JEC World 2017 started today
Today the largest composites show in the world, JEC World 2017, kicked off in Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre for a 3 day gathering of composites professionals, covering the entire value chain from raw material to processors and final products. JEC World explores how composites respond to the challenges of our century: environment, sustainability, Industry 4.0., innovation, prospective, knowledge and trends.
Obviously we are present with a large delegation and we look forward to meeting you these days. We are keen to inform you about our interesting new projects and of course about our innovation at the Arkema booth (stand U39, Hall 5).
Woman behind the wheel for human speed record
Also this year Pontis is a proud partner of the Human Power Team Delft & Amsterdam (HPT). Every September teams from all over the world gather in Battle Mountain - Nevada, US for the Human Powered Speed Challenge: the Formula 1 race of the cycling world. This year our goal is unique in Human Power Team history: to break the female world speed record!
Last year HPT finished fourth when former track cyclist and Olympic ice skater Jan Bos recorded a top speed of 124.73 km/h. However, the world record was broken by Canadian Todd Reichert achieving a speed of 144.15 km/h! Whether it was on the bad weather conditions, the shape of the athletes or the bicycle itself: this year HPT has chosen a woman behind the wheel.
At this moment, Pontis is supporting a new team of 27 students in the development of the VeloX 7, especially in the field of FEM, design and material. VeloX 7 will combine the technical highlights of all previous years and is expected to be the smallest ever, as its design will be adjusted exclusively to the selected female top athletes Aniek Rooderkerken en Iris Slappendel. With the resulting better aerodynamics and higher efficiency, HPT makes a serious bid for the women’s world record this year.
Foto: Bas de Meijer
Game changing rotor blade construction method
Pontis Engineering has developed an innovative, patent pending, rotor blade construction method based on full thermoplastic resin (Elium® resin) in cooperation with chemistry giant Arkema (France).
With this Pontis has taken a significant step in its ongoing quest for smarter, better ways to produce advanced composite products with superior qualities.
While examining the value of Arkema’s Elium resin in wind applications, we found that thermoplastic resin is ideally suited for welding methods, whereas in conventional rotor blade production bonding paste is commonly used. We successfully applied this new construction method to a test blade component and found a number of significant advantages for the blade’s features, including:
The blade is fully recyclable (due to the thermoplastic materials);
- No bonding paste is used (= weight reduction);
- Welded joints;
- Ground breaking blade construction without bond line at the aerodynamic pressure point at the leading edge;
- Razor sharp trailing edge;
- Short cycle time and cost saving process;
- Increased lifespan of the blade.
Pontis Director Dirk Jan Kootstra says: “This is the first step in the development of what we expect to be a game changer in rotor blade construction. We are very excited about the results we achieved with Arkema and we are proudly presenting our demonstrator at the Arkema booth (stand U39, Hall 5) at JEC World 2017”.
We look forward to meeting you at JEC and to inform you in more detail about the potential of this innovation. Please contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment (info@pontis-engineering.com).
Pontis @ 2016 Sandia Wind Turbine Blade Workshops in Albuquerque
Pontis Director and co-founder Dirk-Jan Kootstra was invited to give a workshop on “Trends in Rotor Blade Manufacturing” at the 2016 Sandia Wind Turbine Blade Workshops in Albuquerque at the start of this month. The Sandia National Laboratories Wind Energy Technology Department, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is recognized as a leading research group in the United States for wind blade technology. The workshops hosted by the lab every other year since 2004, are a highly anticipated event bringing together an international group of participants and speakers. This edition, the Blade Workshop welcomed almost 40 presenters and over 200 attendees from 13 countries.
"I feel honored that I was asked to give a workshop at this event", Dirk Jan says. "The Blade Workshop brings together wind energy professionals from industry, universities and national laboratories: all people who play in the premier league of rotor blade development and who are eager to lift the industry to the next level. It was an inspiring and educational experience".
Quality first for blade manufacturers
Recently Pontis was commissioned for a 12 month project to further optimize quality performance at a leading international rotor blade manufacturer. This client puts quality first and seeks continuous improvement to further strengthen its position in the competitive global wind market. Pontis assignment is to streamline specific cultural and communication challenges and to better align the international (quality) standards in rotor blade production.
To this end, a multidisciplinary team of Pontis engineers is deployed to implement an advanced and self-developed 6 Sigma quality system, which is based on our many years of experience in blade manufacturing. The advancement of our system lies in its dynamic nature: a constant feedback flow from production floor to quality plan ensures we are continuously improving ourselves. At the same time, improvements in current production are implemented according to the Structured Problem Solving Method (DMAIC).
The project started in May 2016 and is divided into two phases. The first phase has already been completed to the satisfaction of the customer: significant improvements have been realized and the objectives achieved. “Quality is something that cannot be purchased from the shelves; it is an ongoing and fully customized process”, says Pontis Lead Engineer Edgar Suselbeek. “Our expertise is to analyse the clients specific quality needs and provide the best solutions. In close cooperation we jointly lay the foundation for continuous improvement in rotor blade production”.
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