By Nick Gilbert
Umeco Structural materials, a provider of affordable lightweight composite materials for use in mass transport systems, will showcase its rail transport interior flame-retarded prepreg systems and exterior body panel system at the InnoTrans Rail Exhibition, which will be held from September 18 to 21, 2012, in Berlin.
(Left) Umeco BPS240 format 1 rail demonstrator panel ©Umeco (Right)Standback manufactured using Umeco MTM82S glass/epoxy prepregs ©Umeco
Umeco will display a rail demonstrator panel that is capable of decreasing production times as high as 50% when compared to conventional composite materials. The panel is a sandwich construction fabricated utilizing the company’s breakthrough BPS240 format 1 body panel system, which also delivers superior class ‘A’ compatible stable surfaces and is paintable directly from the mold devoid of any reworking.
BPS240 format 1 body panel system uses Umeco’s ZPREG rapid deposition technology that features a stable, high temperature structural fabric and integrated surface film to offer superior surface quality, even under vacuum only cures.
Umeco is also showcasing a suite of components made of its MTM82S-C glass/phenolic prepreg. Ipeco Composites used this prepreg to produce standbacks for use in Bombardier Transportation’s Class 379 Electrostar EMU passenger trains. Train operator, National Express is gaining from decreased maintenance and in-service operation expenses as a result of considerable reduction in weight and strong prepreg composite components. The standbacks demonstrates a 40% reduction at mere 6.4 kg per unit when compared to a standard 10.5 kg wet lay-up structure.
Umeco offers high-tech composites and a variety of services, ranging from process and structural materials to distribution and tooling solutions to customers.
Source: http://www.umeco.com