Alcoa Fastening Systems, a division of Alcoa Inc., will collaborate with TPRC’s industrial members and the leading Dutch universities to accelerate scientific and technological developments for new applications of thermoplastic composites in aerospace, automotive and other value chains.
Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS), a leading supplier to aerospace and industrial markets, and the ThermoPlastic composites Research Center (TPRC) in Enschede (The Netherlands) have entered into a long term partnership to share and collaborate in the development of thermoplastic composite technologies.
“The growing role of composite structures in modern aircraft requires adapted fasteners and in certain cases fasteners that have different functions,” said Massimo Cella, Director Development Programs at AFS. “AFS believes in R&D to evolve products in harmony with new requirements. In this perspective AFS has joined TPRC and is looking forward to projects and activities to support concepts and design of future solutions.”
Winand Kok, Manager Engineering of TenCate Advanced Composites comments that TenCate Advanced Composites is very enthusiastic about AFS joining TPRC, explaining further that: “Thermoplastic composites are materials for volume production of single parts. The next step is efficiently combining these parts into more complex assemblies. The unique properties of thermoplastics open a whole new array of fastening solutions for product designers to take into account. With its broad know-how of fasteners and fastener installation in metals and traditional thermoset composites, AFS is a key enabler in developing new cost effective and weight efficient fastening solutions for automotive, aerospace and industrial applications. We are looking forward to teaming up with AFS and our other TPRC partners to take thermoplastic composite product design and associated processes to the next level”.
The University of Twente is also very pleased with the collaboration between Alcoa Fastening Systems and TPRC. Victor van der Chijs, President of the University of Twente, comments that: “In Twente, we realize that the gap between scientific innovation and commercial exploitation still needs to be bridged. The TPRC is a perfect example of a successful venture to liaise our scientific work to the business community. With this new partnership, the TPRC can further grow and develop to be the obvious and indispensable partner for companies in various value chains that want to use thermoplastic composites”.
Alcoa Fastening Systems (AFS), a business unit of Alcoa Inc., is a leading worldwide designer and manufacturer of fastening systems including specialty fasteners, fluid fittings, assembly components, and installation systems for aerospace and industrial applications. Headquartered in Torrance, California, the company has over 6,800 employees at 32 manufacturing and distribution/logistics locations in 11 countries.
TPRC – Focused on Research and Development of Thermoplastic Composites
TPRC, the ThermoPlastic composite Research Center, is a not-for-profit organization, that performs research under the guidance of its industrial members who share the goal of increasing the market for thermoplastic composites and who together define the research roadmap. Since the opening of its laboratory in 2012, TPRC has steadily grown its activities in aerospace and more recently in automotive as well. TPRC strives to cooperate with current and future leading companies and other organizations in the field of thermoplastic composites.
