The Newsletter of the SAMPE UK & Eire Club
Volume 6,
Issue 1
April 2002
From preliminary reports the SAMPE Europe Conference in Paris, April 2002 was another technical and commercial success, repeating last year's performance. SAMPE Europe President Bob Griffiths was delighted with the progress made. "Registrations were down slightly on last year but the quality of papers and tutorials was unsurpassed." Around 270 people enrolled for the 2002 conference, which ran alongside JEC at the Port de Versailles Exhibition and Conference Centre, Paris. The technical aspects of the conference were organised by the UK Technical Committee under the Chairmanship Roy McCarthy of Dowty Propellers. The Conference Technical Manager was Frazer Barnes, of Cytec Engineered Materials, who explains how the programme came together. "We received over 100 abstracts in response to the initial 'Call for Papers'. Based on the excellent groundwork done by Bob Griffiths in 2001 we prepared a short list for the International Scientific Committee to choose around 70 presentations to fit into a balanced programme of 23 sessions. Chapter Chairman Roy McCarthy takes up the story: "The main Conference programme was run alongside an Aerospace Forum and a specialist tutorial on 'Out of Autoclave Composites Processing' all of which were highly successful. In the Aerospace forum Eurocopter and Airbus gave excellent presentations on the future direction for the use of composite materials. An increase in the use of composites was envisaged as long as applications are cost effective overall. Parts consolidation was seen as the key advantage of composite structures, leading to weight and cost reduction."
In the processing
tutorial, presenters covered a wide range of subjects including Marine,
Rail and Automotive applications and also key aspects of materials and
processes. Experts from Airbus gave excellent papers on the TANGO
European funded project looking at the use of composites for large
commercial aircraft structure. Many processes are being examined to
evaluate the most cost-effective methods. Liquid resin processes are
winning over prepreg solutions, RFI being preferred for large area
components and RTM for thick smaller applications. Non-crimp fabrics
are being used where possible but property evaluation has shown a 10%
reduction over woven fabric construction. [A more detailed synopsis of
the conference will be given in the next issue of the SAMPE Journal.]
"The French Chapter, as always, organised the venue, alongside JEC, and
of course the superb Conference Dinner, held at the splendid Belle
Epoque Train
Blue Restaurant at the Gare de Lyon.
"The German Chapter take over responsibility for the Technical
Programme
Management and gathering the papers together for the 2003 Conference,
scheduled
for 1 to 3 April 2003. The call for papers is already in circulation
and available
on the European Web site. According to SAMPE Europe top brass, the
SAMPE Europe
Conference will continue to be held alongside the JEC Exhibition, 'for
the foreseeable
future'. See you next year."
Cranfield 'Fast Show' Hits the Right Formula
The first Cranfield CLC, Faraday Advance and SAMPE UK
joint technology one-day seminar 'Materials Innovation in Motor Sport'
took place in the Kings Norton Library at Cranfield University on 20
March 2002. More than 100 delegates enjoyed an excellent programme of
eight presentations with the emphasis on materials and process
developments for composites in competitive automotive applications.
Event organiser Andrew Mills expressed relief it had all gone so well:
"I am very pleased with the result. The conference was a three-way
collaboration between Cranfield Centre for Lightweight Composites,
Faraday Advance and the SAMPE UK and Ireland Chapter. The theme was
material innovations in Motor Sport and covered an exciting range of
topics. Motor sport is uniquely able to utilise advances in structural
and other performance enhancing materials, where UK industry leads the
world in product innovation. The programme focused specifically on
these new innovative materials and we were very fortunate to have eight
excellent presentations from - Aztex Europe, Advanced Composites Group,
Cytec Engineered Materials, Cranfield CLC, Faraday Advance, Surrey
University, Crompton Technologies and Surface Transforms."
Chapter Chairman Roy McCarthy adds: "Andrew did a great job in
producing a superb programme. I'd like to thank Andrew, the Cranfield
team and Sue Panteney of Faraday Advance for such a splendid event."
Chairman Roy McCarthy
writes:
" A successful technical programme at the European Conference in Paris,
a brilliant UK winner, Judith Roether, at the SAMPE Europe Students
meeting,
also in Paris, and a superb Motor Sport Materials Seminar at Cranfield.
What
more could a Chapter Chairman ask? Perhaps England to win the World Cup
and a
slightly better turnout at the AGM, but that's being picky!
"I must admit I was bit nervous about the task of organising the
technical
side of the Paris Conference for a second time. But I needn't have
worried and
we hand over the technical responsibility for the 2003 Conference to
the German
Chapter in great shape.
"Congratulations to our student, Judith Roether from Imperial College,
who
won in Paris.
"The technology seminar at Cranfield, with Faraday Advance, was also a
great
success. Andrew Mills put together an outstanding programme reflected
in the
wonderful response, which read like an F1 who's who! Must end now, I'm
filling
up. Cheers"
Roy McCarthy
UK Student Wins In
Paris
Judith Roether Scoops Top Prize
"Absolutely brilliant,"
enthused European President Bob Griffiths proudly after learning that
UK student Judith Roether had won the award for the best all round
student at the SAMPE students Seminar in Paris. " From the excellent
standards set at our own Seminar in November I knew we had a good
chance and it's a great fillip for our students programme." Student
Programme Co-ordinator Geoff Gould was equally pleased. "Judith beat
off challenges from other students from 17 European countries to win a
trip to Long Beach in 2003. There she will represent Europe in
competition with students from the US and around the world. It's a
great achievement and will certainly enhance her career prospects."
Judith, from Imperial College, London, presented her winning paper on
biocomposites ('Novel polymer-bioglass composite scaffolds for tissue
engineering') Together with Edward Cooper of Nottingham University
('Crush zone morphology in composite tubes under axial crush'), she was
selected to represent the UK Chapter at the UK Students Seminar, held
at the IOM, London in November 2001.
Geoff continued: "Edward Cooper also put up a very creditable
performance in an extremely tough competition.
"On behalf of SAMPE I should like to congratulate all the UK students
who
took part, not only Judith for winning and Edward for reaching the
final stages,
but also Michael Koundouros (Imperial College), JianJun Guo
(Southampton), Tomasz
Garstka (Bristol), Jounghwan Lee (Imperial), Jonathan Crookston
(Nottingham)
for their excellent contributions at the initial stages."
Early feedback from the organisers of the JEC Composites Show reports a significant advance, once again, both in exhibitors (839 up 10.3% from 760 in 2001) and visitor numbers (20,861 up 10.9%from 18,801 in 2001) 'despite difficult economic conditions in certain segments'. [Note: it's not clear if the figures for visitor numbers take account of multiple entries (i.e. popping out to the shops etc.) and/or exhibitors entries.] In addition the Show continued to develop as an international venue with almost three-quarters of exhibitors and just under 60% of visitors from abroad (outside France). Most people, visitors and exhibitors alike, agreed that the exhibition was excellent. According to one regular visitor (and SAMPE member): "The new site worked well and the exhibition layout, all on one level, was a great advantage. There were a few downside points though. From the visitor perspective the food, refreshments and other facilities were not so good and most importantly there was absolutely nowhere to sit down. Those 20,861 people trying to fit onto half a dozen park benches just didn't work. Also the approach to the SAMPE Conference venue from the JEC area was rather inauspicious and could have been better signed. But apart from that it was great. I can't wait for 2003."
The Chapter AGM was held at Cranfield on 20 March 2002. Secretary David
Carlton reports: "The meeting approved the accounts and voted to adopt
the new Chapter bylaws. Attendance was disappointing although I suppose
with a nice lunch on hand and the opportunity to rub shoulders with
everyone who is anyone in Motor Sport composites, we couldn't expect to
compete!"
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Peter Beckett and Howard Greenwood, both of Grafil Inc Europe, have moved. Don't worry they're still with Grafil and have just re-located to new office premises in one of the more select areas of Coventry (yes, there are some!). It's all part of Grafil's progressive business expansion in Europe. Their new phone number is 024 76 447272.
Grafil are also looking to
recruit a new Sales Executive. Anyone interested can get details from
the SAMPE International web site or should contact Peter Beckett at
Grafil Inc Europe directly.
Frazer Barnes, of Cytec Engineered Materials, has been promoted to
Account Manager, Aerospace Europe.