#Composites

2021-11-11

SGL Carbon opens new apprenticeship center at its site in Nowy Sacz, Poland

At the beginning of September 2021, SGL Graphite Solutions Polska sp. z o.o. in Nowy Sacz held the opening ceremony for a new apprenticeship center.

• Investment in training and further education of employees at SGL's Nowy Sacz site in Poland

• New opening of a training center on the SGL Graphite Solutions site for practical vocational training

"As part of our BU strategy, we asked ourselves in which areas and at which locations we should develop further and then also invest," explains Burkhard Straube, Head of the Business Unit GS. "We considered plants in Germany, but also in Poland, especially in Nowy Sacz, and in China. The development of our company is based on well-trained and qualified employees, so we decided to invest in an apprenticeship program both here in Nowy Sacz and at the Chinese sites in Shanghai and Yangquan, China."

To work out the requirements, the project team was able to draw on the training program of the German sites, where such forms of teaching have been in place for many years. "During our visit to Bonn, we received many valuable tips and suggestions on vocational training," reports Elzbieta Dzien, HR Manager of SGL Poland and Project Manager for the apprenticeship center. "I would like to take this opportunity to thank Nicole Nelles and her team for the warm welcome and the great support we received. I would also like to thank all my Polish colleagues who have contributed to the development of this center and the implementation of this program which is so important for our future." The project team received also support from the Polish-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (AHK), which specializes in the dual system of vocational training.

The trainees were recently able to move into the apprenticeship center, for which one of the warehouse buildings was converted, modernized and equipped with training processing machines, a classroom and a social room. The entire complex required for practical vocational training was housed in this way in a single building on the SGL Graphite Solutions site. This is where the first-year vocational school trainees now complete the practical part of their three-year apprenticeship to become CNC machine operators, while at the local school Zespól Szkól im. ks. Prof. Józefa Tishnera in Stary Sacz the theoretical lessons take place. After the three years, the next group of trainees will start their apprenticeship.

The ceremonial conclusion of this project was the inauguration event, which was attended not only by representatives of SGL Carbon but also by representatives of the local school Zespól Szkól im. ks. Prof. Józefa Tishnera and the Mayor of Nowy Sacz, Ludomir Handzel, took part. "I am proud that a high-tech company like SGL Carbon is located here in our city. I am very pleased that SGL Carbon has chosen the path of dual training," emphasized Ludomir Handzel. "This offers both SGL Carbon and our city to develop further. I wish you a successful implementation of this investment.“

At the end of the ceremony, Burkhard Straube addressed the trainees: "Our goal is to further develop the site. That is why we invest in training and further education of our employees. You, the young people, are the guarantee for the success of our company in the future. I am very happy to welcome you as the first generation, which will be followed by other trainees. I wish you happiness and joy and hope that you will feel comfortable here in our company, learn a lot and also enjoy working with us in the future.“

SGL Carbon decides to restructure its Carbon Fibers business unit

The Board of Management of SGL Carbon SE today decided, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, to restructure the loss-making Carbon Fibers business unit. SGL Carbon will significantly reduce the business activities of Carbon Fibers and focus on a profitable core. Individual solutions are being developed for all Carbon Fibers sites, including the closure of unprofitable sites.

Novel flame-retardant and recyclable fiber-reinforced composite

Airplanes and passenger trains must meet strict safety requirements, including fire safety standards. This calls for materials that are flame-retardant, lightweight, robust, and scalable. Empa researchers, in collaboration with their industry partner Elantas, have now succeeded for the first time in making such a material – a composite – fully recyclable.

WHILL selects Teijin’s tough, lightweight Carbon Fiber Composite for new last-mile mobility

Teijin Limited announced today that WHILL Inc., a global leader in inclusive mobility technology, has selected Sereebo® P CFP series, a carbon fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) material, for key structural components of the upcoming WHILL Model C Lite. Sereebo® P CFP series provides high strength, light weight, design flexibility and system cost advantages to the Model C Lite, which is a battery powered, single-seat, last-mile device. This new model combines maneuverability with light weight and one-handed folding to ensure ease of handling and operation.

Fewer pores, greater impact tolerance: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2026 honours material research on fibre-reinforced composite components for aerospace industry

Microscopically small pores that form during manufacture, or barely visible impact damage, can severely impair the load-bearing capacity and service life of fibre-reinforced composite components. Two young researchers have presented groundbreaking work in this field and will both be awarded the 2026 Peter Dornier Foundation Prize: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Neitzel from the Technical University of Ilmenau for his doctoral thesis on pore minimisation in the RTM process, and Johanna Buschmann, M.Sc., for her master’s thesis, completed at the German Aerospace Centre, on the improved impact tolerance of 3D fabrics compared to 2D laminates.

Cotton Brazil Dialogues 2026 concludes with 50 international participants immersed in Brazilian cotton production

The Cotton Brazil Dialogues concludes its 2026 edition after a series of technical visits to farms, cotton gins and reference centers, as well as workshops focused on Brazilian cotton production. A total of 50 participants from 14 countries took part in the field trips. The initiative is led by the Brazilian Association of Cotton Growers (Abrapa) and the National Association of Cotton Exporters (Anea), with support from the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil).

ZymoChem secures $4 million in renewed federal funding to advance U.S. biomanufacturing of critical materials and their supply chains

ZymoChem, the specialty chemicals company dedicated to bringing decarbonization, sustainability, and supply chain resiliency to the chemical industry through innovative biological manufacturing, today announced the resumption and expansion of its federal research portfolio. The company has been notified that previously paused work under a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) program is officially back on, to be joined by continuing collaborations with three of the nation's premier national laboratories.

RDJ 6/2 in E 32: Finesse in Motion

The appearance of sports and casual shoes is as diverse as their applications, ranging from sporty to stylish and from functional to fashionably practical. In particular, spacer fabrics produced on highly flexible KARL MAYER double needle bar raschel machines with Jacquard technology are in high demand for manufacturing these trendy shoes. These efficient production machines enable attractive designs with integrated multifunctional zones on one or both fabric surfaces, such as breathable mesh structures. Flexible in size and positioning, these features enhance both aesthetics and wearing comfort.