JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #55 - February/March 2010 - 17

More information The AVK, as a professional association for fibre composite plastics/composites, represents the interests of producers and processors of reinforced and filled plastics on a national and a European level. Nationally, the AVK is one of the four pillars of the GKV Gesamtverband Kunststoffverarbeitende Industrie and an international member of the European composites confederation EuCIA – the European Composites Industry Association. as compared to the first six months. A slightly increased decline in production relative to the decrease of the entire European plastics production in 2008 is to be attributed primarily to the reduced contribution of composites to the commodity market, which did not suffer quite as much of a slump as did the industrial business. In view of the current decline in production volumes, which – to this extent – was unparalleled in previous years and corresponds to sales and turnover losses occurring on a similar scale, all companies right now are first and foremost concerned about the assurance of their financial solvency respectively their “cash management“. Stocks are not being replenished, and all business cycles have been cut back, sometimes extremely so. Pricing, too, has had varied effects. Processors found prices for used raw materials in 2009 to remain relatively stable, especially as compared to previous years. On the other hand, due to the prevailing excess capacities in individual market segments companies’ own sales prices have certainly come under pressure. The demand for and production of thermosetting component parts made of SMC (sheet moulding compound) respectively BMC (bulk moulding compound) depended on market developments in the main areas of application – automotive and electronics / electrical equipment. The decrease in vehicle production by as much as 50% in some cases, accompanied by even greater losses in the truck sector necessitated a structural reorientation of the key players in this market segment. Processors using the open techniques of hand lay-up and spray lay-up are experiencing the full impact of general market developments at the moment. The decline in applications throughout the utility vehicle sector is almost matched by the setbacks with regard to the typically low-volume production of component parts with large surface areas (for instance in conjunction with boat building). Meanwhile, the contribution of these processing techniques to the entire composites production volume has dropped from almost thirty to less than twenty-five percent – a trend that is certain to affect the market structure, which is characterised by a large number of small and medium-sized processing companies tending to avoid too much automation, employing processes instead that are associated with limited acquisition costs. Production of component parts made by closed RTM (resin transfer moulding) has suffered comparatively less of a setback. This may be attributed to the continuous substitution of open techniques in conjunction with the low-volume production of component parts with large surface areas. Among so-called continuous techniques, the market for pultruded GFP profiles in particular is holding its ground relatively well on the market; which is primarily due to individual new infrastructural projects. Current market dynamics with regard to flat sheets are exemplified by the discounts offered by the German insurance industry for motor homes with GFP roofs. Insured persons (consumers) are profiting from attractive savings in conjunction with reduced insurance premiums because of specific material properties (in this case for impact resistance). The partially publicly funded building sector (including EU subsidies) as well as new sales territories, especially in Eastern Europe, have slowed down the decline throughout the GFP pipeline construction and the tank building sector. Select niche markets, such as sewer renovation with tube liners, continue to realise considerable growth rates in double-digit figures. Just like other procedures, thermoplastic moulding compounds and semi-finished articles depend largely on the development of the automotive sector and are showing corresponding setbacks. An effort will have to be made with glass mat reinforced thermoplastics (GMT) as well as subsequently launched continuous strand – reinforced thermoplastics (LFT) in order to prevent stagnation respectively further decline in the product life cycle; one approach may be to improve their acceptance among customers. This is exemplified by LWRT materials (low weight reinforced thermoplastics) that are characterised by comparatively low weight per unit area; these materials are manufactured by new production techniques and are just starting their product life cycle. Irrespective of the process being used, one of the major challenges for composites companies is to obtain orders for larger series production. Pertinent automation efforts are still offering enormous growth potential. Apart from new materials, the emphasis is now on new processes and partially also on the development of “mixed techniques“ respectively hybrid production techniques (such as automated manual processes or combinations of prepreg and RTM systems). Thus, attempts have been made to use natural fibres in conjunction with “conventional“ techniques (such as SMC). Application industries at a glance Despite the variety of different developments shown by individual processing techniques, the contributions of individual application industries in general are much the same as in previous years (see No55 February - March 2010/ jec composites magazine
JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #55 - February/March 2010

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #55 - February/March 2010
