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Welcome
Welcome to our premiere issue of theNorth Thin Ply Technology newsletter. Ourcompany was set up in October 2009 andsince then impressive work has been done onthe development of the Thin Ply Technology®for rigid composite applications: the uniquetechnology for spreading and impregnatingreinforcement fibers has been raised to an industrial scale, our thin tape automated lay-down system has been optimized andcoupled with monitoring, tracking and com-plex design software, two new resin systemshave been developed, and improved quality,traceability and project management proce-dures have been created and implemented.At the same time, our first customers have
successfully used the Thin Ply Technology®for some great projects. As the company iscelebrating its second anniversary and is expanding, we wanted to share with you whatwe have accomplished and what our futurechallenges are. We will bring you newslettersduring the year so that you will have regularupdates on North Thin Ply Technology developments. The newsletter is also a goodopportunity to thank our partners and custo-mers for the joint work performed and tohighlight their successes.Enjoy the newsletter!
The North TPT Team
North Thin Ply Technology
Newsletter N° 1 - December 2011
Multiplast at the forefront of composites
In recentyears, Multiplasthas skillfullycapitalized
on its boatbuilding expe-rience in order to diversifyits activity in the industrialsector.
Solar Impulseuses Thin Plycomplexes forthe secondsolar aircraft
To fly around the world, SolarImpulse must use innovativematerials
Movement wins overthe touring ski market
In early2009, whenthe Thin PlyTechnology®was still in
the development stage,Movement’s R&D manage-ment already considered the TPT® to be a greatopportunity to set itselfapart…
New Thin Ply Technology® plotter in operation for Southern Spars
The additionof the on-siteTPT® plotterprovides yetanother
level of efficiency in ourmanufacturing processfor the Custom Projectsteam…
Multiplast at the forefront
of composites
Multiplast has been designing and buildingmulti-hull and mono-hull boats using advanced composite materials since theearly 1980s. The company very quickly became a worldwide standard-bearer inyachting thanks to its clients’ exceptionalwinning record and Multiplast’s demons-trated outstanding reliability. In recentyears, Multiplast hasskillfully capitalized onits boatbuilding expe-rience in order to diver-sify its activity in theindustrial sector. Since Multiplast is always on the cuttingedge of composite technology, the com-pany called on North Thin Ply Technology(NTPT) to create very thin layers of glassfiber pre-impregnated with epoxy resin.
NTPT made it possible to make 75 gsm(glass Fiber Areal Weight) plies and stackthem in a multi-orientation complex usedas skins for honeycomb core sandwich panels. These sandwich panels are nowused to protect the receiver of a new lineof radars developed by Thalès. The TPT®skins, which have equivalent mechanical
performance but are thinner than skins madewith fine prepreg fabrics,allow increased radiofre-quency transparency ofthe radomes to radarwaves, which results inthe improved amplitude
of the received radar signal and thus yielding better overall radar performance.
After their discussions at the 49th Interna-tional Paris Air Show in Le Bourget in June2011, Multiplast and North Thin Ply Tech-nology have entered into an agreement.This agreement establishes a partnershipbetween the companies to make sandwich
panels molded by Multiplast using TPT®skins.In addition to the initial agreement, thepartners are considering the possibilitiesfor integrating a thin tape automated lay-down system into the Multiplast production
unit in Vannes, France. If the project goesforward, Multiplast will be able to furtherexpand the range of technologies it offersits clients.
The TPT® skinsallow better radar
performance
Multiplast and North Thin Ply Technology sign an agreement
for sandwich panels
Courtesy of Thalès and Multiplast
Southern Spars uses TPT®
complexes for grand prix race rigs
Southern Spars specializes in the designand construction of carbon fiber spars andcomponents, rigging, and rig servicing. Asthe industry pioneer, Southern Spars builtits first carbon spar in 1990. Since thenthe company has pursued a passion fordelivering world class cruising and racingrigging. Its operation extends to four cor-ners of the world with centers in the USA,Denmark, Spain, and South Africa, andheadquarters in Auckland, New Zealand.Like North Thin Ply Technology, SouthernSpars is a company of the North Techno-logy Group, and it has closely monitoredand contributed to developments in ThinPly Technology®. Starting in mid-2010,Southern Spars decided to use NTPT complexes to produce first a mast for an18-foot skiff for the Thurlow Fisher crew,which placed second at the JJ Giltinan
International Trophy in March 2011. ThenSouthern Spars manufactured an entireRP42 rig in TPT® before starting to workon the TP52 series, for which three rigswere made for the Audi-Azzura, Audi-All4One and Ran crews. After testing outthe benefits of using NTPT complexes andseeing the performance of TPT® compo-site pieces, Southern Spars has underta-ken a wide scale conversion of its productline to TPT®.
Courtesy of Southern Spars
New Thin Ply Technology plotter
in operation for Southern Spars
A brand-new Thin Ply Technology® plotteris now operational at Southern Spars’Auckland-based Custom Projects facility,adding another component in the company’s drive for higher performing,lighter and stiffer spars. “The addition of the on-site TPT® plotterprovides yet anotherlevel of efficiency in ourmanufacturing processfor the Custom Projectsteam,” says SouthernSpars’ director MarkHauser. “The demandfor larger and more technically-advancedsuperyacht and grand prix race rigs conti-nues. We’re at the forefront of industry de-velopments with our Thin Ply Technology®and it’s exciting to see the potential for ef-ficiency and precision in our manufacturingprocess with the commissioning of thisplotter.”Southern Spars’ technology managerWayne Smith says: “With the automatedTPT® plotter Southern Spars’ designershave the capability to design productsusing whichever ply angles are optimal forthe loading situation at every point on thespar or boom. The plotter then lays thecarbon fiber laminate more accurately andefficiently than can be achieved by handand it is also possible to individually position pieces, rather than being requiredto lay all adjacent plies parallel to one
another.Wayne Smith played a key role in an extensive research and development program covering resin chemistry, tapeprocessing, tape laying techniques and lamination methodology to refine SouthernSpars’ TPT® new lamination process.
“The use of TPT® hasrevolutionized the worldof laminate composites.Our aim is to plot inTPT® for all carbon pro-ducts going into the future,” says Smith.
Mark Hauser notes that adopting TPT®carbon fiber laminate has allowed Sou-thern Spars to use higher quality laminatesthan any of its competitors. “In turn we areproducing spars that are far lighter andstiffer than ever before. “The performance
potential of Southern Spars’ TPT® processhas already been proven with TP52s, 18 ftskiffs and RP42s successfully competingin regattas around the world,” Hauseradds. “These projects were built over thelast year using TPT® materials flown infrom Switzerland. Now with a new TPT®plotter located only a few meters awayfrom the mast molds, the ‘pre-built TPT®complexes’ are plotted as they are requi-red. TPT® is the way of the future for Sou-thern Spars and the yachting world. TheTPT® plotter has pushed the technology,design and performance boundaries onceagain and this will be reflected in all theyachts that will be stepped with one of ournew TPT®-based spar and rig packages.”www.southernspars.com
The use of TPT®has revolutionized
the world of composites
Courtesy of Southern Spars
North Thin Ply Technology customers are using ultra-thin tapes andcomplexes made with toughened epoxy ThinPregTM120EP or Thin-PregTM80EP. As the Thin Ply Technology® is attracting increasinginterest for many applications, it was necessary to widen the avai-
lable range, and several resin developments have been launched.The North TPT product range currently includes two resin products,but four new resin systems will be available in the coming weeksand other developments are planned for the longer term.
Switzerland’s Movement was set up in1999 and has been marketing its productssince 2002, after spending three years onresearch and development. The brand wasadopted very quickly in the marketplaceand it now offers a complete range of skisthat meet the needs of skiers in all currentdisciplines. The brand is built on quality,performance and innovation. In early2009, when the Thin PlyTechnology® was still inthe development stage,Movement’s R&D mana-gement already conside-red the TPT® to be agreat opportunity to setitself apart, especiallyfrom a marketing standpoint. Starting withthe very first trials, Nanni Tua, the engineerin charge of production of Movement skis,saw the scope of the potential of the NTPTcomplexes in controlling the behavior ofthe ski and reducing weight. Nanni Tuaquickly set out his needs in order to designa complex in which the density and orien-tation of the fibers are adapted to the different areas of a ski and their specificmechanical requirements: the center of the
ski is mainly called on for flexion and thetip and tail are called on for both flexionand torsion. The choice of dry-fiber com-plexes seemed obvious, so as to includethis new form of reinforcement in ski manufacturing with no major modificationsto the existing process. The use of NTPT complexes led to thecreation of the X-Series line of touring skis.
Within this product line, itwas the Fish model thatfirst quickly became asmashing successamong high-level andcompetitive touringskiers, combining impressive lightness and
excellent skiability. Then Logic and Random followed. These are wider, moreversatile skis, which won over a broad audience. Movement is now launching themost recent developments in the X-Series,which will celebrate its third season thiswinter.
Resin name Description Typical curing Max Tg Typical applications Stage(temperature (°C) (°C)
ThinPregTM120EP Toughened epoxy 120 145 Sport & Leisure, AvailableMarine, Industrial
ThinPregTM80EP Toughened epoxy 80 105 Marine AvailableThinPregTM65EP Toughened epoxy 65 100 Marine In developmentThinPregTM120EPHTg Toughened epoxy 120 180 F1 & Motor Sport, Available
AerospaceThinPregTM120CE Cyanate Ester 120 300 F1 & Motor Sport,
Aerospace, Industrial AvailableThinPregTM120EPFR Flame Retardant 120 145 Rail, Building, Aerospace In development
epoxy system
Density and orientation of
fibers are adaptedto the different areas of a ski
Movement wins over the touring ski market
A growing product range
Courtesy of M
ovem
ent
Solar Impulse uses Thin Ply complexes for the second solar aircraft
The Solar Impulse project was started in2004 on the initiative of Bertrand Piccardand André Borschberg. The objective is tofly an emissions-free plane around theworld, using only solarpower. To successfullycomplete such an ambi-tious project, Solar Im-pulse must useinnovative materials andcutting-edge technicalsolutions. The first solarairplane, christened HB-SIA, was built todemonstrate the feasibility of the project.The HB-SIA is over 64m long and weighsonly 1600 kg. In the summer of 2010, theplane flew for over 26 hours, by storing upsolar energy during the day and flying onbattery power at night. With this achievement under its belt, Solar Impulselaunched the development of a second air-craft, HB-SIB, which should fly around theworld in 2014. The Swiss shipyard Deci-sion SA, which specializes in racing boats,is in charge of manufacturing the carbonfiber composite pieces for the project. Unfortunately, the Thin Ply Technology®was not yet available when Decision madethe pieces of the first plane. When the second solar-powered airplane project got
underway, it became obvious to the shi-pyard and then to the Solar Impulse engi-neers that the NTPT complexes could offeran extremely valuable weight reduction for
the second solar-powe-red airplane. After an intense research and development programrun jointly by Solar Impulse and Decision, theNorth Thin Ply Technologyteam is now fully involved
in manufacturing ultra-thin multi-orienta-tion carbon fiber complexes for HB-SIB,which demands the very best in composite material technologies.
To fly around the world, Solar Impulse must use innovative
materials
Courtesy of Solar Impulse
Courtesy of Solar Impulse
Our calendar: North Thin Ply Technology
will be exhibiting at
JEC Composites Show
JEC Composites Show,
Meet us on our stand, number F11
Paris, France, 27-29 March 2012 www.jeccomposites.com/events/jec-europe-2012
North Thin Ply TechnologyCh. Islettaz – Site Venoge Parc – Bâtiment C1
1305 PENTHALAZ
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 21 811 08 88
www.thinplytechnology.com