JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #83 - August/September 2013 - 51

higher throughput without adding capital.
Our thermoplastic unidirectional prepreg
and powder-coated fabrics have also created
a great deal of interest in structural aerospace
applications, where we have several development programmes currently underway.
JCM: The past few years were not so easy for
the green energy market in North America.
How do you see the future in the medium
and long term?

M. B. : We see a great deal of potential in

the green energy market. The market for
carbon prepregs in the wind industry has
been depressed due to the tax credit issue
in the US. However, with more visibility
on this issue, we are hopeful that this will
lead to increased wind blade volumes and
sustained development efforts with higher
performance materials. The solar industry
also offers intriguing opportunities for
high-performance composites with unique
combinations of properties.

JCM: You already operate four facilities in
the USA and Canada. Do you plan further
investments through organic growth or by
acquisitions?

M. B. : Barrday has an international

M. B. : Barrday has already developed or

is in the process of developing materials for
several new markets, including transportation and oil & gas. We have several new
materials and programmes focused on the
transport industry. With fuel consumption
being a higher priority due to the new CAFE
standards, automotive is a primary driver
and we are introducing new rapid-curing
prepreg materials for Class A and structural
applications. We expect these materials to
be commercialized in 2014. Additionally,
we have just had a new FR epoxy qualified
for use in marine applications. We expect
this business to begin ramping up over the
second half of 2013. Our efforts in the oil &
gas market will concentrate on thermoplastic prepreg tape for down-hole and offshore
use, which we expect to launch in the second
half of 2013.

JCM: How do you expect to orient your R&D
efforts for the next generation of products?

M. B. : Barrday has greatly expanded its

R&D and technical services team over the
past couple of years to support our product
development efforts with thermoset and
thermoplastic prepreg systems. We have also
increased our commercial team.
Our sales team leads the way to work with
and identify new applications and markets
where we have, or can leverage, existing
technology. Over the past year or so, we
have reorganized our sales team and have
added additional market managers to focus
on military/defence, commercial aerospace,

automotive/transport, and energy applications.
On the R&D side, we tripled our headcount
to work on these exciting new programmes.
We have also invested heavily in facilities
and equipment. In addition to upgrading
and adding new capabilities to our existing
equipment, we have invested in new equipment and testing capabilities to service these
new markets and materials.
JCM: What do you think of the evolution of
thermoplastic composites? While Barrday
Composite Solutions already has capabilities
for such materials, do you plan to further
develop these solutions?

M. B. : Barrday is very bullish on the long-

term prospects for thermoplastic composites. We began our development work on
thermoplastics in 2008 and shortly thereafter introduced unidirectional prepregs and
powder-coated fabrics. Initial developments
were targeted toward hard and soft armour
applications utilizing aramid fibre and glass
reinforcements.
We have since expanded both of these
technologies to include carbon fibre reinforcements with engineered thermoplastic
matrices of PEEK, PEKK, PEI, PPS, and PA
for structural composite applications. We
have several development programmes in
progress and expect to have these materials
commercialized in 2013. These materials
are being targeted towards military/defence,
commercial aerospace, oil & gas, and industrial applications. n
More information:
www.barrday.com

More information
Born in 1953 with a single product, Barrday now has more than 50 years of history and provides services and advanced material
solutions for demanding and technical challenges. The company manufactures fibre reinforcements, resins, prepregs, laminates,
coatings, adhesives, sealants and core materials for a variety of markets, including protection (body armour, stab/spike, vehicles/
helmets/plates, fire protection), composites (commercial and general aviation, ablative and carbon/carbon materials, radomes and
antennae, industrial applications), energy (wind blades and nacelles, solar films, coatings and adhesives, tidal blades) and many
other sectors.
Barrday has the capability to conduct most physical and chemical tests in-house: yarn physical testing, fabric physical testing,
chemical testing, ballistic testing, stab testing, environmental chamber, mechanical testing (tensile, flexural, shear, compression
testing up to 5000 kgf, climbing drum peel, shrinkage force), physical testing (moisture, viscosity, pH, parallel plate rheometry,
FTIR, NMR, DSC, TGA, cross-sectional digital microscopy, TMA, DMA, substrate impregnation, B-staging and characterization), lab
and pilot-plant scale weaving, coating, lamination and moulding (press and vacuum bag).

No83 August - September 2013 /

Special JEC Americas 2013

business, which has been supported by our
North American footprint. Barrday had
previously been involved in a joint venture
in Italy. While this has been wound down,
Barrday learned a lot about operating internationally, especially in Europe. We already
have a commercial team in place in Europe
and are currently evaluating opportunities
to expand our presence there. We also have
interest in expanding into South America
and Asia.

JCM: Can we expect Barrday Composites
Solutions to enter a new market? Automotive
for example?

jec composites magazine 51

http://www.barrday.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #83 - August/September 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #83 - August/September 2013