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    Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

    Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

    Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

    Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

    $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

    $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

    Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

    Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

    Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

    Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

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      Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

      Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

      Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

      Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

      Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

      GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

      GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

      New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

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      Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

      Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

      $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

      $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

      Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

      Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

      Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

      Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

      Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

      Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

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        Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

        Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

        UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

        UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

        Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

        Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

        Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

        Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

        Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

        Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

        JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

        JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

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        • Hospitality

          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

          Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

          Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

          Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

          Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

          Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

          Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

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        • Agrofood
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          • Agriculture
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          Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Pacts worth over OMR 33 million signed to establish agricultural, fisheries projects

          Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

          Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

          $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

          $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

          Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

          Ministry signs agreement to support Oman’s honey industry

          Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

          Local, Italian companies partner up to establish food retail chain in Egypt

          Trending Tags

          • Business & Economy
            • All
            • Business
            • Economy
            • Finance
            • Industry
            • Technology
            • Trade
            • Transport & Logistics

            Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

            Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

            Egypt’s food industries contribute 24.5% of GDP

            Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

            Profits at top Saudi banks jump 17.6% in Q1

            GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

            GCC can create 600,000 tech jobs and add US$255 billion to GDP by 2030

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

            New study reveals that UAE is most competitive economy in the Arab world

            Trending Tags

            • CES 2017
            • Election Results
            • eSports
          • Construction
            • All
            • Infrastructure
            • Real Estate
            Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

            Oman Construction Equipment Industry to 2028

            $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

            $36mln contract for construction of Duqm fisheries complex

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            What will Qatar do with its World Cup infrastructure after FIFA 2022 ends?

            Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

            Madayn working on major Oman industrial city projects

            Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

            Foundation stone laid for new 700-bed hospital is Salalah, Oman

            Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

            Iraq set to award new Faw Port deals

            Trending Tags

            • Energy
              • All
              • Oil & Gas
              • Power & Electricity
              • Renewable Energy
              Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

              Suez Canal expects US$3.5 billion in revenues in H1

              UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

              UAE and Egypt’s consortium to buy African renewables firm Lekela Power

              Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

              Fitch revises Saudi Aramco’s outlook to positive from stable

              Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

              Investments in renewables in Egypt reach LE6 bn: Official

              Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

              Egypt signs 8 gas exploration contracts worth $934mn over 15 months

              JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

              JGC lands $3.7bn Iraq refinery upgradation project deal

              Trending Tags

              • Hospitality

                Food Africa and pacprocess MEA attract over 25,000 trade visitors to the trade fair duo in Egypt

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Qatar has ‘solid’ line-up of infrastructure, hospitality projects to prepare for large influx of visitors in 2022: OBG

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Saudi to be among world’s big leisure tourism hubs by 2030

                Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

                Qatar’s hospitality sector peaks despite turbulent 2020

                Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

                Accor inks deal to manage first Swissôtel-branded hotel and residential project in Qatar

                Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

                Staycations to stimulate Qatar’s hospitality sector

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              Inside the Lamborghini lab that’s reinventing carbon fiber

              Digital Trends

              June 7, 2017
              in Uncategorized
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              Lamborghini handles every step of the production process in-house; its engineers call this a building block approach. To find out how it’s done, we flew to the company’s headquarters in Sant’Agata Bolognese, Italy, put on a uniform, and spent a day shadowing workers.

              The Seattle connection
              Lamborghini began dabbling in carbon fiber in 1982. At the time, its cars were largely built using various types of sheet metal, and the composites department was just a tiny fragment of the brand’s research and development effort.

              Lamborghini’s composites department built an experimental Countach prototype with a full carbon fiber monocoque a year after it was founded.

              By chance, some of the engineers who founded the department were Italians that had previously worked for Boeing in Seattle, Washington. They diligently applied the lessons learned while developing the 767 airliner to the world of high-end, high-performance cars. The team was made up of just five people, yet it managed to build an experimental, fully-functional Countach prototype with a full carbon fiber monocoque only a year after the department was founded.

              The composites department grew in size during the 1980s and the 1990s after executives accurately predicted carbon fiber was the future of supercars. By 1998, all of the Diablo GT’s exterior body panels were made from the lightweight material. In 2011, the Aventador debuted an ultra-light carbon fiber body.

              Going straight to the source
              As we step inside the carbon fiber development center, we’re greeted not by a technician with oil-stained hands but by a researcher in a black lab coat. The first step of the process is to test samples (called coupons) to learn how various types of carbon fiber withstand pressure.

              The small, rectangular coupons are bent until they snap, crushed by hundreds of pounds, and subjected to extreme temperatures on both ends of the thermometer. They’re examined under a powerful microscope to identify even the tiniest imperfections that can later cause much bigger issues. Nothing is left to chance in the research lab.

              The valuable data gathered during these tests is used to manufacture elements, assemblies, components, and, ultimately, a full car. Attilio Masini, Lamborghini’s head of materials technology and manufacturing engineering, tells us this bottom-up approach came directly from Boeing.

              He explains it’s extremely important for Lamborghini to have full control over the entire production process. No step is outsourced, but engineers and researchers frequently exchange ideas with Boeing and the University of Washington.  The collaboration gives Lamborghini access to advanced software that allows it to calculate how a specific carbon fiber component will fare in an accident without needing to stuff an expensive prototype into a wall.

              Rolls of carbon fiber are stored in a massive walk-in freezer reminiscent of the cold room you’d find in a butcher’s shop.

              Members of the R&D department can tell ahead of time which parts of, say, an Aventador body will absorb impact. This greatly reduces the time it takes to get a car certified for road use.

              From the freezer to the oven
              Production of carbon fiber components takes place deep inside the growing Lamborghini complex. It’s not what you imagine when you think of a car factory. It’s well lit, the floors are clean enough to eat off of, and the entire process is done by hand so the facility is almost as quiet as a library.

              To experience the process first hand, we’re instructed to make a small part with ridges and grooves that R&D cuts up and uses for various tests. Having never played with carbon fiber before, we were surprised by how much time it takes to churn out a relatively simple part.

              Rolls of carbon fiber are stored in a massive walk-in freezer reminiscent of the cold room you’d find in a butcher’s shop. Once they’ve thawed, they’re cut to shape with a knife, because using a laser would create too much heat. With four small sheets of the material in hand, we set out to make our first part.

              The sheets must be carefully placed in a mold one layer at a time, and pressed down using a plastic tool to ensure a tight fit. The mold is placed in a vacuum bag to remove the air that gets trapped in between the layers. It sounds relatively simple when you read about it, but making the wave-shaped part took us about 45 minutes. It’s then baked in a large oven for about six hours.

              Carbon fiber parts need to look good, and they also need to be durable; craftsmanship is the name of the game in Sant’Agata. Consequently, the process of manufacturing even a basic component like a piece of trim is highly meticulous. Lamborghini explains it takes roughly a year before new workers are allowed to make carbon fiber parts on their own.

              While our part hardens, we head over to a different part of the factory to learn about what insiders proudly refer to as carbon fiber 2.0.

              The carbon fiber of the future
              Not one to rest on its laurels, Lamborghini has developed a brand-new type of carbon fiber named Forged Composites. The name might not sound familiar, but you’ve seen it before if you’ve been keeping up with Lamborghini news. It’s that cool, high tech-looking material prominently featured on the Sesto Elemento and, more recently, on the Huracán Performante. It was designed in-house, and the company’s brightest minds agree it’s the carbon fiber of the future.

              Designers love working with Forged Composites because it gives parts a unique look, and it can be shaped in ways that regular carbon fiber can’t.

              On paper, Forged Composites is similar to the carbon fiber we’ve gotten used to seeing in cars. Rolls of it are stored in a freezer until they need to be turned into parts. They’re also cut with a knife, and carefully placed in a mold layer by layer. However, the other tasks are entirely automated.

              Again, we’re instructed to make a small, wavy part used by members of the R&D staff for testing. This time, there is no need to poke, nudge, or force the material into a mold; a vertical press handles that part of the process with a single powerful strike. And, instead of sitting in an oven for hours, for fifteen minutes the part is placed in a purpose-built machine that heats it up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit while applying over 1,100 PSI of pressure.

              Right now, Forged Composites is used to make components like spoilers, bumpers, interior trim parts, and shift paddles. It will gradually replace carbon fiber on the assembly line, meaning it’s not too far-fetched to imagine one day Lamborghini will make a full monocoque out of Forged Composites. When it reaches that point, the brand will be able to increase production of its super sports cars as it sees fit.

              “Forged Composites provides the right balance between weight reduction, performance, and safety in our super sports cars,” Masini told us.

              Lamborghini designers love working with Forged Composites because it gives parts a unique look, and it can be shaped in ways that regular carbon fiber can’t. Engineers praise the material because it’s highly resistant to damage, and it’s easy to drill or trim. That’s why everyone at the factory refers to it as carbon fiber 2.0, and we’re going to be seeing much more of it in the coming years.
              Digital Trends
              7 June

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