Composite Cargo Shipping Containers

Composite cargo shipping containers have always been seen as a no-brainier. They are lighter weight, they are well insulated, and they are non-corrosive. Above is a video of a new (2016 Update, video was removed from youtube) composite cargo shipping container manufactured by a Dutch company. (Skip to 1min mark). This container is collapsible, which is an additional advantage.

Other not so obvious advantages of using composite materials in a shipping container include:

- Transparency, x-ray and other scanning equipment can be used by Homeland Security to inspect as ports.

- Tracking, RFID and GPS tracking systems can be easily embedded in the skins.

- Floating, surprisingly many see-land containers fall off cargo ships in rough conditions and during loading/unloading at port. Supposedly, current containers have a neutral buoyancy and float out of view just under the surface; which is a serious hazard to boats. A composite container would float and allow for easy retrieval.

The major downside to composite shipping containers is their initial costs. This particular container is said to be 3 times more expensive then a steel container. Cost justification with a tangible savings/payback needs to be evident for wide adoption. Additionally, I believe manufactures need to have a well planned end of life solution. Undoubtedly these containers will be damaged beyond repair, and a recyclable solution is needed. Current steel containers are scrapped easily for recycling, and composite containers would need the same.

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Composite Shipping Container

Russia Leader in Nano Composites?

President Dmitry Medvedev fo Russia said in a speech last week that Russia is on its way to becoming a leader in nanotechnology, citing a nanocomposites facility in Russia. News Europe quoted the president saying:

"Medvedev noted that the current volume of the products manufactured with the use of nanotechnologies is estimated at $250 billion. Citing expert estimates, Medvedev said the global nanotechnology market could reach a huge $2 trillion to $3 trillion by 2015."

I wonder if Medvedev is talking in dollars or rubles?

Photo Credit: quinn.anva via flicker

2nd Quarter Results for Composite Companies

Second quarter results are out for publicly traded composite material companies, and so far, it seems things are still slow. Here are a few of the results:

Hexcel posted a 37% drop in quarterly profit. More Info

Owens Corning, although beating estimates, earnings for the quarter were down 19%. More Info

Toray took a loss, blaming decreased demand. More Info

Aldila, a California manufacturer of golf shafts took a larger loss on less earnings then during the same period in 2008. More Info

European pultruder Excel reported a 14% decline in sales for the 2nd quarter. More Info This comes on the heels of the announcement of layoffs in June.

One company that turned a profit is large contractor Alliant Techsystems (ATK), they do a fair amount of composite manufacturing, but it seems their profit came from sales of bullets. More Info

Photo Credit: azrainman via Flicker

Pultrusion Industry Slightly Down in Europe

According to European pultruder Exel Composites quarterly reports, net sales were down 11.4% for the 1st quarter of 2009.

With operations in Finland, Austria, Germany, UK, China, and Australia, Exel Composites is a good bellwether company for pultrusion industry health in the European markets. Company president said,

“During the first quarter 2009, the impact of the financial crisis has continued to escalate, affecting also market demand in the pultrusion business negatively, especially in the building and construction and transportation segments,”

More Info:
Exel Composites
Pultrusion Information