JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #51 - September 2009 - 46

USERS’ PLATFORM Successful partners project like this one? C. S.: The relationships developed during such a project lead to spin-off ideas and new opportunities. They often lead us in new directions in materials development. For instance, we see a role for the CLF process in the alternative energy and construction industries. Those same relationships also help subsequent projects move along faster. We know how to work together most efficiently. And the publicity surrounding new successes like the CLF process helps immensely. It brings entrepreneurs to us; entrepreneurs who want to work with us to develop lighter, stronger composite polyurethane alternatives to the materials they’re currently using. JCM: In what way does a project like this one change the relationship you g…/… Major advancements in long fibre injection have with your processor customers? C. S.: When you are successful with a joint project, you learn how to work together much better, both as individuals and as organizations. Partnering between a processor, materials supplier and equipment manufacturer leads to a higher success rate in new applications and minimizes risk for the processor. This is the ideal business model to achieve with both new and existing customers. JCM: Would you like to repeat this type of experience? C. S.: Absolutely. However, it is not a situation that is easy to create or repeat. First, you need a collaboration in which you are doing something truly new that offers real value to the market. Second, each partner needs to be able to bring the skills and resources necessary to make the partnership successful. And third, each partner needs to have the commitment and stick-to-it-ness to make it happen. JCM: What advantages do you expect to gain from this innovation? C. S.: We feel that the CLF process will take us collectively in different directions. We see it as a stepping off point for future projects. The CLF process offers such benefits – improvements in automation, cost reduction, high part repeatability, weight reduction, stronger structural parts – that make it a new, viable alternative to both the open molding and closed molding processes. We believe we will uncover many new opportunities because of this innovation. We also expect to expand on our relationship with Camoplast and KraussMaffei to work closely on innovations in other areas and technologies. AN INTERVIEW WITH LISA SHANER, MARKETING MANAGER, KRAUSSMAFFEI JEC Composites Magazine: Who makes the decisions in a project where three partners play a role? LISA SHANER: Within each company, a lead contact is established. While all parties need to stay in close communication with each other to make the overall project a success, responsibilities need to be assigned according to each partner’s area of expertise and they need to feel confident relying on each others level of expertise on their respective subjects to enable the best possible outcome. An important part of setting up the initial partnership is identifying potential partner groups that are capable of working independently to lead their portion of the project, yet also capable of working together and accepting other ideas besides their own as potentially being the best choice. JCM: How did you get involved in this project as an equipment manufacturer? L. S.: Bayer initiated our introduction to the project and KraussMaffei offered to partner with Bayer in order to fully support this project. We met together to gain an overview perspective of the project, then we met individually and collectively with Camoplast to evaluate and discuss financial and technical feasibilities. Once it was determined that we had much to offer to the advancement of the project, the partnership was set. JCM: Can the experience acquired with this type of project be applied elsewhere? L. S.: Most definitely. We developed a better understanding of what is achievable with composites. The parts that we were able to make were much larger and more complex than we previously thought possible. The requirements for composites are only going to grow in the future and any opportunity to identify new potential opportunities is a bonus! JCM: Just how much room to maneuver do you have in this type of joint project? L. S.: There was a lot of room to maneuver since a part of this size and geometry had never been produced before. This meant that we all had to be open to each others experiences and applied knowledge, including but not limited to Camoplast’s knowledge of mold design, Bayer’s expertise in designing chemical systems to meet large part requirements, as well as KraussMaffei’s expertise in delivering increasingly large glass loads. By allowing each partner to run with their expertise, new ideas and innovations lead to the best possible solution. JCM: What advantages do you expect to gain from this innovation? L. S.: To name a few, there is the security of having provided a “sound” production solution. Via Camoplast’s production, we have proven that this technology provides consistent repeatability and that the results are reliable (versus a process that has been tried only a couple of times in a lab-type setting). Secondly, the success of this project provides a platform for the production of larger and more complicated composite products going forward and, with the everincreasing importance of composites to our industry, this is a major advantage! 46 jec composites magazine / No51 September 2009

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #51 - September 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #51 - September 2009