#Composites

2025-02-27

MEL Composites display aerospace, marine and transportation collaborations at JEC World 2025

MEL Composites, a leading Spanish composite solutions provider, is excited to announce its participation at JEC World 2025. The company will showcase a range of innovative composite products, demonstrating its expertise in lightweight, high-performance materials for aerospace, automotive, and marine applications.

Among the highlights at the MEL Composites booth:

• Airbus Low-DK Microwave Structure Spacer – Developed for space sector antenna applications, this precision component is CNC machined from Rohacell® core.

• Composite Window Frame for Electric Bus – Currently being developed with leading Spanish bus supplier Carrocerías Ayats, this next-generation window frame is around 80% lighter than traditional composite parts. Manufactured using a CNC cut foam kit, made with Rohacryl® SW109 core, and a carefully optimised resin infusion process, the new window frames significantly reduce vehicle weight, improve stability and handling, and increase overall fuel economy and energy efficiency.

• Aresa Falcon V2 Model – This scale model, alongside a video presentation, details the advanced composite internal structure formed from a CNC cut AirCell HR130 foam kit and also demonstrates MEL Composites’ expertise in infusion technology.The company played a key role in the laminate lay-up and one-stage infusion of the Aresa Falcon V2 hull and structure, achieving a lightweight yet durable finished vessel with a top speed of over 65 knots.

“Innovation and performance are at the heart of everything we do at MEL Composites,” said Eduardo Galofre, CEO, MEL Composites. “At JEC World 2025, we are proud to present solutions that push the boundaries of lightweight design and efficiency. From aerospace to marine and automotive applications, our goal is to provide technical support, processing guidelines and high quality materials that enable our partners to achieve superior performance and sustainability.”

MEL Composites, the JEC Innovation Award winner in 2023 for its involvement in the composite roof of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid, will exhibit on stand 5/5P21from 4-6th March 2025.

MEL Composites delivers advanced hull infusion for Técnico Solar Boat’s hydrogen-powered São Gabriel 01

MEL Composites has reinforced its partnership with Técnico Solar Boat through the successful hull infusion of the São Gabriel 01, an 8m long, 2.4m wide, hydrogen-powered hydrofoiling vessel. Designed to compete at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in July 2026, the São Gabriel 01 is the team’s most technically demanding project to date and showcases the future of sustainable marine engineering by combining advanced composite manufacturing with clean energy systems.

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.

Engineering depth and diversity for composites

Airbond is the latest member of the British Textile Machinery Association (BTMA) to receive recognition for contributions to the composites industry. The engineering firm based in Pontypool, South Wales, has just received the Make UK Energy and Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing project.

Sustainable, lightweight, and sound absorbing: Polyester-based front trunk solution for BEVs

As car manufacturers look to further reduce their carbon footprint, Autoneum has developed an innovative front trunk solution for battery electric vehicles (BEVs), made entirely from polyester-based textile. The Ultra-Silent Frunk offers significant weight reduction, improved acoustic and thermal insulation, and uses up to 70 percent recycled material, supporting sustainable and efficient vehicle design. Autoneum, global technology leader in acoustic and thermal management for vehicles, has already received orders for the new frunk from three major OEMs in Asia and Europe to be built in three BEV models. Series production for two BEVs has been underway in China and Germany since last year.

Modern testing methods for raw cotton

The 38th International Cotton Conference Bremen will take place from 25 to 27 March 2026 at the Bremen Parliament. This conference has traditionally stood for in-depth expertise and international exchange. The program will focus on technical innovations, market trends, and regulatory frameworks across the entire value chain – from agriculture to the circular economy. With high-profile speakers, the conference is regarded as the key meeting point for the global cotton industry. Today’s focus: Cotton quality and testing methods.

Rieter responds to higher raw material prices

Global political and economic developments have been leading to rising raw material and energy costs for some time. The textile machinery industry is also affected by this trend. Rieter machines and components consist to a large extent of steel, copper, aluminum and electronics. These materials in particular have seen higher demand and higher prices in recent months.