16 August 2009
Solar car gears up for Australian challenge
GRP Laminates is working with an innovative team of engineering students at University College London, on a one-off experimental solar car. The UCL team is entering the 10th World Solar Challenge, a gruelling 3,000 mile race across Australia, from Darwin to Adelaide.
The students and their tutor have visited the GRP facility to understand the processes involved and to collaborate with our composite moulding experts to identify which materials and processes will perform best in the extreme conditions of the challenge.
GRP Laminates will be moulding various components including the upper body shell of the car, into which the solar ‘engine’ panels will be fitted, and the internal structure of the vehicle. The car is being constructed using an epoxy resin system with a carbon skin and foam core. This system has significant weight and strength advantages.
Other partners in the project include prestige car maker Bentley, who will make the car’s undercarriage. The car will be assembled at GRP Laminates facility in the Isle of Wight and then go to UCL for final fit-out and trials.
The race takes place in October 2009. Watch this space!
12 August 2009
Latest RTM process secures doors contract
GRP Laminates is producing composite moulded door panels for Piper, one of the region’s leading makers and installers of windows, doors and conservatories. The Piper Group supplies high quality products for domestic, trade and commercial customers, and has an excellent reputation for quality, service and ‘fits first time’ installation.
Technical Director of GRP Laminates, Bob Bennett commented: “This contract demonstrates the real value and advantage that RTM offers our customers. Piper was looking at overseas supply for their door skins, but using this process we were able to compete on delivery and convenience.”
RTM, or resin transfer moulding, is an advanced method of producing fibreglass or composite mouldings using a closed mould that reduces material waste and harmful emissions, as well as being much faster. GRP Laminates invested in the technology ahead of many of its competitors, and is now seeing the benefits.
Low maintenance, hard wearing, high security door skins are being produced in two designs and seven colours for Piper’s Armourdoor Range. A dedicated production line at GRP Laminates Cowes-based factory already turns out 120-150 tough composite mouldings a week, with room for expansion.
05 August 2009
GRP celebrates client success at SeaWork 09
Seaworks 2009 provided plenty of opportunity for celebration for one of GRP Laminates’ key customers, South Boats Special Projects. South Boats brought four boats to the summer show, including the dedicated windfarm support vessels that are making such an impression in this growing market. In total, the company signed contracts for four new vessels at the show.
GRP Laminates is particularly proud of the success of the South Boats fleet, as we supply a broad range of components to the company’s vessels, ranging from galley, console and toilet pods to entire hull and superstructure mouldings ready for kit-out.
With the forward order book for South Boats looking strong, GRP Laminates will be working hard to help the company build on its success.
Congratulations to all at South Boats, from all of us at GRP!
Prospect Road, Cowes
Isle of Wight PO31 7AD
T 01983 200 988
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