From the Sector

• Atelier NA – Pariser Maßkonfektion erobert die Welt der deutschen Herrenmode

Ein Stil-Update für die deutsche Herrengarderobe: Ob elegant, klassisch oder casual – der  französische Marktführer für Maßkonfektion Atelier NA revolutioniert anhand seiner patentierten 3D-Technologie komplette Kollektionen mit Anzügen, Hemden, Sakkos und Hosen bis hin zu Mänteln nach Maß.

2011 in Paris gegründet, hat sich das Unternehmen mit dem 31-jährigen CEO und Co-Founder François Chambaud innerhalb kürzesterZeit zum französischen Marktführer etabliert und damit das internationale Business rund um moderne Maßkonfektion nachhaltig geprägt. Die unverzichtbare Passion für Innovation, Stilbewusstsein sowie der Wunsch nach kompromisslos hochwertiger Qualität sind die Erfolgsfaktoren dieses einzigartigen Konzepts. Mit 30 Stores in sechs verschiedenen Ländern strebt Atelier NA eine führende Position in ganz Europa an. Dabei liegt der Fokus insbesondere auf dem deutschen Markt.

Technologie

Die Atelier NA Formel; ein Konzept der Zukunft: Der weltweit patentierte 3D-Bodyscanner ist das Herzstück des internationalen Herrenausstatters und misst über 200 Körpermaße in weniger als einer Sekunde. Eine 360°-Rundum-Erfahrung für Jedermann. Die gemessenen Daten sowie fortlaufende Konfigurierungen werden für zukünftige Maßanfertigungen gespeichert und ermöglichen eine makellose Passform. Darüber hinaus definiert sich Atelier NA durch ein optimales Verhältnis von Preis, Beratung, Passform und Qualität.

« Einzelstücke nach Maß zum Preis von Ready-to-wear »

Die hochwertigen Maßanzüge und Smokings beginnen dank der innovativen 3D-Technologie schon bei 395 Euro, während Maßhemden sogar ab 49 Euro und Denim-Hemden ab 89 Euro erhältlich sind. Mehr als 1.500 italienische und englische Stoffe von Loro Piana bis hin zu Holland & Sherry und Thomas Mason zählen zum exklusiven Portfolio von Atelier NA.

Handwerk und Stilberatung

Eine exklusive und individuelle Shopping-Erfahrung: Während bei der Vermessung auf modernste Technologien gesetzt wird, ist das Handwerk dennoch unverzichtbar. Die Stilberater in den Stores werden in der Kunst und Tradition der Maßschneiderei fachlich ausgebildet und bieten einen persönlichen und hochkarätigen Service mit intensiver Beratung. Dabei ist die Personalisierung beinahe grenzenlos. Von verschiedenen Farb- und Stoffkombinationen bis hin zur Auswahl von Kragen, Manschetten, Knöpfen, Taschen, Polstern sowie Veredelungen der Einzelstücke durch Initialen, sind alle Optionen im Preis inbegriffen.

« Guter Stil für alle Generationen »

Die finale Handwerkskunst im Atelier – hier trifft Tradition auf Technologie. Die hohen Standards sowie Qualitätsansprüche werden im eigenen Produktions-Atelier Schritt für Schritt bewahrt. Ein Team von 250 speziell ausgebildeten Maßschneidern und Schnittmachern entwirft mit viel Liebe zu Garn, Stoff und Detail die Kollektionsstücke mit Hilfe der berechneten 3D-Maße.

Pionier für Maßkonfektion in ganz Europa

Atelier NA als aufstrebende Trendschmiede der Zukunft: Frankreich, Belgien, Deutschland, Luxemburg und die Schweiz – mit insgesamt 30 Stores und mehr als 75.000 Kunden ist die europaweite Expansion der französischen Technologie stets auf Wachstumskurs. Etwa 40 Prozent des monatlichen Umsatzes basieren auf Folgeaufträgen zufriedener Stammkunden. In diesem Jahr werden weitere
Stores eröffnen, darunter Stuttgart und London.

Color Solutions International, a member of the DyStar® Group, is launching their Color Analysis magazine for Autumn/Winter 2019. This trend forecasting magazine provides high-level global color information for color managers, directors and designers to support the color palette development process. The magazine includes a seasonal color palette selected from a wide range of approximately 3,700 CSI ColorWall™ colors.

Based on most recent customer feedback, the newest edition of Color Analysis was adjusted to be more valuable for the design and palette creation process. This new edition contains 54 trend and validated colors, additional color data, and color evolution & direction by hue. Furthermore, the color trend palettes are displayed by product category: Women’s, Active, Intimates, Men’s, Kids and Home. Similar to the previous editions, Color Analysis also includes our proprietary Relative Color Popularity report (RCP), offering color predictions with validation of performing colors.

“As the Color and Trend Director at Color Solutions, it is my goal to provide relevant seasonal color data collected through consumer insights and market analysis. We are able to look further out for trends that are affected by world views, mindset and cultural influences,” said Heather Sandwall, CSI Color and Trend Director

The CSI and DyStar team of experts work together and assist their customers in color development and communication as well as in the dyeing and quality inspection process to achieve best possible results and sustainable fashion. All CSI products are produced with high-quality, eco-friendly DyStar colorants.

Das Bedrucken von Textilien ist unter ökologischen Gesichtspunkten alles andere als nachhaltig. Grund dafür sind die umfangreichen Wasch-, Trocken- und Fixierprozesse, die ein Textil vor und nach dem Druck durchlaufen muss. Wissenschaftler am Forschungsinstitut für Textil und Bekleidung der Hochschule Niederrhein haben jetzt eine Lösung entwickelt, die den Weg zu einem energieärmeren Textildruck weisen kann.
 
Das in der Textilindustrie derzeit dominierende Druckverfahren ist der konventionelle Pigmentdruck, gefolgt vom Reaktivdruck unter Verwendung von Siebdruckschablonen. Dies ist aufwändig, da Schablonen produziert werden müssen und das Textil vor- und oft nachbehandelt wird. Im Vergleich dazu ist der Digitaldruck wesentlich energieärmer – aber für den Pigmentdruckweniger zuverlässig hinsichtlich der Gebrauchsechtheiten. Er kommt daher in der Industrie bislang kaum zur Anwendung. „Aufgabe des Projekts war es, ein praxistaugliches Digitaldrucksystem mit Pigmenttinten und unter Verwendung einer energiesparenden Trocken-Fixiereinheit zu entwickeln“, sagt Projektleiterin Professorin Dr. Maike Rabe.
 
Zwei Jahre forschten unter ihrer Leitung Dr. Michael Korger und Christine Steinem  an dem Thema. Knapp 200.000 Euro gab die Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt in das Projekt, an dem neben der Hochschule Niederrhein das Unternehmen Multi-Plot Europe GmbH beteiligt war. Das Ergebnis: Unter bestimmten Parametern liefert der digitale Pigmentdruck brauchbare Ergebnisse. Dabei kann gegenüber dem Reaktivdruck, bei dem der Farbstoff mit der Faser reagiert, bei Betrachtung der jeweiligen Fixierschritte mehr als 60 Prozent der Energie eingespart werden.
 
Das entwickelte Druckverfahren kann für Heimtextilien wie Bettwäsche, Tischdecken, Vorhänge angewandt werden. Es ist eine ökologisch nachhaltige Methode, die zugleich Standards an Qualitätsanforderungen einhält. So ist mit dem entwickelten Digitaldruckverfahren ein Druck mit acht Farben möglich, der zugleich Konturenschärfe, Farbbrillanz sowie Licht-, Reib- und Waschbeständigkeiten aufweist.
 
Statt eines aufwändigen Dämpfprozesses, wie er im Reaktivdruck üblich ist und der Wasser und viel Energie verbraucht, fixierten die Forscher das Textil nach dem Druck für drei Minuten bei 160 Grad Celsius. Die dafür notwendige Trockeneinheit (Kalander) wurde statt mit Öl mit Carbonpulver beheizt. Dieses erwärmt sich schneller und sorgt damit für zusätzliche Energieeinsparung. Zugleich gibt es keine chemische Reaktion, die das Farbpigment direkt mit der Faser verbindet. Beim digitalen Pigmentdruck ist das Bindemittel bereits in der Tinte, was einen weiteren Arbeitsgang spart.
 
„Die von uns entwickelte Technologie ist industriell einsetzbar, aber kein Allround-Mittel“, fasst Michael Korger das Arbeitsergebnis zusammen. „Sie ist speziell im Heimtextilbereich gut für Baumwolle verwendbar.“

• Connect people, data and processes with Lectra’s latest solutions to power up design and development teams

Paris – Lectra, the technological partner for companies using fabrics and leather, introduces collaborative solutions specifically developed for design and product development teams, enabling fashion companies to affront tighter deadlines and handle wider product mixes with speed and serenity.

With the rise of e-commerce, digitally dependent consumers expect personalized, innovative fashion delivered to their doorstep at the click of a mouse.

Fashion companies are struggling to keep up with consumer demands and looking for new ways to speed up design and development without compromising quality. Design teams work faster than ever to deliver fresh, eye-catching collections. Product development teams rush to transform new designs into consumer-ready products. Given the accelerated pace of the fashion marketplace, information sharing has become vital for these teams.

Lectra has developed two new solutions to fulfill the specific needs of these teams, Lectra Connected Design and Lectra Connected Development. These solutions deliver collaborative environments that integrate business applications to aggregate, standardize and store data from all design and product development stages. These innovative solutions make every-day working life less stressful by allowing criteria-based searches, inciting users to capitalize on data links, and providing them with innovative tools and services to speed up their processes.

Lectra Connected Design facilitates collaboration between textile and fashion designers, colorists, graphic designers, technical designers and their managers by providing design teams with a connected environment. Team members can access the platform via their Lectra Kaledo® design software and Adobe® Creative Cloud, share inspiration and review collections together or upload inspirations via dedicated mobile apps. This solution gives users the visibility needed to streamline, automate and monitor the entire design process to ensure that they remain creative under severe time constraints.

In the same way, Lectra Connected Development connects patternmakers, graders, technical design teams, managers, cost and margin specialists, marker makers and sample teams through data. It allows team members to connect through Lectra Modaris® 2D and 3D patternmaking software and Lectra Diamino® Fashion marker-making software. Thanks to the wide range of standard libraries and mobile applications provided, teams will improve the efficiency of technical specifications creation. The automation of business processes and real-time communication allow product development teams to avoid errors and deliver the right product quality and fit.

“We recognize first and foremost that today’s fashion industry professionals need to feel well-equipped and at ease in order to perform well under tight deadlines,” explains Céline Choussy Bedouet, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Lectra. “We are confident that by introducing a new and easy way of collaborating through sound data management, both offers will help design and product development teams work faster and more easily to build quality into the products they design and develop. That way, they can reach their fullest potential as key contributors to their companies’ success.”

On Thursday, March 22nd, C.L.A.S.S., with support from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), will invite fashion’s industry leaders, designers and members of the press to celebrate An Evening of Smart Innovation.  An exceptional team of artists, filmmakers, food and textile designers have created an immersive experience that will engage the guests’ senses highlighting that smart innovation is the new standard for fashion. The experience will examine the four key areas that are vital to C.L.A.S.S.’s business philosophy: Heritage - Smart Innovation - Circular Economy - Design Responsibility. The commitment to those principles and to forward thinking led to C.L.A.S.S. having been nominated as one of the European Business Awards 2017/2018 Ones to Watch for exceptional growth, significant innovation along with an ethical approach to business.

The March 22nd date is a deliberate choice as it marks International Water Day and serves as a way to advocate for sustainable water management, a key issue in textile manufacturing. Many of C.L.A.S.S.’s partners, such as ECOTEC® by Marchi&Fildi, Bemberg™ and ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei and TINTEX Textiles use technological breakthroughs to offer fashion materials that provide significant reductions in water during the manufacturing process, an important step toward responsible future fashion systems.

“In touting significant reductions in water, energy usage and CO2 emissions, C.L.A.S.S.’s  message has always been one of consistency but now with today’s customers becoming increasingly environmentally mindful, the timing has never been better to bring awareness to the ways that responsible sustainability can be incorporated, in an authentic way, into a fashion or lifestyle brand increasing the bottom line without compromising design integrity,” said C.L.A.S.S. founder Giusy Bettoni.

The future is already here; guests can see and feel materials during the event that showcase technological breakthroughs currently available. While C.L.A.S.S. works with leading brands that practice responsible design, the next step is to expand their reach and set a new level of standards that benefit the entire industry. To that end, they have identified C.L.A.S.S. Education, their new division, as an essential learning resource to support fashion schools. The new division was co-founded with James Mendolia, professor in the MFA Fashion Design program at Fashion Institute of Technology. C.L.A.S.S. will also launch C.L.A.S.S. e-commerce platform, which will sell partner materials to support emerging designers and fashion start-ups.

Thank you to all of our partners for making this event and the last ten years possible: Bacx by Centro Seta, Bemberg™ by Asahi Kasei, ECOTEC® by Marchi & Fildi, Organic Cotton Colours, Re.VerSo™, ROICA™ by Asahi Kasei, TINTEX Textiles, Zignone.

Montalvo, international specialists in web tension control, announces its newest product offering, Axial Activated Core Chucks. As part of their “Defender Series Core Chucks,” the Montalvo Axial Activated Core Chuck is designed for shaft-less unwinding and rewinding applications requiring maximum roll/core gripping and/or utilizing floor pick up.
The Defender Axial Activated (DAA) Core Chucks, sometimes referred to as lug chucks, are cost effective, rugged, and durable core chucks capable of withstanding even the dustiest environments while being simple to utilize.
An exclusive “safe lock” model expands the capabilities of the AA core chucks even further by resolving any potential risk of the core not fully tightening and ensuring the roll is always perfectly concentric. Cores are engaged as a result of radial lug expansion as the core is loaded into the chuck, ensuring maximum grip so you can Achieve More.

Montalvo’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Bryon Williams says, “Our new axial activated chucks and total Defender series of core chucks gives our customers a superior product offering in performance, quality, cost, safety, and service life. Axial activated chucks are a cost-effective way to “defend” against core damage, extending their service life while maintaining the highest levels of safety. The drop-in replacement design ensures no additional installation requirements for customers looking to upgrade their current core chucks.”

Additional DAA Core Chuck features include:
•    Rapid Expansion Jaws - ensure secure roll control immediately upon engagement
•    Dual Core Models - for processes utilizing multiple core sizes - one chuck, two core sizes
•    E-Flange™ Option - eliminates operator interaction in removing cores while making core ejection fast and easy; reducing risk of jammed cores
•    Photocell Ready™ Option - allows use of photocell or other sensors
•    Customer Specified Mounting Holes - ready for immediate installation upon delivery
•    Several Finishes Available - Black Oxide standard, Nickel Plating optional
•    Drop-In Replacement Design - for easy upgrading of existing installations

About Montalvo
Since 1947 the Montalvo Corporation has specialized in manufacturing, integrating, retrofitting and servicing a wide range of tension control products for a variety of industries including, converting, paper, film, foil, nonwovens, plastic, corrugated, packaging, medical, composite and more. Montalvo’s products include load cells, tension controllers, tension indicators, amplifiers, tension control brakes and clutches, sensors, safety chucks, and core chucks. Montalvo has four worldwide offices in the USA, Denmark, Germany & China. http://www.montalvo.com

• A unique partnership enabled Lectra to test its revolutionary laser-cutting technology in a real production environment while delivering sustainable competitive advantage to the world’s leading supplier of airbag cushions.

Reaching the next level of growth and performance
Global Safety Textiles (GST) is the leading independent producer of airbag fabric and airbag cushions and supplier to the majority of airbag manufacturers.
Recognized for its long tradition of research and development, GST uses stateof- the-art technology to manufacture technical textiles for a variety of passive safety applications.
With operations on four continents, the German group has a workforce of more than 5,000.
The company’s worldwide operations and resources enable it to fulfill high volumes of orders promptly, providing the global automotive industry with a steady supply of airbag fabrics and cushions.To address GST’s main business challenges and meet their demanding manufacturing specifications, the group evaluated the performance of FocusQuantum OPW for one-piece-woven (OPW) airbag fabric together with Lectra in the pre-launch phase of the advanced laser airbag cutting solution. Following successful testing of Lectra’s advanced airbag cutting technology in a real production environment in Poland, the group then decided to acquire FocusQuantum OPW for implementation in China.

A one-off join testing collaboration on customer premise
The result of a mutually beneficial collaboration between Lectra and its longstanding customer, specifications for laser OPW airbag cutting solution FocusQuantum took into account GST’s exacting requirements. Once the development of FocusQuantum OPW was completed, both companies agreed to conduct joint
testing. “We came to the idea of joint testing when we visited Lectra’s R&D center in Bordeaux,” says Uwe Zimmermann, COO, GST.
“We discussed taking validation of our specifications to the next level. The idea came up to do it directly in a manufacturing environment.”
The extensive testing enabled GST’s experts to certify FocusQuantum as a proven technological platform for the mass production of airbags. “Process capability was a formal part of validations at GST Poland,” recalls Piotr Siwek. Manufacturing Engineering Manager. “It was verified and confirmed that FocusQuantum meets GST’s targets. The biggest improvement over the previous solution was the software, which we also helped Lectra develop. FocusQuantum Suite is one of the biggest advantages.”

Worldwide standartisation and rollout in China
As a result of the successful joint testing, GST decided to proceed with implementation in China. “Because GST aims to become a major player in Asia,
implementation of FocusQuantum in China is the next logical step for us,” explains Zimmermann. “Standardization of all our equipment worldwide is mandatory for us. That’s why we decided to work with a global player like Lectra.” With more than twice the productivity of the previous solution, FocusQuantum
has exceeded GST’s performance targets. The significantly higher level of process capability has both improved cutting quality and reduced the number
of defective cut parts.
“When we compare the unit output and unit cutting cost, we see a real improvement over the previous generation, so we are quite satisfied with the machine,” notes Sky Yang, General Manager, GST China. “It’s more reliable and productivity is significantly higher.”

The DyStar® Group recently launched a new concept of their resource saving module – Cadira Reactive/Disperse Continuous.

Cadira Reactive/Disperse Continuous is a modified pad-dry-thermosol-pad-steam dyeing process for open width PES/CO fabrics. In contrast to the standard PDTPS process, Cadira Reactive/Disperse Continuous does not require a separate reduction clearing process and thus saves more than 40% chemicals, water and energy. This effect is obtained by using a special dye choice of Dianix® XF/XF2 and SF disperse dyes in combination with selected Levafix® and Remazol® reactive dyes and a modified steaming and wash-off process with Sera® auxiliaries.

The Cadira concepts considerably reduce process costs, water, waste and energy consumption and machine utilization. Cadira supports Brands & Retailers and their production partners in their effort to save valuable resources and to reduce the carbon footprint of their textile goods.

The first Cadira module was developed in 2016. Since then DyStar has launched Cadira concepts for various substrates and applications. So far, the following Cadira concepts are available.

Cadira Polyester
Cadira Recycled Polyester
Cadira Vat
Cadira Reactive
Cadira Procion PX
Cadira Wool
Cadira Denim

DyStar will continue their effort to support the textile industry to reduce the environmental footprint.

About DyStar
DyStar® Group is a solution provider, offering customers across the globe a complete range of colorants, auxiliaries and services. The DyStar Group has offices, competence centers, agencies and production plants in over 50 countries to ensure the availability of expertise in all important markets. With a heritage of more than a century of product development and innovation for the textile and leather industry, DyStar has developed into new markets and now in addition serves the paper, plastic and many other specialty chemical industries.

DyStar’s service division assist brands & retailers and their industry partners from their first inspiration throughout the entire supply chain to ensure that they meet stringent quality and ecological specifications, reduce costs and shorten lead times. The service division offers state of the art color communication through CSI, textile and ecology testing through Texanlab, ecology and environmental advice, supply chain auditing and consulting for RSL compliant sustainable processes through Sustainable Textile Solutions programs.

The DyStar econfidence® program provides assurance that provided products comply with legal, voluntary and brand & retailer RSL (Restricted Substance List) requirements. It is an assurance that our products are in compliance with chemical and environmental legislation in each market in which they are sold.
Visit www.DyStar.com for more information.

Mit jedem Kilometer stellen sich Roadbiker neuen Etappen und lieben die Herausforderung. Der schnelle Sport fordert ein anspruchsvolles Outfit, das leicht, atmungsaktiv und enganliegend sein soll: Das extrem leichte VELOZIP Performance Shirt von triple2 erfüllt diesen Anspruch für das Rennradfahren.

Roadbiken ist angesagt. Kilometer um Kilometer bezwingen sie knackige Anstiege, um anschließend die Belohnung bei der rasanten Abfahrt einzufahren. Wer dabei unbeschwert und ohne unnötige Ausrüstung unterwegs sein möchte, benötigt das richtige Outfit: Das neue VELOZIP Performance Shirt von triple2 ist ideal für alle Racer und Racerinnen. Das enganliegende Trikot ist extrem leicht, abriebfest und kommt mit kühlender Funktion. Mit dem durchgehenden Frontreißverschluss haben Biker zudem noch bessere Belüftungsmöglichkeiten. Bei anspruchsvolleren Etappen gibt der funktionale Materialmix aus nachhaltigem Eco PET (recycelte PET-Flaschen) und ECONYL® (recycelte Fischernetze) den Schweiß wieder nach außen ab. Im Sommer schützt das Shirt mit einem UV-Schutz von 50+ vor Sonneneinstrahlungen. Außerdem sorgt der elastische Silikon-Print am Bund dafür, dass es beim Tragen nicht hochrutscht und garantiert perfekte Renntage.

Technische Details

- Durchgehender Frontreißverschluss mit Zipper-Garage
- Rückentasche mit Reißverschluss
- 3 weitere Steckfächer hinten
- Reflektoren am Rücken
- Zierdruck auf der Brust und am Rücken
- Elastischer Silikon-Print am Bund gegen Hochrutschen

Material

- Geruchsneutral, extrem schnell trocknend, hochatmungsaktiv, abriebfest und einzigartig weich
- Shell: 88% recyceltes Polyamid, 12% Elastan
- Mesh: 100% Polyester
- UV-Schutz: 50+
- Gewicht: 140 g / 170 g, Size S (Women) / M (Men)

• JEC Group pays tribute to the winners at JEC World 2018

The 2018 session of JEC World, the reference trade show organized by JEC Group, is in full swing and the focus is on innovation!
The JEC Innovation Awards ceremony, which took place on the Agora stage on Wednesday, March 7 at 5 pm, opened with a presentation by Yves Rossy, aircraft pilot and inventor of the first jet-powered wingpack. Then the jury revealed the names of the composite champions up for a JEC Innovation Award. Eleven winning innovations were chosen, out of the thirty finalists that had been previously selected from more than 100 applications from all over the world.

“JEC Group supports innovation. In 1998, it created the first award dedicated to composites, as a way to promote and reward the sector’s champions. Thanks to the work of JEC Group’s teams, the program has become an international benchmark. Each year, we receive more than a hundred applications from all over the world. Selection is now based on criteria like the level of involvement of the innovation’s partners in the value chain, the technical nature of the innovation, or its commercial applications,” explains JEC Group President & CEO Frédérique Mutel.
A new feature this year is that the jury revealed the winners during the ceremony, and the public could choose their favorite innovation before, during, and after the ceremony. So there is still time to vote! Votes are opened until Thursday March 8th, 5pm http://innovationawards.jec-world.events
Did you miss the ceremony?

11 AWARD WINNERS:
AEROSPACE APPLICATION
Winner:
AeroComposit, JSC (Russia) and its partner Solvay (United Kingdom)

• Infusion technology for an aircraft wing

The use of infusion technology to manufacture primary structural components for an aircraft wing. The technology makes it possible to create extra-long, integrated composite structures with complex aerodynamic shapes.

AEROSPACE PROCESS 
2 tied winners!
Winner: Airbus (Germany) and its partners, BMW Group (Germany), Technical University of Munich (TUM) (Germany), Neue Materialien Bayreuth GmbH (Germany), Werkzeugbau Siegfried Hofmann GmbH (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Foldcore GmbH (Germany), Neenah Filtration (Germany) and SGL Carbon GmbH (Germany)

• Complex structural applications for MAI sandwich technology

Cost-effective production of a complex 2.5D structure made of thermoplastic composite sandwich, with very short cycle times: under 5 minutes for aerospace materials and 2.5 minutes for automotive materials.

Winner: M. Torres Diseños Industriales SAU (Spain)
Moldless process to manufacture one-piece parts
A new manufacturing process for oversized one-piece reinforced composite structures, without requiring the use of complete molds.

AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATION
Winner: Ford Werke GmbH (Germany) and its partners, Gestamp (United Kingdom), GRM Consulting (United Kingdom) and University of Warwick (United Kingdom)

• Lightweight composite automotive suspension part

Structural suspension part made of lightweight composite, using a brand-new patented process for prepreg/SMC/steel overmolding that was designed using a new computer-aided engineering (CAE) technology.

AUTOMOTIVE PROCESS
Winner: Audi AG (Germany) and its partners, Voith Composites GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Dow Automotive (Switzerland), and Zoltek Corp. (United States)

• Series production of a rear panel module made of carbon composite

For the first time, the potential of carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) is used to full advantage in series production with a new rear panel module and cost-effective production technologies.

CONSTRUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE
Winner: Komatsu Seiren Co., Ltd. (Japan) and its partners, Kanazawa Institute of Technology (Japan) and Nagase ChemteX Corporation (Japan)

• Cabkoma cable made of CFRTP

Komatsu Seiren has developed a cable made of molded carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP), using a very cost-effective process that consists in polymerizing a thermoplastic epoxy resin in situ.

MARINE
Winner: Uljanik JSC (Croatia)

• Composite cargo decks for a vehicle carrier

On the SIEM Cicero, a vehicle carrier with a capacity of 7,000 vehicles, glass-fiber reinforced composites are used for a number of the structures for the cargo decks, thereby considerably reducing the ship’s weight, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.

RAILWAY
Winner: ELG Carbon Fibre Ltd. (United Kingdom) and its partners, Alstom Transport (United Kingdom), Magma Structures (United Kingdom), the University of Birmingham (United Kingdom), and the University of Huddersfield (United Kingdom)

• A bogie frame made of optimized lightweight carbon fiber

This project has developed the very first carbon-fiber bogie frame that uses a recycled material, making it possible to overcome the obstacles to a commercial adoption of this type of structure.

SPORTS & LEISURE
Winner: BMW Group (Germany) and its partners EDAG Engineering GmbH (Germany), KraussMaffei Technologies GmbH (Germany), Chr. Karl Siebenwurst GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), TUM-LCC (Germany), Automation W + R GmbH (Germany), and FHG-IGCV (Germany)

• A modular construction system for the rear swing arm suspension of a motorcycle

A modular system to produce a complex-shape swing arm suspension reinforced with carbon fiber. The system can adjust the mechanical properties on a case-by-case basis, for a competitive cost and weight compared to metal solutions.

SMART CITIES
Winner: MC Materiales Compuestos (Argentina) and its partners, Plaquimet (Argentina), Purcom (Brazil), IS Groupe - Composite Integrity (France), and G12 Innovation (Brazil)

• The Wet Core Pod composite housing module

The Wet Core Pod is a composite housing module with an industrialization potential that can facilitate the most complex, costly and difficult step in a construction project.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Winner: Cetim-Cermat (France) and its partner, CETIM (France)

• “3-in-1” line for producing recycled composites

A modular line that uses an innovative thermomechanical process to make large panels from recycled composites or plastics. The panels are then thermoformed into parts.