The ABC of Innovation

A Composites / Biocomposites Perspective

Andy Radford

April 2014

Composites in South Africa

Appeal to all stakeholders – Composites in South Africa

South  Africa   Composites  

•   25%  unemployment   •   Labour  intensive  (skilled)  •   Many  opportuni:es  for  women  

•   Rising  fuel  prices   •   Lightweigh:ng  to  reduce  fuel  consump:on  

•   Moderate  climate  (Port  Elizabeth)   •   Moderate  climate  provides  ideal  processing  condi:ons  

•   Well-­‐equipped  (yet  poorly  u:lised)  material  tes:ng  infrastructure  

•   Tes:ng  intensive  

•   Strong  engineering  capability,  albeit  metal-­‐focussed  

•   Engineering  intensive  

•   Gateway  into  African  con:nent   •   Solu:on  for  Africa’s  future  transport  needs  

•   Weak  Rand  rela:ve  to  Dollar/Euro   •   Export  opportuni:es  

The Innovation Chasm

“I  wrote  5  publica1ons  and  patented  this  fantas1c  material,  but  I  haven’t  figured  out  yet  what  

to  use  it  for.....”  

“I’d  like  to  replace  some  metal  parts  with  composite  ones,  please  

send  me  a  datasheet  of  your  composite  material...”  

“It  is  a  maAer  of  1me  before  composite  technology  will  spill-­‐over  from  the  aerospace  sector  into  new  composite  markets...”  

Research

Industry

Government

The Composites Landscape – Innovation Chasm

Research  Community Industry

Material    Development

Design  Methodologies Product  Design

Production

CHASM

Material  Testing

SCIENTIFIC  AN

GLE

“Techn

olog

y  Push”

COMMER

CIAL  ANGL

E“Techn

olog

y  Pull”

Composites Landscape: Industry Segmentation

Aerospace: -  Lightweight parts -  Long & continuous fibres -  Glass & carbon -  Expensive parts

Aerospace Automotive

 ‘light-­‐weigh:ng’  importance  

Produc:on  volumes  

‘One part per shift’ manufacturing processes: -  Hand lay-up -  Infusion -  Autoclave/pre-pregs

Automotive: -  High-volume parts -  Short fibres -  Glass & natural fibres -  Less expensive parts

‘Multiple parts per hour’ manufacturing processes: -  Injection moulding -  Compression moulding -  SMC, DMC

Composites Landscape: Industry Segmentation

Different  Composite  Sectors  

Different  Composite  Manufacturing  

Processes  

Different    Materials  

Different    Design  Methodologies  

Different    Material  Suppliers  

Different    Equipment  Suppliers  

Different    Tooling  Suppliers  

Different    Design  Specifica:ons  

The Trinity has a tendency to create isolated supply chains that do not have ‘economy of scale’.

Composites Landscape: Government Segmentation

Aerospace Sector

Automotive Sector

Maritime Sector

Wind Energy Sector

Biocomposite Sector

the  d3   DST   DoE   DAFF   DRDLR  

X   X  

X   X  

X   X  

X   X   X   X  

X   X   X   X  

The South African Composites Landscape

Research  Community Industry

Material    Development

Design  Methodologies Product  Design

Production

CHASM

Material  Testing

SCIENTIFIC  AN

GLE

“Techn

olog

y  Push”

COMMER

CIAL  ANGL

E“Techn

olog

y  Pull”

Aerospace Sector

Automotive Sector

Maritime Sector

Wind Energy Sector Res

earc

h C

omm

unity

Biocomposite Sector

the  d3   DST   DoE   DAFF   DRDLR  

X   X  

X   X  

X   X  

X   X   X   X  

X   X   X   X  

Innovation Chasm

Industry Segmentation

Government Segmentation

Organising the industry

Commercial,  general  and  

military  avia:on  

Aerospace  &  Defence  Composites  Forum  

Satellites  Sensors  and  weapons  systems  

Ballis:c  composites  

Armoured  vehicles  

Naval  vessels  

Mari3me  &  Wind  Energy  Composites  

Forum  

Yachts  and  sail  boats  

Wind  turbines  

Oil  rigs  

Small  water  craZ  

Industrial  Composites  Forum  

Harbours  

(Petro-­‐)  chemical  installa:ons  

Building  and  construc:on  

Housings,  enclosures  and  

covers  

Land-­‐based  transport  Composites  Forum  

Mining  

Canopies  

Vehicle  conversions  

Sports  cars  and  racing  

Trains  

Polymer  concrete  

Sanitary  ware  

Trucks  

Buses  

Passenger  vehicles  

Solar  and  electrical  vehicles  

Composites  R&D  Forum  

Composites  Suppliers  Forum  

Composites SA

Composites Cooperative Platform

The ABC of Composites Innovation

• Appeal to all stakeholders -

• Become a business champion – make it easier for the other stakeholders to work together.

• Collaborate in a Cooperative Platform – industry, technology or opportunity specific (R&D Forum + Suppliers Forum)

Thank you……

Let’s “innovate” together.

Research  Community Industry

Material    Development

Design  Methodologies Product  Design

Production

CHASM

Material  TestingSCIENTIFIC  ANGLE

“Techn

olog

y  Pu

sh”

COMMER

CIAL  ANGLE

“Techn

olog

y  Pu

ll”