TenCate Advanced Composites North America, a leading global composite materials company for space and aerospace applications, announces a partnership with Abaris Training Resources in Reno (Nevada), USA, in which Abaris will utilize the TenCate AmberTool® tooling prepreg portfolio, including TenCate's exclusive 3M(TM) Fortified Tooling Prepregs (FTP), in Abaris' tooling design and fabrication educational workshops.
This partnership for social innovation will provide Abaris' students with an opportunity for hands-on experience with one of the fastest growing tooling composite materials in the industry today. Joe Johnson, Tooling Product Manager at TenCate Advanced Composites in Morgan Hill (California), USA, states: "This is an excellent partnership at the right time. The tooling prepregs of today, along with the modern processes used to manufacture tools, have reached a level where composite tooling represents now the first choice for composite fabricators. Abaris' expertise in training and depth of experience ensures that composite tool builders of tomorrow will be equipped for success."
Variety of advantages
Composite tooling provides part builders with a variety of advantages over heavier steel tooling including matched CTE's, lighter weights, lower cost fabrication and rapid build times. Michael J. Hoke, President of Abaris Training Resources, says: "Abaris is delighted with the cooperative effort with TenCate in helping to improve what we offer our students in our tooling mold fabrication classes."