Knoxville, TN, December XX, 2016… The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation—More than 120 attendees experienced the August training event, “P2P Composites: Prototyping to Process for Composites,” held at the $50M Indiana Manufacturing Institute in Purdue Research Park, where only days before, the new, state-of-the-art facility received a ribbon cutting ceremony. Lead in partnership with Purdue University researchers in the Center for Composites Manufacturing and Simulation, the 62,000 sq. ft. facility houses research on vehicle, wind turbine, aerospace structures and advanced research on composite materials.
Presented by Composites One in partnership with IACMI-The Composites Institute, the two-day conference focused on exploring design, modeling, simulation, and production methods and materials for the composites manufacturer. Highlighted speakers for the first day included a welcome from Leon Garoufalis, President and COO, Composites One; and a session on virtual composites and the value of modeling and simulation to fabricators by R. Bryon Pipes, John L. Bray Distinguished Professor of Engineering, Purdue University and IACMI Technology Area Director.
“It’s an honor to speak at workforce events like P2P Composites that help to educate the next generation of industry professionals,” stated Leon Garoufalis, President and COO, Composites One. “And our existing workforce also has a chance to participate in the ongoing development and innovation of composites technologies.”
“The Indiana Manufacturing Institute underlines the importance of future technology, which is why it’s a great place to hold a training event focused on innovative research,” said R. Bryon Pipes, The John Leighton Bray Distinguished Professor of Engineering. “Attendees can learn about the importance of simulation as it relates to various composite processes via the virtual factory hub.”
Six sessions spanned the two-day, August event providing attendees with insight on vacuum infusion and reusable bags, advances in tooling, composite testing and characterization, prepregs and thermoplastic fibers for compression molding and LRTM (light resin transfer molding) cells.
“These kinds of training events are needed to better understand what’s going on across the industry,” said Leigh Sargent, President at Applied Composites Engineering. “I would like to see this event come back to Indiana next year.”
About IACMI-The Composites Institute: The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI), managed by the Collaborative Composite Solutions Corporation (CCS), is a partnership of industry, universities, national laboratories, and federal, state and local governments working together to benefit the nation’s energy and economic security by sharing existing resources and co-investing to accelerate development and commercial deployment of advanced composites. CCS is a not-for-profit organization established by The University of Tennessee Research Foundation. The national institute is part of the Manufacturing USA network and is supported by a $70 million commitment from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Manufacturing Office, and over $180 million committed from IACMI’s partners. Find out more at IACMI.org.