
length of about 50m in 2015.
And who knows where this
trend will stop, but designing
and producing 100m and longer
blades seems not to be too far
away.
As a result, blades are not
producible in other materials
than composites if you want to
achieve the same requirements
for geometries, weight, strength,
stiffness, etc.
wind industry was only possible
as a "team approach" of multiple
factors that played a role in the
advancement of composites.
The right combination of raw
materials, like fibres, resins
and core materials, has to meet
design and process requirements
that are defined with a good understanding of composite design
principles.
If we want to repeat the success
story of wind applications in
other industries, we need to tailor the story to each market and
segment a bit differently. But in
general, it will stay an approach
that can only be won by the best
team on the pitch.

standable to other industries,
allowing them to participate in
the benefits and to use composites more easily.

What is the real prize for
composites?

M.S.: We all know the benefits

C.K.: The common goal of all

composite players should be to
grow the share of composites
and open new markets and applications to composite solutions
rather than to fight for the same
piece of the pie.
We need to change the story of
composites to make it under-

M.S.: It is absolutely essential

to start sharing knowledge
between market sectors in order
to broaden composite usage in
a bigger way. Often persons or
entities are afraid of losing their
specific know-how. Therefore,
we need to create an environment of trust where all can bring
in the expertise needed to deliver
the best composite solution.
Which arguments are likely to
help further the development of
composites?

of composites very well, such
as their light weight, corrosion
resistance and design flexibility.
But in most of the cases, composites have a cost disadvantage
compared to conventional materials like steel or concrete. To
overcome this hurdle, we need
a solid model to explain their
lower life cycle costs.

The most difficult part is to
explain the benefits to industries
outside the composite world in
an easy and understandable way.
Only if we are successful in telling our story understandable and
compelling we have the chance
to connect to new industries.

of composites - more easily if we
combine our efforts.
How will you go about winning
people over?

M.S.: There is a place for every

material - metals, composites,
wood, etc. - but we need to use
it wisely. In other words: use
C.K.: To increase the compet- composites where they make
itive advantage of composite sense to claim the most benefits.
materials, we take a holistic
approach of technologies with C.K.: We want to bring the sto- and this is key - an agnostic ry of composites to the end user
view of different solutions, bring in a different way, sharing the
together existing technologies success of composite end users
and processes and optimize to with peers of their industry, from
the requirements of specific their point of view - not from the
industries.
composites enthusiasts' perspective. A story that you have been
There are multiple pitfalls to part of or that has been executed
overcome, like automation, is always stronger than a nice but
variations, tolerances, manual theoretical idea presented with a
labour, F&E predictability good PowerPoint presentation.
(failure), cost and certainly the We have to offer other industries
perception that composites are easy access to composites by decomplicated to work with. Near- livering composite solutions.
ly all major composite players
are working on these topics
More information:
separately but we will reach our
www.smack.cologne
common goal - to grow the use
www.k1ss.com

C.K.: The development in the

Final touch on a complex mold - showing the dilemma of composites balancing the freedom of design with the need for
automation for high volume production

N°121 May - June 2018

/ jec composites magazine

http://www.smack.cologne http://www.k1ss.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #121 - May 2018