#Composites

2023-01-26

Toray becomes joint winner in Japan’s Sixth Infrastructure Maintenance Awards

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it was one of three joint recipients of the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award in the Electricity category of the Sixth Infrastructure Maintenance Awards. This is in recognition of the development of a carbon fiber-reinforced plastics (CFRP) technique employing in-situ vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding (VaRTM) technology. Toray, Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Inc., and Yasuda Seisakusho Co., Ltd. deployed that technique to repair steel pipe corrosion on transmission towers.

This technology eliminates the need for special jigs and methods in replacement work by reinforcing pitted and corroded pipes. It can thus reduce lead times for strength assessments and cut construction costs. Another key factor in receiving this award was the broad social benefits that could accrue from applying this technology to steel-framed buildings and other structures.

The Infrastructure Maintenance Awards recognize outstanding initiatives and technology developments related to social infrastructure maintenance in Japan at facilities under the jurisdiction of a range of government bodies. These are the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Defense. Experts from a range of fields screen candidates for the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award, the Special Award, and the Award for Excellence.

The awards debuted in 2016 to foster Japan’s maintenance sector and recognize best practices among businesses, organizations, researchers in that field.

Award details are as follows.

1. Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Award

For the development of a CFRP technique employing in-situ VaRTM technology to repair steel pipe corrosion on transmission towers

2. Joint recipients

Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Yasuda Seisakusho, and Toray

3. Award-winning technology

This patented in situ VaRTM technology entails placing CF sheet “TORAYCA® CF fabric” on a steel structure requiring repair, applying a film over the sheets, using a pump to create a vacuum, and injecting and curing epoxy resin. Over time, internal corrosion causes pitting and wall thinning on the steep piping of transmission towers. The conventional repair process is very labor-intensive and expensive, as it entails replacing these pipes. The three companies jointly developed a CFRP repair technique that applies in-situ VaRTM technology to corroded steel pipes that normally need replacing. This setup eliminates the need for special jigs and methods in replacement work, and can reduce lead times for strength assessments and cut construction costs.

(Photos courtesy of Tokyo Electric Power Grid, Inc.)

4. Progress and potential

Applications to date for in situ VaRTM to repair steel infrastructure have included transmission towers in Japan and floating production storage and offloading facilities overseas. Work is under way extend applications to repair and reinforce steel bridges, steel-framed buildings, and other structures. Toray will keep striving to create technologies and build a value chain in which TORAYCA cloth can significantly extend the service lives and resiliency of domestic and overseas infrastructure.

Toray develops recycling technology that retains carbon fiber strength and surface quality

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a recycling technology that can decompose diverse carbon fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP) made from thermosetting resins while retaining the strength and surface quality of those fibers. The company drew on this technology to create a nonwoven fabric employing recycled carbon fibers.

HEAD launches more sustainable(1) BOOM RAW racquet on Earth Day by using Toray’s bio-circular carbon fibers

HEAD continues to innovate with the launch of the BOOM RAW tennis racquet, an encouraging development in the search for a more sustainable future for racquet sports. All of the carbon fibers are bio-circular carbon fibers in the limited-edition and highly innovative BOOM RAW racquet, which offers the same explosive power - along with the same fun, feel and easy playability - as the regular, in-line BOOM racquet. The bio-circular carbon fibers are manufactured by Toray and its subsidiary Toray Carbon Fibers Europe.

Toray develops durable reverse osmosis membrane

Toray Industries, Inc., announced today that it has developed a highly durable reverse osmosis (RO) membrane (see glossary note 1). This innovative offering guarantees the long-term provision of high-quality water. It also maintains the superior removal performance of Toray’s existing membranes vital for reusing industrial wastewater and treating sewage.

JEC World 2026 reveals the list of finalists for the Innovation Awards

Each year, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognize collaborative, innovative, and ambitious projects that illustrate the potential of composite materials. Created in 1998, this benchmark program aims to identify, promote, and reward the most innovative composite solutions worldwide. In 28 years, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards have attracted more than 2,200 participating companies from around the world. A total of 269 companies and 811 associated partners have been recognized for the excellence of their innovations.

MEL Composites and Carrocerías Ayats collaborate on lightweight composite window frames

MEL Composites is proud to announce its ongoing collaboration with Spanish bus and coach manufacturer Carrocerías Ayats, showcasing the benefits of advanced composite technologies and scalable manufacturing processes originally developed for the sporting goods sector. The joint development of lightweight composite window frame covers demonstrates how MEL’s process innovation can be successfully transferred to the transportation industry to meet new regulatory and performance goals.

Mimaki demonstrates versatile, simple TRAPIS textile printing at Heimtextil 2026

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The Technology Hub for global denim trends: ITM 2026

The ITM 2026 International Textile Machinery Exhibition, to be held at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Center in Istanbul from June 9–13, 2026, brings together groundbreaking technologies in denim production. From smart production systems to eco-friendly raw materials, from digital washing solutions to laser effect technologies, innovations that will shape the future of denim will be showcased for the first time at ITM 2026.

38th International Cotton Conference Bremen: Let´s Talk about Cotton!

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen, to be held on 25-27 March 2026 in Bremen’s parliament building on market square, once again sends a powerful signal for professional excellence and international dialogue. The focus is on the latest market trends and technical innovations throughout the entire value chain – from agriculture and quality assurance to processing and the circular economy. With its high-calibre speakers, the conference remains an indispensable forum for anyone involved in shaping the cotton industry scientifically, technically, or economically.