Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Ask Michael Burke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Knighty Tin who wrote (122834)	5/31/2010 6:17:56 PM
From: GuinnessGuy	Respond to of 132070

Mike, Yes, there are other companies, like the one in this first quarter financial report here: sglgroup.com SGL Group only derives one-sixth of their income from carbon fiber products, but are interesting nonetheless due to their recent joint venture with BMW(see page 7). They have chosen to build a plant in Washington state that will be dedicated exclusively to BMW's vehicles, particularly their upcoming Megacity car. BMW claims that this will be the first high volume vehicle incorporating carbon fiber. This will also be an all-electric car. Doesn't look like they are initially going for the US market though. China seems to be in their sights, at least at first. However, it will be the car they use at the London Olympics in 2012 to ferry around the athletes. This car seems awfully small so I'm not sure how the basketball players are going to fit. <g> Anyway, the previous mentioned Gurit Holding AG is a much bigger player and is a pure composite player. What's holding up the show now are the horrific technical/labor/economic problems. The aircraft industry(which is the largest) has seen all three. The wind turbine business has seen two out of the three. I think both bounce back nicely over the next year or two. Boeing, for one, has huge back orders, and even though there won't be huge growth in the industry, replacement aircraft will all be incorporating more and more composites. The 787 and A350 both are around 80% composites by volume. Previous aircraft only used about one-third the amount. The point of this is really to say that the auto business is right now effectively using zero composite materials, and if it goes the way of aviation, aerospace, and the wind turbine business, then look out above. Also, if you want to see some really cutting edge graphical charting, check this energy flow chart out(you may have to zoom out with your browser): publicaffairs.llnl.gov Note the extreme waste(lost energy) you see in the transportation usage of energy towards the bottom, especially in the light-duty area. Lots of room for improvements, I should think. craig