JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #56 - April 2010 - 39

JEC INNOVATION AWARDS 2010

Finalist: Samsonite Europe N.V (Belgium) .
Partnership network: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (Department of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering); Propex Fabrics GmbH (Germany) Name: Samsonite Cosmolite suitcases. Samsonite is the only travel product company in the world to use Curv® technology. Description: Samsonite Cosmolite is made of Curv®, a patented innovative composite material. Curv® is a registered trademark of Propex Fabrics, Germany. The shell form and process are patented by Samsonite. The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven played a crucial role in fully understanding the thermal behaviour of the material. It optimized the lay-up for suitcase applications and significantly

contributed to perfecting the shell forming process at Samsonite. Curv® is a 100% polypropylene “composite” which exploits the outstanding mechanical properties of highly drawn polypropylene tapes in a matrix of the same material. In a patented process, highmodulus polypropylene tapes are compacted together to form a selfreinforced, thermoformable, 100% polypropylene sheet which retains a high proportion of the physical properties of the original tapes. The stiffness and strength of the self-reinforced composite are comparable to those of many glass-reinforced materials, with the added benefit of an exceptionally high impact resistance (surprisingly maintained down to cryogenic temperatures). Being 100% polypropylene, the composite is also readily recycled through existing channels.

TRANSPORTATION
Winner: Lomold Pty Ltd. (South Africa)
Partnership network: Chuan Lih Fa Machinery Works Co. Ltd. (Taiwan); KHS Consulting cc (South Africa); Addcomp Holland BV (NL) Name: Lomold developed a new Long Fibre Thermoplastic (LFT) manufacturing process. The patented innovation achieves very long fibres in a very large and complex 3D product moulded through one gate (sprue). The resulting fibre length exceeds 20 mm (up to 50 mm). Consequently, very high mechanical properties are achieved and very strong, thin-walled lightweight designs are possible. Description: An example is Lomold's high-performance LFT PP pallet, which shows a truly unique racking performance (no creep under high loading). Advantages or salient features: - Very high mechanical properties; - Complex designs possible while keeping long fibres; - Very high performance LFT products with unmatched properties; - Due to the closed-mould manufacturing system, very complex 3D designs are possible; - Moisture-sensitive polymers can be processed without any problem. State of development: The development was carried out in-house by a team of engineers over a period of 10 years. The technology is now patented worldwide. Several years ago, an exclusive cooperation with CLF in Taiwan resulted in the development of the Lomolder, with several machines (different sizes) having been built already. Lomold is not selling machines to potential clients. Its aim is to produce unique high-performance LFT products globally, like the Lomold pallet. Currently, Lomold is building two manufacturing facilities to produce the Lomold pallet, one in China and one in South-Africa. Other manufacturing plants are planned in Australia, the USA and Europe. More information: www.lomold.com lay-up and injection techniques, into structural panels with low weight, high mechanical performance and high added value. The hoods were incorporated into the structural part.

Finalist: Icolfibra (Colombia)
Partnership network: Pontifical Bolivarian University (Colombia); Colciencias (Colombia) Name: A new modular product which uses different panels to replace a traditional monocoque car body construction technique. Description: The development work involved the design of sandwich-type structures, finite element simulation and proper selection of raw materials. The materials were processed by hand

Finalist: TTT The Team Composite AG (Germany)
Partnership network: Zoltek Zrt (Hungary); Sika Deutschland GmbH; IFAM Fraunhofer Institute Bremen; FRIMO Group GmbH; Horst Witte Geraetebau Barskamp KG; ReKnow Dirk Janssen und Sebastian Schneider GbR;

No56 April 2010 / jec composites magazine

http://www.lomold.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #56 - April 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #56 - April 2010