SME‘s Composites Manufacturing Tech Group annually presents the Composites Manufacturing Awards in effort to highlight the contributions made within the composites manufacturing industry.
“As composites manufacturing continues to evolve and become more innovative in the materials and processes used, it’s important to acknowledge the individuals and companies helping advance its study and usage in educational institutions and on the shop floor,” said Louis C. Dorworth, division manager for Abaris Training Resources Inc., and chair of SME’s Plastics, Composites & Coatings Community.
Fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites are lightweight and do not corrode, finding their way into the design of many new products as the material of choice across many industries, from aerospace to automotive to wind energy and more.
The J.H. “Jud” Hall Composites Manufacturing Award, created in 1986, is presented annually to an individual who has contributed to composites manufacturing or tooling technology through leadership, technical developments, patents or educational activities.
This year’s Hall Award recipient is Mamidala Ramulu, PhD, Boeing-Pennell professor of engineering and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Washington. Ramulu, an educator since 1982, has contributed to composites manufacturing in the fields of traditional machining. He has guided dozens of students through master’s and doctoral programs in composite manufacturing.
The 2014 Excellence in Composites Manufacturing Award was also presented. Launched in 2011, this international award recognizes companies that have excelled in manufacturing products made from advanced composite materials, by either developing an innovative manufacturing process technique or providing superior service, quality or cost-reduction initiatives that have helped advance the composite manufacturing industry.
The 2014 recipient of this award is ATK Aerospace Structures for the work it has contributed in composites application and technology development for more than 50 years. ATK is an industry leader in tooling and automated manufacturing techniques used in manufacturing advanced composite structures.