#Composites

2019-07-04

SGL Carbon supports student group from the Technical University of Munich

Student Team of Technical University of Munich presented the new Hyperloop Pod made from Carbon mid of June. (c) 2019 SGL Carbon

With the support of SGL Carbon, students at the Technical University of Munich have developed an optimized Hyperloop prototype and presented their innovation mid of June in Munich. This especially lightweight and stable capsule (called pod) represents their contribution to Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s Hyperloop competition on July 21, 2019, in Los Angeles. Here, student teams from all over the world will compete for the fastest, best pod system. Like a sort of pneumatic tube, the pods shoot through a near vacuum tube, shaping the way for new future forms of mobility.

At a glance:

A new Hyperloop capsule – made in Germany – was presented to the public at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Garching mid of June
The prototype was developed and built by students at TUM to enter into this year’s Space X hyperloop pod competition on July 21 in Los Angeles
Video on the role of carbon in the Hyperloop

Ever since the Hyperloop competition began in 2017, TUM students have received expert support and carbon fiber materials from SGL Carbon – this year as a gold sponsor. For the third time in a row, the team from TUM took first place. In 2018, the special capsule from Munich flew through the 1,200 meters test tube at a velocity of 467 km/h, leaving the competition in the dust.

This year was once again all about maximum speed. “The pod has to be especially light, but at the same time extremely stable to withstand the loads of the high speeds in the tube,” explains Paloma García Guillen, Structure Team Lead in the TUM team. All properties that are typical features of carbon fiber. “Thanks to the support from SGL Carbon, we were able to test out different material variants.” Ultimately, the team opted for a pre-impregnated woven carbon fiber material, a so-called prepreg.

Based on design and material optimizations, the carbon component of the current pod weights around ten percent less than the previous model (5.6 kilograms compared to 6.1 kilograms). In addition, the mounts for the shell are now built completely out of carbon, instead of the previous plastic solution, cutting the weight in half from 1.5 kilograms to just 700 grams.

“It’s impressive to see what the young team of 51 students from 20 countries achieved in such a short amount of time,” says Dr. Christoph Ebel, Head of the Lightweight and Application Center at SGL Carbon. “From the idea, to prototype development, to the finished part, the team only needed a few months,” he explains. “Behind the Hyperloop pod design are numerous innovative ideas based on modern lightweight construction, challenging to realize technologically. We are excited to have the students on our side as partners and wish the team the best of luck for their competition.”

Besides sponsoring the hyperloop team, SGL Carbon has also supported the carbon composites endowment chair (LCC) at TU Munich for eight years, which is focused on a holistic approach to and development of fiber-reinforced composites and their application.

SGL Carbon decides to restructure its Carbon Fibers business unit

The Board of Management of SGL Carbon SE today decided, with the approval of the Supervisory Board, to restructure the loss-making Carbon Fibers business unit. SGL Carbon will significantly reduce the business activities of Carbon Fibers and focus on a profitable core. Individual solutions are being developed for all Carbon Fibers sites, including the closure of unprofitable sites.

SGL Carbon evaluates strategic options for the carbon fibers and appoints Dr. Denis Hinz as new head of the business unit

SGL Carbon SE is currently evaluating various strategic options for the Business Unit Carbon Fibers (CF). These include a possible partial or complete divestment of the Business Unit. In a first step, potential interested parties shall be approached promptly with the general data of the Business Unit to determine their interest in an acquisition. If there is sufficient interest, a structured transaction process will be carried out in a second step.

MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

MEL Composites is supplying advanced composite materials and process consumables to ELA Aviation for the production of its next-generation gyroplanes. The collaboration underlines MEL Composites’ growing role in advanced aerospace mobility, providing lightweight materials designed to improve aircraft performance, manufacturing efficiency and structural reliability.

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

JEC World 2026 confirms its standing as the unmissable event for composites and their applications

JEC World 2026 confirms its position as the leading global event for the composite materials industry and its applications across multiple sectors, bringing together the entire composites ecosystem in Paris for three days of business, innovation, and collaboration. True to its Pushing the Limits motto, the 2026 edition delivered outstanding results despite travel disruptions worldwide. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 50 countries, including over 150 first-timers, presented a global panorama of products, equipment, and services across the entire composites value chain.

KARL MAYER strengthens partnerships in the composites industry at JEC World 2026

KARL MAYER further strengthened its role as a reliable and competent partner to the composites industry at JEC World 2026. The global market leader in textile machinery manufacturing used the trade show to meet key customers, establish numerous new contacts, and engage in in-depth technical discussions.

2026 general meeting of the Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen at ITA

The Friends and Supporters of RWTH Aachen e. V. (proRWTH) looked back on a successful year of support at their 2026 general meeting. The meeting took place at Institut für Textiltechnik (ITA) of RWTH Aachen and was combined with a joint session of the Executive Board and the Administrative Board. Before the general meeting began, participants were given a guided tour of ITA, providing them with fascinating insights into current research and development topics in textile engineering.

Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brings supply chain leaders together around cotton innovation

Cotton Incorporated’s Cotton ConneXions Insight to Impact brought together more than 300 industry leaders from 140 companies across 10 countries, including more than 45 top global brands and sourcing organizations, underscoring strong global interest in cotton-rich product development, sourcing and supply chain collaboration.

Footwear innovation enabled by warp knitting technology– insights from New Balance

The future of the athletic shoe is increasingly being shaped on warp knitting machines. For KARL MAYER, the footwear industry is one of the most important growth markets – and one of the sectors where innovative textiles can realize their full potential. In his keynote address at the opening of KARL MAYER’s TEXTILE INNOVATION CENTER in Obertshausen in April, Vishnu Prakash Muthusamy, Senior Textile and Materials Engineer at New Balance, explained the opportunities that warp knitting technology opens up for performance, sustainability, and faster development processes, and why textile manufacturers are transitioning from suppliers to development partners.