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Toray TC346 High Temperature Epoxy Component Prepreg
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Founding Members Celebrate 10 Years of Thermoplastic Composites Partnership
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National Composites Centre Tier 1 Membership
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Tooling Technologies for Composites Manufacturing
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Toray AmberTool® Academy Returns
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3000 km Solar Powered Race
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Toray Advanced Composites UK Achieves ISO 45001
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People Focus—Graham Roberts, Business Development Manager, F1
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2020 Spring Event Calendar
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Toray TC346 High Temperature Epoxy Component Prepreg
Superior Structural Thermoset Technology for High-End Automotive
TC346 is a superior high performance structural epoxy component prepreg designed to satisfy the rigorous demands of the high-end automotive and motorsport market
Engineered using Toray Advanced Composites UK’s vast experience in F1 automotive applications and the US’s aerospace heritage, TC346 features high Tg and high compression strength without compromising on toughness. Since launching in November 2019, it has already become the material of choice of a number of F1 teams. Learn more about TC346 here.
Product Features
> Maintains high GIC values at high temperature
> Outperforms the competition in ILSS
> High compressive strength
> Outstanding toughness
> Delivers excellent surface finish
Product Benefits
> Allows significant benefits in weight saving
> Facilitates two-stage lamination—essential in the manufacture of complex structures such as gearbox housings.
In addition to gearboxes, TC346's applications include suspension, pylons, wings, and crash structures.
The TC346 product range includes 12 products with either uni-directional tape or woven fabric reinforcements. Published data on Toray M46JB and IM7 fibers is available on our product data sheet.
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Founding Members Celebrate 10 Years of Thermoplastic Composites Partnership
The ThermoPlastic composites Research Center (TPRC) in Enschede, the Netherlands, celebrated its tenth anniversary on October 8, 2019. The event was marked with The Future of Thermoplastic Composites conference at the University of Twente.
At the conference, Toray Advanced Composites' Frank Meurs and Winand Kok presented their outlook on 30 years of collaborative innovation. In their presentation, they highlighted the importance of cooperation across the value chain in both the adoption and advancement of thermoplastic composite material technologies, as well as TPRC’s part in making this happen.
The TPRC was founded in 2009 in response to the need to advance thermoplastic material technologies into key market segments, specifically aerospace. The TPRC itself illustrates the importance of collaboration, having been jointly founded by Toray Advanced Composites together with Boeing, GKN Fokker, and the University of Twente.
“The commercial adoption of thermoplastic composites requires the involvement and partnership of the complete supply chain," said Meurs, Managing Director EMEA. "Over the past 10 years, the TPRC has played a pivotal role in establishing a state-of-the-art manufacturing capability where Toray Advanced Composites can introduce new material concepts and test the boundaries of process capability. We are very grateful to our TPRC partners and look forward to the future.”
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National Composites Centre Tier 1 Membership
R&D Strategy Partnership
In September 2019, Toray Advanced Composites and the National Composites Centre (NCC) announced together that Toray has become a tier 1 member of the NCC as part of their research and development (R&D) strategy.
As part of the new agreement, Toray Advanced Composites will collaborate with the NCC and their partners on major composites innovation programs in the UK within aerospace and automotive sectors, such as Wing of Tomorrow.
Wing of Tomorrow is Airbus’ largest research and technology program taking place globally. A huge cross-industry partnership, Wing of Tomorrow includes the NCC, Spirit, and GKN. Together, these partners develop and demonstrate the technology and digital capability needed to deliver the next generation of aircraft wings. Toray will work together with program partners to develop materials and product solutions for next generation program needs.
Toray’s partnership with the NCC has a long history. Toray Advanced Composites, formerly TenCate Advanced Composites, joined the NCC in 2012. As a tier 1 member, the team's R&D program work on thermoplastic composites will continue and be furthered.
(l-r Mr. Toshiyuki Kondo, Senior Director of ACM Technology + Production, Toray Industries, and Richard Oldfield, CEO NCC).
Wing of Tomorrow
Cross-industry partnership needed to deliver the next generation of aircraft wings
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Tooling Technologies for Composites Manufacturing
In Hands-On Workshop, SAMPE North America
October's Tooling Technologies for Composites Manufacturing Conference identified a growing market for composite tooling materials, demonstrating an expansive selection of both traditional and innovative techniques delivering solutions to component manufacturing industries.
On October 22, 2019, around 100 delegates attended the event at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee to view presentations, experience hands-on demonstrations, and learn more about emerging technologies, including those from Toray Advanced Composites.
Toray's Thermosets EMEA Product Manager Jed Illsley presented “The Toray AmberTool®” The presentation highlighted Toray AmberTool® as the sole prepreg solution in a wide range of technology for composite tooling requirements. Additionally, Lou Dorworth from Abaris delivered a hands-on demonstration with Toray AmberTool® HX42 prepreg.
Innovative Tooling Technologies
The conference spotlighted a growing number of other innovative technologies and processes that complement standard composite tooling applications. New solutions included polyester infusion by Composites One, direct additive tooling applications produced at the ORNL, and Carbon Innovations' direct carbon block machining.
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Toray AmberTool® Academy Returns
Valuable Insight for Quality Tools
Toray's popular tooling academy returned to our Morgan Hill, California, global headquarters this November. Nineteen attendees representing the UAM, UAV, space, and general aviation markets received classroom instruction on the tips and tricks of tool making, followed by practical tool making experience.
During the course, each hands-on group took a slightly different approach to the tool lay-up. Each evaluated the complex features of the master models, taking into consideration different shapes, curves, and overall material usage. The result was three tools featuring different lay-up compositions, demonstrating there is more than one right way to create a composite tool.
Academy graduates will be able to immediately apply their new skills to active projects, developing tools to fit uniquely specific applications.
“I left the workshop feeling much more confident about prepreg tooling” Z. Garfield, Joby Aerospace
Look for our next tooling academy in spring 2020!
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3000 km Solar Powered Race
University of Twente's Solar Team Twente participated in the finals of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Australia in October with their “RED E” solar car, featuring a full composite shell. The competition requires travel through 3000 km of the Australian Outback, from Darwin to Adelaide, using only solar energy.
World Solar Challenge 2019
The solar car’s shell, torsion box, and wheel covers were manufactured with Toray Advanced Composites’ carbon fiber epoxy-based prepregs, adhesive film, and syntactic core supplied from our European Centre of Excellence for thermoset systems, Langley Mill (Nottingham, UK).
"In our efforts to lead the way, Toray Advanced Composites is constantly providing material solutions for lightweight applications,” said Dr. John Darlington, Sales & Marketing Director, EMEA. “We are excited to support initiatives that broaden the boundaries of environmentally green transportation to a new level of speed and efficiency .”
After leading the competition for the first three days of the race, Solar Team Twente's competition came to an untimely end at 1788 km when harsh weather conditions that delayed flights and overturned trailers sadly blew the RED E off the road. Thankfully, everyone was safe. You can see the car in action here.
The Belgium team Agoria celebrated their first win and Tokai University Solar Car Team, sponsored by Toray, came in second place.
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Toray Advanced Composites UK Achieves ISO 45001
Occupational Health and Safety Certification
Toray Advanced Composites recently received ISO 45001 Occupational Health and Safety certification for the Langley Mill, UK, site
Companies awarded this accreditation successfully pass an independent audit ensuring robust, active, and continually improving safety management procedures are integrated throughout company operational processes.
Toray Advanced Composites UK manufactures thermoset prepregs for aerospace and industrial markets. These operations are classed as a high safety risk due to the large volume of chemicals and complex machinery employed on site. ISO 45001 sets the framework to ensure that the safety and health of employees, visitors, and contractors remains the number one priority. The entire certification was achieved in under 12 months, itself an impressive accomplishment.
Teamwork is the key to this successful award. All Toray Advanced Composites UK employees contributed to the project and were instrumental in its success. This work included an expansion of the company’s Health and Safety Committee, updating working procedures into safe systems or work, and the completion of multiple risk assessments. This collaboration collectively increased internal awareness and understanding of potential risks, while embedding the adoption of the Toray safety strategy and “Anzen Koh-Doh” (“thoughtful safety action”) into the heart of all operations.
ISO 45001
Sets the framework to ensure that the safety and health of employees, visitors, and contractors is the number one priority.
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People Focus—Graham Roberts, Business Development Manager, F1
Graham Roberts (Nottingham, UK)
Graham Roberts returned to the composites market with Toray Advanced Composites (formerly TenCate) as New Business Development Manager in 2016.
His primary focus is to position Toray Advanced Composites as the preferred material manufacturer for the F1 and high-end automotive market. He is achieving this work with Toray’s highly valued AmberTool® HX56 tooling prepreg and working with our expert services team to introduce Toray TC346 for leading high performance automotive projects.
Graham’s enthusiasm for quality products follows through with passionate customer service. He enjoys building relationships with his customers and drives on developing business relationships and developing new business opportunities, programs, and customers.
In addition to F1 and automotive sales, Graham supports the European market sector for high-end automotive applications, helping sales managers secure and position new business with Toray technology, strength, and supply.
Graham enjoys swimming, spinning, and spending free time with his wife Marie and their three children, Ellen, Olivia, and Daniel.
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2020 Spring Event Calendar
Transformative Vertical Flight Technica Meeting
San Jose, CA, USA
January 21-23
Doubletree by Hilton
Sampe UK & Ireland Annual Seminar
Bristol, UK
February 13
JEC World 2020
Paris, France
March 3-5
Hall 5, Booth J21, Villepinte
Aircraft Interiors
Hamburg, Germany
March 31-April 2
AE60 Hamburg Messe
Thermoplastic Composites Conference 2020
San Diego, CA, USA
April 29-May 1
Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine
Sampe 2020 Technical Conference and Exhibition
Seattle, WA, USA
May 5-6
Booth B5
76th Annual Forum and Technology Display
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
May 19-21
Booth 322
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