Exel Composites

When selecting materials for a composite solution, many people become preoccupied with one decision: glass or carbon fibres? Although fibres provide the strength and stiffness composites are known for, resin choice is often overlooked. Here, Sami Pirinen, Chemist and Resin Expert at Exel Composites, explores how resins can affect a composite’s properties and why we should consider resin choice with the same significance as fibre.

In an athletic sprint race, a split second can mean the difference between winning and losing. It’s been shown that athletes who sprint 40 meters wearing spiked shoes can finish 0.11 seconds faster than those wearing jogging shoes. Just like in athletics, using the right components in automated machinery can have a significant impact on performance. Here, Robert Glass, Head of Marketing at Exel Composites, explores how using composite components can enhance automated production lines.

Cheetahs are famed for their ability to reach high speeds, but it is in fact their agility that is truly impressive. Cheetahs can accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in just three seconds, and then quickly decelerate, turn, and sprint in another direction. But this exceptional combination of speed and precision doesn’t purely belong to the wild, and innovative composite materials are helping bring these qualities to the factory floor. Here, Robert Glass, Head of Marketing at Exel Composites, explores how composite components can enhance the performance of automated machinery.

Exel Composites has secured a patent across Europe for its telecommunications radome design. Four years in the making, the innovative material design will support the increasing roll out of fifth generation (5G) networks and will help telecommunications companies to overcome challenges with signal attenuation and protecting devices on the antenna.

You wouldn’t attempt to delicately manicure a bonsai tree with a chainsaw, even if it would be entertaining to watch. This may seem obvious, but there are many fields where selecting the right tool is a vital ingredient to success. In the composites industry, customers often request carbon fibre when in fact fibreglass is a better suited high performance material for their needs. Here, Kim Sjödahl, Senior Vice President, R&D and Technology from Exel Composites, explains why carbon fibre is not always the best option.

Animals as different as lions, piranha and ants have something in common: their ability to hunt in groups. The anatomy of a wild hunt is complex. Each member of the pack has a role to play, and a specific position in the group’s formation. Just a step out of line could be the difference between dinner and empty stomachs. When producing composites, placement is also key. Here Lauri Turunen, Product Business Owner at Exel Composites, investigates the possibilities of fibre alignment in composite materials.

In 2018, an estimated 142 billion gallons of gasoline were consumed in the United States, with Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) attributing to 20% of this figure. With the environmental impact of fuel clear to see, composite materials have the power to drastically reduce unnecessary fuel consumption. This is only one way composites can benefit the transportation industry. Here, Jari Sopanen, Product Business Owner for Transportation at ExelComposites, explains more.

In 2019, Auckland won a national award for its smart city innovations, including the SafeSwim programme, which provides real time data on beach safety and water quality. Organisations such as Land Information New Zealand (LINZ) are dedicated to integrating smart technology into cities across New Zealand - but how can we create a completely synergistic smart city? Here, Stephen Smith, Head of Asia Pacific Sales and Business Unit Manager at Exel Composites, explores the importance of composites in smart city infrastructure.

Some of the world’s best ideas originate from the strangest of places. It’s rumored that Nintendo game designer, Shigeru Miyamoto, developed what became the legendary game Donkey Kong while sitting in the bath. Similar unexpected environments, including the humble Finnish sauna, have also been the source of impressive innovation. Here Kim Sjodahl, SVP, Technology and R&D at Exel Composites explains more.

Not just for pizza toppings, mushrooms are transforming the construction industry. Using bioengineering, architects could soon be able to grow their own bricks by mixing together mycelium and chopped corn husks to create blocks that are solid enough to form durable structures. Material choice is vital to a product’s success and requires careful consideration. Here, Gert De Roover, Buildings Segment Owner at Exel Composites, explains why manufacturers should consider composites in their project designs from the start.