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American Composites Manufacturers Association 1010 North Glebe Road, Suite 450 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703.525.0511 Fax: 703.525.0743 Email: info@acmanet.org Website: www.acmanet.org

NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

John Busel Director, Composites Growth Initiative 914-961-8007 (p) 914-961-8004 (f) jbusel@acmanet.org

ACMA’s COMPOSITES 2005 ACE Award Winners: Infinite Possibilities, Broad Applications

September 30, 2005 (Columbus, Ohio) – Today, at COMPOSITES 2005 in Columbus, Ohio, the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) announced winners for its Awards for Composites Excellence (ACE) competition. ACE entries are displayed each year at ACMA’s annual COMPOSITES conference and trade show and come from all sectors of the composites industry.

“The 2005 products represent a truly broad cross section of the infinite possibilities offered by composite materials and manufacturing processes in a variety of applications,” said ACMA Executive Director Missy Henriksen, CCT-A.

The 2005 ACE Product Showcase drew more than 25 entries in six categories. ACE awards are given to innovative industry firms that exhibit products of exceptional merit. The Best of Show, Most Creative Application, Infinite Possibility, Process Innovation, People’s Choice, and Superior Quality awards are sponsored by AOC and Composites One. Technical Innovation for Corrosion Application was sponsored by Ashland Specialty Chemical Company. ACE awards are decided by a panel of nine expert industry judges.

Best of Show: Presented to the entry that is superior to all others in design, engineering, manufacturing, market significance, creativity, process innovation, and use of composite materials.
GE’s 90-115B Aircraft Engine Composite Fan Blade, GE Transportation – Aircraft Engines
One of 22 blades that make up the front of the world’s largest and most powerful jet engine. Only three blades have been removed from service after six million flight hours. The size and shape of the blade is designed to dramatically improve aerodynamic efficiency.

Most Creative Application: Shows evidence—via imagination, innovation, and creativity?of significant potential for traditional material replacement or refined use of composites materials.
RStandard™ Modular Composite Utility Pole, RS Technologies
An innovative substitute for traditional wood, steel, and concrete poles. Developed with RS Technologies’ proprietary Version ™ polyurethane resin system, poles are manufactured using an innovative filament winding technology.

Infinite Possibility: Presented to the entry that demonstrates the potential to significantly increase the use of composites in existing or developing markets, or generate the biggest impact to open new markets.
TRANSONITE® Composites Sandwich Panel, Martin Marietta Composites
A pultruded 3-D, reinforced composite “sandwich” that virtually eliminates delamination failures by tying the top and bottom face sheets together with 3-D through-thickness fibers. Currently TRANSONITE® is being used for trailers and truck beds to reduce weight, eliminate corrosion, and increase durability to lower operating costs.

Process Innovation: Presented to the entry that is manufactured by the most innovative production method resulting in increased production rate while maintaining quality.
John Deere Air Scoop, Plastics Unlimited
Fits in the back of a combine used to harvest crops such as soy and corn. The process, PAT pending, is referred to as “Tooless Engineered Composites” (TEC), unique in that it offers the best of thermoformed composite properties without the cost of a composite tool.

Superior Quality: Presented to the entry that is manufactured by open, single-sided molding and best demonstrates exceptional fit, finish, and quality.
SparrowHawk Sailplane, Windward Performance, LLC.
The SparrowHawk is a prepreg carbon fiber sailplane that weighs only 155 pounds. Structure is strong and responsive, combining the performance of much larger sailplanes with handling and climbing ability.

Technical Innovation for Corrosion Application: For the entry that best incorporates corrosion-resistant features in the final product.
Composites Platform Trailer, Martin Marietta Composites
First virtually all-composite platform trailer features a non-skid coated deck made from Martin Marietta’s TRANSONITE ® panel. The main beams are vacuum infused E-glass from RL Industries. The outriggers and rear impact guard are made from pultruded profiles from Creative Pultrusions. Platform trailers are used in many industries to haul products ranging from steel coils to construction materials to livestock.

People’s Choice: Selected by popular vote at COMPOSITES 2005, this entry is the people’s favorite.
Baja Outlaw with Innovative Stringer System
A joint collaboration between Toray, A&P Technology, and Baja Marine resulted in a hybrid stringer system with fiberglass braid and selectively located carbon axials. This unique combination reduces labor, saves weight, increases speed, and decreases fuel consumption.

Copyright © 2005 American Composites Manufacturers Association

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With more than 1,000 member companies, The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is the world’s largest trade group representing the composites industry. ACMA publishes a monthly magazine, Composites Manufacturing, offers a universal, comprehensive training program for fabricators - Certified Composites Technician - and provides strong, proactive leadership in technical, government and regulatory affairs. In addition, ACMA hosts the largest tradeshow in North America with supplier and fabricator representatives from all market segments.
For membership information, call 703.525.0511, or email:Info@acmanet.org. Visit ACMA’s website at www.ACMAnet.org