Strong Demand Seen for Composites in Transportation

    AMHERST, N.H.--April 30, 2001--Recent breakthroughs in automotive and aircraft design have resulted in a string of announcements describing the successful use of synthetic parts and novel designs in applications previously considered too demanding for non-traditional materials. These new components and materials signal a sea change in the way the next generation of automobiles, trucks and aircraft will be designed and built.
    Composites have become increasingly popular materials in automotive designs, comprising about 12% of a typical sedan's body weight. Recently developed composites have good stiffness-to-weight ratios that let manufacturers remove weight while offering higher stiffness, giving designers styling options not available with metal or other materials.
    These new composites will allow engineering thermoplastics to compete more effectively with steel, fiberglass, SMC, and other traditional materials used in large parts. New vibration-damping metal-plastic-metal sandwich composites are growing in use, and composites are gaining ground in the engine compartment.
    To take advantage of the opportunities presented by these new design initiatives, composites suppliers must be fully aware of the numerous changes affecting automotive, truck an daerospace manufacturing, and be willing to act on this information by teaming with manufacturers to develop the assembly processes and pilot programs that will be required to bring these new component designs to market.

    Transportation Markets for Composites

    These market forces and opportunities are highlighted in a timely and comprehensive report from Technology Assessment Associates. Transportation Markets for Composites: Emerging Opportunities contains application descriptions, market data, statistics, profiles, and forecasts designed to assist market participants in strategic marketing and business planning, and to provide readers with all of the information necessary to identify industry trends, buying criteria, market factors, and emerging opportunities.

    About Technology Assessment Associates

    Technology Assessment Associates is a marketing and technology strategy company specializing in markets and applications for advanced materials. Our coverage of these markets includes the publication of comprehensive and insightful market reports and studies. Each publication is organized and written to be of maximum value to materials market participants, and consists of in-depth analyses, descriptions and evaluations of current and probable future market developments, technology issues and business factors.