The ABC of Innovation
A Composites / Biocomposites Perspective
Andy Radford
April 2014
Composites in South Africa
Appeal to all stakeholders – Composites in South Africa
South Africa Composites
• 25% unemployment • Labour intensive (skilled) • Many opportuni:es for women
• Rising fuel prices • Lightweigh:ng to reduce fuel consump:on
• Moderate climate (Port Elizabeth) • Moderate climate provides ideal processing condi:ons
• Well-‐equipped (yet poorly u:lised) material tes:ng infrastructure
• Tes:ng intensive
• Strong engineering capability, albeit metal-‐focussed
• Engineering intensive
• Gateway into African con:nent • Solu:on for Africa’s future transport needs
• Weak Rand rela:ve to Dollar/Euro • Export opportuni:es
The Innovation Chasm
“I wrote 5 publica1ons and patented this fantas1c material, but I haven’t figured out yet what
to use it for.....”
“I’d like to replace some metal parts with composite ones, please
send me a datasheet of your composite material...”
“It is a maAer of 1me before composite technology will spill-‐over from the aerospace sector into new composite markets...”
Research
Industry
Government
The Composites Landscape – Innovation Chasm
Research Community Industry
Material Development
Design Methodologies Product Design
Production
CHASM
Material Testing
SCIENTIFIC AN
GLE
“Techn
olog
y Push”
COMMER
CIAL ANGL
E“Techn
olog
y Pull”
Composites Landscape: Industry Segmentation
Aerospace: - Lightweight parts - Long & continuous fibres - Glass & carbon - Expensive parts
Aerospace Automotive
‘light-‐weigh:ng’ importance
Produc:on volumes
‘One part per shift’ manufacturing processes: - Hand lay-up - Infusion - Autoclave/pre-pregs
Automotive: - High-volume parts - Short fibres - Glass & natural fibres - Less expensive parts
‘Multiple parts per hour’ manufacturing processes: - Injection moulding - Compression moulding - SMC, DMC
Composites Landscape: Industry Segmentation
Different Composite Sectors
Different Composite Manufacturing
Processes
Different Materials
Different Design Methodologies
Different Material Suppliers
Different Equipment Suppliers
Different Tooling Suppliers
Different Design Specifica:ons
The Trinity has a tendency to create isolated supply chains that do not have ‘economy of scale’.
Composites Landscape: Government Segmentation
Aerospace Sector
Automotive Sector
Maritime Sector
Wind Energy Sector
Biocomposite Sector
the d3 DST DoE DAFF DRDLR
X X
X X
X X
X X X X
X X X X
The South African Composites Landscape
Research Community Industry
Material Development
Design Methodologies Product Design
Production
CHASM
Material Testing
SCIENTIFIC AN
GLE
“Techn
olog
y Push”
COMMER
CIAL ANGL
E“Techn
olog
y Pull”
Aerospace Sector
Automotive Sector
Maritime Sector
Wind Energy Sector Res
earc
h C
omm
unity
Biocomposite Sector
the d3 DST DoE DAFF DRDLR
X X
X X
X X
X X X X
X X X X
Innovation Chasm
Industry Segmentation
Government Segmentation
Organising the industry
Commercial, general and
military avia:on
Aerospace & Defence Composites Forum
Satellites Sensors and weapons systems
Ballis:c composites
Armoured vehicles
Naval vessels
Mari3me & Wind Energy Composites
Forum
Yachts and sail boats
Wind turbines
Oil rigs
Small water craZ
Industrial Composites Forum
Harbours
(Petro-‐) chemical installa:ons
Building and construc:on
Housings, enclosures and
covers
Land-‐based transport Composites Forum
Mining
Canopies
Vehicle conversions
Sports cars and racing
Trains
Polymer concrete
Sanitary ware
Trucks
Buses
Passenger vehicles
Solar and electrical vehicles
Composites R&D Forum
Composites Suppliers Forum
Composites SA
Composites Cooperative Platform
The ABC of Composites Innovation
• Appeal to all stakeholders -
• Become a business champion – make it easier for the other stakeholders to work together.
• Collaborate in a Cooperative Platform – industry, technology or opportunity specific (R&D Forum + Suppliers Forum)
Thank you……
Let’s “innovate” together.
Research Community Industry
Material Development
Design Methodologies Product Design
Production
CHASM
Material TestingSCIENTIFIC ANGLE
“Techn
olog
y Pu
sh”
COMMER
CIAL ANGLE
“Techn
olog
y Pu
ll”