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7 Composites: Past, Present & Future C T J U N E 2 0 1 4 www.airtechonline.com S can this Watch an exciting video on wide flms! Vacuum bagging flms are available up to 12m (40 ft) wide! Variety of flms available Many temperature ranges Cost effective No seams *Photo courtesy of Dona Francisca Manchester, England Huntington Beach, CA U.S.A. Differdange, Luxembourg Tianjin, China Widest in our Industry: Ipplon ® KM1300 – up to 7.1m (280") Ipplon ® DP1000 – up to 7.1m (280") Wrightlon ® 7400 – up to 7.1m (280") Securlon ® L-1000 – up to 7.1m (280") Securlon ® L-500Y – up to 8m (315") Big Blue L-100 – up to 12m (472") 414ºF 212 °C 400ºF 204 °C 340ºF 171 °C 250ºF 121 °C nies, frequently operated by their founders, ofen have narrow vi- sions of their role in the overall market. Tey are reluctant, un- comfortable to expand those visions, thus limiting their ability to adapt and grow with changing technologies and market demands." Given that reality, he suggests, "maybe developers of new materials or methods are forced to bypass those further along the chain in order to move those developments into the market." Michael J. Cichon, director of product marketing at TenCate Advanced Composites USA Inc. (Morgan Hill, Calif.), agrees that suppliers ofer added value to customers if they can also be an en- abler of a materials technology, especially "if the subcontractor lev- el does not have the skills or knowledge of emerging technologies, and the technology is shiing, then perhaps the faster and more di- rect way to market could be ofering fabricated parts." But Cichon warns that the obvious confict of interest might, sooner or later, hinder progress. "I wonder if there is a limit to how far a mate- rial supplier can go with fabrication given both the obvious com- petitive issues with customers and the reality of the investments needed for capital and personnel to run a successful fabrication business?" he asks. CT's survey data, however, point to a third option, that of sup- plier/distributor/fabricator collaborations. Almost 29 percent of those surveyed said they are exploring such possibilities: 13.1 per- cent see a partnership or joint venture in their future, and 2.4 per- cent see a merger with, or acquisition by, a supplier in their sights. Both groups saw these moves as "essential if we are to remain in business." Further, more than 10 percent of parts fabricators "wel- come the opportunity to outsource previously inhouse func- Asked about their current status with respect to the trend, half of the suppliers/distributors said they did, or were considering, part fabrication. 0614CT PPF-OK-CORRECT TEXT CAPTIONS.indd 7 5/20/2014 7:43:28 AM