On this episode, Scott Lewit and Joni Richards of Structural Composites, Inc., join the show to discuss one of their latest projects, which includes a $9 million contract with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Canaveral Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Sector Gate Project at Port Canaveral. It represents a significant milestone in the adoption of advanced composite materials for critical marine infrastructure. 

Founded in 1987, SCI specializes in engineering, testing, prototyping, and manufacturing advanced composite structures. They’ve spent decades advancing composites across defense, marine, transportation, and industrial markets.
You can learn more about SCI by visiting https://structuralcomposites.com.

The post Inside the $9 Million FRP Sector Gate Project: Interview with Scott Lewit and Joni Richards of Structural Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Inside the $9 Million FRP Sector Gate Project: Interview with Scott Lewit and Joni Richards of Structural Composites appeared first on Composites Weekly.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz is sending shockwaves through global supply chains—particularly across petrochemicals, resins, and composite materials.

With nearly 20% of the world’s oil and a significant share of polyethylene, polypropylene, and key chemical feedstocks moving through this critical chokepoint, disruptions are already driving price volatility, supply shortages, and shifting sourcing strategies.

On this episode, I have two guests joining me to discuss the impact on supply chains: 

Dawn Hersey, Ph.D., is a combat veteran and subject matter expert in resilience, stability, and conflict. She owns Ferndon Consulting, an Intelligence firm. Her expertise is in international conflict, geopolitical dynamics, and predictive analytics.

David Eyes is an automotive supply chain expert with 25 years of experience, working closely with complex manufacturers and auto suppliers on supply chain risk. David is VP of Automotive at TrueCommerce.

The post The Strait of Hormuz Conflict and the Future of Global Supply Chains first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post The Strait of Hormuz Conflict and the Future of Global Supply Chains appeared first on Composites Weekly.

Joining the podcast this week is Bruce King, an engineer, author, filmmaker, and one of the leading voices in sustainable and bio-based building materials. He is the author of the book Build Beyond Zero: New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture. 

Bruce spent more than 45 years in structural engineering, working on everything from high-rise buildings to resort projects, before shifting his focus toward a bigger question: how do we build in a way that works with nature instead of against it?

Today, Bruce’s work spans everything from straw composites and low-carbon concrete to emerging bio-materials like mycelium, bacterial cellulose, and algae-based construction systems.  You can find some of his videos at https://buildwell.site.

The post Beyond Concrete: Bio-Composites, Algae-Based Cement, and New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Beyond Concrete: Bio-Composites, Algae-Based Cement, and New Ideas for Carbon-Smart Architecture appeared first on Composites Weekly.

Joining the podcast this week is Rush LaSelle, CEO of Fathom Digital Manufacturing.
Rush is a veteran leader in advanced manufacturing with more than 30 years of experience scaling digital manufacturing, automation, and additive technologies across aerospace, defense, healthcare, and industrial markets. 

His expertise spans additive manufacturing, automation, robotics, advanced materials, and mission-critical manufacturing operations, giving him a unique perspective on where U.S. manufacturing is headed next. 

You can learn more about Fathom by visiting https://fathommfg.com. 

The post AI, Automation, and the Future of U.S. Manufacturing: Interview with Rush LaSelle first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post AI, Automation, and the Future of U.S. Manufacturing: Interview with Rush LaSelle appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Kyle Jordan joins the show to share some updates on the ACMA’s Certified Composites Technician programs. Kyle is Director of Certifications with the ACMA. He’ll be discussing some of the new digital training options launched over the last couple of months, including those for CCT recertification. 

You can learn more about these CCT training programs by visiting https://acmanet.org/education/certified-composites-technician-program. 

ACMA’s Thermoplastic Composites Conference (TCC) 

ACMA’s Thermoplastic Composites Conference (TCC) is an insightful and collaborative event that focuses on innovations, applications, and technology in high-performance thermoplastic composites. The conference will bring together over 200 industry leaders and professionals, providing an excellent networking opportunity for attendees to connect with like-minded individuals and build meaningful relationships with others in the field. You can register today by visiting https://acma-org.my.site.com/TCC26.

The post The Future of Composites Workforce Training – Updates from Kyle Jordan of ACMA first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post The Future of Composites Workforce Training – Updates from Kyle Jordan of ACMA appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Anna Brady-Estevez, PhD, joins the show. She is the founding partner of American Deep Tech, a technology investment firm that focuses on aerospace & space tech, energy, AI, biotech, and more. 

Anna has served as a Program Director at the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), where she led the Small Business Innovation Research portfolio focused on Space Tech, Energy, Chemical, and Environmental technologies. During her tenure, Anna invested and managed over $250M in grants to early-stage, high-impact startups. 
You can learn more about their company by visiting them at https://deeptech1.com.

The post Funding Innovators in AI & Deep Tech: Interview with Anna Brady-Estevez first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Funding Innovators in AI & Deep Tech: Interview with Anna Brady-Estevez appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode,  David J. Neivandt and Greg Simms join the show to discuss their research work developing a sustainable, biodegradable composite material derived from waste lobster shells and a natural binder, engineered for high mechanical performance.

Collaborating with the Advanced Structures and Composites Center at UMaine, their team has established a pilot-scale production line for this material, which features compressive strength greater than concrete and flexural strength surpassing eastern white pine lumber. From a sustainability perspective, the composite has the potential to replace single-use plastics in applications where the item needs to maintain structural integrity for a short period and then biodegrade rapidly at the end of life.

Team NRG’s recent work is moving them towards the ultimate goal of using the composite to construct temporary disaster shelters. 

The post A Biodegradable Structural Composite Made from Lobster Shells? first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post A Biodegradable Structural Composite Made from Lobster Shells? appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Ollie Taylor and Alessandro Stagni join the podcast to discuss the MarineShift360 Impact Accelerator program. It’s a year-long initiative equipping marine organizations with lifecycle assessment expertise and access to an industry-wide sustainability network. Ollie is the Founder of Marine Futures and the program director of Marine Shift 360. Alessandro is the Chief Technology Officer at nlcomp (Northern Light Composites). 

Three companies were selected for the 2026 MarineShift360 Impact Accelerator, covering the full vessel lifecycle from materials to propulsion to end-of-life. One of those companies is nlcomp, an Italian deep-tech startup developing recyclable thermoplastic composite materials designed to solve one of the biggest challenges in advanced materials: end-of-life waste.

In this episode, we’ll explore what it really takes to build a sustainable marine industry and where the biggest opportunities lie.

The post Redefining Marine Composites Lifecycle: A Closer Look at the MarineShift360 Impact Accelerator Program first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Redefining Marine Composites Lifecycle: A Closer Look at the MarineShift360 Impact Accelerator Program appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Professor Hatsuo Ishida, PhD of Case Western Reserve University, joins the show to discuss the development of next-generation composite materials engineered for deep-space travel. He shares the origin of their work with ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with hydrogen-rich polybenzoxazine resins, and how these materials have been engineered into composites that integrate structural performance with radiation attenuation.

We also unpack the results from exposure on the International Space Station (ISS), where these composites were subjected to the harsh conditions of low Earth orbit for several months. Dr. Ishida explains how surface-level oxidation occurred without compromising bulk mechanical properties such as strength, density, and glass transition temperature.

The discussion highlights what these findings mean for long-duration missions and the future of spacecraft design, where materials may serve both as structure and protection. Looking ahead, we examine the remaining challenges in scaling these materials for deeper space environments and what it will take to validate them for missions beyond Earth orbit. You can read about their research at https://www.scribd.com/document/952673614/s42114-025-01451-6

The post ISS Tested Composites for Low Earth Orbit and Deep Space Travel first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post ISS Tested Composites for Low Earth Orbit and Deep Space Travel appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, researchers Caitlin Howell and Mehdi Tajvidi from the University of Maine join the show to discuss their research in developing a fully bio-derived composite coating that is grown, not manufactured. By combining edible fungal mycelium with cellulose nanofibrils, they have developed a barrier coating that can be formed directly on paper and textiles through a low-energy process.

The result is a highly water-resistant surface with contact angles approaching 140° and significantly reduced water absorption, pointing to a viable path toward replacing traditional plastic-based barrier coatings. We’ll discuss how the material works at a structural level, what it takes to scale a growth-based process, and where this material could be used first. 

You can learn more about their research at https://umaine.edu/news/2026/02/researchers-use-fungus-to-create-plastic-free-food-packaging/

The post Bio-Derived Barrier Coatings: A New Frontier in Sustainable Composites first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Bio-Derived Barrier Coatings: A New Frontier in Sustainable Composites appeared first on Composites Weekly.

On this episode, Teong Tan, Arclin’s Chief Research Officer, joins the podcast to discuss Arclin’s $1.8 billion acquisition of DuPont’s aramid business, adding the iconic Kevlar® and Nomex® brands to its portfolio. Teong leads the company’s innovation agenda with a focus on strategic growth, talent development, and high-performing teams. 

The post Discussing Arclin’s $1.8 Billion Acquisition of DuPont’s Aramids Business (Kevlar® & Nomex® brands) first appeared on Composites Weekly.

The post Discussing Arclin’s $1.8 Billion Acquisition of DuPont’s Aramids Business (Kevlar® & Nomex® brands) appeared first on Composites Weekly.