Headlines: May 31 - June 6, 1999
Sikorsky Aircraft awards ply management subcontract to Composite Design Technologies
Composite Automobile to be Featured At Las Vegas Money Show
Georgia Institute of Technology teams with abaris training to
deliver 3-day composites courses for civil engineers
Textron Systems’ Boron Composite Enables Flutter Free
UAV Wing
Rhombic Corporation Release to Shareholders: DCM Technology
Highlighted
Reebok to Use Boralyn Metal Matrix Composite Material for New
Flash Watch Model
JPS Textile Group Reports Second Quarter, Six Months Results:
Company to Exit Yarn Sales, Cotton Commercial Products Businesses Name Changing to JPS
Industries Inc.
Dana Composite Cam Cover/Gasket Module Will Reduce Number of
Parts, Weight for New Dodge and Plymouth Neon
________________________________________________________________________________
Sikorsky Aircraft awards ply management subcontract
to Composite Design Technologies
WALTHAM, MA, - Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, of Stratford, Conn., a subsidiary of United
Technologies Corporation, has named Composite Design Technologies, Waltham, Massachusetts,
as the ply management subcontractor on a major government technology program. "The
primary goal of the Army's Rotary Wing Structures Technology Demonstration (RWSTD) is to
make military helicopters more affordable," says Bruce Kay, Program Manager for
Sikorsky. "CDT's assignment will be to enhance their existing composite design
software package, called FiberSIM, to provide a tighter link to computer aided design
(CAD) and computer aided engineering (CAE) tools and incorporate design rule checking that
will streamline the composite design process."
RWSTD is a cooperative agreement between the US Army and Sikorsky to reduce recurring and
nonrecurring costs on military helicopters. As part of the project Sikorsky will redesign
a portion of the RAH-66 Comanche helicopter to demonstrate the technology developed during
the project. Comanche is the US Army's 21st century combat helicopter, the first
production helicopter with an all-composites primary structure. It is being developed by
the US Army and a team of leading aerospace companies headed by Sikorsky and Boeing
Philadelphia, a unit of The Boeing Company.
Kay says that Sikorsky selected FiberSIM as the ply management tool for this program
because of its success with the software on previous projects. "We've used this tool
for quite a while and we know it works," Kay said. "We felt that it would serve
as the ideal ply management platform for the RWSTD program." On an earlier project,
for example, Sikorsky saved four months on the 5-92 Helibus helicopter project by using
the software package to detect wrinkling, bridging and similar problems during the basic
design phase so they could be fixed before they reached the shop floor.
"While FiberSIM currently is an excellent design tool," Kay said, "we have
contracted with CDT to provide a number of enhancements with the goal of automating much
of the composite design process. For example, CDT will develop technology to produce a
solid model from the ply layup. This model will be far more accurate than existing models
produced at an earlier stage in the process because it will represent the actual shape of
the resulting part as reflected in the ply build-up."
"Generating a solid model from the ply management system will save a huge amount of
time by eliminating the need to calculate the ply buildup by hand," Kay said.
"Even more important it will for the first time provide us with a dimensionally
accurate electronic model of the helicopter's composite parts. We will use this model to
construct a virtual mockup that can be used to perform many design evaluations, such as
interference checks. The model will also make it possible to produce interior surface
molds1 which are required to produce some components and are often needed to produce
accurate mating parts. Currently, these molds are produced by building a tooling mockup
and using it to cast the mold. Producing the mold from a solid model will be more accurate
and give design engineers greater control over the aircraft design."
Kay said that another part of CDT's subcontract will be building design rules into
FiberSIM that will be much like having a composites expert sitting over the designer's
shoulder. "The design rules will provide feedback and expert advice. For example, if
someone places a fastener too close to a ply boundary, the program will issue a warning.
The program will also guide designers towards less expensive approaches without
compromising the performance and integrity of the design."
"We're excited about working with Sikorsky and developing the tools to let people
really exploit the great potential of composites," said Steve Luby, President of CDT.
Specific RWSTD program objectives include demonstrating advanced structures technology
that will reduce unit 1 recurring manufacturing labor by at least 26%, reduce structural
weight by at least 15%, reduce non-recurring development engineering hours, improve
structural integrity and retain vulnerability levels.
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, based in Stratford, Connecticut is a world leader in
helicopter design and manufacturing. Its helicopters are widely deployed by all five US
military branches, and are flown by military and commercial users in 49 nations. Sikorsky
is a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, which provides a broad range of
high-technology produa5 and support services to the aerospace, building systems and
automotive industries. Visit the Sikorsky Aircraft web site at www.sikorsky.com.
Founded in 1991, Composite Design Technologies, Inc. is the market leader in creating
software solutions for composite design and manufacturing. CDT was the first company to
recognize the need for the unique treatment of composite materials in the CAD environment.
Staffed by engineers, who have first hand, in-depth knowledge of the composites industry,
CDT provides world class software, training, and consulting for companies that value the
integration of composite design and manufacturing. For more information on the FiberSIM
software package, contact Composite Design Technologies headquarters in Waltham, MA, USA
at 781-290-0506 ext. 300.
Composite Automobile to be Featured At
Las Vegas Money Show
EL CAJON, Calif.--Composite Automobile Research announced that the Company will be
featured at the 1999 Las Vegas Money Show located at Bally's Hotel June 7-9.
Composite Automobile Research, http://www.WTAWorldstar.com has developed a decentralized
``micro-enterprise'' approach to auto making that is ideally suited to the needs of
emerging nations. The Company has developed a flexible, changeable vehicle with less than
500 parts and standardized manufacturing facilities to drop into nations with little
infrastructure.
Composite Automobile Research will license local entrepreneurs and provide them with
factories, parts, and supplies to become automobile manufacturers in their own country.
(Most automobiles manufactured today have approximately 3,200 parts.) The Company is
aggressively targeting 189 developing nations that have more than two-thirds of the
world's population.
Composite's mission is to aid these developing nations by strategically placing micro
manufacturing facilities within their borders to build infrastructure, create jobs, teach
new skills and act as a magnet for new business, rather than importing vehicles from large
factories located outside the country.
The WorldStar utility vehicle will get over 35 miles per gallon or with a simple switch
can use propane where gasoline is not readily available. The raw materials and components
for the WorldStar will cost the local manufacturer about $4,000. The licensee/manufacturer
adds about 100-200 hours of labor at the local rate and sets the local sales price at
around $7,000, much less than any other new vehicle.
Composite's goal is for worldwide production of two percent of the current new vehicle
market which would equal 1,000,000 WorldStar vehicles per year. The Company maintains a
prototype manufacturing and training facility in El Cajon, which is dedicated to the
continued success of the WorldStar vehicles.
Georgia Institute of Technology teams with abaris
training to deliver 3-day composites courses for civil engineers
Georgia Institute of Technology in cooperation with Abaris Training
will hold a seminar on composites for civil engineers July 28 - 30,1999. This three-day
course is designed to assist civil engineers and others in the construction industry, in
becoming confident with the design, and use of composites in load bearing structural
systems. Basic properties of composite materials, inspection, and repair of composite
materials, design using pultruded structural shapes1 and repair of concrete structures
using polymer composites are the primary subjects to be covered. An advanced composite
repair to a concrete beam will be performed, and testing to destruction of a repaired beam
will be demonstrated at Georgia Tech's structural engineering laboratory. The course will
be taught by experts from Georgia Institute of Technology and Abaris Training. Each
presenter has had many years of experience developing, evaluating, designing, or
inspecting polymeric composite systems for civil engineering applications. If you require
more detail, please contact the Program Director, Professor A. Zureick at 404-894-2294 or
by e-mail at azureick@ce.gatech.edu. This program meets the criteria for the nationally
accepted Continuing Education Unit (CEU).
Textron Systems’ Boron Composite Enables
Flutter Free UAV Wing
Wilmington, MA – The APEX high-altitude research
sailplane, is a remotely piloted research airplane that has been designed to be free of
flutter instabilities within its flight envelope. Capable of flying at altitudes up to
100,000 ft., the APEX airplane features a stiff, boron composite structure wing.
Textron Systems’ boron composite properties and data were used in the design and
model simulation. The boron fabric composite structure provides vibration-mode
characteristics that enables the APEX to fly at relatively high subsonic mach numbers
without risk of destruction by flutter. The boron composite is an alternative to a
graphite/epoxy wing that would have exceeded the weight allowance in this weight-sensitive
application. Boron fiber is woven into fabric form by Textron Systems and resin transfer
molded into the final shape.
The aircraft and its structures were designed and fabricated by Advanced Soaring Concepts
(ASC), Camarillo, California, and model analysis was performed by Norjen Composite
Engineering, Camarillo, California. Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California,
has tested the first APEX boron wing to destruction. It exceeded all design goals. The
sailplane is near completion and first flight is scheduled for October 1999 at the NASA
Dryden Flight Research Center.
Textron Systems’ advanced materials fulfill unique performance requirements for
performance-critical applications and product development. Using a Chemical Vapor
Deposition process, Textron Systems manufactures continuous boron monofilaments providing
high strength, high stiffness, low weight properties. Boron fibers are used in a wide
variety of aerospace and other applications where boron is a more advanced solution to
carbon/graphite fibers. Textron Systems provides boron as filament, woven fabric, and
unidirectional prepreg with epoxy resins.
Textron Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Textron Inc., is a leading supplier of
advanced systems, components and materials for use in defense, aerospace, automotive and
industrial applications. Textron Systems is an ISO 9001 registered manufacturer.
Textron Inc. is a $10 billion global, multi-industry company with market leading
operations in Aircraft, Automotive, Industrial and Finance.
Rhombic Corporation Release to Shareholders: DCM
Technology Highlighted
VANCOUVER, British Columbia - Rhombic Corporation announces
that the recent release of the acquisition of a method for manufacturing Disperse
Composite Materials (DCM), will be the subject of an advertisement this weekend, June 5
and June 6, in the prestigious Barron's magazine.
The DCM technology, acquired from Russian and German scientists, also known as dust
plasma, has specific properties of abrasion or wear resistance, friction and catalytic
action for high temperature superconductors. DCM also is a potential help in cleaning up
nuclear waste dumpsites.
The market response during the past 10 days to the DCM release has resulted in a dramatic
increase in both price and volume of the company's securities.
Rhombic Corporation also reports that negotiations now are taking place with several
investor groups for a sizeable private placement financing. The company will provide
information on this potential financing at a later date.
For further details on Rhombic Corporation, call the company's public relations office at
888/821-6607, or view Web site www.rhombic.com.
Reebok to Use Boralyn Metal Matrix Composite
Material for New Flash Watch Model
IRVINE, Calif.--Alyn Corporation, producer of high performance Boralyn® and other
proprietary advanced metal matrix composite materials, announced today that Reebok will be
using the Boralyn metal matrix composite material for their new Flash series watch.
Alyn has begun shipping production quantities of the Flash watch cases, made using the
company's precision pressure casting technology and the Boralyn material. Boralyn provides
the advantages of lighter weight and better material properties to the structure. The
watch cases will be assembled by Mersey Manufacturers Limited, in Hong Kong.
Patrick Pender, managing director of Mersey, remarked, ``We feel that with the lightness
and strength of Boralyn, coupled with Alyn's near-net shape processing technique, this
product will have a major impact on the watch industry.''
Alyn Corporation has given Reebok permission to use the Boralyn tradename to identify the
application with the advanced material's many benefits. This follows Alyn's Strategy to
build consumer awareness of the Boralyn brand name.
``Reebok is excited to utilize this highly advanced material in the Flash 300, our leading
performance sports watch,'' said Julia Massey, director of New Businesses at Reebok. ``The
introduction of the Flash 300 watch featuring the Boralyn metal case is another example of
Reebok's commitment to develop products incorporating leading edge technologies offering
consumers a performance watch that is both extremely lightweight yet highly durable,'' she
said.
The Reebok watch is equipped with a 300-lap memory recall system, which allows for the
best, average, and total lap times with speed calculations. The watch will be strong and
light and have all the features a serious athlete needs. The Flash 300 watch will be
offered in three models, one of which will be made from Boralyn.
Alyn Corporation produces Boralyn, a unique metal matrix composite material that is
lighter than aluminum, stronger than titanium and has better wear properties than steel,
with principal applications in the nuclear, aerospace, automotive, computer hardware and
sporting goods industries.
For additional information, contact Richard L. Little, Alyn Corporation, 949/225-7360 or
e-mail: rlittle@alyn.com.
JPS Textile Group Reports Second Quarter, Six Months
Results:
Company to Exit Yarn Sales, Cotton Commercial Products Businesses Name Changing to
JPS Industries Inc.
GREENVILLE, S.C.-JPS Textile Group, Inc. announced results for the second quarter and six
months ended May 1, 1999.
For the second quarter, there was a net loss from continuing operations of $3.5 million,
or $0.35 per diluted share, compared with net income from continuing operations of $2.3
million, or $0.23 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 1998. Results for
the quarter included restructuring costs of $3.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share,
associated with the closing of one manufacturing facility and severance costs. There was a
net loss associated with discontinued operations of $22.8 million, or $2.28 per diluted
share. The reported net loss for the quarter was $26.3 million, or $2.63 per diluted
share, compared with net income of $2.9 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the
year-earlier period. Net sales for the quarter were $72.3 million compared with net sales
of $86.5 million for the second quarter of fiscal 1998.
For the first half of fiscal 1999, there was a net loss from continuing operations of $3.1
million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with net income from continuing operations
of $3.8 million, or $0.38 per diluted share, for the first half of fiscal 1998. After
restructuring costs and losses for discontinued businesses, the reported net loss for the
first six months was $26.4 million, or $2.64 per diluted share, compared with net income
of $4.6 million, or $0.46 per diluted share, for the first half of fiscal 1998. Net sales
were $142.7 million for the six months compared with $174.4 million for the year-earlier
period.
The Company announced that it is exiting its cotton commercial products and yarn sales
segments thereby narrowing its textile business to apparel fabrics only, and bringing
heightened focus on its more profitable and growing extruded and glass products
businesses. The cotton commercial products and yarn sales segments are reported as
discontinued operations. The Company will now operate three divisions, JPS Elastomerics,
JPS Glass and JPS Apparel, and will report those as three segments.
Michael L. Fulbright, JPS's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, ``We
have completed an analysis of our product lines, facilities and business segments and are
exiting those businesses and associated facilities that we determined are not a strategic
fit for the company we envision. Additionally, we have put in place a continuous
improvement program that will drive performance initiatives in each of our three remaining
divisions. These initiatives include quality improvements in our products and services, a
relentless drive to reduce costs throughout the Company, productivity improvements in all
facilities, increased attention to product development, reinvigorating our marketing
efforts, and capital improvements where appropriate.
``While our second quarter results are most disappointing, they certainly are in line with
our expectations. Sales and profitability improved in the second quarter in our extruded
products business due to a solid demand across our entire product range coupled with an
unusually strong construction environment based on the mild winter we experienced. While
sales increased in our glass products business as a result of improved end-user markets
for fiberglass product applications, profitability continued to be affected by pricing
pressure as a result of the Asian economic situation and the global supply imbalance.
Additionally, the glass segment was affected on a year-to-year basis by some $2.0 million
as we addressed inventory valuation and reduction, plant utilization, and quality issues
related to start-up of new equipment and changes in our product mix. Our apparel fabric
business continues under extreme pressure as a result of the flood of garment imports that
the Asian economic scenario has fostered for the better part of a year. At this point, we
see no relief in terms of the magnitude of garment imports, and we have taken the
appropriate actions to rationalize our apparel facilities and lower our cost structure to
improve bottom line results.''
Dana Composite Cam Cover/Gasket Module Will Reduce
Number of Parts, Weight for New Dodge and Plymouth Neon
TOLEDO, Ohio,-- Dana Corporation announced today its Plumley
Division, headquartered in Paris, Tenn., will supply all of the cam covers and gaskets for
the 2000 Dodge and Plymouth Neon. Plumley will supply several hundred thousand cover
modules per year, which will be produced in a fully automated robotic production cell.
Plumley's thermoset composite rocker cam cover will replace the cast aluminum covers
previously used by DaimlerChrysler on the Neon. The new thermoset composite cover module
weighs only 4.3 pounds when assembled, representing a major weight savings over the
aluminum module.
``Plumley's extensive experience with thermoset and thermoplastic materials, coupled with
our proprietary manufacturing techniques, is finding excellent acceptance among OEMs in
North and South America and Europe as their vehicles for the new millennium are being
readied for production,'' said Heinz- Ubbo Eilks, vice president of sealing products for
Dana's Engine Systems Group.
``Our technology is producing lighter, more cost-effective sealing modules,'' added Dwayne
Matthews, director of sales and technology for Dana's Plumley Division. ``With our
flexible production lines we are able to combine as many as 10 individual parts into one
complete module, providing our customers with a one-source sealing solution.''
Dana Engine Systems Group provides components, modules, and complete systems solutions to
engine builders worldwide. The group's product lines include Victor Reinz® gaskets and
sealing products, Perfect Circle® piston rings and engine parts, Glacier® Vandervell®
engine bearings, fluid system products, and Plumley powertrain components.
Dana Corporation is one of the world's largest independent suppliers to vehicle
manufacturers and the aftermarket. Founded in 1904 and based in Toledo, Ohio, the company
operates some 330 major facilities in 32 countries and employs more than 86,000 people.
The company reported sales of $12.5 billion in 1998.
