The Newsletter of the SAMPE UK & Eire Club

Volume 4, Issue 1
April 2000


'Composites Make it Big'

Third SAMPE Technology Conference at Cranfield
The UK & Ireland Chapter's Third Technology Conference 'Opportunities for Large Scale Composites Manufacturing Through Developments in Materials, Tooling and Processing' will take place at Cranfield University on 17 May 2000. The organising team, headed by Cranfield's Composites Research Leader Andrew Mills, has put together an exciting programme of papers focussed on making composites for value-engineered solutions.
The programme includes three specialist sessions - tooling, infrastructure and large scale manufacture - with invited speakers, all experts in their field, from companies and organisations making major contributions to the technical progression and commercial exploitation of composites. The provisional programme includes:


Tooling
Clive Bennett, Advanced Composites, and a speaker from Radius Engineering, US:


Infrastructure -
John Drewett, Concrete Repairs Limited, UK; Sue Halliwell, Building Research Establishment, UK; Jim Moriarty, London Underground Limited, UK.

Large-scale applications -
Derek Ness, SP Systems, UK.

Chapter Chairman Roy McCarthy enthuses: "Last year's conference was an outstanding success with around 60 people attending including 23 new SAMPE members. This year the team have put together another excellent programme. It reflects the key market drivers for composites and picks up on the rapid technical progress in tooling, and the accelerating acceptance of high performance composites for industrial applications - such as civil engineering and infrastructure repair, and new large-scale projects such as wind energy. We are expecting another good response, so early booking is highly recommended."

Full details about the One-Day Conference are available from Marion Walls at SIMS, B42, Cranfield University Tel: 01234 754043, Fax: 01234 751572, E-mail: m.walls@cranfield.ac.uk.

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McCarthy’s Lore
UK and Eire Club Chairman, Roy McCarthy writes:
Chapter Chairman, Roy McCarthy writes:
" It's a pleasure to report so many positive items in this my first message of the New Millennium. Our nascent chapter continues to strengthen its membership and UK & Ireland is now the fastest growing sector in Europe.
"There is also great news for two of our outstanding members. Bob Griffiths has been elected Vice President of SAMPE Europe for 2000/1; he will automatically go on to become European President in 2002/3. And Frazer Barnes of DML has been honoured with the prestigious SAMPE Europe Award for his outstanding contribution to the development of composite applications in infrastructure and offshore. Congratulations to them both. "Following last year's excellent success the team is busy organising our Third Technology Conference at Cranfield, on 17 May, and we anticipate another full house. "I look forward to seeing you all in April at the AGM and industry visit at DML and also in Paris at the International Conference." Roy McCarthy
- Roy McCarthy -


 

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'Bob's New Job'
Bob Griffiths Elected SAMPE Europe VP
Bob Griffiths, for many years one of the key members of the UK & Ireland club and a director of the recently formed chapter, is the new Vice President of the Board of SAMPE Europe. He was elected to the post unanimously by the SAMPE Europe Board in a ballot of all European Board delegates in November 1999. Past President Mark Erath, who was instrumental in persuading Bob to put up for office was very upbeat about the new man. "He will make an excellent VP in support of new President José Kenny," says Erath, " And it's quite a time since we had someone from the UK 'in the chair'. Trevor Cook did a superb job during his presidency and the Board were very keen to encourage greater involvement from such a progressive group."



Paris Conference Call
April in Paris wouldn't be quite the same without the romance and cultural stimulation of the SAMPE International Conference. As usual it is held in conjunction with JEC and takes place at CNIT, La Défense, on 18-20 April 2000. You can register via e-mail: cardamone@stesalit.com or fax +41 61 791 09 93.

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'Quay to Success in Devonport'
AGM and Industry Visit at DML
The English Riviera beckons on 11 April when the Chapter AGM, combined with an industry visit, takes place at DML Devonport Dockyard, Plymouth, Devon. Chapter Secretary David Carlton reports: "The AGM won't be too onerous and we aim to complete the business side of things in about an hour (sounds like an optician's advert!). The trip round DML is the main attraction and they have laid on an excellent programme to demonstrate their capabilities. There is a presentation of composites in civil and offshore engineering followed by a tour of the facilities including CFRP plate manufacture, a RIFT repair demonstration and a look at some large scale composite structural testing for London Underground and repair work for HMS Cambridge. It's a superb day in prospect with opportunities for networking with the 'cream of British Isles composites people' and wonderful views of Ambrosian countryside. I Look forward to seeing you there."

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Membership Grows
Membership of SAMPE in Europe continues to strengthen. Total European membership is now up to 670. France (143), UK & Ireland (127), Benelux (78) and Germany (76) are the largest groups. SAMPE is also strong in Switzerland (70) and Israel (56). France and Germany have now followed UK & Ireland to become full chapters.

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Barnes 'Stormer'
SAMPE Europe Award for Frazer Barnes
Frazer Barnes of DML's Applied Composites Group is the 2000 winner of the prestigious SAMPE Europe Award. He was unanimously selected by the SAMPE Europe Board and will receive the award at the SAMPE International Conference Gala Dinner in Paris on 19 April 2000. The SAMPE Europe Award is presented to recognise outstanding contributions to materials and process engineering. Chairman Roy McCarthy explains: "In Frazer's case the award reflects his pioneering work in the development of innovative solutions for infrastructure repair. His efforts have helped DML translate defence-related technology to successful commercial uses in civil engineering and offshore structures." Past UK winners include Neil Cogswell. Cheers Frazer!

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Diaz & Wilson Aiming for Paris Success
Research Student Excellence at Imperial Seminar
In the wake of Ben Souter's winning performance at the 1999 SAMPE Europe International Research Student Conference, Sergio Diaz and Martin Wilson will carry UK & Ireland hopes at this year's competition in Paris in April. Diaz, from Imperial College, and Wilson, from Nottingham Univ., were selected as the national winners from the UK & Ireland Research Student Seminar held at Imperial College in November 1999. Seminar organiser Bob Griffiths is confident that our two representatives will do well. "We had a tough job to select just two from a very high quality field but Sergio and Martin had the edge and I know they will be a credit both to themselves and the UK & Ireland Chapter," Griffiths says. "Support for students is a key part of SAMPE and we believe their involvement is vital for the future strength of the organisation."
Best wishes and 'Bon Chance' to Sergio and Martin.

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Forthcoming Attractions
An industrial visit is planned for later in the year and also possibly a joint meeting with NUCC. Look out for details through the post and also on the Web site at www.sampe.org.uk.
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www.WebSiteNews.com
Research Student Excellence at Imperial Seminar
The Chapter web site is up and running at www.sampe.org.uk. Webmaster Pete Ives is looking for ways to expand it's usefulness with additional features, such as job opportunities and student information exchange. Any ideas please through David Carlton (sndcarlton@SEDACE.co.uk) or directly to Pete Ives (pjives@compuserve.com).

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The UK SAMPE Diary
UK & Ireland Chapter AGM & Industry Visit to DML, Devonport 11 April 2000

European International Conference/JEC, CNIT, Paris 18-20 April 2000

Composites Technology Conference, Cranfield Univ. 17 May 2000

Chapter Meeting & Industry Visit 2nd Half 2000

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Info

UK SAMPE News is produced around twice a year to provide information for UK and Eire members, mainly but not exclusively, about SAMPE happenings and events in the UK and Europe. Comments and contributions are most welcome to:


Ed Trewin,

4 Rushton Close,

Balsall Common,

Coventry, CV7 7PA

Tel/Fax: 01676 534045

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