Strategic Composites, best known for their development of cutting edge carbon nanotube material for aerospace, marine, and racing industries, is planning to apply their technology to the development and manufacture of wind turbine blades. A new facility dedicated to this end is in the planning stages for the Dayton, Washington area.
Mark Kean, Strategic Composites’ director of sales and acquisitions, said he hopes that their technology can revolutionize the industry. Current wind turbine blades are made primarilly of fiberglass. Though lighter than metals, fiberglass is still relatively heavy compared to carbon fiber and weaker still than the new carbon nonotube materials. Kean says that their material is one-third the weight of comparable fiberglass. Heavier fiberglass blades can wear out the bearings of wind turbines in as little as two years whereas Strategic Composite blades are guaranteed for 10.
Strategic Composites is looking for about 300,000 sq/ft of facility space. The plan is to temporarilly lease one or two large buildings while a permanent facility is being built. Workers would cut carbon nanotube cloth, run a giant oven and other machinery, and paint the final product. Kean indicated about 300 people would initially be needed, but the plant could eventually employ as many as 600.
:: For fiberglass and composite parts, contact CED, Inc.
Site: http://www.CompositeEngineeringDesign.com/
.
